Solid-State Transformer

A solid-state transformer, also called a power electronic transformer, is an AC-to-AC power converter built from semiconductor switching circuits rather than the passive iron core and copper windings of a conventional transformer. By converting power at a much higher switching frequency than the 50 or 60 hertz used on the utility grid, a solid-state transformer can be far smaller and lighter than a conventional transformer of the same rating, and because it is an active electronic circuit it can regulate voltage and current directly, convert between single-phase and three-phase power, and in some designs add a direct-current input or output stage. The added complexity comes with tradeoffs, including the need for protection against lightning strikes and voltage surges that a simple magnetic transformer tolerates more easily. Interest in the technology has grown recently from data centers, which need to convert medium-voltage grid power down to the direct-current voltages used by artificial-intelligence computing hardware.