Delhi Public School

Half-Wave
Rectifier

Name : Aksh Sujanani

Class : XII-D
Roll no : 04
Year :2022-23
 Acknowledgement
The project could have never been possible without the
support of various sources. It is extremely impossible to thank
every individual who has helped me in completing this
project. Some people have helped in the basic formularization
and there were sources that helped me in giving the ideas a
physical form/shape. I am extremely grateful to my mentor,
Mr. Mohammad Akram for his invaluable guidance in the
project right from the beginning. His vital support helped the
project to take a logical and suitable shape. I take this
opportunity to thank the School authorities, for extending
their full support and cooperation in the project. Last but not
the least; I would like to thank everyone who has ofered a
helping hand when required.
 Index
S.No Content Page No.

1. Introduction 4
2. History 5
3. Aim 6
4. Theory 6
5. Circuit Diagram 8
6. Connection Details 8
7. Working 9
8. Some Basics 11
9. Materials Required 14
10. Procedure 15
11. Observations 16
12. Calculations 16
13. Conclusion 17
14. Precautions 18
15. Sources of Errors 18
16. Bibliography 19
 Introduction
Although in our daily life we use A.C. current devices. But rectifier is a
Electronic device which converts A.C. power into D.C. power.
The study of the junction diode characteristics reveals that the junction diode
offers a low resistance path, when forward biased, and a high resistance path,
when reverse biased. This feature of the junction diode enables it to be used
as a rectifier.

The alternating signals provides opposite kind of biased voltage at the

junction after each half-cycle. If the junction is forward biased in the first
half-cycle, its gets reverse biased in the second half. It results in the flow of
forward current in one direction only and thus the signal gets rectified. In
other words, we can say, when an alternating e.m.f. signal is applied across a
junction diode, it will conduct only during those alternate half cycles, which
biased it in forward direction.

There are two types of Rectifiers:

1. Full- Wave Rectifier
2. Half- Wave Rectifier

Full- Wave Rectifier Half- Wave Rectifier

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*In this report we are going to talk about Half Wave Rectifier
 History
From the 1880’s rectifiers have created an identity and a field in of itself. The
evolution of rectifiers has created methods for power electronics. This first
diode used in a rectifier circuit was created in 1883. C.T. Fritts used
selenium to create this two terminal element. Selenium, or Se is a nonmetal
that rarely occurs in an elemental state, or as a pure ore. Discovered by Jons
Hacob Berezelius, selenium is used in a few of today’s DC power surge
protectors.
With the introduction of vacuum diodes, introduced in the early 1900’s,
rectifiers were limited. A vacuum diode is a direct that has an electron valve
that supports the current flow through only one direction. The thermionic
vacuum tube diode, originally called the Fleming valve, was invented by
John Ambrose Fleming in 1904 as a detector for radio waves in radio
receivers, and evolved into a general rectifier.
With adaptations like mercury arc tubes, rectifiers allowed for multi-
megawatt power levels. In 1904 Charles Proetus Steinmetz published a
paper on wave forms, and duplication of wave forms in the rectifying system.
Vacuum diodes are limited by low current density.

John Ambrose Fleming Jons Hacob Berezelius Charles Proteus Steinmetz

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 AIM
“To construct a Half-wave rectifier and to determine the current
by mesuaring voltage and resistance using it”

Principle:
It is based upon the principle that junction diode offers low resistance path
when forward biased, and high resistance when reverse biased.

Theory
The half – wave rectifier circuit is made by using a semiconductor with a
load resistance. The diode is connected in series with the secondary of the
transformer and the local resistance. The primary of the transformer is being
connected to the AC supply mains.

The AC voltage across the secondary winding changes polarities after every
half – cycle
of the input AC voltage, i.e. , when upper end of the secondary winding is
positive w.r.t its lower end , the diode is forward biased and therefore
conducts current. If the forward resistance of the diode is assumed to be zero
(in practice, however, a small resistance exists) the input voltage during the
positive half-cycles is directly applied to the load resistance making its upper
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end positive w.r.t its lower end. The waveforms of the current and output
voltage are of the same shape as that of the input AC voltage.

During the negative half-cycles of the input AC voltage ,i.e., when the lower
end of the seconadry winding its positive w.r.t its upper end, the diode is
reverse biased and so does not conduct. Thus during the negative half-cycles
of the input AC voltage, the current through and voltage across the load
remains zero. The reverse current, being very small in magnitude, is
delivered to the load.

Thus the output voltage (VL) developed across load resistance is a series of
positive half-cycles of alternating voltage, with intervening very small
constant negative voltage levels, It is obvious from the figure that the output
is not a steady dc, but only pulsating dc wave. To make the output wave
smooth and useful in a DC power supply, we have to use a filter across the
load. Since only half-cycles of the imput wave are used, it is called a half-
wave rectifier.

A constant output voltage from the DC power supply is very important as it

directly impacts the reliability of the electronic device we connect to the
power supply. We can make th output of half wave rectifier smooth by using
filter (a capacitor filter or an inductor filter) across the diode. In some cases
an resistor – capacitor coupeled filter (RC) is also used.

Advantages of Half – Wave rectifier:

1. Half – Wave rectifier requires only a single rectifier to work .
2. Half – Wave rectifier is significantly cheap.

Disadvantages of Half – Wave rectifier:

1. Half Wave rectification involves a lot of wastage of energy and hence is
not preferred.
2. Some small currents flows during reverse bias due to minority charge
carriers.
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 as the output across is negligible.

Circuit Diagram

Connection details
Connections are done as in the circuit. The A.C. supply is given to both the
input wires of the transformer and the two ends of the secondary coil is given
to the P side of the two diodes and the N side of the diodes are twined and
then connected to one end of the capacitor and the other end to the center tap
lead and to the resistor. Further, the other end of capacitor with the diode
connect ion is connected to the other end of the resistor. Connections are
done as in the circuit. The A.C. supply is given to both the input wires of the
transformer and the two ends of the secondary coil is given to the P side of
the two diode and the N side of the diode are then connected to one end of
the capacitor and the other end to the center tap lead and to the resistor.

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Further, the other end of capacitor with the diode connection is connected to
the other end of the resistor.

Working
Let us understand how a half-wave rectifier transforms AC into DC.
1. A high AC voltage is applied to the primary side of the step-down
transformer. The obtained secondary low voltage is applied to the diode.
2. A high AC voltage is applied to the primary side of the step-down
transformer. The obtained secondary low voltage is applied to the diode.
For better understanding, let us simplify the half-wave circuit by replacing
the secondary transformer coils with a voltage source as shown below:

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When the diode is forward biased, it acts as a closed switch. But, during the
negative half cycle of the AC source voltage, the equivalent circuit becomes
as shown in the figure below :

When a diode is reverse biased, it acts as an open switch. Since no current

can flow to the load, the output voltage is equal to zero.

Half Wave Rectifier Waveform

The half - wave rectifier waveform before and after rectification is shown
below in the figure:

Half Wave Rectifier Capacitor Filter

The output waveform of a half-wave rectifier is a pulsating DC waveform.
Filters in half-wave rectifiers are used to transform the pulsating waveform
into constant DC waveforms. A capacitor or an inductor can be used as a
filter.

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 Some Basics
Peak Inverse Voltage:
When the input voltage reaches its maximum value Vm during the negative
half cycle the voltage across the diode id also maximum. This maximum
voltage is known as the peak inverse voltage. Thus for a for half rectifier:
PIV = Vm
Let Vi be the voltage to the primary of the transformer Vi is given by:
Vi = Vm sinωt , Vm>>Vr
where Vr is the cut in voltage of the diode.

Ripple Factor:
Ripple factor is defined as the ratio of rms value of AC component to DC
component in the output.
Ripple Factor , r = RMS value of component /dc value of the
component
r = Vrms/Vdc
r = √(V2ms ) - (V2dc)
r = √[Vms / Vdc]2 – 1

Efficiency:
Efficiency, η is the ratio of the dc output power to ac input power

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Thus, η = dc output power/ac input power = Pdc/Pac
(V2/RI)/( Vrms2/RI) =[Vm/π]]2/[Vm/2]2 = 4/π]2 = 0.406
= 40.6%

Transformer Utilization Factor:

Transformer Utilization Factor , TUF can be used to determine the rating of a
transformer secondary.
TUF = Ps/Vs
In half-wave rectifier the rated voltage of the transformer secondary Vm/√2.
But actually the RMS current flowing through the winding is only Im/2.
TUF = [I2mRI/π]2] / [Vm/√2 × Im /2]
= [Vm2/π]2 × 1/RI] / [Vm √2 ×Vm/2RI]
= 2√2 /π]² = 0.287
Vav the average or the do content of the voltage across the load is given by
Vav = Vdc
= 1/2[∫0 π] Vm sinωt d(ωt) + ∫0 2π] 0·d(ωt)]d(ωt)]
= Vm/ 2π] [-cos ωt]π]0 = Vm/ π]
Idc = V/ RI = Im/ π]

P.T.O...

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RMS voltage at the local resistance can be calculated as:
Vms = [(1/2π]) ∫0 π] V2m sin2ωt ·d(ωt)] d(wt)]½
= [(1/4π]) ∫0 π](1-cos2ωt) ·d(ωt)] d(ωt)]½ = Vm/2
r = √[(Vm/2) / (Vm/π])]2 – 1 = √[π]/2]2 =1.21

Form Factor:
Form factor (F.F) is the ratio between RMS value and average value, as
shown in the formula below:
F.F = rms value / average value
= [Vm/2] / [Vm/π]]
= π]/ 2
= 1.57
The form factor of a half wave rectifier is equal to 1.57 (i.e. F.F= 1.57).

Peak Factor:
Peak factor is given by:
Peak factor = Peak value / rms value
= Vm / [Vm/2]
=2

P.T.O….

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Applications of Half-Wave Rectifier:
Here are a few common applications of half wave rectifiers:
1. They are used for signal demodulation purpose
2. They are used for rectification applications
3. They are used for signal peak applications

Materials Required:
S.No Name Quantity
1. Step Down Transformer 1
2. Capacitor 1
3. LED 1
4. Connecting Wires 35 cm
5. Diode(1N4007) 1
4. Insulating Tape 1 Roll
5. Plug 1
6. Cardboard / Thermacol 1 sheet
7. Resistor 1

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 Procedure
i. Take a AC Supply and connect it to switch.
ii. Connect the terminal part of the AC to the p part of the diode using
wire.
iii.Now Connectthe other part of the AC terminal to the Capacitor.
iv. Connect the n-part of the diode to the capacitor.
v. Connect the both ends of a capacitor to the resistance box.
vi.Place a connection between voltmeter and resitance box by joining the
terminals of voltometer.
vii. Now power on the switch and find out the resultant voltage by
changing the resistance box.
viii. Calculate the current by measuring the mean voltage and
resistance using ohm's law.

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 Observations
RESISTANCE(in ohm) VOLT(in V)

1 0.7
2 1.1
3 1.4
4 1.6
5 1.8

Calculations
Mean , v = (0.7 + 1.1 + 1.4 + 1.6 + 1.8) / 5 = 1.32 V
Mean , R = (1+2+3+4+5) / 5 = 3 ohm

Current , I = v/R
= 1.32 / 3
= 0.264 Ampere

Result:
The average current produced by the Half-wave rectifier = 0.264 Ampere

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 Conclusion
A Half-wave rectifier is rarely used in practice. It is never preferred as the
power supply of an audio circuit because of the very high ripple factor. High
ripple factor will result in noises in input audio signal , which inturn will
affect audio quality.
Advantage of this rectifier is only that its cheap, simple and easy to construct.
It is cheap because of the low number of components involved. Simple
because of the straight forwardness in circuit design.
Measuring the mean current flow helps us to understand the amount of AC
passed through the circuit.

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 Precautions
 DO NOT SWITCH ON THE CIRCUIT BEFORE CHECKING
WHEATHER IT IS CORRECT OR NOT.
 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN VOLTMETER AND RESISTANCE
BOX SHOULD BE MADE CORRECTLY.
 CONNECT ALL THE WIRES PROPERLY. LOOSE CONNECTION
MAY END UP IN FAILURE OF CIRCUIT.
 CAPACITOR OF LESS VOLT MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE
DIODE

Sources of Error
 The p and in parts of the diode may be changed.
 The wire connection may be loose.

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 Bibliography
➢ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
➢ Google Images
➢ NCERT Physics Class – 12
➢ https://byjus.com/physics/half-wave-rectifier/
➢ http://www.physics-and-radio electronics.com/electronic-devices-and
➢ http://www.electronics tutorials.ws/diode/diode_5.html
➢ http://www.circuitstoday.com/half-wave rectifiers

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