AC Switches Control Energy Reduction

Electricity production is drastically increasing due to the energy consumption growth through the world. Many organizations are becoming aware of the environmental impact, and are considering energy efficiency as one way to reduce emissions and preserve natural resources. Most of AC loads installed in domestic appliances are controlled by TRIACs or SCRs (silicon controlled rectifier) because they present the best "cost/low triggering current" compromise. The control unit often supplies a DC gate current higher than the TRIAC gate triggering current (I_GT) level (10-50 mA range). This control energy is low compared to the operation energy, but if one makes the sum of all domestic appliances in the world, we gets a large energy only used to control the AC switches. This paper describes the study of two new AC switches prototype developed in discrete solution, called bistable, with low control energy. These AC switches turn ON or turn OFF with just one current pulse. The design of this solution should simplify the switch control, decrease the control energy consumption of domestic appliances and reduce the power supply size and standby consumption