Rectifiers

Rectifiers are the most widespread type of converters and they convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). They are made of semiconductor elements, diodes and thyristors. Various combinations of these elements are possible, and thus there are uncontrolled rectifiers (diode rectifiers), half-controlled (a combination of diode and thyristor) and fully-controlled (thyristor rectifiers).

They are widely used in all branches of industry, power engineering, telecommunications and railways. They are mostly used for those devices which request a high level of reliability and continuity of power supply. They are used to regulate electric machines for direct current, in electrochemical and metallurgical processes, in electrolytic processes in industry, for charging and discharging the battery and as a source of extra DC power supply to devices.

Most often rectifiers are used as a power supply for consumers and for rechargeable batteries in order to maintain the necessary battery voltage so that rechargeable batteries can take over the load in case of the failure of the voltage 3×400 / 230V 50Hz.

The most common rectifier voltage levels are 12V, 24V (e.g. power supply of PLCs and security systems); 48V, 60V (power supply of telecommunication equipment); 110V and 220V (auxiliary power supply of transformer stations, hydro and thermal power plants).

Rectifiers can be modular, in our case Enatel, CORDEX, GUARDIAN, ASPIRO and monolithic, in our case the half-controlled rectifier VEGA.

The advantages of modular design are:

• simplified maintenance and the possibility to replace the power module while still working
• easy and fast upgrade, expansion of the power of the system by adding a power module

The rectifiers that are used nowadays are fully microprocessor controlled and with the possibility of remote control and monitoring.