Key learnings:
- Power Electronics Definition: Power electronics involves using semiconductor devices and controllers to manage and convert electrical energy efficiently.
- Daily Life Applications: Power electronics is used in household items like fan regulators, light dimmers, air-conditioners, induction cookers, emergency lights, PCs, vacuum cleaners, UPS, and battery chargers.
- Automotive and Traction: In vehicles, power electronics control ignition switches, windshield wipers, adaptive lighting, and electric power steering, and are vital in subways and hybrid electric vehicles.
- Industrial Uses: In industries, power electronics control motors in mills and compressors and are essential in welding, arc furnaces, cranes, and heating systems.
- Renewable Energy and Utility Systems: Power electronics is crucial for converting and storing energy in solar and wind systems and is used in HVDC transmission, VAR compensation, and smart grids.
Listing all applications of power electronics is impossible as it is used in almost every field involving electrical energy. This trend continues to grow with new devices and integrated designs of power semiconductor devices and controllers. Easier manufacturing has made these devices available in various ratings, including high and extra-high voltage systems. Soon, all electrical energy might pass through power electronic systems.
Application of Power Electronics
Below is an attempt to briefly present the diaspora of power electronics.
- Our Daily Life: Power electronics are everywhere—fan regulators, light dimmers, air-conditioning, induction cookers, emergency lights, personal computers, vacuum cleaners, UPS (uninterrupted power systems), and battery chargers.
- Automotives and Traction: Power electronics are used in subways, hybrid electric vehicles, trolleys, and forklifts. Modern cars use power electronics in ignition switches, windshield wiper controls, adaptive front lighting, interior lighting, and electric power steering. They are also essential in modern traction systems and ships.
- Industries: Almost all the motors employed in the industries are controlled by power electronic drives, for eg. Rolling mills, textile mills, cement mills, compressors, pumps, fans, blowers, elevators, rotary kilns etc. Other applications include welding, arc furnace, cranes, heating applications, emergency power systems, construction machinery, excavators etc.
- Defense and Aerospace: Power supplies in aircraft, satellites, space shuttles, advance control in missiles, unmanned vehicles and other defense equipments.
- Renewable Energy: Solar and wind generation systems need power conditioning, storage, and conversion systems to be useful. For example, solar cells produce DC power, but we need AC power for general use, so power electronic converters are used.
- Utility Systems: Power electronics are used in v, VAR compensation, static circuit breakers, generator excitation systems, FACTS, and smart grids.
If you want to learn more about power electronics, you can study more basic electronics questions.
