what is solid state voltage regulator?

Question

Solid-state regulators are semiconductors without any mechanical parts.
Well in terms of saving energy are solid state regulators better than older ones. If yes How better is there any quantifiable figure?

Answer 1

Older voltage regulators used vacuum tubes or saturable reactor transformers to control output voltage and maintain it constant under a varying load and input voltage. Both of these devices are less efficient than solid-state devices. Tube regulators required a voltage drop of about 80v across the regulating tube, so the load current time 80v was always lost in the regulation. Saturable reactors have hysteresis losses because of the magnetic properties of the transformer core. Solid state devices in a series regulator will drop only about .7v

Answer 2

Voltage Regulator is something that can control the amount of voltage an electric device (a motor, a tube light etc) gets at its input, thereby maintaining a pre-set output level for device (speed, light intensity etc). Feedback techniques are used to sample the output of the device and compare it with a reference to determine whether the voltage level should rise or decrease. The voltage regulator regulates the voltage level accordingly.

Solid state devices are constructed based on silicon wafer. This innovation has made revolutionary changes in the field of control circuits and systems. Previously, cathode-ray devices like thyratrons were used to control the voltage level to any circuit. But now we can use SCRs, TRIACs and other fast switching device-based circuitry to encorporate the voltage regulation techniques. These switching devices are based on solid-state techniques. The basic function of these device is to switch between on and off stage. When the feedback current is entered into the gate of these devices, they turn-on and allow the applied voltage to pass, but when the desired output level has been set, they turn-off and disrupts the voltage. This is how these solid state switches regulates the level of voltage into the input of any device.

Answer 3

Voltage regulators sometimes have moving parts with relays and resistors. Solid-state regulators are semiconductors without any mechanical parts.

Answer 4

A voltage regulator circuit contained entirely within one Integrated Circuit.