Definition of Power Converters

Abstract

The paper is intended to introduce power conversion principles and to define common terms in the domain. The concepts of sources and switches are defined and classified. From the basic laws of source interconnections, a generic method of power converter synthesis is presented. Some examples illustrate this systematic method. Finally, the commutation cell and soft commutation are introduced and discussed.Comment: 29 pages, contribution to the 2014 CAS - CERN Accelerator School: Power Converters, Baden, Switzerland, 7-14 May 201