Bidirectional Power Supplies

Most of the electronic systems that use power voltage systems depend on bidirectional power systems with both terminals. Bidirectional power supply is very useful since it can allow part of the energy of a system to be recovered and sent back to the energy grid. The output voltage of a supply system can be adjusted in its entire voltage range, transitioning across the system polarity. The power supply can function both as a load and sinking of current from the output terminals.

A power supply is regarded as an electrical device that changes electrical current from a power source like the mains to the necessary voltage and current values which are required to drive load. Such power supplies can be AC or DC power supply, however, when they operate in-conjunction they form an AC DC power supply system.  Such an electronic system operates in a bidirectional manner hence form our study of “what is a bidirectional power supply?” in electronics.

What Is a Bidirectional Power Supply?

In electronics, a bidirectional power supply is a system that takes power from the main supply and converts it into a form that is required to power the load. There are bidirectional AC/DC converter devices that convert power from alternating current to direct current so as to easily drive the load.

Bidirectional power supply has the merit of regenerating excess electrical energy back to the grid while in the load mode. This helps users to save electricity costs while eliminating the heat effects associated with traditional methods of power supply.

Bidirectional power supply concepts are used in several applications as discussed below;

• Applications that require increased system efficiency.
• When high energy recovery is required.
• Used in intelligent mains to act as intermediate storage for main power.
• Applications that need to save on cost and space.
• Applied in electric drive testing, capacitor simulation, battery pack emulation, battery pack cycling and characterizing direct current to direct current converters.

Understanding Bidirectional AC-DC power supply

Bidirectional AC DC Power supply systems are highly used as components of regenerative power systems that help to convert power from the source to another form useful in driving the load.

They are responsible for simulating the electrical grid interruptions, surges, harmonics, or any other tests that would cause malfunctioning of the system. Power is converted by the help of a bidirectional AC/DC converter from alternating current to a direct current that flows in one direction. It also allows a reverse conversion where power is converted from direct current to alternating current for directing it back to the grid to avoid energy wastage. This way, the bidirectional power supply can take power from one form and convert it into another form, furthermore the system is able to make a reversible conversion.

Functions of bidirectional AC/ DC power supply include;

• To ensure there is a match of the secondary load to the main power supply.
• To simplify the compliance of the system with safety performance.
• To provide protection against the effects of faults, overheating, or short circuit.
• To introduce an isolation between the primary and secondary circuits.

Advantages of Bidirectional Power Supply

• The output can be configured to either negative, positive, or ground for various equipment. These variations help in making the output power to be produced by any of the terminals.
• They have capability to block strong noise hence it makes the DC output have a noise free signal. This is an important feature that is required in many electronic devices.
• Helps to perform testing and simulation of the electrical grid for any disconnections.

Disadvantages of Bidirectional Power Supply

• They have a large size. This makes them increase the size of an electronics system, hence portability becomes a great issue.
• They use core features in ensuring flow of current. In some instances, the core becomes saturated due to current flow, hence affecting the performance of the electronics systems.
• Equipment used to vary current can cause current leakage losses in case voltage level is high.
• Losses are also experienced during switching face when one wants to achieve bidirectional property.
• They can cause fire and excess heat affecting the connected components.

Conclusion

The article covers a discussion on bidirectional power supply as a system that helps in achieving current flow in different directions in an electronic system.  AC DC Power supply has integrated the power systems where they can be used to allow electric current to flow in different directions without performing any disconnections.

Bidirectional power supply can be used to test electronic equipment and perform simulations. This great development has improved the electronic industries; however, the development of these useful supply products is still in progress.

The concepts of bidirectional power and regenerative power have been used to save energy in a range of applications, from electric trains to lifts.