interconverter

Interconverter is a term used in electrical engineering to describe a power-electronic device that connects two energy interfaces and transfers power between them. The exact meaning of the term varies by context, and there is no single universal definition. In general, an interconverter serves as an interface between two electrical domains, enabling control of voltage, current, and power flow from one side to the other.

Common interpretations treat an interconverter as a bidirectional converter that links two DC buses or a DC bus to an AC system. In this sense, it can function as a DC-DC converter between different voltage levels, as well as provide bidirectional energy flow for applications such as energy storage systems, electric vehicles, data centers, and microgrids. Some uses involve combining or coordinating rectifier and inverter stages to form an integrated power interface, sometimes within modular or multicell converter topologies.

Typical characteristics include bidirectional power flow, galvanic isolation (in transformer-coupled designs), a controllable DC link, and the use of power-electronic switches such as IGBTs or MOSFETs with PWM or other modulation schemes. Protection features, thermal management, and electromagnetic compatibility are important design considerations.

Applications span renewable energy integration, grid interconnection, energy storage charging and discharging, traction systems, and other scenarios requiring flexible interfacing between differing electrical networks or voltage levels. The term remains context-dependent, and practitioners may use it to describe specific interconnecting stages within larger power-electronic systems. See also inverter, rectifier, DC-DC converter, and power electronics.