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The Secret of Power Electronics: How is electrical energy converted into the conveniences of your daily life?
With the advancement of science and technology, the development of power electronics technology has become an indispensable part of our daily life. It not only affects our home appliances, but is also used in a variety of industrial equipment, having a significant impact on the way modern society operates. This article will delve into the basic principles of power electronics and its applications in daily life, and lead readers to understand how this technology improves the convenience of our lives.
Power electronics is the application of electronic technology to the control and conversion of electric power.
The core of power electronics is to use semiconductor switching devices to convert and control electrical energy. In the past, power electronics relied on high power electronic components such as mercury arc valves, but today most systems use semiconductor devices such as diodes, thyristors and power transistors (such as power MOSFETs and IGBTs) for conversion. These components are responsible for converting input and output power in everyday devices and ensuring the safe, efficient and stable operation of these devices.
The most common power electronic device we see in our homes is the AC/DC converter (rectifier). Whether it's a TV, PC or mobile phone charger, these devices rely on power electronics to ensure a steady and accurate supply of electrical energy. Typically these devices range in power from tens to hundreds of watts.
Developments in power electronics have made variable speed drive (VSD) technology more common, especially in the control of induction motors.
In industrial applications, variable speed drive (VSD) is an important application area of power electronics. The maximum power can reach more than ten megawatts and is widely used in various motor controls. This not only improves the operating efficiency of the equipment, but also extends the service life of the equipment.
The history of power electronics can be traced back to the early 20th century. In 1902, Peter Cooper Hewitt invented the mercury arc rectifier, which was the starting point for the development of power electronics. Over time, a series of innovations have rapidly advanced the field, from the invention of the first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in 1947 to the emergence of high-frequency switching technology in the 1960s.
With advances in MOSFETs and IGBTs, power electronics have become increasingly ubiquitous and their applications have expanded to include portable electronic devices and communications infrastructure.
The emergence of two power semiconductor devices, MOSFET and IGBT, has made the application of power electronics technology more flexible and efficient. These systems not only play a role in household devices, but also form the basis of modern communications and renewable energy sources such as solar power generation.
In addition to the rectifier, the DC/AC converter (inverter) is also an important component in power electronics. Inverters convert DC power to AC power and are widely used in variable speed drives, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and even renewable energy systems. The underlying principle is to use power switching devices to switch the direction of current flow to generate the desired AC waveform.
For inverters, the quality of the output waveform directly affects the efficiency and stability of the power supply system.
The design of inverters is mainly divided into voltage source inverters (VSI) and current source inverters (CSI). Each architecture selects the most appropriate modulation technique, such as carrier modulation or pulse width modulation (PWM), according to the needs of its application. The choice of these technologies not only affects the quality of the output waveform, but also affects the cost and operating efficiency of the device.
In modern society, the application of power electronics technology is no longer limited to a certain field. Whether in home appliances, business equipment or industrial applications, they are everywhere. Understanding the basic principles and application methods of these technologies will not only enable consumers to better utilize these devices, but also trigger thinking about future advances in power technology.
Just think about what our daily lives would be like without these power electronics technologies?
