Diode Modules
Power electronics cannot do without diode modules. They are essential parts of this technology and perform important tasks. They perform every type of function, such as rectification, voltage regulation, and modulation of signals. Most of these power diodes are not standalone units but are formed into modules that can handle high-current and high-voltage levels more efficiently and reliably than the units they're made of. These modules consist of two or more power diodes and can effectively deal with currents in the mA or A ranges and voltages in the tens to hundreds of volts.
Rectification is one of the main purposes of diode modules. These modules change alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). They're commonly found in power supplies, where they serve as bridge rectifiers and provide a reasonably smoothed-out DC output. For certain power loads, a bridge rectifier can be expected to handle the AC-to-DC conversion in a penalty-free manner that doesn't introduce much (if any) distortion to the power signal.
Voltage regulation also heavily relies on diode modules. They are an aspect of many components that work together to sustain a consistent output voltage in the presence of varying input voltages or altering load conditions. Simple voltage dividers would work, but they fall short on convenience and reliability. The kinds of components used in voltage dividers are subject to drift and other types of aging, making the output voltage fall out of regulation over time.
FAQS
What does "RoHS compliant" mean?
"RoHS compliant" means that a product is designed to follow the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive, which restricts the use of certain hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products to ensure environmental and human health safety.
Redundant Power Supply Basics
In situations where the power being supplied is critical and the loss of power could be dangerous, it is necessary to use two power supplies. One would be the primary supply and the other would be used as a backup in case the primary supply fails. This configuration is referred to as a redundant power supply.
A standard power supply works by taking a certain kind of power, converting and conditioning it, and providing the correct voltage level in a specific situation. One example of this would be taking 120VAC and converting it to 24VDC, which is used for more sensitive equipment such as PLC’s, ethernet switches and radios. There are some situations where the loss of power to some of these types of components, such as a PLC, would be devastating to a critical process. An example of this would be in oil refineries, where loss of power to critical infrastructure and control equipment could potentially jeopardize the safety of workers in the plant.
In these types of scenarios, it is imperative that power is not lost to the important electrical equipment. Therefore, redundant power supplies are almost always used. If standard power supplies are being used, then an additional diode redundancy module will be needed. The diode module is able to monitor the power that is being supplied by the primary power supply. If the voltage that is being supplied changes enough, either up or down, to a point where it could potentially alter the function of the hardware it is supplying power to, then it will switch from the primary supply to the secondary, backup supply. It makes this change seamlessly, without any loss of power to the critical hardware in the system. Once the primary supply voltage has been regulated, the diode module will then switch power back to the primary supply.