DEPARTMENT OF TECHNCAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : P. Purnasekhara Rao ,SL/ece
Designation : Senior Lec /ECE
Branch : ECE
Institute : GPW, Nellore
Year/ Semister : III Sem
Sub : Electronic Circuite -I
Sub.Code : EC-302,
Major Topic : Power Supplies
Sub-Topic : HWR & FWR With Capacitor Filter
Duration : 50 Min
Teaching Aids : PPT slides, Scanned Diagrams

EC302.8 1
Objectives

On completion of this class the student will be

able to know

• Working of HWR & FWR with Capacitor filter

• Output waveforms
• How does Capacitor filter reduces the ripple?
• Merits and demerits

EC302.8 2
Introduction

1. Can you name some filters that are used in rectifiers

Capacitor filter,
Inductor filter,
RC,LC,CLC,CRC filters

2. What is their purpose?

To remove the ripple

EC302.8 3
3. Is The output of a rectifier circuit called pure DC or
pulsating DC?

Pulsating DC

4. The variations in the out put of the rectifier are

called
Ripples

EC302.8 4
5. What is a rectifier?

A circuit which converts AC to DC

6. What is the term we use to refer the

output of a rectifier?

Pulsating DC

7. Why is it called pulsating DC?

Its amplitude is varying even though the polarity is

constant

EC302.8 5
8. To remove /reduce the AC component from
the output of a rectifier ------are used

Filters

9. Where do you connect Filters?

Between the rectifier and the load

EC302.8 6
10. What are the useful properties of Capacitor
to act as filter

• Very high impedance for DC

• Very low Impedance for AC

• Capacitors store the energy in the electrostatic form

• When voltage decreases it tries to keep the voltage

constant. If no voltage is there, it discharges slowly providing
some voltage across the load.
• Capacitor filter should be connected always in shunt to the

load.

EC302.8 7
Working of HWR
Input Wave Form

• For positive half cycles

• diode conducts
• current flows in the circuit
Output Wave Form
• For negative half cycles
• diode does not conduct
• No current flows

EC302.8 8
Working of HWR

• Conducts for positive cycle

only

• The conduction takes place

when secondary ac voltage
appears between A&B
Circuit diagram of HWR:
• The diode conducts 180 per
0

cycle

• The output appears as shown

in the figure
EC302.8 9
Working of capacitor filter

• The capacitor filter is connected

in shunt to the load

• During the conduction of the diode

• The capacitor charges to its maximum

value of the input voltage

• Keeps the voltage at the maximum.

EC302.8 10
Working of capacitor filter

F
E

• When I/P at AB is less than its max or

peak value (after point E)

• The voltage across the capacitor is more

positive

• It keeps the diode in reverse bias, i.e.,

even the i/p voltage during the remaining
positive half cycle input
• The output appears as shown in the figure
EC302.8 11
 F
E

• The diode state in reverse bias condition, continues till the

anode voltage is more positive than cathode (after point F )

• Capacitor discharges through the load until the diode comes

into conduction depending on its time constant

• If load is not connected, the capacitor holds the charge

for a long time

• In general, a high value of resistance is connected across the

output terminals to provide a path for discharge

EC302.8 12
Important features of capacitor filter
Fixed value filter capacitance:

• Larger the load resistance, larger will be the

discharge time constant, lower ripple and
more output voltage.

• Lower the load resistance, lower be the time

constant, more ripple and lower output voltage.

Larger the capacitance value

Holds more charge

Discharges less
• Average value increases

EC302.8 13
Smaller the capacitance

• Less charge it can hold

• Ripple is more

• DC level decreases

• Larger capacitance value requires larger current and

this current is limited by max. forward current of diode

EC302.8 14
In HWR

• Without Capacitor filter, current flows only for half cycle

through the load

• Using capacitor filter, current flows through the load

continuously, when proper time constant is chosen for
discharging

For HWR using capacitor1 filter :

• Ripple factor 2 3 fCRL

• PIV = 2Vm

EC302.8 15
Full wave rectifier
• FWR, using two diodes and
a centre tapped transformer or
Bridge rectifier, output waveforms
are same
• FWR using two diodes requires
a centre tapped transformer where
as Bridge rectifier requires four diodes

• The input and output waveforms

are shown in the
figures
• Though diodes are conducting
alternatively current flows in a
unidirectional way through the load
EC302.8 16
Full wave rectifier(contd)
FWR

• When capacitor is connected across

the load the output waveform is different
• The output waveform appears as shown
• The amount of variation is reduced and the

average value is increased

• Compared to HWR with filter circuit

EC302.8 17
Full wave rectifier (contd)
FWR

• Capacitor discharges twice during one

• cycle and Ripple frequency is twice

• Non conducting period has reduced

• Ripple voltage has been reduced to

half

• V dc has been increased EC302.8 18

Full wave rectifier(contd)

• Ripple factor using capacitor filter for

1
full wave rectifier is 4 3 f CR
L

• The expressions for ripple factor of HWR and FWR

using capacitor filter reveals that capacitor filter is

more useful at smaller load currents

EC302.8 19
Summary
• Filters are used to remove ripple.

• Capacitors and inductors are used individually or in

combination as filter elements.

• Capacitor filters are connected in shunt with
the load
• Capacitor filter

• Improves average current

• Reduces ripple

• PIV in HWR is Doubled

• Improves the regulation

EC302.8 20
• Bleeder resistor provides discharging path when
load is not connected

• Ripple factor using Capacitor filter:

1
• For HWR
2 3 f CR L
1
• For FWR
4 3 f CR L

EC302.8 21
 Quiz:

1. The capacitor filter is used____ with the load

a) In shunt

b) In series

c) a and b

d) none

EC302.8 22
2. PIV of HWR With Capacitor filter is

a) Vm

b) 2Vm

c) 4Vm

d) none

EC302.8 23
3. Capacitor Filters are more useful at the load
currents of

a) larger

b) Very high

c) small

d) a and b

EC302.8 24
Frequently asked questions:

1. Draw and explain the working of capacitor filter with

Half Wave Rectifier
2. Draw and explain the working of capacitor filter with
Full Wave Rectifier

EC302.8 25