Maximum power transfer for full-wave rectifier circuits

With a view to such potential applications as implanted medical instruments, inductive power transfer to weapons, power transfer by means of space reflectors, and power generation in space, an analysis is conducted to ascertain the maximum power transfer conditions for full wave rectifier circuits. The optimum ratio of ac-to-dc voltage output is determined for resistive/inductive, resistive/capacitive, and resistive/inductive/capacitive types of series impedance, as well as for the case that encompasses all three impedance types. Nondimensional solutions are given for the differential equations describing the circuits. The optimum ratio of peak ac-to-dc voltage ranges from 2.0 to 2.8, depending on the circuit, and the optimum tuning is found to differ significantly from the usual resonant conditions, especially for low Q.