Lecture 1.

1
Introduction to Power Electronics

Outline
What is power electronics?
The history
Applications

Definition of electronics:
Electronics is the branch of science that deals with the
study of flow and control of electrons (electricity) and
the study of their behavior and effects in vacuums,
gases, and semiconductors, and with devices using such
electrons.

Classifications of Electronics
1.

Classification of electronics by processing object

Information electronics: to process information
Electronics
Power electronics: to process electric power

2.

Other classifications of electronics

Electronics

Vacuum electronics: using vacuum devices,

e.g, vacuum tubes devices
Solid (Solid state) electronics: using solid state devices,
e.g, semiconductor devices

Electronics

Physical electronics: physics,material,fabrication,

and manufacturing of electronic devices
Applied electronics: application of electronic
devices to various areas

Definition of Power Electronics:

Power electronics is the application of electronic
devices to the control and conversion of electric power.

Relation with multiple disciplines

Circuit Ct
theory

Electric
machines

Systems&
Control theory

Control

Simulation &
computing

theory Power
electronics
electr

Power
systems

Signal
processing

oni

cs
Electromagnetics
electr

electronics
Solid state
physics

History
Power electronics started with the development of
the mercury arc rectifier. Invented by Peter
Cooper Hewitt in 1902, it was used to convert
alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC).

A glass-envelope mercury-arc rectifier valve

Cooper-Hewitt mercury arc rectifier. The tube
shown is fairly small by mercury arc
standards, being rated for 120 V service (at 30
amps); however it contains in excess of 15
pounds of mercury.

 From the 1920s on, research continued on

applying thyratrons and grid-controlled mercury
arc valves to power transmission. Uno Lamm
developed a mercury valve with grading electrodes
making them suitable for high voltage direct
current power transmission.

A thyratron, which is a variation of the

mercury rectifier, can be used for phase
angle control in much the same way as a
thyristor.

 In 1933 selenium rectifiers were invented.

heavy duty, full wave selenium

rectifiers

 In 1947 the bipolar point-contact transistor was

invented by Walter H. Brattain and John Bardeen
under the direction of William Shockley at Bell Labs.

Bardeen and Brattain's first

point-contact transistor

John Bardeen, William Shockley and

Walter Brattain at Bell Labs, 1948.
Elements of Bardeen and Brattains Transistor

 In 1948 Shockley's invention of the bipolar junction

transistor (BJT) improved the stability and
performance of transistors, and reduced costs.

Point-contact-transistor

Transistor packages

 By the 1950s, higher power semiconductor diodes and

transistors became available and started replacing vacuum
tubes.

OC72, OC71. Ca. 1954

Germanium high-power
transistor type OC16. Ca. 1956
Types OC15, 100OC. Ca. 1954

Commercial germanium power transistors

 In 1956 the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) was

introduced by General Electric, greatly increasing
the range of power electronics applications.

SCR - construction types

Silicon Controlled
Rectifier (SCR) Schematic
Symbol

 By the 1960s the improved switching speed of bipolar

junction transistors had allowed for high frequency
DC/DC converters.

PSD-30C Series - 30W 36~72V

Input Single Output DC-DC
Converter

 In 1976 power MOSFETs became commercially available.

N-Channel SiC Power MOSFET

Simplified Power MOSFET

physical structure
MOSFET module

 In 1982 the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)

was introduced.

Simplified Power MOSFET

physical structure

IGBT symbols

IGBT module

ABB HVDC Rectifier Station

IGBT Valves

Relationship of PE to Power, Electronic & Control

The designs of PEs equipment involves interaction between:
-Electronic
-Power
-Control
CONTROL
Analog || Digital

ELECTRICAL POWER

ELECTRONIC

(SOURCE):AC || DC

Devices || Circuit

(LOAD):STATIC || ROTATING

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Power Electronic System

Reference

Controller
Sensor
Unit

Power
Input

Power
Converter

Load

Basic Block Diagram of Power Electronics System

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Power Converters
The Power Converter is designed to convert, i.e. to process and
control the flow of electric power by supplying voltage and
current in a form that is optimally suited for user loads with
high efficiency, high reliability, low cost, small size and
weight.

Classification of Power Converters

1.

AC-DC Converter

2.

DC-DC Converter

3.

DC-AC Converter (Inverter)

4.

AC-AC Converter (Cycloconverter)

1. AC-DC Converter
AC-DC converters are electrical circuits that transform
alternating current (AC) input into direct current (DC)
output. They are used in power electronic applications
where the power input a 50 Hz or 60 Hz sine-wave AC
voltage that requires power conversion for a DC output.
AC to DC converters use rectifiers to turn AC input into
DC output, regulators to adjust the voltage level, and
reservoir capacitors to smooth the pulsating DC.

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Types of AC-DC Converters

1. Linear converters are simple and relatively inexpensive, but
also large and inefficient. They process excess power as heat,
which can be problematic for some temperature-sensitive
applications.
2. Switching converters are more complex AC to DC
converters that use a switched-mode power supply (SMPS).
A switching regulator shifts very quickly between full-on and
full-off states, minimizing wasted energy. Switching
converters are more efficient, smaller, and lighter, but also
more complicated. They can cause electrical noise problems
if not carefully suppressed, and simple designs may also have
a poor power factor.

2. DC-DC
Converter

A DC-to-DC converter is an electronic circuit or

electromechanical device that converts a source of direct
current (DC) from one voltage level to another. It is a
type of electric power converter. Power levels range from
very low (small batteries) to very high (high-voltage power
transmission).

DC-DC Converter
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3. DC-to-AC Converter (Inverter)

A power inverter, or inverter, is an electronic device or
circuitry that changes direct current (DC) to alternating
current (AC).
The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and
overall power handling depend on the design of the
specific device or circuitry.

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4. AC-AC Converter (Cycloconverter)

A solid-state AC-AC converter converts an AC waveform
to another AC waveform, where the output voltage and
frequency can be set arbitrarily.

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Applications of Power Electronics System

in Various Fields
1.

Industrial applications

Motor drives

Electrolysis

Electroplating

Induction heating

Welding

Arc furnaces and ovens

Lighting

2.

Transportation applications

Trains & locomotives

Subways

Trolley buses

Magnetic levitation

Electric vehicles

Automotive electronics

Ship power systems

Aircraft power systems

3.

Utility stems applications

High- voltage dc
transmission(HVDC)
Flexible ac transmission(FACTS)
Static var compensation &
harmonics suppression: TCR,
TSC, APF
Custom power & power quality
control
Supplemental energy sources :
wind, photovoltaic, fuel cells
Energy storage systems

4.

Power supplies for electronic

equipment

Telecommunications

Computers

Office equipment

Electronic instruments

Portable or mobile electronics

5.

Residential and home appliances

Lighting

Heating

Air conditioning

Refrigeration & freezers

Cooking

Cleaning

Entertaining

6.

Applications in space technology

Spaceship power systems

Satellite power systems

Space vehicle power systems

7.

Other aplications

Nuclear reactor control

Power systems for particle accelerators

Environmental engineering

Trends
It is estimated that in developed countries now 60% of the electric energy
goes through some kind of power electronics converters before it is
finally used.
Power electronics has been making major contributions to:
- better performance of power supplies and better control of electric
equipment
- energy saving
- environment protection
- reduction of energy consumption leads to less pollution
- reduction of pollution produced by power converters
- direct applications to environment protection technology

END