1

Al-Mustaqbal University College

Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

Figure 2.11: A three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier with resistive load.

Figure 2.12: The waveforms of the three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier

with a resistive load.

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = √3𝑉𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒

The average value of the load voltage:

5𝜋/6
3
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = ∫ 𝑣𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋
𝜋/6

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
2𝜋

The average value of the load current:

𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
2𝜋𝑅

The rms value of the output voltage and current:

5𝜋/6
3
𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = √ ∫ [𝑣𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡]2 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = 0.84𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
2𝜋
𝜋/6

𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅
Adding an inductance in series with the load resistance changes the current
waveform. If L is much higher than R (L>>>R), the load time constant L/R is very
high and can be considered infinity. Consequently, the load current is assumed
constant as shown by the waveforms in Figure 2.13.

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

Figure 2.13: The current waveforms of the three-phase half-wave uncontrolled

rectifier loaded with highly inductive load.
Example 5: Power is supplied to heavily inductive load from a three-phase
supply, using a three-phase half-wave rectifier. If the supply phase voltage is
220 V and the resistance of the load is 100 Ω, determine the DC load voltage
and current. Then,

(a) Sketch the output load voltage waveform.

(b) Sketch D1 current waveform.

3 Solution:

𝑉𝑠, 𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220 𝑉, 𝑅 = 100 𝛺, 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = , 𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220√2
2𝜋
(3√3)(220√2)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 257.4𝑉
2𝜋
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

257.4𝑉
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 2.6𝐴
100

3.4 Three-Phase Full-Wave (Bridge) Uncontrolled Rectifier

A basic three-phase Full-wave uncontrolled rectifier circuit is shown in Figure 2.14.

The rectifier is fed from an ideal 3-phase supply through delta-star transformer. The
principle of operation of this rectifier can be explained as follows:

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

 Each three-phase line connects between pair of diodes. One to route power
to positive (+) side of load, and other to route power to negative (-) side of
load.

 Only one diode in the top half of the bridge may conduct at one time (D1,
D3, or D5). The diode that is conducting will have its anode connected to the
phase voltage that is highest at that instant.

 Only one diode in the bottom half of the bridge may conduct at one time
(D2, D4, or D6). The diode that is conducting will have its cathode
connected to the phase voltage that is lowest at that instant.

 There are six combinations of line-to-line voltages (three phases taken two at
a time). Considering one period of the source to be 2𝜋, a transition of the
highest line-to-line voltage must take place every 2π/6 = π/3. Because of the
six transitions that occur for each period of the source voltage, the circuit is
called a six-pulse rectifier.

Figure 2.14: A three-phase full-wave uncontrolled rectifier.

Similar to the three-phase rectifier circuit, the conduction angle of each diode is
2π/3. If L is much higher than R (L>>>R), the load time constant L/R is very high

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

and can be considered infinity. Consequently, the load current is assumed constant.
The current and voltage waveforms of the three-phase full-wave uncontrolled
rectifier loaded with highly inductive load are shown in Figure 2.15.

Figure 2.15: The current and voltage waveforms of the three-phase full-wave uncontrolled rectifier
loaded with highly inductive load.

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

The average value of the load voltage:

𝜋/2 2𝜋/3
3 𝜋 3
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = ∫ √3𝑣𝑚 sin (𝜔𝑡 + ) 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = ∫ √3𝑣𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡𝑑𝜔𝑡
𝜋 6 𝜋
𝜋/6 𝜋/3

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝜋

The average value of the load current:

𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝜋𝑅

The rms value of the output voltage and current:

5𝜋/6
3 𝜋 2
𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =√ ∫ [√3𝑣𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 + )] 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = 1.655𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
2𝜋 6
𝜋/6

𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = 𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
Example 6: Power is supplied to heavily inductive load from a three-phase supply, using a three-
phase bridge rectifier. If the supply phase voltage is 220 V and the resistance of the load is 10 Ω,
determine the DC load voltage and current. Then, sketch the output load voltage, the load current, and
D4 current waveforms.

𝑉𝑠, 𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220 𝑉, 𝑅 = 10 𝛺, 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅

3√3𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = , 𝑣𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220√2
𝜋
(3√3)(220√2)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 514.9𝑉
𝜋

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑)
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

514.9𝑉
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 51.49𝐴
10

Assignment 3
1. A heavily inductive load of R = 5 Ω is to be supplied with a DC voltage of
200 V, using three-phase bridge rectifier. Calculate:

(a) The DC load current.

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Al-Mustaqbal University College
Department of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering
Class: Third
Subject: Power Electronic
Lecturer: Dr. Mayasah Razzaq Al-ghazaly
Lecture: 1

(b) The RMS current of any diode.

(c) The transformer secondary phase current.
(d) The transformer secondary line voltage.
(e) PRV of any diode.
2. Repeat Q1 above if the rectifier is three-phase half-wave type.

3.5 Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled Rectifier

4 A way to control the output of a single-phase half-wave rectifier is to use a
thyristor instead of a diode. A basic single-phase half-wave controlled
rectifier with a resistive load is shown in Figure 2.16.

5 During the positive half cycle of the input voltage, thyristor T1 is forward
biased and current flows through the load when the thyristor is fired (at
𝑤𝑡 = 𝛼). The thyristor conducts only when the anode is positive with respect
to cathode (forward biased), and a positive pulse signal is applied to the gate,
otherwise, it remains in the forward blocking state and blocks the flow of the
load current.

6 In the negative half cycle (i.e., at 𝑤𝑡 = 𝜋 − 2𝜋), the thyristor is in the

reverse biased condition and no current flows through the load. Thus, varying
the firing angle at which the thyristor starts conducting in positive half cycle
controls the average DC output voltage. The voltage and current waveforms
on resistive load and the voltage waveform on the thyristor are shown in
Figure 2.17.

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