What Is a Power Semiconductor?
A power semiconductor is a semiconductor that can handle large currents and high voltages without breaking down.
As the name suggests, semiconductors have the characteristics of both conductors and insulators, and they rectify electricity, amplify signals, and perform electrical switching.
Ordinary semiconductors are designed to handle small voltages. Therefore, when handling large voltages, the heat generated inside devices causes them to heat up, which can lead to malfunctions. A power semiconductor, however, incorporates technology to handle these voltages efficiently.
Uses of Power Semiconductors
While semiconductors used in PCs and other devices record and calculate data by applying voltage, power semiconductors are mainly used to control and supply electric power, and handle large voltages and currents.
For this reason, power semiconductors are used in a wide range of applications, from white goods such as televisions and air conditioners to automobiles, railroads, and power generation equipment.
Currently, industrial equipment is the primary field of application, however since the environment, energy, and automated driving are attracting attention, we believe that more and more power semiconductors will be supplied to the energy and automotive fields in the future.
Features of Power Semiconductors
The main function of power semiconductors is to control and supply large voltages and currents. However, the definition of where power semiconductors come from has not been clearly determined.
Depending on the manufacturer, power semiconductors are considered to be those with a rated current of approximately 1A or more.
Power semiconductors perform the following four functions:
- The first is as a converter. The current coming from the power plant is an alternating current. However, home appliances operate on direct current. Therefore, the converter in the home appliance performs this conversion.
- The second is an inverter. The converter converts the converted DC into AC again. This inverter controls the motor of the device or appliance.
- The third is the frequency converter. Although this is not a major concern in today’s general household appliances, some industrial equipment and electrical tools can only operate at a certain frequency, so the frequency is converted by power semiconductors inside the equipment.
- The fourth is a regulator. It is used to stabilize the DC voltage. A regulator is used because DC converted from AC is unstable.