What is Power Electronics & Its Application?

by

In this tutorial we are going to learn about what is Power Electronics & Its Application?

Power Electronics – Power electronics is the technology to process and control the flow of electric power by modifying and supplying the voltage and current in a form that is best suitable to the costumer at the load end.

Power Electronics main converter:

  • A.C. to D.C. converter (Rectifier) – It is an electrical device which converts alternating current (AC) into Direct current (D.C.), and this current flows in only one direction. The process is known as rectification.
  • D.C. to A.C. converter (Inverter) – It is an electrical device which converts direct current (D.C.) into alternating current (A.C.), and this current flows in only one direction. The process is known as inverter.
  • D.C. to D.C. converter (Chopper) – It is a device which converts fixed DC input to a variable DC output voltage directly and generally a chopper is an electronic switch which is used to interrupt one signal due to under the control of another.
  • A.C. to A.C. converter (Cyclo converter) – these are frequency changers which convert AC power of specific frequency and voltage to different frequency and voltage of AC power without any intermediate DC link and it is a naturally commutated converter in which the output frequency and voltage can be controlled independently and continuously.

All of these above based on turn ON & turn OFF characteristics, gate signal requirement and degree of controllability; they can also be categorized as:

  • Uncontrolled rectifying devices (such as diode): their ON and OFF state are dependant power supply.
  • Semi – controlled devices (such as thyristor) : They have controlled turn on by a gate signal but it’s turning off condition is dependant in power circuit.
  • Fully controlled switches (such as a BJT, MOSFET, GTO and IGBT): these devices are turned ON and turned OFF by the application of control signals.

Application of Power Electronics:

  • Induction Motor Speed Control.
  • Static Circuit Breaker.
  • Static Switches.
  • HVDC transmission.
  • Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
  • Static VAR compensators
  • Static on load tap changing gear.
  • Heaters
  • Welding
  • Power Supply Regulator
  • DC Motor speed control

Leave a Comment