magnetics—or on capacitors, for that matter.

This book is pure power electronics. It is

about devices and circuits: not motors; not
controls; nor is it an application guide. It could
perhaps benefit from a chapter on power
electronic CAD and control techniques
(including stability and dynamics); perhaps one
on EMI and RFI. But as a working text for
student, professor, and practising engineer it is
Ferranti VoCul
unique and very timely. The selective
bibliography has most of the good references.
Voltage ^Current
There are barely enough problems for a
textbook, but it has to be said that the
Logger for
exposition is clear enough to relieve the need
for a heavy diet of numbers. Teachers will have medium voltage
no difficulty finding device data to light up the
formulas, and on the whole they will get useful distribution
answers.
What text are you using in your power systems.
electronics course?
VoCul continuously monitors four
T. J. E. MILLER analogue values, e.g. three phase currents and
neutral. Recordings are initiated whenever any
Power electronics and AC drives monitored value deviates outside preset limits.
B. K. Bose Maximum, average and minimum values
Prentice-Hall of fault current or voltage are calculated and
1986,402 pp. £44.90 stored. Also recorded are fault duration and
Dr. Bose takes for his main theme recent major time and date.
advances in the control of AC drives but, in Interface is via CT or VT arrangements to
order to set the context, he begins with a ensure no degradation of primary circuits.
concise review of power-electronic switching VoCul is dedicated to voltage or current
devices, steady state and dynamic circuit monitoring by internal switch setting and
models for AC motors, and a brief treatment of choice of VT or CT interface. It is designed to
line-corn mutated convertors. operate from pre-specif led voltages of 50/60 Hz
The principles of voltage-fed and current-fed at 230/115 V a.c. or 220/110/48/24 V dx. and is
inverters are covered in some depth, including battery supported to continue monitoring
thyristor commutation, waveform during a mains failure.
improvement and PWM strategies. An example An external printer powered from VoCul
of the circuit simulation of an inverter with its is available. Alternatively, data may be
AC motor load and DC side filter is given to transmitted to a telecontrol system via a
illustrate dynamic operation. standard link.
A short section on slip recovery drives
includes mention of variable-speed constant- Ferranti Instrumentation Limited
frequency systems for alternative-energy Commercial Instruments
schemes such as wind generators, or for Moston Manchester M10 0BE
aircraft supplies. Tel: 061-6812071 Telex: 667857
The main chapters are devoted to modern
control methods for induction and
synchronous machines, beginning with the
control of scalar quantities such as current
magnitude, speed and torque. A stimulating
and comprehensive description then follows of
vector control (of magnitude and angular
position of flux and MMF waves) and other
methods made possible by the advent of
microcomputers, such as adaptive control.
The book concludes by comparing various
microcomputers (concentrating mainly on the
Intel range), and discusses typical applications
to control, monitoring and diagnostics, the
inherent deficiencies of digital systems for fast
real-time signal processing, and some practical
techniques for making most effective use of
microprocessors and other digital hardware.
Although some areas of power electronics
are necessarily covered only briefly, this is an
excellent book for the engineer wishing to
deepen his understanding of the theory and
practice of modern AC motor control.
B. L JONES Encircle 004
POWER ENGINEERING JOURNAL MAY 1987 125