Author_Institution :
GE Corp. R&D, Niskayuna, NY, USA
Abstract :
The present state of the art in DC-DC, AC-DC, DC-AC, and AC-AC converter technology is presented along with their typical areas of applications. Advances made in the last decade that are finding use in industrial, commercial, and military applications are emphasized. Soft switching, in which power device switching stresses are reduced due to circuit resonances, has dominated DC-DC power conversion and some high-performance DC-AC power conversion. In the higher voltage and higher power areas, the invention and improvements of gate turnoff thyristors (GTOs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), and integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCTs) have led to other unique topologies to take advantage of these devices
Keywords :
AC-AC power convertors; AC-DC power convertors; DC-AC power convertors; DC-DC power convertors; MOS-controlled thyristors; insulated gate bipolar transistors; switching circuits; thyristor convertors; AC-AC converter; AC-DC converter; DC-AC converter; DC-DC converter; GTO; IGBT; IGCT; circuit resonances; commercial applications; gate turnoff thyristors; industrial applications; insulated gate bipolar transistors; integrated gate-commutated thyristors; military applications; power device switching stresses reduction; power electronic converter technology; soft switching; Analog-digital conversion; DC-DC power converters; Defense industry; Insulated gate bipolar transistors; Power electronics; RLC circuits; Resonance; Stress; Switching circuits; Thyristors;
