EXPERIMENT NO.

Single Phase Uncontrolled Rectifiers

PURPOSE
To become familiar with single-phase uncontrolled rectifiers across resistive and
inductive loads with and without freewheeling diode.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE
Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the performance of single-phase half wave and full-wave
uncontrolled rectifiers.
2. Know and plot the input and output voltage and current waveforms.
3. Know the relation between the average output voltage.

INTRODUCTION

Half-Wave Rectification
A single-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier is a circuit that converts AC
voltage to DC voltage in half a cycle of the mains voltage. In a half-cycle rectifier
circuit, the power source will be connected in series with the load through Diode.
Working of half-wave uncontrolled rectifier: in the positive half-cycle, the diode
is forward biased. The diode works as a closed switch, allowing current to flow
through the load. In the negative half-cycle, the diode is reverse biased. The diode
works as an open switch, so no current flows in the circuit.
A half-wave rectifier is the most basic of the rectifier circuits. The advantage of
this circuit is that it is easy and inexpensive. The disadvantage of this circuit is low
voltage quality, and the average voltage will be smaller.

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 For applications that require small output voltage and power, a transformer can
be used to reduce the AC supply voltage. The circuit diagram using a transformer
shown below. The voltage in the secondary coil decreases with the ratio of the
transformer.

Fig. 1-1. Single-phase half-wave-uncontrolled rectifier with R load.

The average and rms load output voltage are given by

Vm
V 0. av= (1)
π
Vm
V 0.rms = (2)
2

Vm
I o .av = (3)
πR

2
 Vm
I 0.rms = (4)
2R

Full-Wave Rectification
Unlike the previous half-wave rectifier, the full-wave rectifier utilises both
halves of the input sinusoidal waveform to provide a unidirectional output. This is
because the full-wave rectifier basically consists of two half-wave rectifiers
connected together to feed the load.
The single phase full-wave rectifier does this by using four diodes arranged in a
bridge arrangement passing the positive half of the waveform as before but
inverting the negative half of the sine wave to create a pulsating DC output.
This bridge configuration of diodes provides full-wave rectification because at
any time two of the four diodes are forward biased while the other two are reverse
biased. Thus, there are two diodes in the conduction path instead of the single one
for the half-wave rectifier.

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 Fig. 1-2. Single-phase full-wave-uncontrolled rectifier with R load.
The average and rms load output voltage are given by
2Vm
V 0. av= (1)
π
Vm
V 0.rms = (2)
√2

2Vm
I o .av = (3)
πR
Vm
I 0.rms = (4)
√2 R
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
TECNEL Trainer module, Ammeters, Voltmeters, CRO, Patch cords, Rheostat,
inductor.

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PROCUDER:
1. Connect the circuit of single-phase half-wave-controlled rectifier as shown
in Fig. P1. Do not turn the power on yet!.
2. Have the instructor check your connections to be sure they are correct.
3. Turn ON the power supply.
4. Record the measurements of the output voltage and current in Table 1-1 of
Test results.
5. Record the input voltage and the output voltage and current waveforms.
6. Turn OFF the power supply
7. Change the load to a RL load as shown in Fig. P2 and record the output and
current voltage waveforms.
8. Turn OFF the power supply
9. Connect a smoothing capacitor across the load terminals as shown in Fig.
P3 and record the output voltage waveform.
10. Turn OFF the power supply.
11. Connect the circuit of single-phase full-wave-controlled rectifier as shown
in Figs. P4-1 and P4-2 and repeat the above steps.
12. Record the measurements of the output voltage and current in Table 1-2 of
Test results

TEST RESULTS
Table 1-1. Half-wave-uncontrolled rectifier.
Supply voltage (𝑽m) 120 V
Average output voltage (𝑉𝑜,𝑎𝑣) 38.22 V
Average output current (𝐼𝑜,𝑎𝑣) 38.22 mA
Effective output voltage (𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠) 60 V
Effective output current (𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠) 60 mA

Measured Voltage and Current Waveforms of Half-Wave Rectifier

Input voltage
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 V m =120V F=60 Hz

R=1 kΩC=100 µF

Output voltage with R load Output Current with R load

V m 120 Vm 120
V 0. av= = = 38.22 V I o .av = = =38.22 mA
π 3.14 πR 3.14(1000)
V m 120 Vm 120
V 0.rms = = =60 V I 0.rms = = =60 mA
2 2 2 R 2(1000)

Output Voltage with smoothing capacitor

V 0. av=95V

Table 1-2. Full wave-uncontrolled rectifier.

Supply voltage (𝑽m) 120 V

Average output voltage (𝑉𝑜,𝑎𝑣) 76.44 V
Average output current (𝐼𝑜,𝑎𝑣) 76.44 mA
Effective output voltage (𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠) 84.85 V
Effective output current (𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠) 84.85 mA

Measured Voltage and Current Waveforms of Full-Wave Rectifier

Input voltage

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 V m =120V F=60 Hz

R=1 kΩC=100 µF

Output voltage with R load Output Current with R load

2 V m 2(120) 2Vm 2(120)
V 0. av= = = 76.44 V I o .av = = =76.44 mA
π 3.14 πR 3.14 (1000)
V m 120 Vm 120
V 0.rms = = =84.85 V I 0.rms = =
√2 √ 2 √2 R √2 (¿ 1000)=84.85 mA ¿

Output Voltage with smoothing capacitor

V 0. av=11 4 .50 V

DISCUSIONS

1- We conclude that the efficiency of the rectifier circuit in the case of a

full-wave rectifier is twice the efficiency of the rectifier in the case of a
half-wave rectifier

2- We conclude that using the capacitor as a filter has reduced the ripples
in the outgoing wave and increased the average value of the voltage.

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3- It is possible to obtain a continuous current from an alternating current
using a complete and capacitor rectifier circuit

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