How can you optimize power electronics performance with feedback?

1 Voltage regulation

Voltage regulation is the ability of a power electronics system to maintain a constant output voltage despite changes in the input voltage or the load. This is important for ensuring the quality and safety of the power supply for various devices and applications. Feedback can help you achieve voltage regulation by using a voltage sensor to monitor the output voltage and compare it with a reference voltage, and then using a controller to adjust the duty cycle or the switching frequency of the power switches to regulate the output voltage. For example, you can use feedback to control a buck converter, which is a power electronics device that steps down the input voltage to a lower output voltage.

2 Current control

Current control is the ability of a power electronics system to control the magnitude and direction of the current flowing through the load. This is important for achieving the desired power transfer and torque control in applications such as electric motors and generators. Feedback can help you achieve current control by using a current sensor to measure the output current and compare it with a reference current, and then using a controller to adjust the voltage or the phase angle of the power switches to control the output current. For example, you can use feedback to control a three-phase inverter, which is a power electronics device that converts a dc input voltage to a three-phase ac output voltage.

3 Power factor correction

Power factor correction is the ability of a power electronics system to improve the power factor of the load, which is the ratio of the real power to the apparent power. The power factor indicates how efficiently the power is used by the load. A low power factor means that the load draws more reactive power than real power, which causes losses, voltage drops, and harmonics in the power system. Feedback can help you achieve power factor correction by using a power factor sensor to measure the power factor of the load and compare it with a desired value, and then using a controller to adjust the output voltage or current of the power switches to correct the power factor. For example, you can use feedback to control a boost converter, which is a power electronics device that steps up the input voltage to a higher output voltage.

4 Harmonic reduction

Harmonic reduction is the ability of a power electronics system to reduce the harmonic distortion of the output voltage or current, which is the deviation from the ideal sinusoidal waveform. Harmonic distortion can cause interference, noise, and overheating in the power system and the load. Feedback can help you achieve harmonic reduction by using a harmonic sensor to measure the harmonic content of the output voltage or current and compare it with a threshold value, and then using a controller to modify the switching pattern or the modulation technique of the power switches to reduce the harmonic distortion. For example, you can use feedback to control a pulse-width modulation (PWM) inverter, which is a power electronics device that uses PWM to generate a variable output voltage from a dc input voltage.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?