What is Power Electronics?

What is Power Electronics?

Power Electronics refers to a subject of research in electrical engineering which deals with design, control and computation of nonlinear, time varying energy processing electronic systems which have very high frequency alternating current.

-Formerly, gas-filled diode thermionic rectifiers and triggered devices such as the thyratron and ignitron were widely used.

-In modern times, devices such as Silicon controlled rectifiers, thyristors, MOSFETS, BJTs are used.

Study of Power Electronics involves study of convertors, power processors (which maybe AC or DC). The main components are-

-Switches: power diode: (PN, Shottkey), power transistor (BJT; MOSFET), thyristor etc.

-Energy Storage Elements: capacitors and inductors.