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Current in a Single-phase Full-wave Rectifier

Consider the following single-phase full-wave rectifier circuit shown in Figure 1. Figure
2 shows an equivalent model of the rectifier shown in Figure 1. The equivalent model
can be utilized to analyze output voltage and current.

Figure 1: A single-phase full-wave rectifier
i
o
v
BN
v
AN
N
V
C
L
R
+ -
v
o

Figure 2: An equivalent model of a single-phase full-wave rectifier

( (( ( ) )) ) t sin V v
i

1
2 = == = , ( (( ( ) )) ) t sin
n
V
v
AN

1
2
= == = and ( (( ( ) )) ) t sin
n
V
v
BN

1
2
= == =

First thing that we have to determine is: whether the output current is continuous or
discontinuous. To do this we have to analyze the output current during the first half-
cycle (for a half-wave rectifier we analyzed the output current during the first cycle) i.e.,
when the green thyristor in the equivalent model is conducting.
( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
t
L
R
A t
z
V
i
C

| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ + = == = exp sin
2

where ( (( ( ) )) )
2 2
L R z + ++ + = == = and | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
= == =

R
L
tan

1

At , = == = t 0 = == = i
( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
L
R
exp A sin
z
V
C
| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ + = == =


2
0
( (( ( ) )) )

= == = | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
sin
z
V
R
V
L
R
exp A
C
2

( (( ( ) )) ) | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |


) )) )

` `` `






= == =


L
R
exp sin
z
V
R
V
A
C
2

To determine whether the output current is continuous or discontinuous, check the value
of the first half-cycle current at + ++ + = == = t i.e., when the thyristor (red in the equivalent
model) in the next branch is fired.
Find: ( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
L
R
exp A sin
z
V
i
C
| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || | + ++ +
+ ++ + + ++ + = == =



2

If , 0 i then the current is discontinuous.
If , 0 > >> > i then the current is continuous.
If the current becomes zero before the conduction of the thyristor (red) in the next half-
cycle, we can conclude that the wave shape of all subsequent halves will be identical to
the first half. However, if the current is greater than zero when the thyristor (red) is fired
at + ++ + = == = t , it will take several half-cycles for the current to settle to a steady-state
wave shape.
If the current is continuous then each half-cycle current at steady-state will begin with the
same initial positive value (say, k).
( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
t
L
R
A t
z
V
i
C

| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ + = == = exp sin
2
........ (1)
At , = == = t k i = == =
( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
L
R
exp A sin
z
V
k
C
| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ + = == =


2

( (( ( ) )) ) | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |

( (( (
( (( (

( (( (




+ ++ + = == =


L
R
exp sin
z
V
R
V
k A
C
2
......... (2)
For a continuous current, it again becomes equal to k at + ++ + = == = t i.e.,
( (( ( ) )) )
R
V
L
R
exp A sin
z
V
k
C
| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || | + ++ +
+ ++ + + ++ + = == =



2
........ (3)
Solve Equations (2) and (3) for A and k.
( (( ( ) )) ) ( (( ( ) )) )
| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |

( (( (

( (( (



| || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ + | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ +
= == =


L
R
exp
L
R
exp
R
V
L
R
exp sin
z
V
sin
z
V
k
C
1
1
2 2

v
V 2
v
AN
v
BN
i
G1
i
G2
i
O
v
O
V
C
0
0
t
t
t
t
t

Figure 3: Discontinuous Current





v
v
AN
v
BN
i
G1
i
G2
i
O
v
O
V
C
0
0
t
t
t
t
t
V 2

Figure 4: Continuous Current





Case 1
. For the single-phase controlled rectifier shown in Figure 5 , L = 10 mH, R = 3 ,
V
c
= 48 V and = 40
0
. (a) Determine whether the load current is continuous or
discontinuous.
v t
i
= 240 2 120 sin V
R
L
v
o
V
c
+
-
+
-
1.4 : 1
v
i
i
o

Figure 5: A single-phase controlled rectifier.


377 := V
240
1.4
:= V
c
48 := R 3 := L 10 10
3
:=
X L := z R
2
X ( )
2
+ := atan
X
R
|

\
|
|

:= 57.3 51.493 =

First half-cycle calculations :

40
57.3
:= 0.899 = A
V
c
R
2 V
z
sin
( )

|

\
|
|

exp
R
L

\
|
|

:=
A 45.357 =
R
L
300 =
V
c
R
16 =
2 V
z
50.319 =
i
( )
2 V
z
sin
( )

V
c
R

\
|
|

A exp
R
L

\
|
|

+ :=
i +
( )
3.839 =
Therefore the current is discontinuous. Now you have to find out when the
current drops to zero.
3.14 := root i
( )
,
( )
:= 3.764 = 57.3 215.669 =


Case 2
. For the single-phase controlled rectifier shown in Figure 6 , L = 10 mH, R = 3 ,
V
c
= 24 V and = 40
0
. (a) Determine whether the load current is continuous or
discontinuous.
v t
i
= 240 2 120 sin V
R
L
v
o
V
c
+
-
+
-
1.4 : 1
v
i
i
o

Figure 6: A single-phase controlled rectifier.

377 := V
240
1.4
:= V
c
24 := R 3 := L 10 10
3
:=
X L := z R
2
X ( )
2
+ := atan
X
R
|

\
|
|

:= 57.3 51.493 =

A 38.068 =
A k
V
c
R
+
2V
z
sin
( )

|

\
|
|

exp
R
L

\
|
|

:=
At steady-state, the constant A has a different value:
k 3.818 =
k
2 V
z
sin +
( )

2 V
z
sin
( )
exp
R
L

\
|
|


V
c
R
exp
R
L

\
|
|

1
|

\
|
|

+
1 exp
R
L

\
|
|

:=
After several half-cycles at steady-state, each half-cylce current starts with
an initial value of
k
Therefore the current is continuous.
i +
( )
3.505 =
2 V
z
50.319 = i
( )
2 V
z
sin
( )

V
c
R

\
|
|

A exp
R
L

\
|
|

+ :=
R
L
300 =
V
c
R
8 = A 31.414 =
A
V
c
R
2 V
z
sin
( )

|

\
|
|

exp
R
L

\
|
|

:= 0.899 =
40
57.3
:=
First half-cycle calculations :

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