Many inventions are created in which very most common and basic stuff is included. Most people even don’t know about it. These are basic parts of the bigger creations which we use on a regular basis. They are even not even visible, but they perform and make great big happening possible. Two devices such as that are diode and rectifier. They are basic devices used to make big devices for their functioning and proper working. A rectifier is used to manage the type of current supply a device needs, whereas a diode is used to manage the type of current flow required.
Diode vs Rectifier
The main difference between a diode and a rectifier is diode only allows current to flow through it only when it is in a state of forwarding bias. The diode does not allow reverse flow of current, whereas rectifiers are used to convert alternating current supply to direct current supply.
The diode is a semiconductor. It is a device that is used as a one-way switch for current flow. It allows current to flow from one direction very easily, whereas it strictly stops current to flow through the other direction. The diode also has polarities which as anode and cathode.
A rectifier is a device used for the conversion of supply of ac (Alternating current) to dc (direct current). The procedure of this conversion is known as rectifying. In the 20th century, most of the rectifiers were made of metals like iron, copper, and silver, whereas nowadays, they are made of semiconductors.
Comparison Table Between Diode and Rectifier
| Parameters of Comparison | Diode | Rectifier |
| Working | A diode only allows the flow of current through it only when it is forward biased. | Rectifiers are used to convert the supply of ac to dc. |
| Current capacity | The current carrying capacity of the diode is low. | The position of current capacity in rectifiers is high. |
| Type | There are many types of diodes such as a photodiode, Zener diode, and more. | There are two types of rectifiers: single-phase and three-phase rectifiers. |
| Application | A diode is used in switches and clippers. | Rectifiers are used in computer systems. |
| Material | A diode is made of germanium and silicon. | Rectifiers are made of metals like copper, silver, and iron. |
What is Diode?
The diode is a semiconductor. It is a device that is used as a one-way switch for current flow. It allows current to flow from one direction very easily, whereas it strictly stops current to flow through the other direction. The diode also has polarities which as anode and cathode. The anode should have a higher potential than the cathode to be in a forward bias circuit, i.e., to allow current to flow through the circuit. The situation where the cathode is on higher potential than anode will lead to its configuration as in reverse bias in which it will not allow current to flow through.
A diode can also be used as a rectifier in some situations, and they are rated according to the type, current capacity, and voltage. They are made up of germanium, Gallium Arsenide, and silicon. A diode only allows current flow only when it is forward biassed, and, in this case, if it is connected in a reverse bias situation, it leads to performing as an insulator. It can also be used to extract modulation in the radio signals from the radio receivers. There are many types of diodes, such as:
- Light Emitting Diode.
- Laser diode.
- Avalanche diode.
- Zener diode.
- Schottky diode.
- Photodiode.
- PN junction diode.
What is Rectifier?
A rectifier is a device used for the conversion of supply of ac (Alternating current) to dc (direct current). The current can only be allowed to flow through in one direction. The procedure of this conversion is known as rectifying. In the 20th century, most of the rectifiers were made of metals like iron, copper, and silver, whereas nowadays, they are made of semiconductors. There are two types of rectifiers based on the waveform:
1. Half-wave rectifier: half-wave rectifier can only allow ac current to flow through it. Either it allows the positive form of the wave or the negative wave. It blocks the other waveform
2. Full wave rectifier: full-wave rectifier allows ac current to flow through it as well as dc current too. The full-wave rectifier inputs the whole wave and converts it to one form at the output. That form can be either a positive waveform or a negative waveform.
The opposite working of the rectifier can be done by using the inverters. They are used in various places, but the most common usage area of these rectifiers is DC power supplies and high-voltage direct-current power transmission systems. They are classified into two types of rectifiers. Firstly, single-phase rectifiers are used in domestic supplies most of the time, whereas the other type, which is a three-phased rectifier, is most commonly used in industrial commodities.
Main Differences Between Diode and Rectifier
- A diode only allows the flow of current through it only when it is forward biased, whereas Rectifiers are used to convert the supply of ac to dc.
- The current carrying capacity of a diode is low, whereas the position of current capacity in rectifiers is high.
- There are many types of diodes, such as a photodiode, Zener diode, and more, whereas There are two types of rectifiers: single-phase and three-phase rectifiers.
- A diode is used in switches and clippers, whereas Rectifiers are used in computer systems
- A diode is made of germanium and silicon, whereas Rectifiers are made of metals like copper, silver, and iron.
Conclusion
The differences of both of these are important to know for the knowledge of proper application and usage of them. Wrong or misusage of them can lead to big losses of devices, and the user will be unable to achieve the desired device. These devices are used at multiple places in every device for the working of the device, making most of the activities easier for the human species. There are many types of these parts, and each part has its own applications different from others. So, decide accordingly because one wrong decision can lead to the failure of the working device.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016521251300036X
- https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0953-8984/16/10/L04/meta
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp9608990
- https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.1142305
- http://proceedings.mlr.press/v15/glorot11a
- https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.physiol.59.1.171