mercury arc rectifier
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.49 in modern English
33
Scrabble Score
19
Letters
6
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A rectifier which converts alternating current to direct current, using a cathode tube with a pool of liquid mercury. Now superseded by solid-state rectifiers.
Example Sentences
- "The secondary winding is laid in four coils, one on top of the other, with oil passages round the laminated-steel core; its 2,770V a.c. output is converted to 1,970V d.c. by four air-cooled mercury arc rectifiers, which feed each pair of 975V traction motors through a smoothing choke."
- "Additionally, semi-conductor rectifiers are far more economical of space, with the result that there is room in the Doncaster-built locomotives employing them for rheostatic braking apparatus within the weight and dimensions previously needed for mercury-arc rectifiers."