Power Electronics

Lab 3—Three-Phase Rectifier

INTRODUCTION
• The lab work is to be done in teams of two or three following the instructions in this
document. Each team is required to submit a written post-lab report within two weeks
after the lab. Post-Lab Reports must be completed in the teams of two or three students
that performed the Lab experimentation together.
• Students should attend their designated lab sessions unless they have received prior
permission from the unit coordinator or lab demonstrator to attend an alternate session.
• The post-lab report is to be submitted by each team, including answers to the questions
in Section 1.4 “Hardware Experiment”, Section1.5 “Discussions”of this document. Where
an individual person has done the lab part alone, that person may prepare and submit
the post-lab analysis either individually or join with a group of two to make three.

All answers must clearly indicate the question number being answered

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 You may need the some additional equations for the calculations.

𝐸r_rms
ripple factor =
𝐸avg
RMS voltage of ripple 𝐸r_rms = 2
𝐸rms − 𝐸a2vg
𝐸rms : RMS voltage; 𝐸avg : average voltage

For full − wave rectifier:

𝜋 𝜋
3 6 2 𝑑(𝜔𝑡)
3 6 2
𝐸𝑜,rms = න 𝑒 𝜔𝑡 = න 2 3𝐸𝐿−𝑁,rms cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑑(𝜔𝑡) ≈ 1.6554 × 2𝐸𝐿−𝑁,rms
𝜋 −𝜋 𝑜 𝜋 −𝜋
6 6

For half − wave rectifier:

𝜋 𝜋
3 3 2 𝑑(𝜔𝑡)
3 3 2
𝐸𝑜,rms = න 𝑒 𝜔𝑡 = න 2𝐸𝐿−𝑁,rms cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑑(𝜔𝑡) ≈ 1.1889𝐸𝐿−𝑁,rms
2𝜋 −𝜋 𝑜 2𝜋 −𝜋
3 3

Average values are given in the text below.

You can also directly measure the RMS and average values from the oscilloscopes or meters.
1 THREE-PHASE DIODE RECTIFIER
1.1 Background

Rectifiers are power electronic circuits that convert ac power into unidirectional dc power.
In this lab, we examine diode rectifiers. For a given ac input voltage, the output is a
relatively fixed voltage. Therefore, diode rectifiers are also referred to as uncontrolled
rectifiers. Rectifiers have many applications where we require a dc power supply for
electrical loads (e.g. dc motors) when the available input power source is ac.
1.2 Objective

The aims of this laboratory are:

• to examine the waveforms of the output voltage and current of single-phase full-wave
diode rectifiers with different output filtering,
• to correlate the measured load voltage and current magnitudes expressed in average
and/or RMS values with those calculated, and
• To investigate the effectiveness of the capacitor in reducing the ripple in the output
voltage.
1.3 Theoretical Prediction

Three-phase half-wave rectifier (positive-polarity output)

A three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive-polarity output converts three-phase ac
voltage into positive dc voltage. The rectifier consists of three diodes connected between
a three-phase ac power source and a load (resistor R), as Figure 1 shows.

Terminals
1, 2, and 3

ac power
source

R EO

Figure 1 Three-phase half-wave rectifier (positive-polarity output)

The three-phase half-wave rectifier output voltage EO is the voltage measured at point X

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 with respect to the neutral terminal N of the three-phase ac power source, i.e., EO = EX-N.
The voltage and current waveforms of the rectifier are shown in Figure 2. The average
output voltage Eo,avg of a positive-polarity half-wave three-phase rectifier is:
3 𝜋/3 3√3
𝐸o,avg = ∫ √2𝐸L-N, rms cos(𝜔𝑡) 𝑑(𝜔𝑡) = √2𝐸L-N, rms
2𝜋 −𝜋/3 2𝜋
𝐸o,avg ≈ 0.827𝐸L-N, max or 0.6752𝐸L-L, rms (1a)

Figure 2 Voltage and current waveforms for three-phase half-wave rectifier with resistive loads

Three-phase half-wave rectifier (negative-polarity output)

A three-phase half-wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output converts three-phase ac
voltage into negative dc voltage. Figure 3 shows the circuit diagram of a three-phase half-
wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output. The circuit is identical to that studied in the
previous section of this discussion, except that the diodes are connected in the opposite
direction. Its operation is thus very similar to that of the three-phase half-wave rectifier
with a positive-polarity output, and its average output voltage Eo,avg is:
3√3
𝐸o,avg = − √2𝐸L-L, rms ≈ −0.6752𝐸L-L, rms or − 0.827𝐸L-N, max .
2𝜋 (1b)

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 Terminals
1, 2, and 3

ac power
source

R EO = EY-N

Figure 3 Three-phase half-wave rectifier (negative-polarity output)

Note that the phase angle intervals during which the diodes conduct current in the three-
phase half-wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output differ from the phase angle
intervals during which the diodes conduct in the three-phase rectifier with a positive-
polarity output. This causes the pulses in the output voltage of the three-phase half-wave
rectifier with a negative-polarity output to be offset 60° with respect to the pulses in the
output voltage of the three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive-polarity output.

Three-phase full-wave rectifier

(a) (b)
Figure 4 Three-phase full-wave rectifier

The three-phase full-wave rectifier, also called a three-phase bridge rectifier, is the most
commonly used in industrial applications. The circuit can be viewed as a combination of

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a three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive-polarity output and a three-phase half-
wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output, as Figure 4(a) shows. This circuit can be
redrawn as shown in Figure 4(b). Terminal N is the neutral conductor of the source. The
output voltage EO of the three-phase full-wave rectifier is equal to the sum of EX-N + EN-Y
(or EX-N - EY-N). The rectifier output voltage waveform is, therefore, a pulsating positive
voltage made of six pulses per cycle. The average current flowing to or from the neutral
terminal N is null. Therefore, the neutral (N) conductor of the three-phase source is not
required for the operation of the three-phase full-wave rectifier. The rectifier can be
redrawn without the neutral conductor as shows in. Figure 5, where the load resistors (R1
+ R2 in Figure 4) have been replaced by a single resistor R.

terminals

Figure 5 Three-phase full-wave rectifier without the neutral conductor

As shown in Figure 6, the ripple amplitude in the output voltage and current of a three-
phase full-wave rectifier is lower than that observed in a three-phase half-wave rectifier.
Also, the ripple frequency is twice that observed in a three-phase half-wave rectifier.
Therefore, three-phase full-wave rectifiers are preferred to three-phase half-wave rectifiers
because they provide a smoother output voltage and current.
The average output voltage Eo,avg of a three-phase full-wave rectifier is:
3 𝜋/6
𝐸o,avg = ∫ √2𝐸L-L, rms cos(𝜔𝑡) 𝑑(𝜔𝑡) ≈ 1.35𝐸L-L, rms or 1.65𝐸L-N, max
𝜋 −𝜋/6 (2)

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Exercise 1—Three-phase diode rectifier

Figure 6 Voltage and current waveform of three-phase full-wave rectifier with resistive loads

Dual-polarity dc power supply

Positive terminal

D1 D2 D3 EX_N

EL-L

EY-N
D4 D5 D6

Negative terminal

Figure 7 Dual-polarity dc power supply

The three-phase full-wave rectifier configuration in Figure 7 shows that a dual-polarity dc

power supply can be obtained by simply using the positive (EX-N) and negative (EY-N)
voltages produced by the rectifier separately. This requires the use of the neutral conductor
of the ac power source as it serves as the common point of the dual-polarity dc power
supply.

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1.4 Hardware Experiment

High voltages are present in this laboratory exercise. Do not make of modify any
banana jack connections with the power on unless otherwise specified.

Setup and connections

In this part of the exercise, you will set up and connect the equipment.

Table 1: List of Equipment for exercise 1

Model Description Qty.
8131 Workstation 1
8311-0A Resistive Load 1
8823 Power Supply 1
8842-A Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors 1
8951-L Connection Leads 1
8990 Personal Computer 1
9063-C Data Acquisition and Control Interface 1
30004-2 24V AC Power Supply 1

1.1 Refer to the Table 1 to obtain the list of equipment required to perform the exercise.

1.2 Make sure that the ac and dc power switches on the Power Supply are set to the O
(off) position, then connect the Power Supply to a three-phase ac power outlet.

1.3 Connect the Power Input of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface to a 24V ac
power supply. Turn the 24 V ac power supply on.

1.4 Connect the USB port of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface to a USB port
of the host computer.

1.5 Turn the host computer on, then start the LVDAC-EMS software. In the LVDAC-
EMS Start-Up window, make sure that the Data Acquisition and Control Interface is
detected. Make sure that the Computer-Based Instrumentation function for the Data
Acquisition and Control Interface is available.
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 Select the “230V/50Hz” for the network voltage and frequency option then click
the OK button to close the LVDAC-EMS Start-Up window.

Important: Power must be turned off before you make any connection.

Three-phase half-wave rectifier (positive-polarity output)

1.6 Set up the circuit shown in Figure 8. In this circuit, ES is the three-phase ac power
source of the Power Supply, Model 8823. E1 through E4 and I1 through I4 are
voltage and current inputs of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface. The three
diodes are those in the Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors module. Resistor R is
implemented with the Resistive Load module. Refer to Appendix A for switch
settings and connection of the resistive load module to obtain the desired resistance.

Figure 8 Three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive-polarity output

1.7 Ask the Lab Demonstrator to check your wiring. After your wiring has been checked,
turn the Power Supply on by setting the ac power switch to I (on).

The power rating of resistor R in the circuit diagram of Figure 8 is exceeded

significantly. Do not leave the ac power source on for periods longer than 10
minutes to avoid excessive heating of the resistors in the Resistive Load module.

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1.8 In LVDAC-EMS, start the Oscilloscope and make the necessary settings to display
the phase voltages (E1, E2, and E3) and phase currents (I1, I2, and I3) of the three-
phase ac power source on channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Also, display the
rectifier output current (I4) and rectifier output voltage (E4) on channels 7 and 8,
respectively. Make sure that the time base is set to display at least two cycles of the
sine waves.

The phase currents delivered by the source, which are respectively equal to diode
currents ID1 , ID2 , and ID3 , are asymmetrical, which means that they have a non-null
average (dc) value. This results in dc current flow through the ac power source, i.e.,
through the electrical power network, which is highly undesirable.

1.9 Observed the waveform and explain:

Which diode is in the conducting state and which diodes are blocked during the
positive peak of phase voltage i) E1-N, ii) E2-N and iii) E3-N?

1.10 Evaluate the conduction angle of the diodes from the waveforms of currents ID1, ID2,
and ID3. Record the conduction angle of the diodes.

1.11 Measure and record the ripple frequency at the output of the three-phase half-wave
rectifier (positive-polarity output).

1.12 In LVDAC-EMS, open the Metering window.

a. Set meters to measure the rms and the average (dc) values of the rectifier output
voltage EO (E4) and rectifier output current IO (I4), respectively.

b. Calculate the ripple rms and the ripple factor of the output voltage.

c. Calculate the rectifier output power PO from the average values of voltage EO
and current IO.

1.13 In the Metering window.

a. Set meter E1 to measure the rms value of phase voltage E1-N, and then calculate

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 the maximum positive value of phase voltage E1-N and EL-L, rms

b. Calculate the theoretical rectifier output voltage with (1). Compare that to the
measured rectifier output voltage EO, avg obtained in the previous step.
1.14 On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off by setting the
corresponding switch to O (off).

Three-phase half-wave rectifier (negative-polarity output)

1.15 Set up the circuit shown in Figure 9. The circuit is identical to that studied in the
previous section of the procedure, except that the diodes are connected in the opposite
direction (i.e., the other three diodes in the Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors module
are used, hence the different numbering of the diodes in the diagrams of Figure 8 and
Figure 9). Resistor R is implemented with the Resistive Load module.

Es

3
R = 686Ω

Figure 9 Three-phase half-wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output

1.16 Ask the Lab Demonstrator to check your wiring. After your wiring has been checked,
turn the Power Supply on by setting the ac power switch to I (on).

The power rating of resistor R in the circuit diagram of Figure 9 is exceeded

significantly. Do not leave the ac power source on for periods longer than 10
minutes to avoid excessive heating of the resistors in the Resistive Load module.

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 1.17 Repeat step 1.7 to step 1.14.

1.18 On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off.

Three-phase full-wave (bridge) rectifier

1.19 Set up the circuit shown in Figure 10. In this circuit, ES is the three-phase ac power
source of the Power Supply (Model 8823). E1 through E4 and I1 through I4 are
voltage and current inputs of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface. The six
diodes are those in the Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors module. Resistors R1 and R2
are implemented with the Resistive Load module.

Use two resistors in series for the rectifier output load. (The resistance value to be used for
each resistor is indicated in the table). If a single resistor is used, the nominal voltage of
the resistor will be greatly exceeded.

Figure 10 Three-phase full-wave rectifier

1.20 Ask the Lab Demonstrator to check your wiring. After your wiring has been checked,
turn on the three-phase ac power source on the Power Supply module.

The power rating of resistors R1 and R2 in the circuit diagram of Figure 10 is

exceeded significantly. Do not leave the ac power source on for periods longer than
10 minutes to avoid excessive heating of the resistors in the Resistive Load module.

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1.21 In the Oscilloscope, make the necessary settings to display the phase voltages (E1,
E2, and E3) and phase currents (I1, I2, and I3) of the three-phase ac power source on
channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Also, display the rectifier output current
(I4) and rectifier output voltage (E4) on channels 7 and 8, respectively.

Make sure that the time base is set to display at least two cycles of the sine waves.

1.22 Observe the waveforms of the phase currents delivered by the source, i.e., I1-N, I2-N
and I3-N. These currents are respectively equal to ID1 + ID4, ID2 + ID5, and ID3 + ID6.
These currents are symmetrical, i.e., they have a null average (dc) value, which is the
normal operating condition desired.

1.23 Measure and record the ripple frequency at the output of the three-phase full- wave
rectifier. Compare this ripple frequency to that previously obtained for a three-phase
half-wave rectifier with a positive- or negative-polarity output.

1.24 In the Metering window of LVDAC-EMS,

a. Set meters to measure the rms values and the average (dc) values of the rectifier
output voltage EO (E4) and rectifier output current IO (I4) respectively.

b. Then, calculate the rectifier output power PO from the average value EO and
current IO.

c. Calculate the ripple rms and the ripple factor of the output voltage.

d. Compare the average voltage, ripple rms and ripple factor of the three-phase
full-wave rectifier to that previously obtained for a three-phase half-wave
rectifier with a positive- or negative-polarity output.

1.25 In the Metering window.

a. Set meter E1 to measure the rms value of phase voltage E1-N and then calculate
the maximum positive value of phase voltage E1-N and the line-to-line voltage
EL-L, rms.
b. Calculate the theoretical average output voltage of the rectifier with (2).
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 Compare that to EO, avg obtained in the previous step.

1.26 On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off.

Dual-polarity dc power supply

1.27 Set up the circuit shown in Figure 11. In this circuit, ES is the three-phase ac power
source of the Power Supply. E1 through E3 are voltage inputs of the Data Acquisition
and Control Interface. The diodes are those in the Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors
module. Resistors R1 and R2 are implemented with the Resistive Load module.

R1=1200
1

N
R2=1200

Figure 11 Dual-polarity dc power supply

1.28 Ask the Lab Demonstrator to check your wiring. After your wiring has been checked,
turn the three-phase ac power source on in the Power Supply.

The power rating of resistors R1 and R2 in the circuit diagram of Figure 11 is exceeded
significantly. Do not leave the ac power source on for periods longer than 10 minutes to
avoid excessive heating of the resistors in the Resistive Load module.

1.29 In the Oscilloscope, make the necessary settings to display phase voltage E1-N (E1)
and the voltages (E2 and E3) at the positive and negative outputs of the dual-polarity
dc power supply on channels 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Make sure that the time base
is set to display at least two cycles of the sine waves.

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1.30 In the Metering window of LVDAC-EMS, set meters E2 and E3 to measure the
average (dc) and rms values of the voltage at the positive and negative outputs of the
dual-polarity dc power supply. Record these values below.

1.31 Calculate the ripple rms and ripple factor of the rectifier output voltage.

1.32 On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off.

1.33 Modify the circuit by adding capacitors in parallel with the resistors as shown in
Figure 12. The capacitors are those in the Rectifier and Filtering Capacitors module.

Figure 12 Dual-polarity dc power supply with capacitors

1.34 Ask the Lab Demonstrator to check your wiring. After your wiring has been checked,
turn the three-phase ac power source on in the Power Supply.

The power rating of resistors R1 and R2 in the circuit diagram of Figure 12 is exceeded
significantly. Do not leave the ac power source on for periods longer than 10 minutes to
avoid excessive heating of the resistors in the Resistive Load module.

1.35 Display the voltage waveforms on the Oscilloscope screen.

1.36 In the Metering window of LVDAC-EMS, set meters E2 and E3 to measure the
average (dc) and rms values of the voltage at the positive and negative outputs of the
dual-polarity dc power supply.
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 1.37 Calculate the ripple rms and ripple factor of the rectifier output voltage.

1.38 Comment on the output voltage ripple with and without filtering capacitors.

1.39 Do your results confirm that splitting the output of a three-phase full-wave rectifier
allows a dual-polarity dc power supply to be obtained?

1.40 On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off.

1.41 Close LVDAC-EMS. Disconnect all leads and return them to their storage location.

1.5 Discussions
Three-phase half-wave rectifier

a) Describe the waveform of the rectifier output voltage with respect to the waveform of
the source voltage waveform and explain (describe the diode conduction sequence to
assist your answer).

b) Explain the relationship between the RMS value of the load voltage and the RMS value
of the ac voltage.

c) Compare the operation of a three-phase half-wave rectifier with a negative- polarity

output to that of a three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive- polarity output. Do
these rectifiers have the same conduction angles, ripple frequencies, and average output
voltages?

Three-phase full-wave rectifier

a) Describe the waveform of the rectifier output voltage with respect to the waveform of
the source voltage waveform and explain (describe the diode conduction sequence to
assist your answer).

b) Explain the relationship between the RMS value of the bridge output voltage and the
RMS value of the ac voltage.

c) Determine how close the measured average value of the bridge output voltage is to the
theoretical value. Explain any discrepancy.

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 d) Using only measured parameters, determine the rms load ripple voltage and the load
voltage ripple factor.

e) Prepare a table to compare the theoretical, simulated and lab values of the average load
voltage, the rms load ripple voltage, the load voltage ripple factor, and the rms supply
current. Explain any significant differences.

f) Determine the ripple factor and crest factor of the bridge output current using the
measured average and measured RMS values of the bridge output current.

g) Determine the power factor of this rectifier using your lab results.

h) What are the advantages of three-phase full-wave rectifiers over three-phase half-wave
rectifiers?

Dual-polarity dc power supply

a) Describe the waveform of the voltage at the positive output of the dual-polarity dc power
supply. Compare the waveform with three-phase half-wave rectifier with a positive-
polarity output.

b) Describe the waveform of the voltage at the negative output of the dual-polarity dc
power supply. Compare the waveform with Compare the waveform with three-phase
half-wave rectifier with a negative-polarity output.

c) Describe how the voltage waveforms at the outputs of the dual-polarity dc power supply
are affected by the insertion of the filtering capacitors. Compare the average (dc) and
rms values of the voltage measured at the positive and negative outputs of the dual-
polarity dc power supply with and without filtering capacitors.

d) Using only measured parameters, determine the rms load ripple voltage and the load
voltage ripple factor with and without the filtering capacitor.

e) Comment on the measured results and quantify the effectiveness of the capacitor filter
in improving the output voltage waveform

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Appendix

APPENDIX A
Table 5 Impedance value for the resistive load module 8311-0A
Impedance (Ω) Position of switches
4800 1
2400 1
1200 1
1600 1 1
960 1 1
800 1 1
686 1 1 1
600 1 1 1 1
533 1 1 1 1
480 1 1 1
436 1 1 1 1
400 1 1 1 1 1
369 1 1 1 1 1
343 1 1 1 1 1 1
320 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
300 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
282 1 1 1 1 1 1
267 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
253 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
240 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
229 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Table 6 Impedance value for the resistive load module 8311-A0

Impedance (Ω) Position of switches
1200 1
600 1
300 1
400 1 1
240 1 1
200 1 1
171 1 1 1
150 1 1 1 1
133 1 1 1 1
120 1 1 1
109 1 1 1 1
100 1 1 1 1 1
92 1 1 1 1 1
86 1 1 1 1 1 1
80 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
75 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
71 1 1 1 1 1 1
67 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
63 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
60 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
57 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

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Appendix

Figure 24 Connection on the Resistive Load Module

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