Electric Power Principles, 2nd Edition

12Power Electronics and Converters in Power Systems

Power electronics is becoming more important in electric power systems as both device improvements and circuit techniques have developed. There are many applications of power electronics in electric power systems and applications, including the following:

1. Power electronics are essential for converting the power from solar cells or fuel cells (really, any source of electric power that is DC) into AC.
2. Bidirectional converters are used in the doubly‐fed induction machines that serve as generators in wind turbines.
3. Phase‐controlled converters are used at the terminations of high‐voltage DC transmission lines.
4. Phase‐controlled devices are used in lighting systems.
5. Uncontrolled rectifiers and boost converters are used in unity power factor front ends for lighting devices.
6. Combined rectifiers and inverters are used in variable speed drives for industrial applications and transportation, including electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
7. Active converters are used to construct voltage regulating and phase shifting circuits in flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS).

This is not a book about power electronics, but this chapter will give an introduction to how some kinds of power electronic devices and circuits are applied to electric power systems and to devices that use electric power.

12.1 Switching Devices

A number of active devices are used for power electronic circuits, but in virtually all applications deemed to be power ...