Patent ID: 10770577

Abstract:
A rectifier has a rectification circuit configured to rectify multi-phase alternating current generated by a rotating electric machine into direct current. The rectifier includes upper-arm semiconductor switching elements included in an upper arm of the rectification circuit, upper-arm protection diodes included in the upper arm and each being electrically connected in parallel with one of the upper-arm semiconductor switching elements, lower-arm semiconductor switching elements included in a lower arm of the rectification circuit, and lower-arm protection diodes included in the lower arm and each being electrically connected in parallel with one of the lower-arm semiconductor switching elements. Each of the upper-arm and lower-arm protection diodes is configured to have, when a reverse voltage higher than a breakdown voltage of the protection diode is applied to the protection diode, an operating resistance that is higher than three times an operating resistance of any of the upper-arm and lower-arm semiconductor switching elements.