This document discusses terminology used in power electronics. It defines key terms like converter, switch, regulator, rectifier, inverter, frequency changer, and power factor changer. It notes converters can incorporate technologies from a "core discipline" along with specialized fields like high voltage, high current, and high frequency. The definitions aim to promote consistency in discussing power electronics applications and functions.
This document discusses terminology used in power electronics. It defines key terms like converter, switch, regulator, rectifier, inverter, frequency changer, and power factor changer. It notes converters can incorporate technologies from a "core discipline" along with specialized fields like high voltage, high current, and high frequency. The definitions aim to promote consistency in discussing power electronics applications and functions.
This document discusses terminology used in power electronics. It defines key terms like converter, switch, regulator, rectifier, inverter, frequency changer, and power factor changer. It notes converters can incorporate technologies from a "core discipline" along with specialized fields like high voltage, high current, and high frequency. The definitions aim to promote consistency in discussing power electronics applications and functions.
Electronics for the consumer market, cost reduction is a critical consideration. In other applications, such as those for the consumer market, cost reduction is a critical consideration. In other applications, such as aerospace, size and weight are critical considerations. And so on and on.
Converter Terminology
Power Converter Terminology:
CONVERTER – General Term
SWITCH – Full Off or Full On REGULATOR – Intermediate Control of AC or DC RECTIFIER – Converts AC to DC A pinwheel can be used to further extend the INVERTER – Converts DC to AC specialized technological categories of FREQUENCY CHANGER – Changes power electronics without trying to show an Frequency of AC Power n-dimensional picture. The “Core POWER FACTOR CHANGER – Discipline” incorporates the “Medium Changes Power Factor of an AC Load Power Domain”, with the additional AC/DC CONVERTER – Operates as requirements of natural commutation and Rectifier or Inverter other requirements being “nominal”. Power electronics equipment for a particular Unfortunately the field of power electronics application incorporates technology from the abounds with inconsistent and ambiguous Core Discipline plus technology from one or usage of terminology. To maintain internal more of the specialized categories. The High consistency, we will adopt the following Voltage, High Current, High Power, and definitions: High Frequency Domains just discussed constitute some of these specialized CONVERTER – A general term which can technologies. Forced Commutation is be used to describe any one of the following another category of increasing importance. circuit types, a combination of several types, Numerous other categories of specialized or all types as a group. technology could be noted. For example, in SWITCH – A device or circuit which has some applications the power devices must two extreme states - full off or full on. be specified on the basis of their transient REGULATOR – A circuit which permits surge ratings rather than on their steady-state intermediate control of AC or DC power. The desired output frequency is the same as the input frequency. If implemented by switching devices, regulation is achieved by time - averaging with a suitable time constant. A DC regulator is often called a chopper. RECTIFIER – Converts AC power to DC power. INVERTER – Converts DC power to AC power. FREQUENCY CHANGER – A converter in which the desired AC output frequency is generally different from the AC input frequency. POWER FACTOR CHANGER – A converter which manipulates the power factor of an AC load without changing frequency.
In contrast to the previous discussion of the
internal functions and the specialized technologies of power electronics, these terms form the basis for categorizing power electronics according to external or application-oriented functions. However, as will be seen, rectifiers and inverters are not exclusive types of circuits. Certain circuits can perform either function. Therefore we will define another intermediate category:
AC/DC CONVERTER – A circuit which
may operate either as a rectifier or as an inverter.