What is Rectification?

A direct current flows from the positive to negative terminal of a source supply when connected by a circuit. The current flows continuously in a single direction. However, in the case of alternating current, the direction of the flow keeps on changing on the basis of the frequency of the alternator producing it. This means that the current first flows in one direction in the circuit, rises to the peak value and comes down, and then changes the direction, reaches the peak value and again comes back to normal. The rise and fall of the current follows a sine wave pattern and is the characteristic of alternating current.

In a situation wherein direct current is required from a source supplying alternative current, the later needs to be rectified in order to make it usable for the D.C requirement. This process of rectifying the AC current is known as rectification. Thus, rectification can be defined as a process of converting alternating current (A.C) to Direct current (D.C). In this process the flow of current in only one direction is permitted while in the other direction is resisted. This means that in an alternating current (A.C) the positive component of the current is only permitted to pass whereas the negative is resisted. The equipment used for this rectification process is known as rectifier.