Lec-1 (Introduction)

Prepared by: Dr. Abasin Ulasyar

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 Power Electronic Systems
• The 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.
• Figure 1-1 shows a power electronic system in a block diagram.
• The power input to this processor is usually (but not always)
from the electric utility at a line frequency of 60 or 50 Hz, single
phase or three phases.
• The phase angle between the input voltage and the current
depends on the topology and the control of the power
processor.
• The processed output (voltage, current, frequency and number
of phases) is as desired by the load.

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 Power Electronic Systems (Continued)
• If the power processor’s output can be regarded as a voltage source, the
output current and the phase angle relationship between the output voltage
and the current depend on the load characteristics.
• Normally, a feedback controller compares the output of the power processor
unit with a desired (or a reference) value, and the error between the two is
minimized by the controller.
• The power flow through such systems may be reversible, thus interchanging
the roles of the input and the output.
• The controller in Fig. 1-1 consists of linear integrated circuits and /or digital
signal processors.
• Revolutionary advances in microelectronics methods have led to the
development of such controllers.
• Advances in semiconductor fabrication technology improve the voltage and
current handling capabilities and switching speeds of power semiconductor
devices, which make up the power process unit of Fig. 1-1.

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 Power Electronic Systems (Continued)

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

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Power Electronics Versus Linear Electronics

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Power Electronics Versus Linear (Cont..)

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 Linear Power Supply

• Series transistor as an adjustable resistor

• Low Efficiency
• Heavy and bulky
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Switch-Mode Power Supply

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Switch-Mode Power Supply (Cont)

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Switch-Mode Power Supply (Cont)

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Switch-Mode Power Supply (Cont)

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 Switch-Mode Power Supply

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

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 Basic Principle of Switch-Mode Synthesis

• Constant switching frequency

• pulse width controls the average
• L-C filters the ripple

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 Scope and Applications
• Switch-mode (dc) power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies:
Cpmputers, communication equipment and consumer electronics require
regulated dc power supplies.
• Energy conservation: Increasing energy costs and the concern for the
environment have combined to make energy conservation a priority. One
such application of power electronics is in operating fluorescent lamps at
high frequencies (e.g., above 20 kHz) for higher efficiency. Another
opportunity for large energy conservation is in motor-driven pump and
compressor systems. In a conventional pump system shown in Fig. 1-5a, the
pump operates at essentially a constant speed and the pump flow rate is
controlled by adjusting the position of the throttling valve. This procedure
results in a power loss across the valve at reduced flow rates where the
power drawn from the utility remains essentially the same as t the full flow
rate. This power loss is eliminated in the system of Fig. 1-5b.

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 Scope and Applications (Cont)
• Process control and factory automation: Growing demand for enhanced
performance offered by adjustable-speed driven pumps and compressors in
process control. Robots in automated factories are powered by electric servo
(adjustable-speed and position) drives.
• Transportation: In many countries, electric trains have been in widespread
use for a long time. Electric vehicles is another example for it.
• Electro-technical applications: Include equipment for welding, electroplating,
and induction heating
• Utility-related applications: Transmission of power over high-voltage dc
(HVDC) lines. Sending end of transmission line, line frequency voltages and
currents are converted into dc. This dc is converted back into the line-
frequency ac at the receiving end of the line. Electric utilities attempt to
utilize the existing transmission network to a higher capacity by using power
electronics. Potentially, a large application is in the interconnection of
photovoltaic and wind-electric systems to the utility grid.

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 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

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Scope and Applications (Cont)

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 Power Processors
• It is useful to categorize the power processor shown in Fig. 1-1, in terms of
their input and output form or frequency. In most power electronic systems,
the input is from electric utility source. Depending on the application, the
output to the load may have any of the following forms:
• 1). DC : (a). Regulated (constant) magnitude, (b) adjustable magnitude
• 2). AC : (a). Constant frequency, adjustable magnitude, (b) adjustable
frequency and adjustable magnitude
•

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 Power Processor as a Combination of
Converters
• The power processors of Fig. 1-1 usually consist of more than one power
conversion stage (as shown in Fig. 1-6) where the operation of these stages
is decoupled on an instantaneous basis by means of energy storage
elements such as capacitors and inductors. Therefore, the instantaneous
power input does not have to equal the instantaneous power output.
• Thus a converter is a basic module (building block) of power electronic
systems. It utilizes power semiconductor devices controlled by signal
electronics (integrated circuits) and possible energy storage elements such
as inductors and capacitors. Based on the form (frequency) on the two
sides, converters can be divided into following categories:
• 1). AC TO DC, 2). DC TO AC, 3). DC TO DC, 4). AC TO AC.

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Power Processor as a Combination of
Converters (Cont)

• Most practical topologies require an energy

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

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 AC-DC AND DC-AC
• In Fig. 1-8, the block diagram of an adjustable-speed ac motor drive
represents the power processor. Converter-1 acts as rectifier converter-2
acts as inverter that converters dc into adjustable-magnitude, adjustable-
frequency ac.
• The energy storage capacitor in the dc link between the two converters
decouples the operation of two converters on an instantaneous basis.
• Further insight can be gained by classifying converters according to how the
devices within the converter are switched. There are three possibilities:
• 1). Line frequency (naturally commutated) converters, where the utility line
voltages present at one side of the converter facilitate the turn-off of the
power semiconductor devices. Similarly, the devices are turned on, phase
locked to the line voltage waveform. Therefore, the devices switch on and off
at the line frequency of 50 or 60 Hz.

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 AC-DC AND DC-AC (Cont)
• 2). Switching (forced-commutated) converters, where the controllable
switches in the converter are turned on and off at high frequencies that are
high compared to the line frequency. In spite of the high switching frequency
internal to the converter, the converter output may be either dc or at a
frequency comparable to the line frequency. As a side note in a switching
converter, if the input appears as a voltage source, then the output must
appear as a current source or vice versa.
• Resonant and quasi-resonant converters, where the controllable switches
turn on and/or turn off at zero voltage and/or zero current.

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 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

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 Matrix Converter
• So far we discussed practical power processors that utilize more than one
converter whose instantaneous operation is decoupled by an energy storage
element (an inductor or capacitor).
• Theoretically, it is possible to replace the multiple conversion stages and the
intermediate energy storage element by a single power conversion stage
called the matrix converter.
• Such a converter uses a matrix of semiconductor bidirectional switches with
a switch connected between each input terminal to each output terminal as
shown in Fig. 1-9a for an arbitrary number of input and output phases. With
this arrangement of switches, the power flow through the converter can be
reverse.
• Because of absence of any energy storage element, the instantaneous
power input must be equal to the power output, assuming idealized zero-
loss switches.
• However, the phase angle between the voltages and currents at the input
can be controlled and does not have to be the same as at the output (i.e.,
the reactive power input does not have to be equal the reactive power 1-25
output).
 Matrix Converter (Cont)
• Also, the form and the frequency at the two sides are independent, for
example, the input may be three-phase ac and the output dc, or both may be
dc, or both may be ac.
• However, there are certain requirements on the switches and restrictions on
the converter operation. If the inputs appear as voltage sources in Fig. 1-9a,
then the outputs must appear as current sources or vice versa. If both sides,
for example were to appear as voltage sources, the switching actions will
inevitable connect voltage sources of unequal magnitude directly across
each other; an unacceptable condition. The switching function in operating
such a converter must ensure that the switches do not short-circuit the
voltage sources and do not open-circuit the current sources. Otherwise, the
converter will be destroyed.
• If the input in Fig. 1-9a is a utility source, it is not an ideal voltage source due
to its internal impedance corresponding to the transmission and distribution
lines, transformers, etc, which are at the back of the utility outlet. To make it
appear like a voltage source, a small capacitance in parallel will be
connected with it as shown in Fig. 1-9b to overcome the effect of the internal
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impedance.
 Matrix Converter (Cont)
• The switches in a matrix converter must be bidirectional, that is they must be
able to block voltages of either polarity and be able to conduct current in
either direction. Such switches are not available and must be realized by a
combination of available unidirectional switches and diodes.
• There are also limits on the ratio of the magnitudes of the input and the
output quantities.
• However, the matrix converters so far have failed to show any significant
advantage over conventional converters and hence have not found
applications in practice. Therefore, we will not discuss them any further.

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 Matrix Converter (Cont)

• Very general structure

• Would benefit from bi-directional and bi-polarity switches
• Being considered for use in specific applications
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Interdisciplinary Nature of Power Electronics

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