Page 13 - Rashid, Power Electronics Handbook

xii Preface

and=or systems. In order to keep up, working engineers Locating Your Topic
involved in control and conversion of power and energy
into applications ranging from several hundred voltages at a A table of contents is presented at the front of the book, and
fraction of an ampere for display devices to about 10,000 V at each chapter begins with its own table of contents. The reader
high-voltage dc transmission, should have a working knowl- should look over these tables of contents to become familiar
edge of power electronics. with the structure, organization, and content of the book.

Audience
Organization
The Handbook is designed to provide both students and
The Handbook starts with an introductory chapter and moves
practicing engineers with answers to questions involving the
on to cover topics on power semiconductor devices, power wide spectrum of power electronics. The book can be used
converters, applications and peripheral issues. The book is as a textbook for graduate students in electrical or systems
organized into six areas, the ®rst of which includes chapters on engineering, or as a reference book for senior undergraduate
operation and characterizations of power semiconductor
students and for engineers who are interested and involved in
devices: power diode, thyristor, gate turn-off thyristor
operation, project management, design, and analysis of power
(GTO), power bipolar transistor (BJT), power MOSFET,
electronics equipment and motor drives.
insulated gate bipolar transistor, MOS controlled thyristor
(MCT), and static induction devices.
The next topic area includes chapters covering various types
of power converters, the principles of operation and the Acknowledgments
methods for the analysis and design of power converters.
This also includes gate drive circuits and control methods This Handbook was made possible through the expertise
for power converters. The next three chapters cover applica- and dedication of outstanding authors from throughout the
tions in power supplies, electronics ballasts, renewable energy world. I gratefully acknowledge the personnel at Academic
sources, HVDC transmission, VAR compensation, and capa- Press who produced the book, including Jane Phelan. In
citor charging. addition, special thanks are due to Joel D. Claypool, the
The following six chapters focus on the operation, theory executive editor for this book.
and control methods of motor drives, and automotive Finally, I express my deep appreciation to my wife, Fatema
systems. We then move on to two chapters on power quality Rashid, who graciously puts up with my publication activities.
issues and active ®lters, and two chapters on computer
simulation, packaging and smart power systems. Muhammad H. Rashid, Editor-in-Chief