The theory of rectifier circuits for low voltages and high power output is
discussed in many standard handbooks. Having the generation of high d.c.
voltages in mind, we will thus restrict the treatment mainly to single-phase
a.c. systems providing a high ratio of d.c. output to a.c. input voltage. As,
however, the power or d.c. output is always limited by this ratio, and because
very simple rectifier circuits are in use, we will treat only selected examples
of the many available circuits.