Some Specific Types of Rectifiers
Other than all these discussed types of rectifiers, there are some special types of rectifiers. Some of these are:
- Mercury Arc Rectifier
- Selenium Rectifier
- Precision Rectifiers
Let’s discuss these types in detail as follows.
Mercury Arc Rectifier
It is used to convert AC power into DC power and it is used in the earlier stages which is before the invention of solid state devices called thyristors. It is used to handle powers of hundred of kilowatts. It consists of evacuated glass vessel with a pool of mercury at the bottom acting as a cathode and at the top is an anode. Here the operation will occur due to mercury vapor discharge in a sealed tube to create an electrical barrier that allows current to flow in only one direction. It is widely used in industry and military applications.
Selenium Rectifier
It is a type of rectifier which is invented in 1933 that uses selenium which is an chemical element acts as an semiconductor for electrical conductivity. it is used for power supplies for power equipment and in high-current battery charger applications until they were superseded by silicon diode rectifiers. They were made up of stacks of aluminium or steel plates coated with about 1 μm of bismuth or nickel. it is about same size as a copper oxide rectifier.
Precision Rectifiers
It is an type of rectifier obtained with Op-amp in order to have a circuit functions like an ideal diode and rectifier. It is highly used for high-precision signal processing. It conducts perfectly when it is forward-biased , without any forward voltage drop and it blocks when reverse bias occurs.
Rectifier
Rectifier is an electronic component that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), ensuring a unidirectional flow of electric charge. As we know, electricity reaches our homes from power grids in the form of AC, but most commonly used electric appliances, such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, fridges, etc operate on direct current (DC). Therefore, the rectifier becomes a very useful component in electronics.
This article provides a detailed understanding of the electrical component known as a rectifier, including its types such as full-wave and half-wave rectifiers, controlled and uncontrolled rectifiers, etc. In addition to that, we will learn about various specific rectifiers such as the Mercury Arc Rectifier, Selenium Rectifier, and Precision Rectifiers.
Table of Content
- What are Rectifiers?
- How does Rectifier Work?
- Types of Rectifiers
- Half Wave Rectifier
- Full Wave Rectifier
- Bridge Rectifiers
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