INSTITUTE of BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COLLEGE of ENGINEERING & SCIENCES

Semester Fall – 2021

Project Report

Full Wave Bridge Rectifier

Course Title: Power Electronics

Prepared by: Farman Ali (20192-25185)

Course Instructor: Dr. Zeeshan Shahid

Lab Instructor: Power Electronics

Date: 03-12-2021

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 ABSTRACT

The report below is set to deal with my project on Full wave Bridge Rectifier which used in its most common
application, for conversion of an alternating-current (AC) input into a direct-current (DC) output, it is known as
a bridge rectifier. A bridge rectifier provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input, resulting in lower
cost and weight as compared to a rectifier with a 3-wire input from a transformer with a center-tapped secondary
winding.[1]

The essential feature of a diode bridge is that the polarity of the output is the same regardless of the polarity at the
input. The diode bridge circuit was invented by Polish electrotechnician Karol Pollak and patented in December
1895 in Great Britain[2] and in January 1896 in Germany. [3][4] In 1897, the German physicist Leo
Graetz independently invented and published a similar circuit. [5][6] Today the circuit is sometimes referred to as
a Graetz circuit or Graetz bridge.

Prior to the availability of integrated circuits, a bridge rectifier was constructed from "discrete components", i.e.,
separate diodes. Since about 1950, a single four-terminal component containing the four diodes connected in a
bridge configuration became a standard commercial component and is now available with various voltage and
current ratings.
 Table of Contents

Contents Pg Page

1. ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………. 2
2. TABLE OF CONTENT…….…………………………………………………………. 3
3. INTRODUCTION……………………….……………………………………………. 4
Definition……………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Background…………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Details…..……………………………………………………………………………… 4
4. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND WAVEOUTPUT……………….……………………... 5
Components Required………………………………………………………………….. 6
5. WORKING PRINCIPAL…..………………………………………………………… 6
Circuit Analysis………………………………………………………………………… 7
6. CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………. 8
7. REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………. 8
 INTRODUCTION

Definition:
A Full wave rectifier is a circuit arrangement which makes use of both half cycles of input
alternating current (AC) and converts them to direct current (DC)
Background:
The diode bridge circuit was invented by Polish electrotechnician Karol Pollak and patented in
December 1895 in Great Britain and in January 1896 in Germany.
Details:

Like the half wave circuit, a full wave rectifier circuit produces an output voltage or current which is
purely DC or has some specified DC component. Full wave rectifiers have some fundamental advantages
over their half wave rectifier counterparts. The average (DC) output voltage is higher than for half wave,
the output of the full wave rectifier has much less ripple than that of the half wave rectifier producing a
smoother output waveform.
In a Full Wave Rectifier circuit two diodes are now used, one for each half of the cycle. A multiple
winding transformer is used whose secondary winding is split equally into two halves with a common
centre tapped connection, (C). This configuration results in each diode conducting in turn when its anode
terminal is positive with respect to the transformer centre point C producing an output during both half-
cycles, twice that for the half wave rectifier so it is 100% efficient.
The full wave rectifier circuit consists of two power diodes connected to a single load resistance (RL) with
each diode taking it in turn to supply current to the load. When point A of the transformer is positive with
respect to point C, diode D1 conducts in the forward direction as indicated by the arrows.
When point B is positive (in the negative half of the cycle) with respect to point C, diode D2 conducts in
the forward direction and the current flowing through resistor R is in the same direction for both half-
cycles. As the output voltage across the resistor R is the phasor sum of the two waveforms combined, this
type of full wave rectifier circuit is also known as a “bi-phase” circuit.
Circuit Diagram and Wave Input/Output:
Required Components:

 Diodes x 4
 Transformer x 1
 Resistor x 1
 Capacitor x 1
 LED x 1
 12V DC Motor

WORKING PRINCIPAL

The working & operation of a full wave bridge rectifier is pretty simple.  The circuit diagrams and
waveforms we have given below will help you understand the operation of a bridge rectifier perfectly.  In
the circuit diagram, 4 diodes are arranged in the form of a bridge. The transformer secondary is connected
to two diametrically opposite points of the bridge at points A & C.  The load resistance RL  is connected to
bridge through points B and D.

During the first half cycle:

During the first half cycle of the input voltage, the upper end of the transformer secondary winding is
positive with respect to the lower end. Thus during the first half cycle diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased
and current flows through arm AB, enters the load resistance RL, and returns back flowing through arm
DC. During this half of each input cycle, the diodes D2 and D4 are reverse biased and current is not allowed
to flow in arms AD and BC. The flow of current is indicated by solid arrows in the figure above. We have
developed another diagram below to help you understand the current flow quickly. See the diagram below
– the green arrows indicate the beginning of current flow from the source (transformer secondary) to the
load resistance. The red arrows indicate the return path of current from load resistance to the source, thus
completing the circuit.   

During the second half cycle:

During the second half cycle of the input voltage, the lower end of the transformer secondary winding is
positive with respect to the upper end. Thus diodes D2 and D4 become forward biased and current flows
through arm CB, enters the load resistance RL,  and returns back to the source flowing through arm DA.
The flow of current has been shown by dotted arrows in the figure. Thus the direction of flow of current
through the load resistance RL remains the same during both half cycles of the input supply voltage.  See
the diagram below – the green arrows indicate the beginning of current flow from the source (transformer
secondary) to the load resistance. The red arrows indicate the return path of current from load resistance
to the source, thus completing the circuit.

Circuit Analysis:

The only difference in the analysis between full wave and centre tap rectifier is that

o In a bridge rectifier circuit, two diodes conduct during each half cycle and the forward resistance
becomes double (2RF).
o In a bridge rectifier circuit, Vsmax is the maximum voltage across the transformer secondary
winding whereas in a centre tap rectifier Vsmax represents that maximum voltage across each half
of the secondary winding.
 CONCLUSION

This report was set to deal with our Project on full wave bridge rectifier and we came to find that the
Bridge rectifier is used for high voltage application. For the same secondary voltage, the output voltage is
twice that of the centre trapped full wave rectifier.
At the same time some disadvantages are there. Here two extra diodes are required and voltage regulation
is not satisfactory. The bridge rectifier with filter section is constructed. A.C and D.C voltages are
measured for efficiency is calculated.

REFERENCES

1 https://www.circuitstoday.com/full-wave-bridge-rectifier#:~:text=A%20Full%20wave
%20rectifier%20is,to%20direct%20current%20(DC).&text=The%20second%20method%20uses
%20a,known%20as%20a%20Bridge%20Rectifier.
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode_bridge