Power Generation

Thermal Power Generation

In thermal power plants, a large number of electronic components are crucial for ensuring the stable operation of generator sets. Temperature sensors continuously monitor the temperatures of key components such as boilers and steam turbines to prevent failures caused by overheating. For example, thermocouple sensors can accurately convert temperature signals into electrical signals and transmit them to the control system. Pressure sensors are responsible for monitoring steam pressure to ensure a stable output of steam power. Diffused silicon pressure sensors, for instance, feature high precision and good stability. In the excitation system, thyristors (SCRs) play an important role. By precisely adjusting their conduction angles, the excitation current of the generator can be regulated, thereby achieving stable voltage regulation and ensuring power quality.

Hydroelectric Power Generation

The speed regulation system of a water turbine relies on electronic components for precise control. Rotational speed sensors, such as magnetoelectric rotational speed sensors, provide real-time feedback on the rotational speed of the water turbine, supplying critical data to the control system. Based on this data, the control system uses relays to control the hydraulic actuator and adjust the opening of the turbine guide vanes to maintain a stable rotational speed. In the step-up substation of a hydropower plant, the power transformer, as a core device, has its internal windings wound with high-purity copper or aluminum wires and is combined with insulating materials to achieve efficient voltage transformation, converting the low voltage generated by the water turbine into a high voltage suitable for long-distance transmission.

Wind Power Generation

The pitch control system and yaw control system of wind turbines require the coordinated operation of numerous electronic components. Angle sensors, such as potentiometer-type angle sensors, accurately measure the angles of the blades and the orientation of the nacelle, providing real-time angle information to the control system. The control system, based on this information, uses motor drivers to control the operation of motors, adjusting the blade angles and the nacelle direction to capture the optimal wind energy. In the power conversion stage of wind power generation, the converter composed of IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) modules converts the unstable alternating current generated by the generator into stable alternating current that meets the requirements of the power grid, enabling efficient grid connection of electrical energy.

Solar Power Generation

The direct current generated by solar photovoltaic panels needs to be stepped up or down by a DC - DC converter to match the voltage requirements of subsequent devices. The DC - DC converter uses components such as power inductors and capacitors to achieve efficient power conversion. Meanwhile, the photovoltaic inverter converts direct current into alternating current. The power semiconductor devices in it, such as IGBTs, determine the conversion efficiency and reliability of the inverter. In addition, to monitor the operation status of the photovoltaic power station, various sensors, such as light sensors and temperature sensors, collect environmental data and device operation data in real-time and upload them to the monitoring system to detect and solve problems in a timely manner.

Power Transmission

High-Voltage Transmission Lines

To ensure the safe operation of transmission lines, various electronic components are indispensable. Lightning arresters are used to protect lines and equipment from lightning overvoltage damage. Zinc oxide lightning arresters have excellent non-linear volt-ampere characteristics. They exhibit high resistance under normal voltage, and when an overvoltage occurs, the resistance rapidly decreases, diverting the overvoltage energy to the ground. Line fault indicators can quickly indicate the location of line faults, facilitating maintenance personnel to troubleshoot in a timely manner. Generally composed of sensors, processors, and indicators, they detect changes in parameters such as line current and voltage to determine whether a fault has occurred and display the fault location in an intuitive manner.

Substations

Substations are key nodes in the power system for voltage transformation and power distribution. Current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (PTs) are important measuring components in substations. CTs convert large currents into small currents in proportion, and PTs convert high voltages into low voltages in proportion, providing appropriate electrical signals for measuring instruments, protection devices, etc. In the substation's automation control system, intelligent terminal devices integrate electronic components such as microprocessors and communication modules to achieve real-time monitoring and remote control of substation equipment. For example, through fiber optic communication modules, device operation data can be quickly transmitted to the dispatching center, improving the reliability and management efficiency of the power grid operation.

Power Distribution

Distribution Stations

In distribution stations, low-voltage circuit breakers are used to protect low-voltage distribution lines and equipment from faults such as overload and short circuit. They have multiple protection functions such as long-time overload delay and instantaneous short circuit. When a fault occurs in the line, they can quickly cut off the circuit to ensure power safety. Smart meters, as important devices for power metering and data collection, integrate electronic components such as microcontrollers, communication modules, and metering chips. They can not only accurately measure the electricity consumption of users but also, through wireless communication modules such as Bluetooth, WiFi, or 4G, upload electricity consumption data to the power company's management system in real-time, enabling remote meter reading and electricity bill settlement.

Distribution Boxes

Distribution boxes are equipped with various control and protection electrical appliances, such as contactors, relays, and fuses. Contactors are used to control the start and stop of loads such as motors. They use electromagnetic force to attract or release contacts to achieve the on-off of the circuit. Relays can realize signal conversion, amplification, and control, playing an important role in automatic control systems. Fuses, as short-circuit protection components, have their fuses melt rapidly to cut off the circuit when a short-circuit current occurs in the circuit, protecting equipment and lines. In addition, power filters may be equipped in distribution boxes to suppress electromagnetic interference on the power line and ensure the normal operation of electronic devices in the box.

Electrical Field

Industrial Electricity

Motor Control

In industrial production, motors are the main power sources. Frequency converters are widely used in motor speed control. They consist of rectifier circuits, inverter circuits, control circuits, etc. The IGBT modules in the inverter circuit convert direct current into alternating current with adjustable frequency and voltage, precisely controlling the speed and torque of the motor. Motor protectors are used to monitor the operating status of motors, such as parameters like current and temperature. When faults such as overload, phase loss, and locked rotor occur in the motor, the motor protector quickly acts to cut off the motor power and protect the motor from damage. For example, thermal relays use the principle of bimetallic strip deformation due to heat to protect against motor overload; intelligent motor protectors use microprocessor and sensor technologies to provide more comprehensive and accurate protection functions.

Automated Production Lines

Automated production lines rely on a large number of sensors and controllers to achieve the automated operation of equipment. Position sensors are used to detect the position and movement state of objects, such as photoelectric sensors and proximity sensors. Photoelectric sensors detect objects by emitting and receiving light, featuring fast response speed and high accuracy; proximity sensors detect the approach or departure of objects using principles such as electromagnetic induction and capacitive induction. In terms of the control system, the programmable logic controller (PLC) is the core device. It realizes the logical control, sequential control, and process control of production line equipment by writing programs. The PLC integrates electronic components such as microprocessors, memories, and input/output interfaces. It can control the actions of output devices according to input signals and preset programs, achieving the efficient and stable operation of the production line.

Industrial Robots

The joint drive systems of industrial robots require high-performance motor drivers and encoders. Motor drivers control the speed, torque, and movement direction of motors. For example, servo drivers use advanced control algorithms to achieve precise control of servo motors. Encoders are used to feedback the position and speed information of motors, providing the data required for closed-loop control to the control system. For example, absolute encoders can output the absolute position information of the motor in real-time and can even save position data when power is off, ensuring that the robot can accurately return to its original position after restarting. In addition, the control system of industrial robots also includes electronic components such as central processing units, sensor interfaces, and communication modules, realizing the motion trajectory planning, task allocation of the robot, and coordinated work with other devices.

Commercial Electricity

Lighting Systems

In commercial buildings, the energy efficiency and intelligent control of lighting systems are extremely crucial. LED lighting fixtures are gradually replacing traditional incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps and becoming the mainstream lighting devices. The LED driver power supply, as a key component of LED lamps, is responsible for converting alternating current into direct current suitable for the operation of LEDs and providing a stable current. Constant-current LED driver power supplies can ensure that LEDs obtain a stable current under different working conditions, extending the service life of LEDs and improving lighting quality. At the same time, intelligent lighting control systems use sensors and communication technologies to achieve remote control and automatic adjustment of lighting equipment. For example, by using light sensors to detect ambient light intensity, the brightness of lamps can be automatically adjusted; by using human infrared sensors to detect human activities, intelligent control such as turning on the lights when people come and turning them off when people leave can be achieved to achieve energy-saving purposes.

Air Conditioning Systems

The operation control of equipment such as compressors and fans in commercial air conditioning systems is inseparable from electronic components. The air conditioning controller controls the start and stop of the compressor, the speed of the fan, and the switching of the cooling and heating modes based on data collected by sensors such as indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity sensors. For example, temperature sensors use components such as thermistors to convert temperature changes into electrical signals and transmit them to the controller. The microprocessor in the controller, based on the preset temperature value and the actual temperature data collected, adjusts the operating frequency of the compressor and the speed of the fan through control components such as relays or thyristors, achieving precise control of indoor temperature and improving the energy efficiency ratio and comfort of the air conditioning system.

Security Systems

Commercial security systems cover multiple subsystems such as video surveillance, access control, and intrusion alarms, and each subsystem relies on a large number of electronic components. In video surveillance systems, the image sensors of cameras convert light signals into electrical signals. CMOS image sensors, for example, have advantages such as high resolution and low power consumption. Video encoders convert the analog video signals collected by cameras into digital signals and perform compression encoding for convenient network transmission and storage. In access control systems, card readers read the identity information of personnel. For example, radio frequency card readers use radio frequency identification technology to identify the information in the card and transmit it to the access control controller. The access control controller controls the actions of actuators such as electromagnetic locks according to the permission information to achieve personnel access management. In intrusion alarm systems, infrared detectors, door magnetic sensors, etc., send signals to the alarm host when abnormal situations are detected. The alarm host notifies security personnel through audible and visual alarms, text messages, etc.

Household Electricity

Household Appliances

Various household appliances integrate rich electronic components. Take washing machines as an example. The motor control board controls the forward and reverse rotation and speed of the motor to achieve different functions such as washing and dehydration. The control board integrates components such as microcontrollers and power transistors. The microcontroller controls the on and off of power transistors according to the program set by the user and the information fed back by sensors, thereby controlling the operation of the motor. In refrigerators, temperature sensors monitor the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. When the temperature exceeds the set range, the thermostat controls the start and stop of the compressor to maintain a low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator. In addition, smart home appliances are also equipped with wireless communication modules, such as WiFi modules, allowing users to remotely control household appliances through mobile APPs to achieve an intelligent living experience.

Smart Homes

Smart home systems connect various devices in the home through Internet of Things technology to achieve interconnection and intelligent control. The smart gateway, as the core device of the smart home system, integrates microprocessors and various communication modules (such as WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.), responsible for communication protocol conversion and data transmission between devices. Sensors play an important role in smart homes. For example, temperature and humidity sensors continuously monitor indoor environmental parameters, door and window sensors detect the opening and closing status of doors and windows, and human sensors sense human activities. The data collected by these sensors is transmitted to the smart gateway through wireless communication modules. The smart gateway then controls the actions of smart home appliances, lighting equipment, curtains, etc. according to the scene modes and automation rules preset by the user, achieving intelligent management of the home environment and improving the comfort and safety of living.

Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities

With the popularization of electric vehicles, home charging piles have become important infrastructure. The core part of the charging pile is the charging module, which converts alternating current into direct current suitable for charging electric vehicle batteries. Charging modules usually use switching power supply technology and use power semiconductor devices (such as IGBTs), magnetic components (such as transformers, inductors), etc. to achieve efficient power conversion. At the same time, charging piles are also equipped with communication modules, such as Ethernet interfaces or 4G modules, for communication with electric vehicles and the power grid to achieve functions such as charging status monitoring and charging fee management. In addition, to ensure charging safety, overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, leakage protection, and other circuits are integrated in the charging pile. Through various sensors and protection chips, electrical parameters during the charging process are continuously monitored. When abnormal situations occur, the power is quickly cut off to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment.