TABLE OF CONTENTS Global trends towards energy efficiency over the last three decades has facilitated the need for technological advancements in the design and control of power electronic converters for energy processing. These power electronic converters find widespread applications in industry such as:
Consumer electronics
Battery chargers for cellular telephones and cameras
Computer power supplies
Automobile industries
Electronic ignitions and lighting
Commercial sectors
Variable speed motor drives for conveyor belt systems
Induction heating installations for metals processing
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
Industrial welding
Domestic electronics
Fluorescent, compact fluorescent, and incandescent lighting, washing machines, cooking appliances, and dish washers
Utility applications
DC transmission for electrification purposes
All of the above applications utilize similar power converter topologies. This allows for controlled and efficient power conversion from one form of energy to another, utilizing semiconductor technologies such as BJT transistors, SCRs (thyristors), IGBTs, and power MOSFETs.
It is true that "Power is nothing without control" (Pirelli Tyres). The gate drive circuitry of a power converter forms an important interface between the high power electronics and the intelligent control processing stages.
It is therefore of utmost importance that this interface between the control and power electronics is well designed, since it can have a substantial impact on the performance and reliability of a power electronic system. (See Fig. 20.1.)
