Transductors - Have they a Future?

Introduction of new technologies has frequently led to the downfall and even disappearance of earlier technologies, particularly when the new technology has gained widespread acceptance and approval, as is the case with Thyristors. Following an initial decline, however, use of Transductors in place of Thyristors for telecommunications charger control is continuing and, in some areas, expanding. Transductors ("Magnetic Amplifiers" or "Saturable Reactors") have thus gone against the normal trends in surviving so far. This paper sets out to explore the reasons behind this apparent anomaly, to give comparisons between available power control systems and to assess the future prospects for Transductors.