Power Electronic Converters

This book is the third in a series of four devoted to power§electronic converters. The first and second of these books§concern AC to DC conversion.This volume examines DC to DC§conversion. The fourth is devoted to DC to AC conversion.§DC-DC converters are probably the most widely used since§their field of application extends from small power Switch-§Mode Power Supplies to high power Choppers for traction ap-§plications. Chapter 1examines general notions concerning§converters, supplies and loads, and moreespecially, how§they can be characterized with regard to commutations. Chap-§ter 2 presents power semiconductor devices: diodes, thyri-§stors (conventional and GTO), transistors (bipolar, MOS,§IGBT,...) and associations. As commutations are an essential§phenomenon in DC-DC converters, the transient behaviour of§these devices is analyzed in detail. Chapter 3 gives a gene-§ral presentation of chopper structures. Chapter 4 provides a§quantitative analysis of the most common types of choppers§with direct energy transfer. Chapter 5 examines the most§commonly used procedures employed for turning off thyristors§in choppers. The most widely used configurations of switch§mode power supplies form the basis of the analysis in chap-§ter 6. An appendix is devoted to snubbers. An important bi-§bliopraphy is added. The aim of this collection written by§university specialists working in close cooperation with in-§dustry, is to present an up-to-date synthesis in the field§of electrical engineering in rapid evolution and fast deve-§lopment. Their guiding principle is to provide an useful and§practical tool to power electronics specialists, whether§they are designers or users of power converters, in activity§or graduating.