The unsung hero of many of the advances in electro-tech are the advances in power electronics over the last few decades. This includes the Tesla breakthrough of an AC motor (eliminating the commutator of DC motors). EV motors are not synchronous AC motor/generators, but rather, the power delivered is modulated by power electronics. Another example is transformer-less inverters. My original roof-top solar installation from 2008 had a transformer inverter - heavy!!! Transformer-less inverters have eliminated pounds of iron transformer core, and miles of copper, resulting in a significant efficiency and size improvements, and cost reduction. Moore's law for microelectronics (CPUs, GPUs, etc.) gets all the headlines, but there are other kinds of electronics that are also on a learning curve.
What is the history and current state of power electronics? What have been the contributions to clean-tech? What are the potential new breakthroughs on the horizon that could further improve clean-tech evolution?
Great service and much needed for other podcasts and newsletters. Especially valuable for newcomers.
Thanks for doing this.
This is awesome! Looking forward to using it when I refer newbies to Volts. Thanks for doing this!
Podcast Suggestion: Power Electronics
The unsung hero of many of the advances in electro-tech are the advances in power electronics over the last few decades. This includes the Tesla breakthrough of an AC motor (eliminating the commutator of DC motors). EV motors are not synchronous AC motor/generators, but rather, the power delivered is modulated by power electronics. Another example is transformer-less inverters. My original roof-top solar installation from 2008 had a transformer inverter - heavy!!! Transformer-less inverters have eliminated pounds of iron transformer core, and miles of copper, resulting in a significant efficiency and size improvements, and cost reduction. Moore's law for microelectronics (CPUs, GPUs, etc.) gets all the headlines, but there are other kinds of electronics that are also on a learning curve.
What is the history and current state of power electronics? What have been the contributions to clean-tech? What are the potential new breakthroughs on the horizon that could further improve clean-tech evolution?
Wouldn't that be a great pod?
Very cool. I do feel like there's two categories missing.
War on Cars
Rocks in a Box
The energy transition's 5 supervillains and 5 superheroes
Is essential. Thanks!
https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-energy-transitions-5-supervillains