A diode bridge rectifier is an essential component used in converting alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) in various electrical and electronic applications. In a three-phase system, it is employed to rectify the three-phase AC voltage into a pulsating DC voltage.
A three-phase system consists of three AC voltages that are 120 degrees out of phase with each other. These three-phase voltages can be represented by three sinusoidal waveforms, typically labeled as phase A, phase B, and phase C. The three phases provide a more efficient and balanced power distribution compared to single-phase systems.
A diode bridge rectifier used in a three-phase system usually consists of six diodes arranged in a bridge configuration. The diode bridge rectifier circuit is also known as a full-wave rectifier. The diodes in the bridge rectifier are responsible for the conversion of AC to DC by allowing current flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction.
The bridge rectifier circuit connects the three-phase AC inputs to the diodes in the following way:
Phase A connects to one side of a diode (D1).
Phase B connects to the opposite side of D1 and to one side of another diode (D2).
Phase C connects to the opposite side of D2 and to one side of a third diode (D3).
The other side of D3 is connected to the other side of D1, forming a closed-loop.
This configuration effectively forms three pairs of diodes: D1-D2, D2-D3, and D3-D1. Each pair conducts current in one direction while blocking it in the other, depending on the polarity of the input voltage.
When the voltage in phase A is positive relative to phase B, diode D1 becomes forward-biased and allows current to flow from phase A to phase B. Simultaneously, diode D2 blocks current from flowing in the opposite direction. Similarly, when the voltage in phase B is positive relative to phase C, diode D3 becomes forward-biased, allowing current to flow from phase B to phase C, and diode D2 blocks the reverse current. Lastly, when the voltage in phase C is positive relative to phase A, diode D1 becomes forward-biased, allowing current to flow from phase C to phase A, while diode D3 blocks the reverse current.
By this process, each diode allows current to flow in only one direction during specific intervals, resulting in a pulsating DC voltage output across the load connected between the common point of the three diodes and the positive or negative rail, depending on the diode arrangement.
The pulsating DC output can then be further smoothed using capacitors or additional filtering to obtain a more stable and smoother DC voltage suitable for various applications like power supplies, motor drives, and electronic devices.