Power Electronics Basics - #1

Key divisions of power electronics devices

·        Types of power semiconductor devices and their switching

·        Rectifiers (AC-DC)

·        Choppers (DC-DC)

·        Inverters (DC-AC)

·        AC Voltage controller  (AC-AC)

1. What is the power electronics system?

       Power electronics is the study about conditioning and controlling of electrical power.  In the power electronics devices, input and output power remain the same. It provides the controllability over output voltage (V), Current (i), frequency (f) and form (AC/DC).

2.General configuration of the power electronic system 

3. Difference between signal electronics and power electronics

Type	Signal electronics	Power electronics
Voltage	±15v	$k$V
Current	$m$A	$k$A
Power	$m$w- w	$k$w

4. Application of power electronic devices

• Variable output Frequency (f) :- Speed control of induction motor by controlling the synchronous speed of induction motor Ns=120f/P.
•  Variable output voltage (V) :- Speed control of DC motor
•  Reactive power compensation using TCR, TSC, STATCOM, SVC (Power system)
• Transportation
•  Low power application – Fan
• Power utilization of renewable sources

5. Advantages of Power electronics system

• No rotational losses
• Compact
• Closed loop control  

6. Disadvantages of power electronics system

•         Switching harmonics
•         Low power factor
•       Increase in core losses