Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

Advanced Power Electronics and Applications: ECEg 6294

Lecture One
Section One
Introduction to Power Electronic Devices

College of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
 Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Power Electronic Devices
Chapter 2: Review of DC-DC Converters & Power Supplies
Chapter 3: Review of DC-AC Inverters
Chapter 4: Resonant Converters
Chapter 5: Control of Induction Motor Drive
Chapter 6: Application of Power Electronics in Solar PV and
Wind Energy Conversion Systems

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 2

 Introduction
Outline
◼ What is power electronics?
◼ The history
◼ Applications
Semiconductor Devices
◼ Thyristor
◼ GTO
◼ IGBT
◼ Power MOSFET
◼ Transistors
ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 3
 FIGURE 1 AC
interconnected power
system.

11/16/2024 Milkias B. 4
 INTRODUCTION
• Power electronics concerns the conversion and control of electrical power with
the aid of power semiconductor devices, which include diodes, thyristors, triacs, gate
turn-off thyristors (GTO), power metal oxide silicon field effect transistors
(MOSFET), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) and integrated gate-
commutated thyristors (IGCT).
• Their applications include regulated power supplies (DC and AC), uninterruptible
power supply (UPS) systems, electrochemical processes (such as electroplating,
electrolysis, anodizing and metal reining), control of heating and lighting, electronic
welding, power line static var compensators (SVC or STATCOM) and flexible AC
transmission systems (FACTS), active harmonic filters (AHFs), high-voltage direct
current (HVDC) systems, photovoltaic (PV), Wind Energy Conversion Systems
(WECS), fuel cell (FC) converters, electronic circuit breakers, high-frequency
heating, energy storage and motor drives.
• The extensive applications of power electronics in global industrialization have been
somewhat unprecedented in history. We now live in a global society in which the
nations in the world are highly interdependent. In the present trend, it is expected that
future wars in the world will be fought on an economic front rather than military.
• In future, all the nations in the world will face severe industrial competitiveness
for their survival and prosperity.
• In such an environment, power electronics and motion control will play a very
important role.
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 ...
• In addition, as the price of energy increases and environmental regulations
become more stringent, power electronics applications will spread practically
everywhere.
• The role of power electronics in this century will be as, if not more, important
as computer, communication and information technologies.
• It should be mentioned here that power electronics technology has now gained
significant maturity after several decades of the dynamic technology evolution
of power semiconductor devices, converters, pulse width modulation
(PWM) techniques, electrical machines, variable-frequency drives,
advanced controls and computer simulation techniques.
• According to the estimate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) of
the United States, roughly 70% of electrical energy in the United States is now
processed through power electronics, which will eventually expand to 100%.
• In the present century, we expect to see the significant impact of power
electronics not only in global industrialization and general energy systems, but
also in energy conservation, renewable energy systems, bulk energy
storage and electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
• The corresponding impact in solving or mitigating climate change problems is
expected to be significant.

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 GLOBAL ENERGY PERSPECTIVE
Figure 1.1 shows the global energy generation and the generation
of US energy in the same perspective.

• About 84% of global energy

is generated by fossil fuels,
• 3% from nuclear plants and
the remaining
• 13% comes from renewable
sources, such as hydro, wind, Fossil
solar, biofuels, geothermal, Fuels
wave and tidal power.

Global
energy
generation
Figure 1.1 Global and US energy generation scenarios (2008)
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Figure 1.2 Idealized fossil and nuclear energy depletion curves for the world

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 I. What is power electronics?
1) Definition
Power Electronics: is the electronics applied to conversion and
control of electric power.
Range of power scale :
milliwatts(mW) megawatts(MW) gigawatts(GW)
A more exact explanation:
The primary task of power electronics is to process and control the
flow of electric energy by supplying voltages and currents in a form
that is optimally suited for user loads.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 9

◼ Conversion of electric power
Other names for electric
power converter:
-Power converter
-Converter Electric
Power Power
-Switching converter Power
input output
-Power electronic circuit Converter

-Power electronic converter Control

input

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 10

 Power electronic system
Generic structure of a power electronic system

Power Power Power

input Converter output

Control input
Feedforward Feedback
( measurements Controller (measurements
of input signals ) of output signals )
Reference

Control is invariably required.

Power converter along with its controller including the corresponding
measurement and interface circuits, is also called power electronic
system.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 11

◼ A typical power electronic system

Power input Power output

Source Power Load
Vi ii io Vo
Converter
Electric Motor
Electric utility
light
battery Measurements
heating
other electric energy source Controller other electric equipment
power converter
Reference power converter

◼ The task of power electronics has been recently extended to also

ensuring the currents and power consumed by power converters and
loads to meet the requirement of electric energy sources.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 12

 2) Relation with information electronics

A Classification of electronics by processing object

Information electronics: to process information
Electronics
Power electronics: to process electric power

Other classifications of electronics

Vacuum electronics: using vacuum devices,
Electronics e.g, vacuum tubes devices
Solid (Solid state) electronics: using solid state devices,
e.g, semiconductor devices
Physical electronics: physics,material,fabrication,
Electronics and manufacturing of electronic devices
Applied electronics: application of electronic
devices to various areas

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 13

3) The interdisciplinary nature
William E. Newell’s description

Electronics Power

学
Devices,circuits Static & rotating
power equipment
Power
Electronics

学
Continuous,
discrete

连Control
续、离

Power electronics is the interface between electronics and power.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 14

◼ Relation with multiple disciplines

Systems& Signal
Circuit Ct Control theory processing
theory
Control Simulation &
computing
Electric theory Power
machines electronics electronics

electr oni
Power Solid state
systems cs physics
Electromagnetics
electr
Power electronics is currently the most active discipline in electric power
engineering.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 15

 4) Position and significance in the human society

◼ Electric power is used in almost every part and everywhere of modern human
society.
◼ Electric power is the major form of energy source used in modern human
society.
◼ The objective of power electronics is right on how to use electric power, and
how to use it effectively and efficiently, and how to improve the quality and
utilization of electric power.
◼ Power electronics and information electronics make two poles of modern
technology and human society:
◼ information electronics is the brain, and power electronics is the muscle.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 16

 II. The history
Applicat ion of
fast- switching
Invention of fully- controlled
Thyristor semiconductor
devices GTO
Mercury arc rectifier IGBT
GTR
Vacuum- tube rectifier Power diode Power MOSFET
Power MOSFET
Thyratron Thyristor Thyristor
Thyristor
(DSP)
(microprocessor)
1900 1957 mid 1970s late 1980s

Pre-history 1st phase 2nd phase 3rd phase

Giant transistor (GTR) ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 17

 Power Electronic Systems

◼ Block diagram
◼ Role of Power Electronics
◼ Reasons for growth

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 18

Linear Power Supply

◼ Series transistor as an adjustable resistor

◼ Low Efficiency
◼ Heavy and bulky

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 19

 Switch-Mode Power Supply

• Transistor as a switch
• High Efficiency
• High-Frequency
Transformer

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias

20
 Basic Principle of Switch-Mode Synthesis

• Constant switching
frequency
• pulse width controls the average
• L-C filters the ripple

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias

21
 Application in Adjustable Speed Drives

• Conventional drive wastes energy across the throttling valve to

adjust flow rate
• Using power electronics, motor-pump speed is adjusted
efficiently to deliver the required flow rate
ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 22
Scope and Applications

ECEg 6294 Instructor

Chapter - Dr. Milkias
1 Introduction 23
Power Processor as a Combination of
Converters

• Most practical topologies require an energy storage

element, which also decouples the input and the
output side converters

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 24

 Power Flow through Converters

• Converter is a general term

• An ac/dc converter is shown here
• Rectifier Mode of operation when power from ac to dc
• Inverter Mode of operation when power from ac to dc

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 25

 AC Motor Drive

• Converter 1 rectifies line-frequency ac into dc

• Capacitor acts as a filter; stores energy; decouples
• Converter 2 synthesizes low-frequency ac to motor
• Polarity of dc-bus voltage remains unchanged
– ideally suited for transistors of converter 2

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 26

 Matrix Converter

• Very general structure

• Would benefit from bi-directional and bi-polarity switches
• Being considered for use in specific applications
ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 27
Interdisciplinary Nature of Power Electronics

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 28

III. Applications
◼ Industrial applications
Motor drives
Electrolysis
Electroplating
Induction heating
Welding
Arc furnaces and ovens
Lighting

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 29

◼ Transportation applications
Trains & locomotives
Subways
Trolley buses
Magnetic levitation
Electric vehicles
Automotive electronics
Ship power systems
Aircraft power systems

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 30

◼ Utility stems applications
High- voltage dc transmission(HVDC)
Flexible ac transmission(FACTS)
Static var compensation & harmonics
suppression: TCR, TSC, SVG, APF
Custom power & power quality control
Supplemental energy sources :
wind, photovoltaic, fuel cells
Energy storage systems

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 31

◼ Power supplies for electronic equipment
Telecommunications
Computers
Office equipment
Electronic instruments
Portable or mobile
electronics

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 32

◼ Residential and home appliances
Lighting
Heating
Air conditioning
Refrigeration & freezers
Cooking
Cleaning
Entertaining

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 33

◼ Applications in space technology
Spaceship power systems
Satellite power systems
Space vehicle power systems

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 34

◼ Other aplications
Nuclear reactor control
Power systems for particle accelerators
Environmental engineering

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 35

◼ Trends
It is estimated that in developed countries now 60% of the electric
energy goes through some kind of power electronics converters before
it is finally used.
Power electronics has been making major contributions to:
--better performance of power supplies and better control of electric
equipment
--energy saving
--environment protection
reduction of energy consumption leads to less pollution
reduction of pollution produced by power converters
direct applications to environment protection technology

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 36

IV. A simple example
A simple dc-dc converter example

I
10A
+
Vg
+
Dc-dc R V
100V - converter 5Ω 50V
-

Input source:100V
Output load:50V, 10A, 500W
How can this converter be realized?

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 37

◼ Dissipative realization
Resistive voltage divider

I
10A
+
Vg + 50V -

+ Ploss=500W R V
100V - 5Ω 50V
-
Pin=1000W Pout=500W

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 38

Series pass regulator:
transistor operates in active region

I
+ 50V - 10A
+
Vg linear amplifier Vref
-
+ R V
+ And base driver
100V - 5Ω 50V
Ploss≈500W -
Pin≈1000W Pout=500W

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 39

◼ Use of a SPDT switch

I
10A
1 + +
Vg 2
Vs(t) R V(t)
+
100V - 50V
- -

Vs(t)
Vg
Vs=DVg
0
switch t
DTs (1-D)Ts
position:
1 2 1

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 40

The switch changes the dc voltage level

Vs(t)
Vg
D=switch duty cycle
Vs=DVg
0
- -
0<D<1

t Ts=switching period
switch DTs (1-D)Ts
position:
1 2 1 fs=switching frequency

DC component of Vs(t)=average value: =1/ Ts

∫
Ts
Vs = Vs(t) dt =DVg
0

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 41

◼ Addition of low pass filter
Addition of (ideally lossless) L- C low- pass filter, for removal of
switching harmonics:
I
1 10A
+ +
Vg 2 L
Vs(t) C R V(t)
+
100V - 50V
- -
Pin≈500W
Ploss small Pout=500W

Choose filter cutoff frequency f0 much smaller than switching frequency

fs.
This circuit is known as the “buck converter”.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 42

◼ Addition of control system for regulation of output voltage

Power Switching converter Load

input
+ i
Vg
+ sensor
V
- gain
H(s)
-
error
transistor
signal
gate driver
δ(t) Pulse-width Vc Ve -
δ modulator Gc(s) +
compensator
Reference Vref
dTs Ts t input

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 43

◼ Major issues in power electronics
How to meet the requirement of the load or gain better control of the load
How to improve the efficiency
-- for reliable operation of power semiconductor devices
-- for energy saving
How to realize power conversion with less volume, less weight, and less
cost.
How to reduce negative influence to other equipment in the electric power
system and to the electromagnetic environment.

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 44

 V. Next Lecture

Semiconductor Devices

ECEg 6294 Instructor - Dr. Milkias 45