Abstract :
The paper first describes recent developments in selenium rectifiers and examines the physical and electrical characteristics of modern highvoltage rectifier elements. A direct comparison with the thermionic rectifier is made, and it is shown that the metal rectifier offers advantages, and that it also has special characteristics which can be usefully employed in television receiver circuits. The importance of the correct choice of the working point on the characteristics, in order to obtain optimum rectifier performance in critical circuits or to produce special results, is discussed together with the associated questions of ventilation, thermal dissipation, rating and life. The latter part of the paper comprises a description of various applications of the metal rectifier in television circuits where its special electrical characteristics or flexibility are used to advantage.
