Advantages of Power Electronics

Power electronics is the application of electronics principles at the higher power level instead of at the signal level as in electronic circuits. Power electronic systems offer wide range of advantages over the conventional systems. The following the lists the various advantages of power electronics.

1. High efficiency: Power electronic devises also called as solid state devices have no mechanical movement and the losses in the power semiconductor devices are low. In many electrical systems the energy loss occurs in the form of heating whereas the power electronics converters produce less heat and the cooling requirements is less. Thus the efficiency of power electronic systems is higher.
2. Small size: The solid state devices are small in size and require less floor space. For example the conventional rheostatic regulator used for speed control of fans in house hold applications is bulky when compared with power electronic AC voltage controller which is similar in size of a switch.
3. Long life: The power electronic converters have longer life in comparison with its electrical counterpart.
4. Less Maintenance due to the absence of mechanical movements.
5. Fast dynamic response
6. Flexibility in operation
7. High reliability
8. Less weight

Due to these advantages possessed by power electronics, these are widely used in the electrical systems and the conventional systems are replaced by power electronic systems.