Pi Filter

Definition: Pi filter consists of a shunt capacitor at the input side, and it

is followed by an L-section filter. The output from the rectifier is directly
given across capacitor. The pulsating DC output voltage is filtered first by
the capacitor connected at the input side and then by choke coil and then
by another shunt capacitor.

The construction arrangement of all the components resembles the shape

of Greek letter Pi (π). Thus it is called Pi filter. Besides, the capacitor is
present at the input side. Thus, it is also called capacitor input filter.

❖ Significance of Capacitor input filter or Pi filter (π- filter)

The ultimate aim of a filter is to achieve ripple free DC voltage. The filters
we have discussed in our previous articles are also efficient in removing AC
ripples from the output voltage of rectifier, but Pi filter is more efficient in
removing ripples as it consists of one more capacitor at the input side.

Working of Pi filter (π- filter)

The output voltage coming from rectifier also consist of AC components.
Thus it is a crucial need to remove these AC ripples to improve the
performance of the device. The output from the rectifier is directly applied
to the input capacitor. The capacitor provides a low impedance to AC
ripples present in the output voltage and high resistance to DC voltage.
Therefore, most of the AC ripples get bypassed through the capacitor in
input stage only.
The residual AC components which are still present in filtered DC signal
gets filtered when they pass through the inductor coil and through the
capacitor connected parallel across the load. In this way, the efficiency of
filtering increases multiple times.

In the case of L-section filter, one inductor and capacitor were present so if
some AC ripples say 1% is left after filtering that can be removed in Pi-filter.
Thus, Pi filter is considered more efficient.

Characteristics of Pi filter (π- filter)

The Pi filter has the characteristics to generate a high output voltage at low
current drains. In pi-filters, the major filtering action is accomplished by the
capacitor at input C1. The residual AC ripples are filtered by inductor coil L
and capacitor C2.

The high voltage is obtained at the output of Pi filter, the reason behind this
high voltage output is that the entire input voltage appears across the input
capacitor C1. The voltage drop across choke coil and capacitor C2 is quite
small.

Thus, this is the advantage of Pi capacitor that it provides high voltage

gain. But in addition to this high output voltage, the voltage regulation of
Pi filter is very poor. This is because the output voltage drops rapidly with
the increase in current flowing through the load.
Apart from the above-mentioned disadvantage, its most crucial advantage
is low ripple factor.

❖ Advantages of Pi filter (π- filter)

High Output Voltage: If you are dealing with the application which
requires high output voltage after filtering, then this is the filter you should
use. Pi filter’s significance is that it offers low voltage drop across choke
coil and capacitor C2 in order to main high output voltage across its output
terminals

Low Ripple factor: Due to the involvement of 2 capacitors in addition with

one inductor it provides improved filtering action. This leads to decrement
in ripple factor. A low ripple factor means the ratio of current due to AC
ripples and direct Current is low. Thus, a low ripples factor signifies
regulated and ripple free DC voltage.

High PIV: The peak inverse voltage in the case of Pi filters is more in
comparison to L-section filter.

❖ Disadvantage of Pi filter (π- filter)

Poor Voltage Regulation: We have discussed above that the output
voltage varies with the load current. Thus, this capacitor is not suitable for
varying loads. In an application where load current varies, pi filters are not
suitable. Thus, in such application, we can use L-section filters as its output
voltage do not vary largely with load current.
❖ Application of Pi filter (π- filter)
These are used in communication devices for retrieving the particular signal
after modulation. In transmission, the signal is modulated into multiples of
high frequency. While on the receiver side, filters are used to demodulate
the particular range of frequency.

➢ Why Do We Need Filters?

The ripple in the signal denotes the presence of some AC component. This
ac component has to be completely removed in order to get pure dc output.
So, we need a circuit that smoothens the rectified output into a pure dc
signal.
A filter circuit is one which removes the ac component present in the
rectified output and allows the dc component to reach the load.
The following figure shows the functionality of a filter circuit.

A filter circuit is constructed using two main components, inductor and

capacitor. We have already studied in Basic Electronics tutorial that
• An inductor allows dc and blocks ac.
• A capacitor allows ac and blocks dc.
Let us try to construct a few filters, using these two components.
➢ What is series inductor filter?
Series Inductor Filter – An inductor opposes any change in the current flowing
through it. Whenever the current through an inductor tends to change, a back emf
is induced in it. This prevents the change in current.
The operation of a series inductor filter depends upon the current through it. The
higher the current flowing through it, the better is its filtering action. An increase
in load current reduces the ripples.
Series Inductor Filter
As an inductor allows dc and blocks ac, a filter called Series Inductor
Filter can be constructed by connecting the inductor in series, between the
rectifier and the load. The figure below shows the circuit of a series inductor

filter.
The rectified output when passed through this filter, the inductor blocks the
ac components that are present in the signal, in order to provide a pure dc.
This is a simple primary filter.
➢ What is a shunt capacitor filter?
The shunt capacitor filters use the property of capacitor which blocks DC and
provides low resistance to AC. Thus, AC ripples can bypass through the capacitor. If
the value of capacitance of the capacitor is high, then it will offer very low impedance to
AC and extremely high impedance to DC.
Shunt Capacitor Filter
As a capacitor allows ac through it and blocks dc, a filter called Shunt
Capacitor Filter can be constructed using a capacitor, connected in shunt,
as shown in the following figure.

The rectified output when passed through this filter, the ac components
present in the signal are grounded through the capacitor which allows ac
components. The remaining dc components present in the signal are
collected at the output.
The above filter types discussed are constructed using an inductor or a
capacitor. Now, let’s try to use both of them to make a better filter. These
are combinational filters.
❖ Half Wave Rectifier with Capacitor Filter
The main function of half wave rectifier is to change the AC (Alternating current)
into DC (Direct Current). However, the acquired output DC is not pure and it is an
exciting DC. This DC is not constant and varies with time. Whenever this changing
DC is given to any type of electronic device, then it may not function correctly,
and that may get damaged. Due to this reason, it will not be applicable in most of
the applications.
Thus, we require a DC that does not change with time. To overcome this problem
and to get a smooth DC, there will be solutions namely filter. The energetic DC
mainly includes both AC & DC components. So here filter is used to remove or
reduce the AC components at the output. The filter can be built with components
like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. The circuit diagram of half wave
rectifier using a capacitor filter is shown above. This circuit is built with a resistor
and capacitor. Here, the connection of the capacitor ‘C’ is in shunt with the ‘RL’
load resistor.

Whenever AC voltage is applied to the circuit throughout the positive half cycle,
then the diode lets the flow of current through it. We know that the capacitor
gives high-resistive lane to DC components as well as low-resistive lane to AC
components. The flow of current always chooses to supply through a low
resistance lane. So when the flow of current gets the filter, the ac components
experience a low-resistance and dc components experience a high-resistance
from the capacitor. The DC components flow through the load resistor (low
resistance path).
Throughout the conduction time, the capacitor gets charged to the highest value
of the voltage supply. As the voltage among the two plates of the capacitor is
equivalent to the voltage supply, then it is said to be completely charged. When it
gets charged then it holds the supply until the supply of i/p AC toward the
rectifier achieves the negative half cycle.
Once the rectifier reaches to negative half cycle, the diode acquires reverse
biased & stops letting the flow of current through it. Throughout this, the supply
voltage is low then the voltage of a capacitor. Thus the capacitor releases all the
stored current through the RL. This stops the o/p load voltage from falling to nil.
 ❖ What is the operation of full wave rectifier with shunt capacitor
filter?
The working of the full wave rectifier with filter is almost similar to that of the half
wave rectifier with filter. The only difference is that in the half wave rectifier only
one half cycle (either positive or negative) of the input AC current will charge the
capacitor but the remaining half cycle will not charge the capacitor. But in full
wave rectifier, both positive and negative half cycles of the input AC current will
charge the capacitor.
The main duty of the capacitor filter is to short the ripples to the ground and
blocks the pure DC (DC components), so that it flows through the alternate path
and reaches output load resistor RL.
When input AC voltage is applied, during the positive half cycle, the diode D1 is
forward biased and allows electric current whereas the diode D 2 is reverse biased
and blocks electric current. On the other hand, during the negative half cycle the
diode D2 is forward biased (allows electric current) and the diode D1 is reverse
biased (blocks electric current).

When the AC voltage starts decreasing and becomes less than the capacitor
voltage, then the capacitor starts slowly discharging.
The discharging of the capacitor is very slow as compared to the charging of the
capacitor. So the capacitor does not get enough time to completely discharged.
Before the complete discharge of the capacitor happens, the charging again takes
place. So only half or more than half of the capacitor charge get discharged.
When the input AC supply voltage reaches the negative half cycle, the diode D 1 is
reverse biased (blocks electric current) whereas the diode D2 is forward biased
(allows electric current).
During the negative half cycle, the diode (D2) current reaches the filter and charges
the capacitor. However, the charging of the capacitor happens only when the
applied AC voltage is greater than the capacitor voltage.
The capacitor is not completely uncharged, so the charging of the capacitor does
not happens immediately. When the supply voltage becomes greater than the
capacitor voltage, the capacitor again starts charging.
In both positive and negative half cycles, the current flows in the same direction
across the load resistor RL. So we get either complete positive half cycles or
negative half cycles. In our case, they are complete positive half cycles.

❖ L-C Filter
A filter circuit can be constructed using both inductor and capacitor in order
to obtain a better output where the efficiencies of both inductor and capacitor
can be used. The figure below shows the circuit diagram of a LC filter.

The rectified output when given to this circuit, the inductor allows dc
components to pass through it, blocking the ac components in the signal.
Now, from that signal, few more ac components if any present are grounded
so that we get a pure dc output.
This filter is also called as a Choke Input Filter as the input signal first enters
the inductor. The output of this filter is a better one than the previous ones.