TOPIC 1

Introduction to Power Electronics

Learning Objectives
• Analyse electrical circuits associated with solid state
power conversion equipment
• Apply power semiconductors to the control of large
currents
• AC/DC, AC/AC, DC/DC & DC/AC conversion
• DC and AC induction motor drives
What is Power Electronics?
• Power electronics deals with the use of electronics for the
control of high power levels
Power Electronics Systems
• Where are they used?
• DC and AC regulated power supplies
• Electro chemical processes
• Heating and lighting control
• Electronic welding
• Power line Volt-Ampere Reactive (VAR) and harmonic
compensation
• High Voltage DC Systems
• Photo voltaic and fuel cell conversion
• Variable speed constant frequency systems
• Solid state circuit breakers
• Induction heating
• Motor drives
Power Semiconductor Device Evolution
• Diode
• Transistor (1948)
• Thyristor (1956)
• Triac
• Gate Turn Off Thyristor (GTO) 1960s
• Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
• Power MOSFET
• Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)
• Static Induction Transistor (SIT)
• Static Induction Thyristor (SITH)
• MOS-Controlled Thyristor (MCT)
Power Semiconductor Families
• Diodes
• Diode
• Zener Diodes
• DIACs
• Thyristors
• Thyristor
• Triac
• Gate Turn Off Thyristor (GTO)
• Static Induction Thyristor (SITH)
• MOS-Controlled Thyristor (MCT)
• Transistors
• Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
• Power MOSFET
• Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)
• Static Induction Transistor (SIT)
Device Symbols
• The following device types are supported by MULTISIM
Diodes
• Diodes
• Diode
• Zener Diodes
• DIACs
• Diodes are 2 terminal devices that are neither latched on
or held on by a 3rd terminal
Diode Characteristics
• 2 terminals – anode and cathode
• Ratings up to 6000 V, 7500 A
• Conducts in forward direction
• Forward voltage drop typically 0.7 V (0.5 to 1.2 V)
Zener Diode
• A Zener diode allows current to
flow in the forward direction in the
same manner as an ideal diode
• Also permits current flow in the
reverse direction when the voltage
is above the zener voltage.
Transistors
• Transistors
• Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
• Power MOSFET
• Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)
• Static Induction Transistor (SIT)
• Transistors are 3 terminal devices that are held (rather
than latched) on or off
Power Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
• Collector current amplifies base current.
• Continuous control of collector current.
• Can be switched on and off at will.
• Limited in voltage and current ratings.
• Forward voltage drop 0.5 to 1.5 V
• Applications
• Power converters below 10 kHz
Darlington Transistor Pair
• Cascade of 2 transistors
• Provides higher current gain
• Higher Vce saturation voltage
leads to lower efficiency.