Different types of electronic circuits are used in the operation of the DC voltage, which is very helpful for converting the AC voltage into a DC current system that guides to increase the flow of electricity in the electric circuit as well as in the magnetic field. The p-n junction diode allows the flow of the electric current that if effective to forward the electricity control in the bias condition .As the diode only allows to flow of the electricity in a single direction so to make the electricity flow on both sides rectifiers are used.
A rectifier refers to an electrical device, which mainly used for converting an Alternating Current into the Direct Current with the application of a single or more “P-N junction diodes”. The Rectifier with the proper application of “P-N junction diodes” mainly determines the voltage of the electric circuit.
Figure 1: Application of the Rectifier
During the application of this kind of diode in a typical way, the positivity of a terminal of the battery is connected to a type of p-type semiconductors. In the case of the negative terminal, the battery is well connected with the semiconductor type, which is mainly biased forward.
The electrical device is mainly comprised of single or more diodes, which are mostly applicable for the flow of electricity into the mode of AC or DDC current. Rectifiers are principally used for converting the flow of current between the two current modes and also apply as a mould in multiple shapes (Roy et al. 2021).
The sizes of the Rectifier are mostly used as per the necessity of the diodes of semiconductors like “silicon controlled rectifiers”. In the current situation, Rectifier is severally used in the making of “vacuum tube diodes” as well as “mercury-arc valves”.
Figure 2: The flow of electricity in the Rectifiers
One of the most significant applications of Rectifier is seen in the “P-N junction diode” that is used for the rectification of AC and DC electric voltage. In terms of the “P-N junction diode”, Rectifier allows the flow of the electric current forward in the bias condition only (Yang et al. 2018).
The rectifier is also worked as the resistance of the electric current during the reverse bias condition of electric flow. Simply the diode mainly formulates the flow of electrics within the circuit in one direction to another (Gu et al. 2020). The significant application of these particles is that t is used as a rectifier in the electric circuit to maintain the flow of electricity.
Different types of rectifiers are used for different purposes and the requirements of semiconductors. The length of the wave also determines the application of different types of rectifiers (Yang et al. 2018).
The rectifiers are mainly classified into different types in terms of designs, dependable factors like the supply of electricity, mode of bridge configuration and the control possibility nature. Principally the rectifier is categorized into two different categories “single-phase rectifier” and “three-phase rectifier” (Aldhaher, Yates & Mitcheson, 2018).
Besides this, further rectifiers are also classified into three different categories as uncontrolled rectifiers, half controlled rectifiers, as well as full controlled rectifiers.
Figure 3: Function of Rectifiers
Uncontrolled rectifiers mainly refer to the output voltage of the type of rectifier that cannot be controlled at all. While half-controlled rectifiers, the output voltage is controlled in terms of the alternative current device but it does not applicable for direct current flow (Aldhaher, Yates & Mitcheson, 2018). A full-wave rectifier is another important category that is used for the current input system for AC.
For these rectifiers, the diodes are principally well connected to the electric circuit with a proper form. In the case of positive current flow, the measurement of the electricity is connected with a loop and diode 1 along with diode 2 provides the positive voltage all over the load resistor (Li et al. 2019).
Another important category of rectifiers is full controlled rectifiers and with this rectifier, the electric flow of a circuit can be controlled fully. In order to control the flow of electricity between the AC and DC device, this rectifier is mostly used (Yang et al. 2018). In the magnetic field, the full controlled rectifiers mainly control maintaining the electric voltage.
Q1. Why rectifiers are used?
Rectifiers are mostly used for electric welding for providing a type of polarized voltage into the electric circuit. It is also very much applicable for mosquito repellent as well as AM radio is a type of detector of signal peak device. The rectifiers in also severally used for the purpose of modulation and demodulation as well as voltage multipliers.
Q2. What are the functions of a half-wave rectifier?
The function of the half-wave rectifier is to convert the voltage from the AC mode of supply to the DC mode of supply. Besides this, it is also used to control the voltage and as a resistance of the electricity.
Q3. What is the main application of the Rectifiers?
In the recent situation, the principal application of the rectifiers is seen in the composition of electric batteries. Besides this, in the magnetic field, rectifiers are also used.
Q4. What is the application of the uncontrolled rectifier in recent times?
The uncontrolled rectifier is a type of rectifier that is mainly used to maintain the current flow in the AC device. It is used for the supply mode of the electric circuit and is mainly based on the size and voltage of diodes.
Q5. What is the full-wave rectifier?
The full-wave rectifier is also classified into two different types such as bridge rectifier as well as centre tap rectifier. This rectifier is mostly applicable for the input of AC and output of DC.
Aldhaher, S., Yates, D. C., & Mitcheson, P. D. (2018). Load-independent class E/EF inverters and rectifiers for MHz-switching applications. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 33(10), 8270-8287. Retrieved from: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel7/63/8412378/08318900.pdf
Gu, X., Guo, L., Hemour, S., & Wu, K. (2020). Optimum temperatures for enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of zero-bias diode-based rectifiers. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 68(9), 4040-4053. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Xiaoqiang-Gu/publication/341466111_Optimum_Temperatures_for_Enhanced_Power_Conversion_Efficiency_PCE_of_Zero-Bias_Diode-Based_Rectifiers/links/5f661a88a6fdcc00862d839b/Optimum-Temperatures-for-Enhanced-Power-Conversion-Efficiency-PCE-of-Zero-Bias-Diode-Based-Rectifiers.pdf
Li, J., Li, J., Sun, J., Feng, S., & Wang, Z. (2019). Biological and engineered topological droplet rectifiers. Advanced Materials, 31(14), 1806501. Retrieved from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NMYryP7FNGKlS6eF_u-pCEELgUWOhwkP/view
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Yang, H., Zhang, Y., Liang, J., Liu, J., Zhang, N., & Walker, P. D. (2018). Robust deadbeat predictive power control with a discrete-time disturbance observer for PWM rectifiers under unbalanced grid conditions. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 34(1), 287-300. Retrieved from: https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/125960/1/DPPC_DPDO_accept.pdf
Yang, J., Ren, F., Tadjer, M., Pearton, S. J., & Kuramata, A. (2018). 2300V reverse breakdown voltage Ga2O3 Schottky rectifiers. ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, 7(5), Q92. Retrieved from: http://ww2.che.ufl.edu/ren/paper/2018%20p2.pdf
Physics-and-radio-electronics (2022), Physics-and-radio-electronics, Available at: https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-circuits/rectifier/rectifier-whatisrectifier.html [Accessed on 10th June 2022]