CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO POWER ELECTRONICS

1.1 CONCEPT OF POWER ELECTRONICS:
Power electronics belongs partly to power engineers and partly to electronics
engineers. Power engineering is mainly concerned with generation, transmission, distribution
and utilization of electric energy at high efficiency. Electronics engineering, on the other
hand, is guided by distortion-less production, transmission and reception of data and signals
of very low power level, of the order of few watts, or milli-watts, without much consideration
to the efficiency. In the apparatus associated with power engineering is based mainly on
electromagnetic principles whereas that in electronics engineering is based upon physical
phenomena in vacuum, gases/ vapours and semiconductors.
Power electronics is a subject that concerns the application of electronic-principles
into the situations that are rated at power level rather than signal level. It may also be defined
as subject that deals with the apparatus and equipment working on the principle of electronics
but rated at power level rather than signal level. For example, semiconductor power switches
such as thyristors, GTOs etc. work on the principle of electronics, but have the name power
attached to them only as a description of their power ratings. Similarly, diodes, mercury-arc
rectifiers and thyratrons, high power level devices, from a part of the subject power
electronics, because their working is based on the physical phenomena in gases and vapours,
an electronic process. As the insulation of all such power rated electronic equipment would
be a voluminous task, the present book is devoted to the study of semi-conductor-based
power electronic components and system only. It should be understand that the techniques
used in the design of high-efficiency and high energy level power electronic circuits are quite
different from those employed in the design of low efficiency electronic circuits at signal
levels.
1.2 APPLICATIONS OF POWER ELECTRONICS:
The era of modern power electronics began with the invention of silicon controlled
rectifier by bell laboratories in 1956.its prototype was introduced by GEC in 1957 and
subsequently, GEC introduced Scr based systems commercially in 1958.since then, there
have been emergence of many new power semiconductor devices. Power electronics systems
today incorporate power semiconductor devices as well as microelectronic integrated circuits.

The term converter system in general is used to denote a static device that converts ac
to dc, dc to ac, or ac to ac, dc to dc. Conventional power controllers based on thyratrons,
mercury arc rectifiers, magnetic amplifiers, rheostatic controllers etc. Have been replaced by
power electronic controllers using semiconductors devices in all most all applications. The
development of new power semiconductor devices, new circuit topologies with their
improved performance and their fall in prices have opened up wide field for the new
applications of power electronics converters.
For controlling the power flow to load, all power semiconductor devices, used in a
power electronic converter, are either fully on or fully off. In other words all semiconductor
devices power electronic converter operates as switches. When the switch is fully on, the
semiconductor devices handle large current (divides by the load impendence) and negligible
voltage drop across it. When the switch is off the devices handle negligible current with the
full voltage across it.
Some applications of power electronics:
1. Aerospace: Space shuttle power supplies, satellite power supplies, aircraft power system.
2. Commercial: Advertising, heating, aero conditioning, central refrigeration, computer and
office equipment, uninterruptible power supplies, elevators, light dimmers and flashes.
3. Residential: Air conditioning, cooking, lighting, space heating, refrigerator, electric door
openers, dryers, fans, personal computers, vacuum cleaners, washing and sewing machines,
light dimmers.
4. Telecommunication: Battery chargers, power supplies (dc and up)
5. Transportation: Battery chargers, traction control of electric vehicles, electric
locomotives, street cars, trolley buses, subways, and automotive electronics.

1.3

ADVANTAGES

AND

DISADVANTAGES

OF

POWER

ELECTRONIC

CONVERTERS:
The advantage possessed by power electronic systems is as under:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

High efficiency due to low loss in power semi conductor devices.

High reliability of power electronic converter systems.
Long life and less maintenance due to the absence of any moving parts.
Fast dynamic response of the power electronic systems as compared to

(v)
(vi)

electromechanical converter systems.

Small size and less weight in less floor space and therefore lower installation cost.
Mass production of power semiconductor devices has resulted in lower cost of the
converter equipment.

Systems based on power electronics, however suffer from the following disadvantages:

(a) Power electronic converter circuits have a tendency to generate harmonics in the
supply system as well as in the load circuit.
In the load circuit, the performance of the load is influenced, for example, a high
harmonic content in the load circuit causes commutation problems in dc machines, increased
motor heating and more acoustical noise in both dc and ac machines. So steps must be taken
to filter these out from the output side of a converter.
In the supply stems, the harmonics distort the voltage waveform and seriously influence
the performance of other equipment connected to the same supply line. In addition, the
harmonics in the supply line can also cause interference in audio and video equipment .its is,
therefore necessary to insert filters on the input side of a converter.
(b) Ac to dc and ac to ac converters operate at a low input factor under certain operating
conditions. In order to avoid a low pf, some special measures have to be adopted.
(c) Power electronic controllers have low overload capacity. These converters must,
therefore be rated for taking momentary overloads. As such, cost of power electronic
controller may increase.
(d) Regeneration of power is difficult in power electronic converter systems.
The advantages possessed by power electronic converters far outweigh their
disadvantages mentioned above. As a consequence, semiconductor based converters
are being extensively employed in systems where power flow is to be regulated. As
already stated, conventional power controllers used in many installations have already
replaced by semiconductor based power electronic controllers.
1.4 POWER ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS:
The major components of a power electronic system are shown in the form of a block
diagram. Main power source may be an ac supply system or a dc supply system.
The output from the power electronic circuit may be variable dc, or ac voltage, or it may
be a variable voltage and frequency. In general, the output of a power electronic converter
circuit depends upon the requirements of the load. For example, if the load is a dc motor, the
converter output must be adjustable direct voltage. In case the load is a 3-phase induction
motor, the converter may have adjustable voltage and frequency at its output terminals.
The feedback component measures a parameter of the load, says speed in case of a
rotating machine, and compares it with command. The difference of the two, through the
digital circuit components, Controls the instant of turn on semiconductor devices forming the

solid state power converter system. In the manner, behavior of the load circuit can be
controlled, as desired, over a wide range with the adjustment of the command.
Main power source
Command
Control
Unit

Digital
Circuit

Power
Electronic
Circuit

Load

Feedback Signal

1.5

Fig: 1.1 Block diagram of a typical power electronic system

POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES:
Silicon controlled rectifier was first introduced in 1957 as a power semiconductor

device. Since then, several other power semiconductor devices have developed. Most of these
semiconductor devices are listed below along with their circuit, or device, symbol and present
maximum ratings.
In the below table, the various abbreviations are; SCR(silicon controlled rectifier),
LASCR(light activated SCR), ASCR(asymmetrical SCR), RCT(reverse conducting
thyristors), GTO(gate turn off thyristor), SITH(static induction thyristor), MCT(MOS
controlled thyristor), BJT(bipolar junction transistor), MOSFET(metal oxide semiconductor
field effect transistor), SIT(static induction transistor) and IGBT(insulated gate bipolar
transistor)

Device

Circuit symbol

Voltage/current

Upper

ratings

operating
frequency(kHz)

Diode

5000V/5000A

1.0

(a) SCR

7000V/5000A

1.0

(b) LASCR

6000V/3000A

1.0

(c) GTO

5000V/3000A

2.0

(d) Triac

1200V/1000A

0.50

1400V/400A

10.0

1000V/50A

100.0

1200V/500A

50.0

THYRISTORS

TRANSISTORS
(a) BJT

(b) MOSFET
(n-channel)

(c) IGBT

Based on (i) turn on and turn off characteristics, (ii) gate signal requirements and (iii)
degree of controllability, the power semiconductor devices can be classified as under:
(a) Diodes: these are uncontrolled rectifying devices. Their on and off states are
controlled by power supply.
(b) Thyristors: these have controlled turn on and turn off by a gate signal. After thyristors
are on, they remain latched in on-state due to internal regenerative action gate loses
control, these can be turned-off by the power circuit.

(c) Controlled switches: these devices are turned-on and turned-off by the applications of
control signals. These devices which behave as controllable switches are BJT,
MOSFET, and GTO, SITH, IGBT, SIT, and MCT.
(d) Triac and RCT possess bi-directional current capabilities whereas all other remaining
devices (diode, SCR, GTO, BJT, MOSFET, IGBT, SIT, SITH and MCT) are
1.6

unidirectional current devices.

TYPES OF POWER ELECTRONIC CONVERTERS:
A power electronic system consists of one or more power electronic converters. A

power electronic converter is made up of some power semiconductor devices controlled by

integrated circuits. The switching characteristics of power semiconductor devices permit a
power electronic converter to shape the input power of one form to output power of some
other form. Static power converters perform these functions of power conversion very
efficiently. Broadly speaking, power electronic converters can be classified into six types as
under:
1. AC TO DC CONVERTERS (Phase controlled rectifiers):
These convert constant ac voltage to variable dc output voltage. These rectifiers use
line voltage for their commutation; as such these are also called line commutated or
naturally commutated ac to dc converters. Phase controlled converters may be fed
from 1-phase or 3-phase source. These are used in dc drives, metallurgical and
chemical industries, excitation systems for synchronous machines etc.
2. DC TO DC CONVERTERS (Dc choppers):
A dc chopper converters fixed dc input voltage to a controllable dc output voltage.
The chopper circuits required forced commutation or load commutation to turn off the
thyristors. For lower power circuits require, thyristors are replaced by power
transistors. Classification of chopper circuits is dependent upon the type of
commutation and also on the direction of power flow. Choppers find wide
applications in dc drives, subways cars, trolley trucks, battery-driven vehicles etc.
3. DC TO AC CONVERTERS (inverters):
An inverter converters fixed dc voltage to a variable ac voltage. The output may be a
variable voltage and variable frequency. These converters use line, load or forced
commutation for turning off the thyristors. Inverters find wide use in induction motors
and synchronous motor drives, induction heating, UPS, HVDC transmission etc. At
present, conventional thyristors are also being replaced by GTOs in high power
applications and by power transistors in low power applications.
4. AC TO AC CONVERTERS:

These convert fixed ac input voltage into variable ac voltage. These are of two types
as under:
(a) AC voltage controllers: these converter circuits convert fixed ac voltage directly
to a variable ac voltage at the same frequency AC voltage controller employ two
thyristors in anti parallel or a Triac. Turn off of both the devices is obtained by the
line commutation. Output voltage is controlled by varying the firing angle
delay.AC voltage controllers are widely used for the lighting control, speed
control of fans, pumps etc.
(b) Cyclo-converters: These circuits convert input power at one frequency to output
power at a different frequency through one stage conversion. Line commutation is
more common in these converters, through forced and load commutation cycloconverters are also employed. These are primarily used for slow speed large ac
drives like rotary kiln etc.