The role of Power Electronics in electronic and communication system

What is power electronics?

Generally, the electrical engineering field may be divided into three areas of
specialization:

1. Electronics
2. Power
3. Control

Electronics essentially deals with the study of semiconductor devices and circuits for the processing of information at lower power levels. In this rapidly developing society, electronics has emerged as the most important branch of engineering. The power area deals with both rotating and static equipment for the generation, transmission, distribution and utilization of vast quantities of electrical power.

The transmission and distribution system is a very vital link between generation and utilization of electrical power and the relative strength of this system indicates the quality of electric power in a country. In India, after successfully establishing capabilities of generating electric power through various sources like hydel, thermal, nuclear, gas etc. a policy decision has been taken to give the highest priority to the transmission and distribution system in the 90's.The control area deals with the stability and response characteristics of closed loop systems using feedback on either a continuous or sampled data basis.

• Power electronics deals with the use of electronics for the control and conversion of large amounts of electrical power. The design of power electronics equipment involves interactions between the source and the load and utilizes small-signal electronic control circuits as well as power semiconductor devices.Therefore, power electronics draws as well as depends upon all other areas of electrical engineering.
• Power electronics constitute a vast, complex and interdisciplinary subject that has gone through rapid technological evolution during the last four decades. As the technology is advancing and apparatus cost is decreasing along with the improvement of reliability, their applications are expanding in industrial, commercial,residential, military, aerospace and utility environments.
• Many innovations in power semiconductor devices, converter topologies, analytical and simulation techniques,electrical machine drives, and control and estimation techniques are contributing to this advancement. The frontier of the technology has been further advanced by the artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, such as fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, thus bringing more challenge to power electronic engineers.In the global industrial automation, energy generation, conservation of the 21st century, the widespread impact of power electronics is inevitable.

History of power electronics development

Until 1956, the application of semiconductors was confined to low power circuits and electronic engineering was also called as light current engineering. In September 1956, four engineers of the Bell Telephone Laboratory, USA, published a paper entitled "PNPN transistor switches" in the proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers. This paper triggered intensive research on PNPN devices. In 1957,Gordon Hall of General Electric Company, USA, developed the three terminal PNPN silicon-based semiconductor device called as silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). Continuous modifications and improvement in its design as well as fabrication techniques have made it more and more economical and suitable for various control purposes. Later on, many other power devices having characteristics similar to that of an SCR were developed. Actually, the origin of power electronics can be traced back to the time when mercury arc devices were employed for the rectification of a.c. to d.c. or the inversion of d.c. to a.c.However, the rapidly increasing usage of power electronics nowadays has resulted from the development of solid-state power devices.

1.Power Supplies and Conversion

Power electronics play a crucial role in electronic systems by enabling efficient power supply and conversion. These circuits convert electrical energy to enable the effective use of power, with examples like SMPS transferring energy between AC and DC for stable power sources in devices.

3.Motor Control and Drives

Power electronics is crucial in managing electric motors, which are widespread in electronic and communication systems. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) utilize power electronic parts to control the speed and torque of electric motors, improving the efficiency of systems such as HVAC units, robotics, and automation.

4.Communication Systems and Signal Processing

Power electronics plays a crucial role in communication systems by enabling signal processing and transmission through circuits like amplifiers, filters, and modulators/demodulators. These circuits enhance signals to ensure clear and reliable communication across different platforms, while advancements in digital signal processing (DSP) and power-efficient amplifiers have improved system performance.

5.Wireless Power Transfer

As the demand for wireless communication and portable devices grows, power electronics becomes crucial in wireless power transfer technologies. Power electronic systems enable inductive and resonant inductive coupling for wireless device charging, enhancing the convenience and flexibility of modern electronics.

6.Power Management in Mobile Devices

The importance of power management is emphasized by the widespread use of mobile devices in our everyday routines. Efficient voltage regulation, battery charging/discharging circuits, and power distribution networks are essential components of power electronics in smartphones and other portable gadgets, ensuring peak performance and extended battery lifespan.

Conclusion