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Power electronics
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<p>Power electronics is the application of <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronics</a> to the control and conversion of <a href="/facts/Electric_power/w61ID9yQ">electric power</a>. </p><p>The first high-power electronic devices were made using <a href="/facts/Mercury-arc_valve/mDFqcNV4">mercury-arc valves</a>. In modern systems, the conversion is performed with <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconductor</a> switching devices such as <a href="/facts/Diode/JyaoyGnk">diodes</a>, <a href="/facts/Thyristor/DYPV2ftl">thyristors</a>, and <a href="/facts/Power_transistor/5c22S6E6">power transistors</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Power_MOSFET/rfT6MMTf">power MOSFET</a> and <a href="/facts/IGBT/XRafcaFE">IGBT</a>. In contrast to electronic systems concerned with the transmission and processing of signals and data, substantial amounts of electrical energy are processed in power electronics. An AC/DC converter (<a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">rectifier</a>) is the most typical power electronics device found in many consumer electronic devices, e.g. <a href="/facts/Television/X4YG5nT1">television</a> sets, personal <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computers</a>, <a href="/facts/Battery_charger/JfygTRaJ">battery chargers</a>, etc. The power range is typically from tens of <a href="/facts/Watt/VK8oqRrm">watts</a> to several hundred watts. In industry, a common application is the <a href="/facts/Adjustable-speed_drive/A42XBkxr">variable speed drive (VSD)</a> that is used to control an <a href="/facts/Induction_motor/DgTnMmJM">induction motor</a>. The power range of VSDs starts from a few hundred watts and ends at tens of <a href="/facts/Megawatt/VK8oqRrm">megawatts</a>. </p><p>The power conversion systems can be classified according to the type of the input and output power: </p> <ul><li>AC to DC (<a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">rectifier</a>)</li> <li>DC to AC (<a href="/facts/Power_inverter/L8cJc3Hu">inverter</a>)</li> <li>DC to DC (<a href="/facts/DC-to-DC_converter/lVlyHrjs">DC-to-DC converter</a>)</li> <li>AC to AC (<a href="/facts/AC%2fAC_converter/zpgx2toN">AC-to-AC converter</a>)</li></ul>