Diode Rectifiers

Abstract

Diode rectifiers are widely applied in power electronic devices, typically ranging from a few watts in small power supplies to megawatts in rectifier transformers for electrolysis. This chapter describes the operation and design of both simple diode rectifier circuits and more complex rectifiers. Simple circuits include single-, three-, and six-phase diode rectifiers, where operation can be fully analyzed. Complex circuits comprise two-diode rectifier applications. The first one is the connection of off-shore wind power plants to the on-shore ac-grid using a diode-based HVDC link. The second one is a high-frequency forward converter. The operation of both systems is analyzed and the results are validated by means of EMT programs. Diode design is based on the performance parameters of the circuit, which is described and applied to the rectifier, including the corresponding ac- and dc-filters.