What is Power Electronics?

POWER ELECTRONICS

Power Electronics deals with the use of electronics for the control and conversion of large amount of electrical power. It constitute a vast, complex and interdisciplinary subject that has gone through rapid technological evolution.

History

A paper entitled "PNPN Transistor switches"(https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4052177) was published by four engineers of Bell Telephone Laboratory, USA. It triggered intensive research on PNPN devices. Hence, in 1957, Gordon Hall of General Electric Company, USA, developed the three terminal PNPN based semiconductor device called as Silicon Controlled Rectifier(SCR). Later on many power devices were developed similar to SCR.

Power Electronic system 

Power Electronic Converters

Converter uses a matrix of power semiconductor switches to convert electrical power at high efficiency. The converter system is composed of switches, reactive components(L, C) and transformers. These converters are classified into,

1. Phase Controlled Rectifiers(AC to DC converter)
2. Choppers(DC to DC converter)
3. Inverters(DC to AC converter)
4. Cycloconverters(AC to AC converter)
5. AC voltage controllers(AC Regulators)

Applications

• Battery chargers
• Electric fans
• VAR compensators
• Electric vehicles
• Solar power supplies etc.,

References

1] M.D. Singh and K.B. Khanchandani, "Power Electronics", Mc Graw Hill India, 2013.

2] Rashid M.H., "Power Electronics Circuits, devices and Applications", Prentice Hall, India, Third            Edition, New Delhi, 2004.

3] P.S.Bimbra, "Power Electronics", Khanna Publishers, Eleventh Edition, 2003.