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Power electronics involves the conversion of electric power from one frequency, voltage and
current level to another, and has become widely used since the 1960s. This technology is now a
major part of power engineering: at least 25% of all power generated passes through some form
of power electronic system before being utilized.
However, the room-temperature operation of power electronics is a matter of convenience, not
optimisation. Lowering the operating temperature improves the performance and greatly reduces
the disruptive effects of thermal energy. The super cooling of power electronics, though
inconvenient, is therefore being considered more frequently as a means of boosting performance,
especially in applications where a cryo cooling system already exists, that is, in superconductor
applications. In recent years, rapid advances in high temperature superconductors (HTS) increase
the prospects for the development of cryogenic power electronics.
In this report, the current research on cryogenic power electronics and superconducting
motors/generators is discussed for future aircraft and ships.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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