This section provides an overview for rectifiers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 39 rectifier manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A rectifier is a device that rectifies current using semiconductor elements.
Rectification is the conversion of alternating current to direct current, and is produced by utilizing the property of diodes, etc., to conduct current in only one direction.
Rectifiers are widely used to supply DC power.
Familiar examples are AC adapters for supplying power to PCs and smartphones. In industrial applications, they are used for large motor control and electrolysis. Rectifiers, such as thyristors, have long been used for motor control.
Trains are typical machines powered by DC motors and have been fed with rectifiers. In recent years, speed control of AC motors has become common, and trains powered by AC motors have become widespread on train lines. Inverters that control the speed of AC motors use semiconductors called bipolar transistors or IGBTs.
Rectifiers use semiconductors to convert AC power into DC power. There are various types of semiconductors, including diodes that conduct current in only one direction and thyristors that conduct current only when a signal arrives at the gate.
All of these semiconductors are made by a pn junction combining p-type and n-type semiconductors and utilize the energy level difference between the semiconductors.
Diodes are composed of p-type and n-type semiconductors. p-type semiconductors have a higher energy level than n-type semiconductors. Therefore, p-type holes can easily flow to n-type semiconductors, while n-type electrons have difficulty flowing to p-type semiconductors. As a result, current flows when the p-side potential is high, while current does not flow when the n-side potential is high.
The p-side terminal is anode and the n-side terminal is a cathode. Thyristor is composed of semiconductors stacked in the order of p, n, p, n, with the gate terminal taken out from the middle p part. By applying voltage from this gate part to the cathode side, the current can flow from anode to cathode.
This is called turn-on. If you want to turn off a thyristor that has been turn-on, you can return it to its original state by making the voltage on the cathode side higher than the anode side.
Rectifiers have long been used in factories and homes. The electricity used for home landline telephones is DC voltage converted to DC by a rectifier. Rectifiers are also built into AC adapters used to charge computers and smartphones. Rectifiers are always used inside the electronic circuits of inverter air conditioners, which use inverters to control the temperature.
Rectifiers are also widely used in industry up to the present day. Many DC feeder lines with rectifiers are still in use in trains. Rectifiers are used for electrolytic refining in aluminum plating plants. Some arc furnaces, for example, use DC current, and rectifiers are used as power sources.
Demand for rectifiers is expected to increase in the future. Electric vehicles are loaded with numerous batteries to withstand long-distance driving. Batteries cannot be charged using AC power and must be rectified using a rectifier. Thus, rectifiers play an important role and will continue to be widely used.
The supply voltage rectified by the rectifier can be varied to match the source of supply. The voltage rectified by the diode can be varied using a capacitor, reactor, or resistor. However, if the voltage is varied using a resistor, heat losses are generated.
When the voltage is varied, rectifiers using thyristors, or IGBTs are now widely used. This is because the voltage can be continuously varied simply by changing the arc angle.
Rectifiers are also a part of electrical components and therefore have a current allowance. The allowable current also determines the capacity.
As with wiring and contactor contacts, the larger the size, the larger the capacity of the rectifier. The capacity of a rectifier is determined by the current and voltage values that the individual components can withstand, with the most electrically weakest component determining the allowable value. In general, the capacitance of the rectifier as a whole is often determined by the capacitance of the capacitors to be smoothed.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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ABB E-mobility provides electric vehicle charging solutions for customers around the globe. ABB E-mobility offers DC fast chargers as well as AC chargers with focus on reliability and uptime. Since 2010, ABB E-mobility has sold over 50,000 DC fast chargers and over 1 million total AC chargers. ABB E-mobility offers home single and multi-charge units, retail, workplace, and hospitality charge units, electric vehicle fleet sales, as well as public transportation. Additionally, numerous digital solutions and software services are available.
Applied Power Systems, Inc. (APS) was founded in 196 and headquartered in Hicksville, New York. Applied Power Systems is a power electronics company specializing in power conversion systems and thermal management of high power semiconductors. APS offers a large selection of high power thermal management products. These products include standard and custom aluminum extrusion heat sinks for natural convection and forced air-cooling. Cast and machined copper chill plates for liquid cooling. State of the art clamps for flat pack or hockey puck semiconductors. APS also offers driver circuit boards to drive SCR, IGBT and MOSFET devices.
Exponential Power has roots dating back to 1915 and began with the merger of Storage Battery Systems and Summit Power Systems in 2014, and is now headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Exponential Power is a distributor of stored power solutions, serving offshore, telecom, energy-services, utilities, energy, data centers, motive power, material handling, distribution, and manufacturing industries. Exponential Power provides batteries, battery backs, power systems, battery cabinets, UPS, as well as other products. Exponential Power offers services such as installation, maintenance, repair, and rental equipment.
Magnetool, Inc. was established in 1951 and located in Troy, Michigan. Magnetool is a designer and manufacturer of permanent magnet and elegromagnetic devices used for material handling, holding, lifting, demagnetizing, and filtering. Magnetool also offers custom applications. Magnetool product categories include magnetic tools such as multi-lifts and various lifting magnets, electromagnets such as bipolar electromagnets and low profile electromagnets, demagnetizers, rectifier controllers, chuck & sine plates, magnetic filters, and magnetic sweepers. Magnetool also offers repair facilities for permanent chucks and electromagnetic chucks.
WIN SOURCE is a customer-focused online store serving a wide variety of markets industries ranging from consumer to automotive to medical, industrial, and aerospace. WS specializes on size and speed, offering a catalog of over 1 million SKUS that can be shipped within 24 hours around the world. Offerings include an extensive array of semiconductor components, audio products, cable assemblies, racks, and battery products. WIN SOURCE is AS9120B, ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO45001 certified and is a member of the anti-counterfeiting organization, ERAI.
PLC Hardware (PLCH) was founded in 1993 and operates out of Owings Mills, Maryland. PLCH is an independent distributor of used and surplus industrial automation and networking equipment. PLCH offers a 1-year warranty on all products and ships globally. PLCH’s emphasis is on hardware and distributes hardware from such brands as Cisco, HP Networking, Rockwell Automation and Siemens. A few of the many categories of hardware include application networking products, cables, optical networking systems, routers, switches, rack servers, content delivery devices, as well as HVAC controllers, and safety integrated systems.
No Time Delay Electronics (NTD Electronics) is based out of Lake Forest, California. NTD Electronics is an independent kitting house and broadline stocking distributor that connects countless customers with over 1000 manufacturers worldwide. NTD Electronics offers products from many categories including amplifiers, cables, capacitors, circuit breakers and accessories, fuses, fuse accessories and fuse holders, PTC resettable fuses, coils, connectors, crystals, diodes, fans, fuses, hardware, heatsinks, inductors, integrated circuits, potentiometers, relays, resistors, switches, transformers, transistors, trimmers, and wire.
Hybrid Electronics is a global distribution specialist of electronic components, with access to over 50 million unique components. Among the markets HE serves are the aerospace, automotive, communications, defense, industrial, medical, national security, and test & measurement industries. In addition to components, HE also provides quality and compliance testing, counterfeit detection, upscreening, and other forms of quality control. Examples of component subtypes that HE offers include ICs, batteries, capacitors, semiconductor products, sensors, circuit protection, interconnectors, filters, optoelectronics, relays, switches, power supplies, and cables and cable assemblies.
Founded in San Clemente, California in 1997, NetSource Technology, Inc. is an independent stocking distributor of electronic components and global procurement services, providing comprehensive supply chain solutions to OEMs and contract manufacturers worldwide. NetSource Technology serves the aerospace, automotive, IoT, medical, mobile device, and telecommunications industries and related companies. NetSource Technology specializes in locating hard-to-find, obsolete, end-of-life and highly allocated components with long lead times, supporting customers throughout the complete supply chain lifecycle.
Hello BOM is an online electronic component storefront designed to bridge customers and suppliers. Customers supply Hello BOM with their bill of materials (BOM) and Hello BOM uses smart analysis via AI data matching to quickly find precise matches that customers need. This is accomplished via Hello BOM’s growing component stock and product information database to grow increasingly accurate and fast, while also simplifying the process of R&D and purchasing for customers. Products include semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, connectors, transistors, and sensors.
Schneider Electric S.E. is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France, and has been operating since 1836. Schneider Electric provides a number of products and services including electrical car charging, energy management software, surge protection devices, load banks, servers and HMIs, valve and valve actuators, feeder automation, grid automation, and SCADA software products, data center cooling and software, home automation and security, light switches, motion control and robotics, signaling units, solar and energy storage, RFID systems, as well as other hardware, services, and software.
American Distributors LLC (ADI) was founded in 1983 and has corporate offices in Randolph, New Jersey. ADI manufactures and distributes products for medical diagnostics, industrial usage, maritime usage, aerospace, and military. ADI is ISO 9001:2015 certified. ADI’s product line includes capacitors, chip resistors, coils, chocks, connectors, crystals, diodes, fans, filters, fuses, hardware & accessories, heat shrinkable tubing, inductors, integrated circuits, lamps & lighting development, networks equipment, Parylene coating, relays, resistors, semiconductors, IC sockets & terminals, switches, transistors, and wire & cable.
bisco industries was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1973 and now is headquartered in Anaheim, California. bisco industries is a distributor of electronic components and fasteners used for production in aerospace, communication, computer, fabrication, industrial equipment, instrumentation, marine, and military industries. Some of bisco’s product offerings include fasteners such as nuts and washers, hardware such as casters and bearings, door and access hardware including handles and hinges, electronic connectors including circular connectors and terminal blocks, enclosures such as cabinets and rack components, and wires and cables including wire and cable management including sleeving and tubing.
Ranking as of March 2023 in United States of America
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | PD&E Electronics | 7.7% |
2 | Win Source Electronic Technology Ltd. | 7.7% |
3 | NetSource Technology, Inc. | 7.7% |
4 | Magnetool, Inc. | 7.7% |
5 | Computer Air/Power Systems, Inc. (CAPS) | 3.8% |
6 | S. G. Frantz Co., Inc. | 3.8% |
7 | Electronic Devices, Inc. | 3.8% |
8 | Applied Power Systems, Inc. | 3.8% |
9 | AFP Transformers Corp. | 3.8% |
10 | C&H Technology, Inc. | 3.8% |
11 | PLC Hardware | 3.8% |
12 | Magnetek Drives | 3.8% |
13 | Metafin Supply Company | 3.8% |
14 | Hybrid Electronics | 3.8% |
15 | Avatar Instruments | 3.8% |
16 | Neeltran, Inc. | 3.8% |
17 | No Time Delay Electronics | 3.8% |
18 | ABB E-mobility | 3.8% |
19 | CleanFreak.com | 3.8% |
20 | Staticon Ltd. | 3.8% |
21 | Exponential Power | 3.8% |
22 | Pico Electronics | 3.8% |
Ranking as of March 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | PD&E Electronics | 7.7% |
2 | Win Source Electronic Technology Ltd. | 7.7% |
3 | NetSource Technology, Inc. | 7.7% |
4 | Magnetool, Inc. | 7.7% |
5 | Computer Air/Power Systems, Inc. (CAPS) | 3.8% |
6 | S. G. Frantz Co., Inc. | 3.8% |
7 | Electronic Devices, Inc. | 3.8% |
8 | Applied Power Systems, Inc. | 3.8% |
9 | AFP Transformers Corp. | 3.8% |
10 | C&H Technology, Inc. | 3.8% |
11 | PLC Hardware | 3.8% |
12 | Magnetek Drives | 3.8% |
13 | Metafin Supply Company | 3.8% |
14 | Hybrid Electronics | 3.8% |
15 | Avatar Instruments | 3.8% |
16 | Neeltran, Inc. | 3.8% |
17 | No Time Delay Electronics | 3.8% |
18 | ABB E-mobility | 3.8% |
19 | CleanFreak.com | 3.8% |
20 | Staticon Ltd. | 3.8% |
21 | Exponential Power | 3.8% |
22 | Pico Electronics | 3.8% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rectifier page as of March 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
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