Rectifier Technology Development during the Last Thirty Years

This paper gives the basic review of the technology development of rectifiers for central power plants in telecommunications centres. The following rectifier technologies are described - transductor-controlled rectifiers with polycrystalline and monocrystalline valves; - thyristor-controlled rectifiers; - ferroresonant stabilizers and controlled ferroresonant devices; - switched mode direct-off-line rectifiers with bipolar and MOSFET transistors; and - high-frequency resonant-mode rectifiers with transistors and PNPN switches.