Centre For Power Electronics

Centre for Power Electronics
http://www.ee.nus.edu.sg/CPE/cpe.html
The Centre for Power Electronics (CPE) was established in 1994 to develop and nurture the growing level of research activities in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the field of power electronics. The centre keeps close links with local power electronics based industries and carries out advanced research in power electronics of direct relevance to industries. Power electronics is interdisciplinary in nature and is used in a wide variety of industries from computers to chemical plants to rolling mills. The importance of power electronics has grown over the years due to several factors. Two of these are the adve nt of smart power devices and the increasing global concerns about the effects of environmental pollution. Smart power devices are expected to become ubiquitous and revolutionise the way power is handled. Electric vehicle is currently looked upon as a pro mising solution to curb urban pollution. Also, to avoid the pollution due to setting up of new power generating stations, power electronics has been called upon to ensure better utilisation of existing capacity. This has resulted in research into active p ower factor correction, harmonic compensation etc., assuming great significance. CPE is staffed by a team of highly qualified members who have expertise in various aspects of power electronics. It has adequate laboratory facilities. With the increase in the number of projects handled, more facilities can be expected to be added in the future. Besides research projects, the activities of CPE include arranging periodical talks, seminars and short courses in power electronics both by centre members and distinguished visitors. The centre members can also provide consultancy in non-research oriente d projects in power electronics. INTRODUCTION The Centre for Power Electronics (CPE) has been established for the purpose of promoting advanced research and development efforts in Singapore in the field of power electronics. A simple definition for power electronics would be "the control of `raw' input electrical power through electronic means to meet load
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requirements". Power electronics is interdisciplinary and is at the confluence of three fundamental technical areas - power, electronics and control. OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTRE: Locally: To serve the R&D needs of Singapore based industries in power electronics; Internationally: To evolve into a world-class research centre of excellence in power electronics and related application areas. POWER ELECTRONICS APPLICATIONS Power electronics applications are very varied and cover virtually all types of industries. A few of the applications are: Switch mode power supplies (SMPS) Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems Photo-voltaic and fuel-cell power conversion systems Rectifier supplies for electrochemical processes Heating and lighting, including high frequency illumination control Induction heating DC and AC servo drives High efficiency industrial/commercial drives Electric vehicle applications Electric traction Flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) MAIN RESEARCH AREAS 1. Power Supplies The successful work in this area covers several sub-areas. First, soft-switched converters are studied for use in high density DC power supplies. High frequency, high efficiency operation and use of parasitics as circuit elements are some of the concerns addressed. The creation of such converters, their analysis, control, and design form part of this effort. Due to the inherent complexity, the control modelling of modern power converters through discrete-time methods is quite difficult. We have initiated efforts to develop algorithms and software tools to assist the R&D engineer in this area. The scope of the work covers large-signal, steady-state, and small-signal analyses and design of DC/DC power converters. The third topic is single-phase active power factor correction. The current industry solution to the proposed revision of the IEC 555.2 standard on input current harmonics is to use an additional boost stage to shape the current appropriately. However, th is results in large additional volume, reduction in overall efficiency, and increased EMI problems. Hence, alternative methods of improving the power factor are being investigated. In the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) area, our aim is to investigate high efficiency, high power density
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systems for computer and other critical applications. Study of IGBT and MOSFET based AC-to-DC and DC-to-AC converters, pulse width modulation (PW M) control techniques for input and output harmonic reduction, battery charging methods, and alternative system configurations all form part of this work. 2. Electric Vehicle (EV) With increasing concerns over global pollution and the legislative backing provided in California, the time for practical EVs may have arrived at last. At the Centre, the work of retro-fitting a golf-cart with a chopper fed, IGBT based, DC drive is in pro gress. A project involving the simulation study as well as prototype development of a complete four wheel drive system for an EV has also been proposed. 3. Power-Semiconductor controlled Variable Speed Drives Electric drives are considered as the workhorse of modern industries. All most 70% of the total electrical energy developed in the industrialised nations is converted back into mechanical energy using electrical machines. In the past most of the drives we re of constant speed type. However, with the advent of power semiconductor devices and microprocessors, variable speed operation of electric drives is now possible. The requirements of industrial drives are becoming stringent day by day for example; robus t, rugged, maintenance free running, high accuracy, high efficiency, intelligent etc. Such requirements can be met by the use of induction motors at medium and high power range and permanent-magnet brushless d.c. motors at low power range. Recently, the i ntroduction of a new type of motor namely, switched reluctance motor poses serious competition to induction as well as permanent-magnet brushless d.c. motor drives. We have initiated a research programme to investigated the control aspects of high performance brushless d.c. and switched reluctance motor drives: to minimise the electromagnetic torque ripples; improve the transient performance; making the controller ro bust i.e. insensitive to drive system parameters variation; and sensorless operation. All these features require the use of the art Digital Signal Processors. In this research it is intended to develop a general type of experimental platform for the two m otor drives so that various types of control algorithms can be implemented at ease and their performance can be compared. 4. Power Devices and Smart Power IC's A variety of simulation and visualising tools have been assembled and used to study different device structures, such as the Gate Turn-Off Thyristor (GTO), Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and Lateral IGBT, MOS Controlled Thyristor (MCT) and Power MOSFET. Design optimisation of power semiconductor devices such as a synchronous rectifier used in low output voltage power supplies is also carried out. Work on "Intelligent Devices" and "Smart Power IC's" are currently undergoing. This includes the integration of current sensor to the Lateral power devices for control and protection purposes. The performance of a power device can be enhanced in applications such as appliances, air-conditioners and electric vehicles through the addition of intelligent features such as a current or a temperature sensor. The challenges in the area of smart power devices include (a) multiple power devices and control circuits in a single chip and (b) prevention of mal-operations under over-current, over-voltage and over-temperatures protections. The work on the integration of smart sensors and micromechanic devices is planned in the next few years. 5. Monitoring and Control of Power System Harmonics
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This project aims to develop products with potential commercial values. In the first part, a PC is combined with a data acquisitions card to form a flexible package for the measurement and analysis of power system harmonics. In the second part a combinati on of passive and active harmonic filtering techniques are studied and developed. 6. Flexible AC transmission System (FACTS) Through power electronics, FACTS aims to improve the quality, reliability and utilisation of large, complex, interconnected utilities. In this proposed project, the potentials and technical implications of applying FACTS to the ASEAN region will be studie d. This will then be followed by development of FACTS plans and control strategies for the region. 7. Modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System Research The operation of modern MRT systems has become very complex due to heavier traffic flows, higher speeds, and different train characteristics (three phase and DC chopper trains). The research being conducted aims to improve the MRT operation through (1) i ncreased regenerative braking energy recovery for a reduction of the operating cost, (2) lowering the amount of electrical noise (or harmonics) generated for a reduction of interference on its communication circuits and disturbance to other electricity co nsumers, and (3) improvement in the MRT's overall quality of service in terms of safety, regularity, passenger comfort, electric loading and energy efficiency. FACILITIES The aim of this Centre is to focus the research efforts of the members of Power Electronics and Machine Control streams in order to benefit the local power electronics related industries. The Centre is located at the Power Electronics Laboratory (WS2-05-23) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. A variety of oscilloscopes including digital, high bandwidth, and isolated channel scopes are available. Microcontroller systems enhance the capability to perform system development work. Torque measurement systems with display, loading dynamometers and static loads, flux meters, universal counters etc. facilitate drives research. DC, brushless DC and AC drive systems are available. Electronic loads, frequency meters, power supplies etc. are useful particularly in low power converter work. The HP 4194 gain-phase analyser donated by a local company in appreciation of the collaborative research work performed is an essential tool in high frequen cy power supply research particularly for control loop frequency response measurements. In the Power & Machine Division's computing facility housed in the Power Systems Laboratory, seven linked Sun workstations house software particularly suited for power electronics research besides general software such as word processors and MATLAB. State of the art power semiconductor device simulation packages, such as MEDICI and DESSIS, are being used. For circuit simulation, SABER is a powerful tool capable of device primitive level as well as behavioural level simulations, a very useful feature in large power electronic simulations. POWEREXPRESS tool which has been procured extends SABER for simulation of power electronic circuits. CENTRE MEMBERS
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Oruganti, Ramesh (Director) Chang, Che Sau Jabbar, M A Liang, Yung Chii Liew, Ah Choy Lock, Kai Sang Panda, Sanjib Kumar Hsu, Tar Su Tay, Teng Tiow
RESEARCH STUDENTS Nagaswamy, Kannan Srinivasan, Ramesh Yang, Haiqing Pan, Honglin Yuen, Xiaolu
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Mr. Stuart Morrall, an M.Sc. student, is working on the Electric Vehicle Project.
Current Research Activities

NEW GENERATION POWER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT Contact: Dr. Ramesh Oruganti Collaboration: Nemic Lambda (S) Pte Ltd Funding: NSTB-RDAS grant General The project has been recently completed successfully. It's main task was the "Evaluation of High Density Power Supply Topologies". An additional task of "Investigation of Power Factor Correction (PFC) Front Ends for Power Supplies" was also carried out as part of the project. Based on the work, two patent applications are being processed. The motivation for the main task stems from the continued miniaturisation of computer and other electronic equipment, which has created a demand for the development of ever smaller, lighter and more efficient switching power supplies. In addition, the sec ond task has become very relevant due to the present green concerns expressed through revisions to IEC555.2 and other harmonic standards. High Density Power Supply Topologies An isolated, soft-switched, two-switch, asymmetrical PWM converter with two variations suitable for high density power supply applications was developed. The converter effectively utilises the circuit parasitics, the transformer's leakage and magnetising inductances, and the output capacitance of the power MOSFETs, as circuit elements. Unlike the quasi-resonant and multi-resonant converters, these soft-switching transition converters pay relatively less additional penalty in terms of increased device stre sses. Due to the absence of excess circulating current at reduced loads, the partial and light load efficiencies of his converter remains high. A prototype 500 W, 48 V output converter has achieved an efficiency of over 94 % at full load and a
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power density of above 50 W/cu.inch. The efficiency remains higher than 90 % even at 20 % of full load. In addition to prototype development, both steady-state and small-signal analysis have been carried out and experimentally verified. These results are useful for the engineer in designing these converters. As a contribution to power electronics fundamentals, the inter-relationships among various two-switch, soft-switched, PWM converters were also explored. Starting from a generalised two-switch converter operated under an asymmetrical PWM scheme, the non-is olated and isolated converters of this type were "derived". All of the converters generally have the advantages of lossless switching, minimum switch voltage stress, fixed frequency operation and minimum component count. The converters which have been des cribed in various works were brought together under a common qualitative and theoretical framework.
Development of high density power supplies Single Phase Power Factor Correction The aim of this additional task is achieve improvements over the conventional cascaded boost-based PFC schemes. A novel Boost Bypass Control Scheme has been proposed to realise these aims. Here, the PFC part processes less power than in the conventional B oost scheme while still meeting the PFC standards. The scheme results in performance improvements such as increased efficiency, reduced component stresses, smaller size, reduced EMI problem through higher frequency operation. The viability of the basic co ncept behind the scheme has been established through experiments. Control schemes to actively control the power sharing between the boost and the bypass paths have been built and tested. References [1] R. Oruganti, C.H. Phua, K.G. Tan and A.C. Liew, "Soft-switched Converter with PWM Control", Proceedings of the IEEE 15th International Telecommunications Energy Conference, Sept 1993. [2] C.H. Phua and R. Oruganti, "Family of Two-switch Soft-switched Asymmetrical PWM DC/DC Converters", Proceedings of the IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference, June 1994. [3] Y.T. Cham and R. Oruganti, "A Novel PFC Scheme for AC to DC Converter with Reduced Losses", Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Sept. 1994. ANALYSIS & DESIGN OF POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Contact: Dr. Yung C. Liang (more)
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MOS-controlled Bipolar Devices MOS-controlled bipolar power devices combine MOS and bipolar technology into monolithic structure to tap the best features from both classes of devices. The bipolar part renders high conduction current capabilities at low forward voltage while the MOSFET component makes it possible to implement voltage control with minimum gate drive requirements. In this project, three types of MOS-controlled bipolar devices, namely the Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), the Emitter-Switched Thyristor (EST) and the N-channel MOS-controlled Thyristor (NMCT), are analysed. Certain features unique to each device are highlighted. By keeping their internal parameters as similar as possible, a comparison of their performances was also made during the study. Gate Turn-off Thyristor The maximum controllable anode current is influenced by the current crowding phenomenon observed in GTO thyristors during turn-off. This phenomenon initiates (1) the formation of the current filament with a density much higher than its surrounding and leads to the localised thermal instability; and (2) the conductivity modulation at the conduction channel causing a non-uniform electric field distribution within the depletion layer and resulting an early punchthrough breakdown. In this project, the failure mechanism is discussed. Internal parameters are optimised qualitatively through detailed two-dimensional device simulations to minimise the current crowding and, at the same time, to maintain a low forward voltage drop and short turn-off time for a GTO model-cell. It is found that, a lower localised thermal stress and a more uniform electric field distribution can be obtained.
Vectors of current flow in a MOS-controlled bipolar device Synchronous Rectifier Synchronous rectifiers used in high frequency, low output voltage applications are power MOSFETs specially designed to replace the usual output Schottky diodes in order to reduce converter losses. This project deals with the analysis and design optimisati on of a synchronous rectifier suitable for applications of 1 to 10 MHz switching-mode power supplies. Three different MOSFET structures were studied and evaluated through detailed 2-dimensional device simulations. The internal parameters are optimised aga inst three major
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performance factors, namely (1) the recovery time of the body diode, (2) the product of on-state resistance and input capacitance, i.e. the loss factor and (3) the breakdown voltage of the body diode. Based on the evaluation, the UMOS str ucture produces the lowest RC loss factor and the shortest body diode reverse recovery. The final design optimisation of the UMOS was then carried out and an optimised device is presented as the final design. FUZZY CONTROL BY USING FUZZY PROCESSORS Contact: Dr. Yung C. Liang and A/P C.S. Chang Collaborators: Dr. S. K. Panda , Dr. S. H. Tan A 12-bit fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has been successfully developed by using the OMRON FP-3000 fuzzy processors running at 20 MHz. The controller developed was interfaced to a microcomputer with man-machine software developed. The justification process for fuzzy rules is currently being developed for both the SISO and MIMO system control. Controllers of higher proformance by using Togai fuzzy chips is also under implementation.
Fuzzy logic controller and man-machine interface ADAPTIVE HARMONIC AND REACTIVE POWER COMPENSATION Contact: Dr. Lock Kai Sang and A/P A.C. Liew Research Personnel: Kang Liat Chuan Harmonics produced by electronically controlled loads have caused serious problems of concern to both the supply authority and the consumers. Some of these problems include excessive voltages and currents in the supply network due to resonance, damage to power factor correction capacitors, errors in metering, overheating of motors and switchboard, interference with ripple control and other electronic equipment. Conventionally, tuned L-C filters are installed to reduce the harmonics and to increase the power factor. These passive filters are unable to adapt to changing load conditions as each tune filter is tuned to a particular
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harmonic frequency. Optimum filters can be achieved by employing a combination of passive and active filters. The passive filter will provide the "base" in removing the harmonics whilst the active filter plays the role in improving the overall filtering characteristic s. Both the filters can also be employed to provide reactive compensation in addition to harmonic compensation. The optimum combination of active and passive filters thus provides an effective and economical solution to harmonic problems. The compensator shows excellent response both during steady state and transient state. A prototype compensator has been constructed and it confirms the feasibility of the proposed compensator. Other studies on harmonics reflect to the levels put out by various types of equipment, their identification and its correlation with the requirements of the various standards. HIGH PERFORMANCE ELECTRIC DRIVES FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Contact: Dr. S. K. Panda Collaborators: Dr. Yung C. Liang and Dr. Lock Kai Sang Research Personnel: H. Q. Yang , S. Rajaram Variable speed drives play an important role in modern industries either to conserve energy or to improve quality as well as quantity of the end product by using motion control in factory automation. Traditionally, conventional proportional--integral (PI) or proportional--integral--derivative (PID) controllers are used for controlling speed and torque of electric motors. These linear controllers operate reliably so long as the operating point does not deviate too much from the desired operating range or large parameter variations do not take place. However, they fail to operate optimally if the operating point varies over a wide range. In variable speed drives the operating speed and torque could vary from 0 -- 100%. Therefore, it becomes difficult to ge t high dynamic performance from the drive system using linear PI or PID controllers. In recent years, due to the development in modern control theory, a couple of nonlinear control techniques have emerged to tackle the problems of parameter insensitivity, robustness to torque disturbances and providing high dynamic performance under varyi ng operating conditions. A few of those are: adaptive control, variable structure system with sliding mode control, feedback linearizing control and fuzzy logic with neural networks. The aim of this research work is to investigate the possibilities of ex tending some of the abovementioned nonlinear control techniques to permanent--magnet brushless dc and switched reluctance motor drives for high performance servo applications. In this research work emphasis will be given to develop an experimental platfo rm for both type of motor drive system so that the performance of different types of nonlinear control algorithms can be tested for real--time applications. The variable structure control and feedback linearization controllers have been designed and simulated for SR motor drive system. For closed-loop control of the electric drive system it is necessary to measure certain parameters of the system such as: position, speed, current, flux or torque and feed back to the controller to take necessary corrective control actions. The use of direct sensors leads to several disadvantages such as : increase in the drive system cost; increase in the size of the system; reliability problems arise in certain type of industrial environment; mechanical alignment problems arise in the plac ement of position sensors and so on. In order to overcome some of the abovementioned drawbacks, the physical parameter of Indirect rotor position sensing in VR stepper motors
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interest is indirectly sensed from the measurement and further processing of motor terminal parameters such as: phase voltage and current. In this research the waveform detection technique is used to monitor rise and fall times of the phase current waveform to extract rotor position information of the Variable or Switched Reluctance motor. Both current rise and fall times of the active phase as well as inactive phase can be used to monitor the position information. However, from the mathematical analysis as well as experimental verification it has been found that fall time of the diagnostic current in the inactive phase provides reliable pos ition information and hence is recommended. Figure 1 shows an experimental set-up of such a scheme.
Figure 1. Indirect rotor position sensing in VR stepping motors DESIGN OF SHIELDING SYSTEMS Contact: S. R. H. Hoole, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711 Sponsorship: Southern California Edison Co. The design of effective shielding systems is important. This is especially so as high-speed computers are developed. Even in power devices, shielding systems are important because of the large currents involved and the increasing use of high-frequency pow er supplies. Traditional approaches to the design of shielding systems involve repeated analysis. Following each analysis, the results are checked with the desired performance, and then the parameters of the devices geometry as well as permeability and conductivity of the shield are modified by the expert designer so as to make the electromagnetic fields fall below the maximum acceptable threshold. This procedure for modifying the
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descriptive parameters of the shield is expensive and requires an expert. This project develops new methodologies in shield design where shape-optimisation techniques from civil engineering are used with mathematical optimisation methods to yield an accurate, efficient and automatic design process that does not rely on an exper t. The new optimisation process is iterative and relies upon finite element analysis to evaluate the "performance" of the shield at each stage of the design cycle, the "performance" being whether the electromagnetic fields in the zone to be shielded are acce ptably low. The design problem is posed as a problem of constrained mathematical optimisation where the volume of the shield has to be minimised subject to the constraint that the electromagnetic fields must fall below prescribed limits in the shielded re gion and that dimensions must be within certain tolerances. The method investigates the use of the derivatives of the electromagnetic fields (which are intrinsic to finite element solutions), in employing fast and efficient optimisation strategies. The project further investigates how this method can be combined with other disciplines such as artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic to bring about first an approximate design which may then be refined by the accurate process described above, thereb y reducing the cost of design. A QRC CONTROLLER FOR DISK DRIVE SPINDLE MOTORS Contact: Dr. M. A. Jabbar The proliferation of portable computers, like lap tops, note books and palm tops have brought great changes in disk drives as well. The area where the greatest change is demanded is the disk drive power management. This is mainly because all the portables are battery-powered systems, and dry cells do not last very long in computers. The disk drive spindle motor is a brushless d.c. system, which operate on a fixed supply voltage. The control at start and run conditions are through linear mode operation of the inverter system. This is wasteful of energy. A PWM technique on the supply s ide with fully switch-mode operation of the inverter system will improve the situation, but still incur switching losses at the PWM stage. This new invention is based on a Quasi-Resonant Converter. The switching can be achieved at either zero current or zero voltage, thus eliminating virtually all the switching losses in the system. A switching frequency of 1 MHz, has be en used, thus reducing the component size, cost and weight.
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