Image:Tridge rectifier.jpg
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"Tridge Rectifier" (three phase bridge rectifier)
This picture shows the tridge rectifier currently in use on theUrbine221dc.jpg
Three phase alternating current comes in the three black wires at the upper left hand corner of the image. These are the three electrical hot wires coming down the center of a size 9 schedule 40 structural tower from the windmill. There is no neutral. There is a ground, which is the metal housing.
Leftmost, bolted to a large heatsink, there are three double diodes.
Three black wires come out the top of each double diode, and three red wires come out the bottom.
The black and red wires go to the screw terminals labelled "negative" and positive" respectively.
The screw terminals are shown rightmost in the picture.
These terminals go to a 12 volt 2000 Amp Hour battery that weighs approximately 2000 pounds, as well as to a 12 volt distribution system in the building to support a community of cyborgs, i.e. to charge 12 volt batteries as well as to run various of the 12 volt equipment that has accumulated from 30 years of wearable computing work. Such equipment includes various communications systems, Internet gateways, and other systems that must keep running regardless of whether or not there is a power failure.
This system, having separate turbine and rectifier, replaces an earlier dilapidated wind power system that was based on an automotive alternator with six diodes built into it. With the earlier system it was necessary to
because automobile alternators do not normally provide three phase power directly to the outside terminals.
The new system is preferable for teaching use, because the rectifier is located inside the building, allowing maintenance and research to be carried out without climbing up the mast (e.g. to change diodes, etc., which required climbing up the mast and taking down the alternator with the old system).
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