ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the power devices, converters, power electronics modules, applications of power electronics, and computer simulations for power electronic circuits. Power electronics is a vast, complex, and interdisciplinary subject that has undergone rapid technological evolution during the last 50 years. Due to the advancement in technology with decreased apparatus cost and improved reliability, the applications of power electronics are expanding in industrial, commercial, aerospace, residential, military, and utility environments. Many innovations in the field of power devices, converter topologies, electric machine drives, and different control techniques contribute to its development. The power electronics field has been further advanced by the versatile use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, such as fuzzy logic, artificial neural network, and neuro-fuzzy. A power electronics converter circuit is placed in between the source and the load with the primary objective to achieve 100% efficiency with very high reliability during energy conversion. Thorough research in the field of more advanced semiconductor material, devices, and power converters is in progress worldwide, and therefore in the future, application requirements will not be limited by device capabilities.
