Bridge Rectifier - Construction, Advantages, Disadvantages, FAQs

Among various electronic circuits, the full bridge rectifier is reported to be commonly employed. Full bridge rectifiers are commonly used bridge rectifier to power a variety of electrical components.
The full bridge rectifier's function is to convert AC power into DC electricity. It is the most adaptable rectifier circuit among the others. This device's power conversion is incredibly efficient.
A filter is also utilized inside the circuit to increase the output of the full bridge rectifier. Let's take a look at the full bridge rectifier in general, including how it works, how efficient it is, and so on.

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This Story also Contains

1. Construction of Full Bridge Rectifier-
2. Define Bridge Wave Rectifier.
3. Full Bridge Rectifier Waveforms-
4. Ripple factor of Bridge Rectifier of Full Bridge Rectifier-
5. Efficiency of Full Bridge Rectifier-
6. Advantages of Full Bridge Rectifier-
7. Disadvantages of Full Bridge Rectifier-

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Construction of Full Bridge Rectifier-

The diagram below depicts the building of a full bridge rectifier. Four diodes D1, D2, D3, D4, and a load resistor RL make up the full bridge rectifier circuit diagram. To efficiently convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), the four diodes are coupled in a closed-loop configuration (DC). The lack of the costly center-tapped transformer is the principal benefit of this design. As a result, both the size and the cost are lowered.

Define Bridge Wave Rectifier.

During the positive half cycle, if you send electricity (AC) across the full bridge rectifier, the terminal–A becomes positive and the terminal–B becomes negative. The diodes D1 and D3 become forward biased at this moment, whereas D2 and D4 become reverse biased.

During the negative half-cycle, the terminal-A becomes positive and the terminal-B becomes negative. The diodes D1 and D3 become reverse-biased at this stage, while D2 and D4 become forward-biased.

During both the positive and negative half-cycles, the current flow across the load resistor RL remains constant. The output DC signal's polarity can be completely different. The output can be fully negative or completely positive.

Also read -

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Full Bridge Rectifier Waveforms-

When the diodes' direction is reversed, we get a completely negative DC voltage. As a result, both the negative and positive half-cycles of the AC input signal can flow through a diode bridge rectifier.

Ripple factor of Bridge Rectifier of Full Bridge Rectifier-

The ripple factor of bridge rectifier is a property of the full bridge rectifier that indicates how smooth the output DC signal is. When it comes to the quantity of ripples, we may claim the output DC signal is smooth. The high ripples represent a high-pulsating DC pulse.

The ripple factor of bridge rectifier is calculated as the ratio of the ripple voltage to the pure DC voltage

Mathematically,

ℽ =√V^2rms - 1/VDC

Root Mean Square Voltage = (Vrms)

VDC = DC Supply Average Voltage

Efficiency of Full Bridge Rectifier-

The measuring of the full bridge rectifier's efficiency reveals the rectifier's best performance. The ratio of DC output power to AC input power is the definition of rectifier efficiency.

ɳ = (Output Power DC/input Power AC)

The greatest efficiency of a full bridge rectifier is 81.2 percent.

Advantages of Full Bridge Rectifier-

The following are some of the benefits of a full bridge rectifier:

1. The efficiency of full bridge rectifiers is higher than that of half-wave rectifiers

2. A full bridge rectifier produces a smoother output than a half-wave rectifier.

3. For processing, the full bridge rectifier accepts both positive and negative half cycles of the input AC signal. The half-wave rectifier lacks this functionality, processing only half of the AC signal while blocking the other.

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Disadvantages of Full Bridge Rectifier-

1. When compared to a half-wave rectifier and a center-tapped full-wave rectifier, the circuit of a full bridge rectifier is more complicated. Half-wave rectifiers and center tapped full wave full bridge rectifiers employ only two diodes, while full bridge rectifiers use four bridge rectifier four.

2. When more diodes are utilized, there is a greater loss of power. Only one diode conducts during each half cycle in a center-tapped full-wave rectifier. In a full bridge rectifier, however, each half cycle is conducted by two diodes. As a result, the voltage drop in a full bridge rectifier is larger.

3. The voltage loss in the internal resistance circuit is twice that of the center tap circuit.

4. We may be able to do without a transformer if voltage stepping up or down is not required.

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