Introduction to Power Electronics

Course Outline
I. II. III. IV.

Introduction Power Electronics Devices Typical Waveforms Power Conversion

A. B. C. D.

AC-DC DC-DC DC-AC AC-AC

Reference Books
I.

Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices & Application

- M.H. Rashid; Prentice Hall of India. 3rd edition,2004

II.

Power Electronics, Applications & Design

Ned Mohan; John Wiley & Sons. 3rd edition, 2002

III.

Power Electronics
Cyrill Lander; Mc Graw Hills Co., 3rd edition, 1993.

IV.

Modern Power Electronics & AC Drives

B.K. Bose; Pearson Education Inc., 2002

V.

Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition

- Pressman, Billings, Morey, 2009

I. Introduction
Power electronics is the technology associated with efficient conversion and control of electric power using semiconductor devices. Power electronic converters are devices that modify the form of electrical energy (i.e. change its voltage, current or frequency). The power range of these converters is from some milliwatts (as in a mobile phone) to hundreds of megawatts (e.g. in a HVDC transmission system).

Why Power Electronics?

Smaller Size. Less Weight. Higher Efficiency.

Why is Efficiency so critical in Power Electronics?

Power conversion is responsible for majority of the efficiency loss in an electronic device.

How can a power conversion device be efficient?

Avoid lossy resistive elements as much as possible. Avoid operating in linear region when semiconductor devices. Use elements that does not consume power such as Inductors (L) and Capacitors (C). Operate semiconductor devices in cutoff and saturation region.

Switching Converters

Due to the need to operate the semiconductor devices in either saturation or cut-off region. The power electronics devices must be in switched mode operation. Power Converters operating in switched operation are also called switch-mode converters.

Applications

Power Supplies ( AC and DC) Lighting Motor Drives Induction Heating Electric Welding Solar / Wind etc. Power Conversion HV Power Transmission

II. Power Electronics Devices

Diodes SCRs Triacs BJTs Mosfets

Introduction to Semiconductor Materials

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2

Diode

Introduction to Semiconductor Materials

Diode Characteristic

Transistor

Semiconductor Switch

When SW is OFF; I=0A When SW is ON; I=IA

SOA

Types of Power Converters

AC/DC converters (rectifiers) - converts the mains AC to DC output. - used on almost all electronic devices that is plugged in the AC sockets like computers, TVs etc.). DC/DC converters - converts DC input to another DC output level. - Used on car chargers/adaptors. AC/AC converters - converts AC to another forms of AC where the AC voltage level or frequency is changed. - used as frequency converters. In power distribution networks AC/AC converters may be used to exchange power between 50 Hz and 60 Hz power grids. DC/AC converters - used to convert DC input to any form of AC output. - commonly used on inverters as computer back up sources.

Linear Converters

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_electronics http://www.youtube.com

END

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