Half Wave Rectifiers
A half wave rectifier is the simplest and most basic for of rectifiers. Half wave rectifiers are commonly used in single phase applications. This means smaller businesses and residential area. But half wave rectifiers can be used in three phase power as well, although uncommon.
Three phase half wave rectifiers consist of a three phase transformer. A transformer is an electrical device that transfers electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction is the production of voltage or electromotive force across and electrical conductor due to its interaction with a magnetic field. Electromotive force is voltage develop by a power source. This process creates electrical energy to generate electrical motors, or other running equipment.
In a three phase wave rectifier, three diodes are required. Each on is connected to each phase. Unfortunately, both the AC and DC currents suffer harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion is when electrical patterns in the forms of waves are not identical or follow a pattern. For the electrical waves to be fixed a filter must be used. Even with this distortion, half wave rectifiers are a way to reduce power to a resistive load and can be used for many different applications.