Transformations (Individual Project)

Inverters: Our answer for the Future

          Man has used electricity for generations to power the gadgets we use everyday. It has powered the lights that brighten our homes, the cars we drive to go to work, the cellphones we use to call family and friends, and many more which make our lives easier. But through the course of history, overuse of resources has driven man to create ways so that the resources we use, such as electricity, are maximized through efficient and effective means. Through the years, developments were made to make electricity use more efficient, and in 1981, Toshiba invented the world’s first inverter.

          An inverter is an electronic device used to convert direct circuit (DC) to alternating current (AC). What does this mean? Most of the gadgets we use require a direct current, which has a unidirectional flow from positive to negative, such as the batteries we use.

          Alternating currents on the other hand reverse directions repeatedly.  

          This means the charge does not have any net distance travelled but power is still delivered. All of this may not seem to make any sense but lets take a brief look on the physics concept of power. 

          Power transmitted (PT)  is equal to the product of current (I) and voltage (V). The higher the current and voltage, the higher the power can be produced. 

          But power is also lost with a higher current due to the resistance (R) of the materials used in wires. Inverters were specifically invented to cope with the power loss in the transmission of electricity. By transforming DC to AC using inverters, a higher voltage is achieved. What does all this apply to?

      

          As seen above, solar energy is harvested and inverter technology is used to transform the DC to AC to achieve a higher power rating. Inverters can also be used to transform the DC electricity supplied by a battery or fuel cell to AC electricity to generate a higher power output. 

          One of the most popular applications of inverters nowadays is the air-conditioner because of the high voltage input it needs. By applying inverter technology in air-conditioners, less electricity is needed to power such an appliance. 

          The invention of the inverter truly is a wonder because of the many applications it has. With the issues concerning more efficient and effective ways of using resources, more technologies like this are needed because of the lifestyle people live nowadays. We tend to think that the resources we have right now are sustainable but soon enough, these resources will run dry. And I believe that these type of inventions are the answer for the future generations to have a more sustainable resource.

          

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_inverter (March 1, 2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current (March 3, 2014)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current (March 3, 2014)
Hahn, J. Modified Sine-Wave Inverter Enhanced. Retrieved from http://powerelectronics.com/site-files/powerelectronics.com/files/archive/powerelectronics.com/mag/608PET21.pdf