Applications and Topologies for Power Electronic Systems

Abstract

Power electronics, as we know it, started in the late 1970’s. There had been earlier use of power electronics but the development of power semiconductors was the impetus that made the field really take off. The nineteenth century was the century of D.C. power. At the turn of the 20^th century, alternating current challenged D.C. with the debates of Edison and Tesla emphasizing the differences. Alternating current won out because power transformers allowed for better control of power and high voltage transmission and was more economical. Mechanical devices such as vibrators and rotary devices allowed inverters to produce ac from DC. Mercury-arc vacuum tube devices and commutators allowed the converse (producing D.C. from ac). During World War 2, magnetic amplifiers were developed which allowed better control of power. They, however, were costly and had lower efficiencies than expected.