The state-of-the-art power electronics technologies and future trends

Abstract

Power electronics and related power processing technologies constitute an enabling infrastructure with a significant potential impact on US industrial competitiveness. This is manifested through the increased energy efficiency of equipment and processes using electrical power, and through higher industrial productivity and higher product quality, which results from the ability to control precisely the electrical power for manufacturing operations. Sales of power electronics equipment exceed $60 billion each year, and affect another $1 trillion in hardware electronics sales. Improvements in the technology of such a dynamic market is an exciting endeavor. Industrial firms are under constant pressure to produce power electronics products that are more powerful dependable and durable, smaller in size, lighter in weight, and less costly to the consumer. Power electronics products, to date, are essentially custom-designed, with a long design cycle time. The equipment is designed and manufactured largely using nonstandard parts. Thus, manufacturing processes are labor-intensive, resulting in high cost and poor reliability. Consequently, the US is losing its manufacturing base to global competitors, especially in those regions where labor costs are significantly lower than those of the US. This paper discusses the limitations in power semiconductor devices, passive components, power electronics packaging, power electronics modules, motor drives, and new generation computer/telecommunication equipment. The technology advancements needed are then discussed.