University Aboubekr Belkaid TLEMCEN
Faculty of Technologie
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
License Electrotechnique / Automatique
Power electronics (ES512/AS512) –24/25 september 2025
General introduction to Power electronics
Introduction général de l’électronique de puissance
Presented by :
Mourad LOUCIF
Loucif_mourad@[Link]
Academic Year : 2025-2026
Presentation plan
What is power electronics?
What are the different types of converters?
What are sources and loads?
What are power losses?
What is Power Electronics?
Power Electronics (PE) is a field of electronics focused on
conversion and switching at high power levels (hundreds of
amperes). It is an adjustment electronics.
Power electronics components
PE components are electronic switches (on/off): Diode, thyristor
transistor, triac, etc.
Application Domains
Domestic: Household appliances
Industrial: Electric machine control (DC and asynchronous
motors), electric traction (cars, airplanes, trains, etc.)
Types of Converters
AC Dimmer AC Rectifier DC
Chopper
AC Inverter DC
Types of Converters
AC DC
V, Rectifier V variable
F 50Hz f=0
DC DC
V variable Chopper V variable
f=0 F=0
DC AC
V variable Inverter V, f
F=0 variable
Types of Converters
AC AC
Cycloconverter
V, f V,
variable F =50Hz
AC AC
V, Dimmer V variable
F=50Hz F=50Hz
Sources and Loads
1. Voltage Source/Load
Sources and loads are reversible entities (e.g., battery).
It’s said to be a voltage source/load if the voltage value is not
influenced by changes in the current flowing through it.
In this case, the state variable is the voltage.
The basic element is the capacitor. The latter dampens the
sudden variation in voltage.
Sources and Loads
2. Current Source/Load
It is said to be a current source/load if the value of the current
is not influenced by the variation of the voltage at these
terminals.
In this case, the state variable is the current.
The basic element is the inductance. The latter dampens the
sudden variation in current.
Sources and Loads
3. Sources and loads reversibility
Adding an inductance in series with a voltage source creates
a current source.
A voltage source must
never be short-circuited
By inserting a capacitor in parallel with a current source,
we obtain a voltage source.
A current source must never
be open-circuited
Sources and Loads
4. Compatibility/incompatibility of sources and loads
Source load Consequence
Voltage Voltage Incompatibilité ; Surintensité
Voltage Current Compatibilité
Current Voltage Compatibilité
Current Current Incompatibilité ; Surtension
A system is compatible when the source and load
are of different nature.
VS with CL / CS with VL
What are the power losses?
1. Perfect/ideal switch
In the case of a perfect switch: the losses are zero
Switching losses=0
i 0 V 0 the transition from one state
to another is instantaneous
V 0 i 0 Blocking losses =0
Because the leakage
V, i current is zero
Conduction losses=0
Because the voltage
drop is zero
Blocking phase Conduction phase
Open switch Closed switch
Power losses
2. Real switch
In the case of a perfect switch:the losses are not zero
Switching losses=
Blocking losses = Depend on the electronic
I leakage * V component
V, i Switching
losses Conduction losses =
V * I load
Conduction losses
Blocking losses
t
Blocking phase Conduction phase
Open switch Closed switch
Switching phase
Power losses
Total Power Losses (per period T):
Tcon Tb
Losses .Lcon .Lb Lswi
T T
In most cases, blocking losses are neglected.
Let us know the conduction losses (Lcon) and the conduction time (Tcon)
Let us know the blocking losses (Lb) and the blocking time (Tb)
Let’s know the switching losses (Lswi)