I-Section filter
Definition: Pifilter consists of a shunt capacitor at the input side, and it is
followed by an L-section filter. The output from the rectifier is directly given across
capacitor. The pulsating DC output voltage is filtered first by the capacitor
connected at the input side and then by choke coil and then by another shunt
capacitor.
The construction arrangement of all the components resembles the shape of
Greek letter Pi(TT). Thus it is called Pifilter. Besides, the capacitor is present at
the input side. Thus, it is also called capacitor input filter.
Significance of Capacitor input filter or Pifilter (TT- filter)
The ultimate aim of a filter is to achieve rIpple free DC voltage The filters we have
discuSsed in our previous articles are also efficient in removing AC npples from the
Output voltage of rectifier, but Pi filter is more efficient n removing npples as t
COnsISÍs of One more capcitor at the input side
L
Supply from C1 RL VL
Rectifier
Capacitor Input Filter or Pi Filter
Working of Pi filter (TT- filter)
The output voltage coming from rectifier also consist of ACcomponents. Thus it is
crucial need to remove these AC ripples to improve the performance of the
device. The output from the rectifier is directly applied to the input capacitor. The
capacitor providesa low impedance to AC ripples present in the output voltage and
high resistance to DC voltage. Therefore, most of the AC ripples get bypassed
through the capacitor in input stage only.
The residual AC components which are still present in filtered DC signal gets
filtered when they pass through the inductor coil and through the capacitor
connected parallel across the load. In this way. the efficiency of filterng increases
multiple times.
In the case of L-section filter, one inductor and capacitor were present so if some
AC ripples say 1% is left after filtering that can be removed in Pi-filter. Thus, Pi filter
is considered more efficient.
Characteristics of Pi filter (TT- filter)
The Pi filter has the characteristics to generate a high output voltage at low current
drains. In pi-filters, the major filtering action is accomplished by the capacitor at
input C1. The residual AC ripples are filtered by inductor coil Land capacitor C;
VLmax Filtered Output Rectified Output
2TL 31t
Output Voltage Waveform
The high voltage is obtained at the output of Pi filter, the reason behind this high
voltage output is that the entire input voltage appears across the input capacitor
C1. The voltage drop acroSs choke coil and capacitor C is quite small.
Thus, this is the advantage of Pi capacitor that it provides high voltage gain. But
inaddition to this high output voltage, the voltage regulation of Pi filter is very
poor. This is because the output voltage drops rapidly with the increa
flowing through the load.
Apart from the above-mentioned disadvantage, its most crucial advantage is low
ripple factor.
Tle espresston for voltuge tn Pr filter Is grenn belon cquation.
ldc
V, = 2/C
In thecase of Pifilter C = Ci
The RMS vahue of output voltage is given as:
11 lác
Vac rms rV22fC-= lacXcVZ
1 1
Here Kc1 = 12wC1 4nf C1
,reactance of input capacitor C at second
harmonic firequency.
Now V¡c rms is applied toL- section so the ripple voltage can be
obtaned by multiphing Ke zi.e.
Vac rms==Vacrms XXXL Xc2 = vZLa-Xcs
2lacKc1 XC2
XL
Nar the rpple furtor.
Vác rms ldcXC1XC2V2 ldcXc1Xczv2 XC1XC2N2
Vdc VdcXL ldeR,XL RLNL
v2 1 1 1 ,2
=
Advantages of Pi flter (T- filter)
which requires
1.High Output Voltage: If youare dealing with the application
Pi
high output voltage after filtering, then this is the filter you should us?.
filter's significance is that it offers low voltage drop across choke coil and
capacitor Cz in order to main high output voltage across its output terminals.
2. Low Ripple factor: Due to the involvement of 2 capacitors in addition with
one inductor it provides improved filtering action. This leads to decremert in
ripple factor. A low ripple factor means the ratio of current due to AC ripples
and direct Current is low. Thus, a low ripples factor signifies regulated ard
ripple free DC voltage.
3. High PIV: The peak inverse voltage in the case of Pi filters is mnore in
Comparison to L-section filter.
Disadvantage of Pi filter (T- filter)
the output voltage
Poor Voltage Regulation: We have disCussed above that
varying loads. In
varies with the load current. Thus, this capacitor is not suitable for
in such
an application where load current varies, pi filters are not Suitable. Thus.
application, we can use L-section filters as its output voltage do not vary largely
with load current.
Application of Pifilter (T- flter)
These are used in communication devices for retrieving the particular signal after
modulation. In transmission, the signal is modulated irto mult ples of h gh
frequency. While on the receiver side, filters are used to demodulate :re raticuar
rar ge of frecuency.
Ripple factor
The output of rectifier consists of D.C component and ACcomponent also. A.Ccomponent in
rectifiedoutput is called ripple. This A.C component in output is undesirable and accounts for the
pusations in the rectifier output. AC component in rectifier output voltage is called ripple voltage and
AC component in output current called ripplecurrent.
Ripple Factor definition: The ratio of r.m.s. value of a.c. component to the d.c. component in the
rectifier output is known as the ripple factor.
Ripple Factor =RMS value of AC Component/RMS value of DC component
SO the R.F= I(ac)/ l(dc)
Ripple Factor is very important in deciding the effectiveness of rectifher output. The smaller ripple
factor describes the more effectiveness of that rectifier. The more ripple factor means more fluctuating
ac components are present in the rectified output.
This is basically a measurement of ripple which denotes the purity of rectified output. Thus every effort
is made to reduce the ripple factor. Here we will not discuss the ways to reduce the ripple factor.
Why Ripple is present?
When the rectification happens by rectifer circuit there is no way to get 100% pure DC output. Some
fluctuating AC components are always present in the output of the rectifier. A rectifier circuit is
including some diodes or thyristor. Ripple is depended upon the uses of these elements in a rectifher
circuit.
Let see with the ex*ple of single phase full wave rectifier. Herewe Use four diodes in a circuit ard we
get the output as shon in the figure.
Actual Current Output
Expected DC
Output
2T
Ripple factor Formula and Derivation
Ripple factor is given in terms of RMS value of ac component to RMS value of dc component.
/rms)? - (Idc)?
Ripple Factor, y = Idc
V(Vrms)'- (Vdc)?
Vdc
So now we derive the for mula of ripple factor. Derivation of ripple factor can be easily derived by che
defnition of ripple factor. As per definition we know. ripple factor is the ratio of ms of ac comONe
msof dccomponents in rectifiedoutput.
By Irms and ldc we can find the ripple factor of the rectifier.
I s
or 2 -1.de
Dividing throughout by j we get,
Iac 1
L-c
But , / , is the ripple factor.
- 1
Ripple factor
Ve ectit
Ripple factor for half wave rectifier
For half wave rectification,
Irms = m/2
ldc = Im/
Ripple factor = 1.21
Ripple factor of half wave rectifier is about 1.21 by the derivation. As per you can see output voltage
has much more AC component in DC output voitage so the half-wave rectifier is ineffective in the
conversion of A.C to D.C.
Ripple factor for full wave rectifier
For full wave rectifier.
Irms = Ir/ 2
lde -2lm/ n
2 I,
Ins
Ripple factor -1 =0.48
21/n
i.e. effective a.c. component
0.48
d.c. component
Thisshows that inthe output of afull-wave rectifier, the d.c. component
is morethan thea.c.
component.Consequently, the pulsations in the output will be less than in half-wave rectifier. For
this reason,full-wave rectification is invariably used for conversionof a.c.
into d.c.
