Power Electronics Converters

Higher education teachers: Zajec Peter
Collaborators: Nedeljković David, Vončina Danjel

Subject description

Prerequisits:

• Enrolment in the first year of 3rd cycle (doctoral).
• For a successful involvement the student should be familiar with backgrounds in the field of power electronics and control engineering. Desirable but not required background in Matlab/Simulink.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Nowadays, study of power electronics is not focused only on the generally known criteria list the power converters should comply with: loss reduction, increase of their specific power, estimation of their useful lifetime and the production cost. Increasingly important is to understand their roles in connecting complex systems for the efficient conversion of energy from renewable sources in electricity and its further efficient conversion and end-use in systems such as: smart heating/cooling, hybrid vehicles, smart grids.

Detailed content:

1) Insights into modern solid-state power switches and the challenges they face e.g. heat dissipation and reduction of parasitic inductances. Overview of main challenges and study of specific attempts in integration of the converter components into a unified whole (systemically and geometrically). Study of mechanisms of excess heat dispersal, reduction of mutual electromagnetic influence, achieving an appropriate dielectric strength and reliability.

2) Practical design issues, such as snubbers, semiconductor stresses due to the high slope of current and voltage, losses and efficiency.

3) Review of basic modulations (PWM, vector control and others) and related solutions specific to the operation near to the margins (in terms of low duty cycle) of existing semiconductor switches. Various control of semiconductor converters. Predictive and repetitive control methods in power electronics.

4) Effects of power converters to the supply grid voltage and to the adjacent electronic devices. Study of electromagnetic compatibility problems: sources of electromagnetic (EM) emissions, modes of coupling and reduction techniques of EM emissions. Setups for measuring radiated and conducted emissions.

5) Overview and analysis of modern designs in the case of specific converter topologies (serial / parallel multi-cell converter design, serial / parallel connection of power switches, combining different modes of operation).

6) System-oriented analysis of operating conditions, stability conditions in selected state of the art converter systems and sub-systems.

Performing sensitivity analysis to assure various control and power flow aspects (distortion, resonance mitigation).

Objectives and competences:

Objectives: To promote in-depth understanding of the operation, technological and material constraints and the integration of modern inverters power in the wider scientific context. To encourage the cutting-edge design procedures and technologies pursuit. Strengthen awareness of the effects of connecting multi-cell converters and distributed ones in the event of their central control management.

Competencies: Upgrading the basic knowledge in the field of power electronics and control engineering. Gain competences with knowledge of complementary technical branches.

Intended learning outcomes:

• In-depth understanding of the converters operation and their physical limitations.
• To gain knowledge for deeper analysis and design steps in solving specific problems of power electronic converters. The ability to perform system-oriented evaluation and analysis.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lecture and consultation hours - to assist and lead candidate through his/her homework assignment.

Study materials

1. Bimal. K. Bose , “Power Electronics And Motor Drives: Advances and Trends”, Academic Press, 2010.
2. Ryszard Michal Strzelecki, Grzegorz Benysek, “Power Electronics in Smart Electrical Energy Networks”, Springer, 2008.
3. Teresa Orłowska-Kowalska, Frede Blaabjerg, José Rodríguez, “Advanced and Intelligent Control in Power Electronics and Drives”, Springer, 2014.
4. Ewald Fuchs, Mohammad A. S. Masoum, “Power Quality in Power Systems and Electrical Machines”, Academic Press, 2011.
5. Zbirke publikacij: IEEE.org (Power Electronics, Industrial Electronics, Control Systems, Power&Energy Society)