Definition of Power Electronics

Power electronics is an interdisciplinary domain that integrates principles from electrical, electronic, and control engineering to investigate the conversion, control, and administration of electrical power. The main objective of power electronics is to devise efficient, compact, and economical techniques for transforming and regulating electrical energy between different forms. Given the accelerated expansion of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, and smart grid technology, the significance of this field has surged.

Definition

Power electronics deals with the conversion and control of electric power using electric converters based on the switch of semiconductors.

The power converter has four major categories:

  • DC/DC converters – linear regulators and switching choppers
  • AC/DC converters – rectifiers that transform AC to DC with adjustment of voltage and current
  • DC/AC converters – inverters that produce AC of controllable magnitude and frequency
  • AC/AC converters – AC frequency, phase, magnitude, and power converters, both with and without an intermediary DC link

Each converter is composed of fundamental electronic components, including resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as semiconductor devices such as diodes, thyristors, and transistors.