Half and Full Wave Bridge Rectifier Circuit

This post is about Bridge Rectifier Circuit. A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction.The process is known as rectification.The rectification process can be done in several ways with the help of several components.
Here, I discussed how to design a bridge rectifier circuit using semiconductor diode.
There are two types of  bridge rectifier. Half and Full wave bridge rectifier with single phase supply.These two type of rectifier is discussed below.

1. Half Wave Bridge Rectifier: A half wave rectifier circuit can be designed with a single semiconductor diode.See the figure below...

Fig(a): Half  wave bridge rectifier circuit with wave form

2. Full Wave Bridge Rectifier: It can be designed with four semiconductor diodes.See the figure below....

Fig(b): Full wave bridge rectifier circuit with wave form

Operation of a full wave bridge rectifier can be shown as below,

Fig(c): Operation of a full wave bridge rectifier

Always, it gives the output at same direction.
 Aplication:

1.  To rectify a signal;
2. To Convert an AC voltage to DC Voltage ;