The Supply Current of a single-phase half-wave diode rectifier under ideal and non-

ideal conditions
MKEP1533: Power Electronics Systems (2022/2023-1)
Assignment-G4

Abdulrahman Mohammed Galadima (MKE211032)

Muhammad Zahid Bin Meor Akil Julnasir (MKE211063)
Dai Yanan (MKE211087)
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract: -This project is conducted to study two important parameters of a single-phase half-wave diode
rectifier in both ideal and non-ideal conditions. for ideal conditions, the performance evaluation of the
rectifier supply current is conducted to find out the total harmonic distortions under different highly
inductive loads. For non-ideal conditions, where finite values of source inductance are present, further
analysis of the rectifier is performed to evaluate the variation of the rectifier output voltage with the source
inductance. The rectifier model is designed and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. From the
Fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the simulation results, a highly distorted waveform of the source current
is obtained for the ideal conditions of the rectifier with an inductive load. Similarly, in non-ideal
conditions, due to the existence of source inductance, the results obtained showed a considerable drop in
the output voltage of the rectifier. The Simulink signal waveforms, THDis, and the various values of
commutation angles are observed and recorded in the result section.

1. INTRODUCTION
The study of power electronic rectifiers will not be complete if two important properties are not
considered: the nature of load and the existence of source inductance, LS. For a rectifier with a purely
resistive load, the input currents are in sinusoids and, in phase with the source voltage, VS. however,
when the load is predominantly inductive, the source current waveforms experience some severe
distortions which is one of the major concerns in power quality, especially with the recent proliferation
in power electronic applications [1], [2], [3]–[5].
Similarly, in a non-ideal condition, the input side of electronic rectifiers contains some reactive
impedance, mainly inductive, referred to as source/line inductance or commutating inductance, Ls. This
source inductance is related to the leakage reactance of the source (supply transformer) and the
inductance existing in the AC supply network on the primary side of the transformer[1], [2],[6],[7].
From the fundamental Faraday’s law, when a voltage is applied across an inductor, the inductor is
said to be charging in this condition. As the current through it is increased, an opposite voltage drop
occurs because its magnetic field stores an incremental amount of energy[8]. Depending on the
magnitude of the inductance, this causes some delay in the reflection of the source voltage at the load
side, resulting in a considerable error in the DC voltage at the rectifier output.
To study these inherent features of rectifiers in power systems, this project is aimed at investigating
the following scenarios, for a single phase, half wave-uncontrolled rectifier:
1) The performance of the supply current, IS of an ideal single phase, halfwave uncontrolled
rectifier with an inductive load.
2) The effects of line inductance, LS on the output voltage of the rectifier.

1
2. METHODOLOGY
MATLAB/Simulink software is used to model and analyse the rectifier in both cases. Before carrying
the simulations, the following sections give a theoretical insight into the operation of a single-phase half
wave diode rectifier in both ideal non-ideal conditions.

2.1 Ideal condition (zero LS)

Consider the single phase, half wave uncontrolled rectifier shown in figure 1 (a).
Prior to ωt = 0, VS is -Ve;
• D1 is in reverse blocking mode. Current, Io is circulating through free-wheeling diode, D2.
Therefore,
VS = VD1 = Vmsin ωt; iS = 0; Vo = VD2 = 0.

Subsequent to ωt = 0, VS is +Ve;
• D1 is in forward conduction mode, which can equally be represented by a short circuit.
• The source current, iS instantly takes the value of the current source, Io for the interval of 0 <ωt <π.
• VS = Vo = Vmsin ωt; VD1 = 0;
• iS = Io = Im for 0 <ωt <π and 0 for π<ωt < 2π.
• With iS (t) = Im, the waveforms iS and VS are shown in figure1 (b).
is
vs
is D1
+ ωt
0 π 2π
+ Io
vo vs
vs D2 Vo
_
vo ωt
_

(a) Circuit Diagram (b) Waveforms

Fig. 1 Ideal single phase halfwave diode rectifier with an inductive load

The square shaped signal of the source current contains two components; the fundamental (iS1) and the
harmonic (iSh) and have the following rms values in this idealised case:
1 𝝅
Is1 = 2𝜋 ∫0 𝑖𝑚 sin ωt(dωt) = 0.45im

𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ℎ

Ish = {𝐼𝑠1 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ℎ
ℎ

𝐼 2 𝐼 2
The % total harmonic distortion, THD = √(𝐼 𝑠 ) − 1 = √(0.45𝐼
𝑚
) − 1 = 198.4%
𝑠1 𝑚

2.2 Non-ideal condition (with a large value of LS)

For non-ideal condition, the half-wave diode rectifier circuit of figure 1 is considered by including
an ac-side inductance as shown in figure 2, which is inevitable in all practical ac systems.

2
 + VL _ D1

Ls +
+ is Io
vs D2 Vo
_
_

Fig. 2 Non-deal, single phase halfwave diode rectifier with a large inductive load

Prior to ωt = 0, VS is -Ve;

▪ The output current, Io is circulating through free-wheeling diode, D2 with VS = 0 and iS = 0.

▪ Subsequent to ωt = 0, diode, D1 is brought to forward conduction mode, hence conducting.
▪ Since the free-wheeling diode, D2 is also conducting, it provides a conducting path for the source
current, iS to build up: ID2 = Io - iS as shown in figure 3 (a).
+ VL _ iD1 VL=0 _
D1 + D1
Ls + +
Ls is = Io
+ Io Io + Io
vs is D2
Vo = 0 vs D2 Vo = vs
_ _
iD2

_ _

(a) (b)
Fig. 3
▪ The source current iS builds up gradually to a value of Io during the commutation interval, say ωt =
θ. Meanwhile diode D2 is still conducting as shown in the figure.
▪ D2 stops conducting only when ωt = μ as shown in figures 3 (b). figure 4 below shows the
waveform signals of the source voltage, VS, the output voltage, Vo, the drop across LS and the
source current iS.
vs

ωt
0
π 2π

vo vs

0
vo ωt
μ
Area Aμ VL
ωt
0
μ π 2π

is

0
μ ωt

Figure 4
𝑑𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠
VL = Vmsin ωt = LS ; 0< ωt< 𝜇 where LS = ωLS
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
integrating both sides, iS goes from 0 to Io during interval
𝝁 𝑜 𝐼
∫0 𝑉𝑚 sin ωt(dωt) = ∫0 ω𝐿𝑆 𝑑𝑖𝑠 = ωL𝑠 𝐼𝑜 (the LHS is the volt radian area or commutation interval, A 𝝁.
𝝁
A𝝁 = ∫0𝝁 𝑉𝑚 sin ωt(dωt) = [−𝑐𝑜𝑠ωt]0 = 𝑉𝑚 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝝁)
⸫ 𝑉𝑚 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝝁) = ωL𝑠 𝐼𝑜
ωL𝑠 𝐼𝑜
𝝁 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 [𝟏 − ]
𝑽𝒎
if L𝑠 = 0, cos 𝝁 = 𝟏, 𝝁 = 𝟎

3
This implies instantaneous current commutation as in section 2.1 above.
For a given frequency, ω commutation interval
Increases with L𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑜
Decreases with increasing 𝑉𝑠
The average output voltage with commutation interval is determined by taking the difference:

𝑉𝑜′ (𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐿𝑠) − 𝑉𝑜 (𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝐿𝑠) where,

1 𝜋 𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑜′ = ∫ 𝑉 sin ωt(dωt) = [−𝑐𝑜𝑠ωt]𝜋0 = or 0.45Vm and
2𝜋 0 𝑚 2𝜋 𝜋

1 𝜋
𝑉𝑜 = ∫ 𝑉 sin ωt(dωt)
2𝜋 𝝁 𝑚

⸫ 𝑉𝑜′ − 𝑉𝑜 =
1 𝜋 1 𝝁
∫ 𝑉 sin ωt(dωt) − 2𝜋 ∫0 𝑉𝑚 sin ωt(dωt)
2𝜋 0 𝑚

A𝝁 ωL𝑠 𝐼𝑜
= 0.45Vrms - 2𝜋 = 0.45Vrms - 2𝜋

2.3 Simulations
2.3.1 Ideal condition
✓ The MATLAB/Simulink model of the rectifier circuit is shown in APPENDIX A with
𝑉𝑠 (𝑟𝑚𝑠) = 240𝑉 𝑎𝑡 50𝐻𝑧.
✓ The model is first run with a purely resistive load of 20Ω and the corresponding waveforms of
𝑉𝑠 , 𝑉𝑜 , 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑜 are observed and recorded.
✓ The model is re-run by replacing the load with two different values of large inductances of
600mH and 1H, each in series a 5Ω resistor.
✓ The corresponding waveforms of 𝑉𝑠 , 𝑉𝑜 , 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑜 are again observed and recorded.
✓ The % THDi in the distorted source current, 𝑖𝑠 in each case is analysed using FFT signal
processing tool in the Simulink.

2.3.2 Non-ideal condition

✓ In this case, the model of APPENDIX A is modified by adding an inductance, Ls on the load
side as illustrated in APPENDIX B.
✓ Keeping a constant current source on the load, the rectifier model is run with three different
values of Ls; 10mH, 20mH and 30mH accordingly.
✓ In each case, the corresponding values of 𝑉𝑜 , 𝑉𝐿 , the commutation interval(μ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑜 are
determined.
✓ The new %THDi of the source current is also determined in each case.

3. DATA AND RESULTS

3.1 Ideal case (Ls = 0)

The signal waveforms of 𝑉𝑠 , 𝑉𝑜 , 𝑖𝑠 , 𝐼𝑜 and the FFT analyses of the source current, 𝑖𝑠 , are shown in the
following figure 3 (a)-(c) below.

4
(a) Signal waveforms and the FFT analysis of 𝑖𝑠 (purely resistive load)

(b) Signal waveforms and the FFT analysis of 𝑖𝑠 (Load = 5Ω, 600mH)

(c) Signal waveforms and the FFT analysis of 𝑖𝑠 (Load = 5Ω, 1H)

Fig. 3 Simulation results for the ideal rectifier

5
3.1 Non-ideal case (Ls = 10, 30 and 50mH)

The signal waveforms of 𝑉𝑠 , 𝑉𝑜 , 𝑖𝑠 , 𝐼𝑜 and the FFT analyses of the source current, 𝑖𝑠 , are shown in the
following figure 4 (a)–(c) below.

(a) Signal waveforms and the FFT analysis of 𝑖𝑠 (Ls = 10mH; Load = 5Ω, 1H)

(b) Signal waveforms and FFT analysis of 𝑖𝑠 (Ls = 30mH; Load = 5Ω, 1H)

(c) Signal waveforms for and FFT analysis 𝑖𝑠 (Ls = 50mH; Load = 5Ω, 1H)

Fig. 4 simulation results for the non-ideal rectifier

Table 1 record of values of the important variables

Source inductance, Ls (mH) 0 10 30 50
Commutation interval, μ (ms) 0 1.5 2.5 3.1
Commutation angle, μ (radian) 0 0.08π 0.12π 0.16π
Vorms (volts) 169.2 166.9 161.1 154.9
VLrms (volts) 0 27.1 58.1 80.6
Iorms (A) 9.1 8.8 8.2 7.6
%THDi 48.41 39.25 33.00 29.15

6
DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION
4.1 Discussion
In the case of the ideal rectifier, it is seen from the signal waveform that the source current is non-
sinusoidal. This due to the harmonics introduced into the system by the highly inductive load as
determined in the FFT analyses shown in figures 3. For a purely resistive load, the source current is
sinusoidal as seen in figure 1. However, FFT analysis showed that the current contains an observable
amount of distortion. Even though it is relatively lower than that of highly inductive load. This is due
to the fact that rectifiers are inherently harmonic causing devices.

For the non-ideal rectifier, the presence of Ls showed a remarkable effect on the output DC
voltage of the rectifier as observed from the various signals of figure 4 and the results obtained in table
1. From these observations, it is noticed that as the commutation angle increases, the corresponding
rms value of output voltage is reduced by some percentage. However, the %THD in the source current
decreases which can be due to increase in the source reactance.
The results from both conditions justify the theoretical analyses performed on the rectifier in
sections 2.1 and 2.2 for both ideal and non-ideal conditions.
4.2 Conclusion
In an ideal rectifier, the performance of the source current is highly affected when the load is
predominantly inductive. In this project, it is found out that the source current is distorted proportionally
as the load is made reasonably more inductive.
On the other hand, the presence of source inductance, Ls in the rectifier showed a considerable
effect on the average output voltage of the rectifier. The output voltage varies with the variation of the
source inductance. These results provide the need for considering non-ideality in a rectifier design for
optimum operation.

7
 REFERENCES
[1] W. Hart Danial, Commonly used Power and Converter Equations. 2010.
[2] NED MOHAN, POWER ELECTRONICS Converters, Applications, and Design, Third Edit.
2003.
[3] S. Samal, P. K. Hota, and P. K. Barik, “Harmonics mitigation by using shunt active power filter
under different load condition,” Int. Conf. Signal Process. Commun. Power Embed. Syst.
SCOPES 2016 - Proc., pp. 94–98, 2017, doi: 10.1109/SCOPES.2016.7955598.
[4] C. Banks, M. Awadalla, M. Orner, and A. Mohamed, “Single-tuned Filter Design for Harmonic
Mitigation,” no. 3, 2015.
[5] I. Transactions, P. Apparatus, and A. N. Overview, “Power System Harmonics: An Overview,”
IEEE Power Eng. Rev., vol. PER-3, no. 8, pp. 27–28, 1983, doi: 10.1109/MPER.1983.5518857.
[6] I. Batarseh, Power Electronics Circuit Analysis and Design, Second Edi. Springer Nature, 2018.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68366-9.
[7] Muhammad Harun Rashid, Power Electronics Circuit, Devices and Application, Fourth Edi.
Pearson Education, 1993. [Online]. Available: www.pearsoninternationaleditions.com
[8] E. M. Purcell and D. J. Morin, Electricity and Magnetism 3rd Edition, vol. 2. 2012. [Online].
Available: http://www.scribd.com/doc/203759990/Electricity-and-Magnetism-3rd-Edition-
Purcell%5Cnpapers3://publication/uuid/5E6878C4-90EE-462B-B601-3A3DE28825B4

8
 APPENDICES

APPENDIX A Simulink model of an ideal single phase half wave diode rectifier

APPENDIX B Simulink model of a non-ideal single phase half wave diode rectifier