Introduction to Power Electronics

Book excerpt: The subject of power electronics is concerned with solid state devices for the control and conversion of electrical power. These silicon devices are designed mainly for switching the transfer current from one part of an electrical circuit to another. Power electronics has a wide range of applications from the small systems used in electrical appliances to very large systems for the supply and distribution of electricity. Although it can be difficult to completely define where the boundary lies between electronics and power electronics, this resource succeeds at breaking down the discipline. Containing the useful concepts and building blocks that go into making a power converter operate successfully, this book provides a description of the characteristics of different types of power semiconductor devices and their application to power converter circuits. Applications to power transmission, electric drives, and medical equipment are included to illustrate the wide range of power electronics in both small and high power circuits.