211 SRI RAMAKRISHNA MISSION VIDYALYA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE.

  Power electronics is  the field of electrical engineering that deals with the conversion and control of electric power using solid-state semiconductor devices .  It involves the study and application of electronic circuits for controlling the flow of electricity to efficiently convert, regulate, and condition it for various uses, such as in AC/DC converters, DC/DC converters, and AC/AC converters.  This technology is crucial for applications ranging from home appliances to electric vehicle charging and industrial motor drives.    Key aspects of power electronics Power conversion:   The primary function is to convert electrical power from one form to another.  This includes:   DC/DC converters:   Changing a DC voltage to another DC voltage.   AC/DC converters:   Rectifiers that change AC to DC.   DC/AC converters:   Inverters that produce AC from DC.   AC/AC converters:   Changing the magnitude, frequency, ...

 As the world shifts toward renewable energy, Solar Thermal Power Plants (Concentrated Solar Power – CSP) are gaining new importance. With advances in energy storage, materials, and AI-based control systems, CSP is evolving into a flexible, dispatchable, and powerful clean-energy technology . What is a Solar Thermal Power Plant? Solar-thermal plants use mirrors to concentrate sunlight and generate high-temperature heat , which produces steam to drive turbines—similar to a thermal plant but without fossil fuels . Main CSP Technologies: Parabolic Trough Collectors Solar Tower / Heliostat Systems Linear Fresnel Reflectors Parabolic Dish–Stirling Engines A major advantage is the ability to store heat , ensuring power even after sunset . Key Recent Trends in Solar Thermal Power (2024–2025) 1. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Modern CSP plants use: Molten salt Phase-change materials Ceramic thermal storage This enables 8–20 hours of energy storage , making ...

  What is Power Electronics? Power electronics deals with controlling and converting electrical power using semiconductor devices like MOSFETs, IGBTs, and SCRs. Applications include SMPS, solar inverters, EV motor drives, and high-efficiency energy systems. EEE students should master converters, inverters, choppers, and PWM techniques to enter the fast-growing electronics industry.  Power electronics uses semiconductor devices to process and control large amounts of electrical energy. It converts electrical power from one form to another efficiently, such as: AC → DC (Rectifiers) DC → AC (Inverters) DC → DC (Converters) AC → AC (Cycloconverters / AC Regulators) Key Power Semiconductor Devices Modern power electronic systems are built using power semiconductor switches such as: Diode – Allows current flow in one direction SCR (Thyristor) – Used in high-power AC control MOSFET – Fast switching, used in low to medium power applications IGBT – Combines hig...

  The way power our world is undergoing a massive transformation. For over a century, our electricity grids have largely operated on a one-way system: power plants generate electricity, and consumers use it. But a new era is dawning, one where our grids are becoming smarter, more efficient, and more resilient. Welcome to the world of smart grids ! What Exactly is a Smart Grid? Imagine your current electrical grid. Now, envision it with a brain, a nervous system, and the ability to communicate. That, in essence, is a smart grid. It's an modernized electrical grid that uses digital technology to monitor, control, and manage the delivery of electricity from all generation sources to meet the varying electricity demands of end-users. Unlike traditional grids, smart grids are two-way. They not only deliver electricity to consumers but also receive information back from them. This bidirectional flow of information and electricity is what makes them "smart." Key Features of a Sm...

 A rotor resistance starter uses a ladder diagram to control the gradual removal of external resistance from a slip-ring motor 's rotor circuit , starting with high resistance for low starting current and high starting torque , and ending with the rotor short-circuited for normal running. The ladder diagram consists of rungs that energize contactors sequentially via timers to gradually cut out resistors.  Ladder diagram ladder rungs A basic ladder diagram for a rotor resistance starter would include the following components:  Power supply: Three-phase AC power is connected to the starter. Motor Contactor (MC): The main contactor that connects the stator to the power supply. This is the first contactor to close. Timers : These are used to control the time delay for each stage of resistance removal. Resistor bank : Multiple steps of resistors are connected in series with the rotor circuit at the start. Shunt Contactors (S1, S2, etc.): Each shunt contactor is connected i...

  Synchronous Condenser An over-excited synchronous motor running on no-load is called the  synchronous condenser .  It is also known as  synchronous capacitor  or  synchronous compensator or synchronous phase modifier . A synchronous motor can deliver or absorb reactive power by changing the DC excitation of its field winding. It can be made to draw a leading current from the supply with over-excitation of its field winding and therefore, it supplies lagging reactive power (or absorbs leading reactive power).