Fig. 5.11(a) presents the power circuit of the three-phase half-wave or sometimes called common-point controlled rectifier. The average output voltage is controlled by the thyristors firing angle.
Fig. 5.11(b) presents the waveforms of the under examination rectifier when α
=
30° and the output current is assumed to pure dc of

value. As can be seen from
Fig. 5.11(b) each thyristor conducts for one-third of the input voltage period. If the thyristors were replaced by diodes, then the diodes will start conducting at angle ωt
=
30° in relation to their corresponding phase voltages v
an, v
bn, and v