SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ECCE4467/MCTE 4210
Power Electronics and Drives
Unit#1
Introduction to power electronics
Slides Prepared by: Dr. Rashid Al-Abri
Modified and Presented by: Dr. Khaled Alawasa

These Slides are Based On (Prof. Mohamed El-Sharkawi, Prof. Adel Gastli, Muhammed Rashid, and Mohan).

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 INTRODUCTION TO POWER ELECTRONICS
(PES)
Introduction
Definition
Growth & Contemporary Issues
Multidisciplinary Aspect
PEs Application

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 COURSE LAYOUT/PILLARS

Power
• Types Converters • Customers
• Characteristics • Classifications • Renewable Res.
• Operation • Modeling • Utility
• Operation
Power Electronics • Analysis
Devices Applications

Device level System level

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 DEFINITION OF POWER ELECTRONICS (PE)
1) PE refers to the control and conversion of
electrical power from one form to another
one by means of power semiconductor
devices wherein these devices operate as
switches.
2) PE is used to process and control the flow of
electric power by supplying voltages and
currents in a form that is optimally suited for
application loads.

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 DEFINITION OF POWER ELECTRONICS (PE)

Power Electronics Devices

Thyristor IGCT

(As a Switch /Gate /door)

IGBT MOSFET

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 DEFINITION OF POWER ELECTRONICS (PE)
Power Electronics Devices
(Switching Devices)

Thyristor IGCT

(AC, DC) (AC, DC)

IGBT MOSFET

•Electronics
•Power
•Control

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 PES ADVANTAGES
 Easy and flexibility in operation due to digital controls.
 Faster dynamic response compared to the electro
mechanical converters.
 Lower acoustic noise when compared to electro
magnetic controllers, relays and contactors.
 High efficiency due to low losses in the PE devices.
 Long life and reduced/minimal maintenance due to the
absence of mechanical wear.
 Control equipments using Thyristors are compact in
size
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 POWER ELECTRONICS GROWTH
PE rapid growth is mainly due to:
– Advances in power semiconductor switches.
– Advances in microelectronics including
microprocessors and microcontrollers.
– New control algorithms.
– Demand for new applications driven by
current and contemporary issues.

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 CURRENT/CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
1. Energy Scenario
– Need to reduce dependence on fossil fuel
• Coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power resource.
• Depletion of these sources is expected.
– Tap renewable energy resources:
• Solar, wind, fuel-cell, ocean-wave
– Energy Efficiency and saving by PE applications.
Examples:
• Variable speed compressor air-conditioning system: 30%
savings compared to thermostat-controlled system.
• Lighting using electronics ballast boost efficiency of
fluorescent lamp by 20%.

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 CURRENT/CONTEMPORARY ISSUES (CONT’D)
2. Environmental issues
– Nuclear safety.
• Nuclear plants remain radioactive for thousands of years.
– Burning of fossil fuel
• Emits gases such as CO2, CO (oil burning), SO2, NOX (coal
burning) etc.
• Creates global warming (greenhouse effect), acid rain and
urban pollution from smokes.
– Possible Solutions by application of PE. Examples:
• Renewable energy resources.
• Centralization of power stations to remote non-urban area.
(mitigation).
• Electric vehicles.

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 PES DISADVANTAGES (1)
 Generate non-sinusoidal signal (unwanted harmonics).
– Harmonics are injected into power supply lines affecting the
performance of other loads and equipments.
– Unwanted interference with communication circuits due to
electromagnetic radiation.

INVERTER OUTPUT VOLTAGE

Vdc

-Vdc
 
non-sinusoidal signals

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 PES DISADVANTAGES (1)…
 Harmonics generation .

io
non-sinusoidal
output current

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 PES DISADVANTAGES (2)
Special protection circuits must be used to
protect the PE devices.

– Overheat Protection (Heat Sink)

– Overvoltage Protection (Snubber circuit)

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 PE: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF R&D
Digital/analogue electronics
Power and energy
Microelectronics
Control system
Computer, simulation and software
Solid-state physics and devices
Packaging
Heat transfer

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 HISTORY OF POWER SWITCHING DEVICES
DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE OF POWER SEMICONDUCTORS

IEGT (Injection Enhanced

Gate Transistor)

HV-IGBT (High (Medium) Voltage-

Transistor Devices

Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) 2005

SGCT (Symmetrical Gate

LV-IGBT (Low Voltage-Insulated 1995 Commutated Thyristor)
Gate Bipolar Transistor)

Thyristor Devices
1985 IGCT (Integrated Gate
BPT (Bipolar Power
Commutated Thyristor)
Transistor)
1975

GTO (Gate Turn Off

1965 Thyristor)

1955
SCR (Silicon Controlled
D (Diode) Rectifier)

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 POWER DEVICE CAPABILITIES & RESULTING
POWER ELECTRONIC STRUCTURES

• Switching speeds
• power ratings

Source: https://www.iue.tuwien.ac.at/phd/park/node14.html

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 CLASSIFICATION OF CONVERTERS
A. AC input/ DC output (Rectifiers)
B. DC input/ AC output (Inverters)
C. DC input/ DC output (Choppers)
D. AC input/AC output ( Cyclo-converter / matrix
converter)
A
D C
B
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 AC INPUT/DC OUTPUT (RECTIFIERS)
The ac-dc converter produces a dc output from an ac input.
Average power is transferred from an ac source to a dc load.
The ac-dc converter is specifically classified as a rectifier. For
example, an ac-dc converter enables integrated circuits to
operate from a 60-Hz ac line voltage by converting the ac
signal to a dc signal of the appropriate voltage.

DC
Time

Time
AC
1, 2  or 3  Constant or Variable V
Converter

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 DC INPUT/DC OUTPUT (CHOPPERS)
The dc-dc converter is useful when a load requires a
specified (often regulated) dc voltage or current but the
source is at a different or unregulated dc value. For example,
5 V may be obtained from a 12-V source via a dc-dc
converter.

DC

Time Time
DC
Clean or distorted Constant or Variable V
Converter

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 DC INPUT/AC OUTPUT (INVERTERS)
The dc-ac converter is specifically classified as an
inverter. In the inverter, average power flows from the dc
side to the ac side. Examples of inverter applications
include producing a 120-V rms 60-Hz voltage from a 12-V
battery and interfacing an alternative energy source such
as an array of solar cells to an electric utility.

AC
Time

Time
DC
Clean or distorted Variable V and f
Converter 1, 2  or 3 

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 AC INPUT/AC OUTPUT

The ac-ac converter may be used to change the level and/or

frequency of an ac signal. Examples include a common light-
dimmer circuit and speed control of an induction motor.

AC
Time Time

AC
Clean or distorted Constant or Variable V and f
1, 2  or 3 
Converter 1, 2  or 3 

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 POWER SOURCES & CONVERTERS UNINTERRUPTABLE POWER SUPPLY (UPS)

Iin Idc1 Idc2 Iout

DC IB AC
Source Load
AC DC
Normal dc link
Operation (Battery)

IB Iout

DC IB AC
Load
AC DC
Power Source dc link
Failure (Battery)

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 (V, I, Speed, Toque, Flux, Temperature, Pressure, …) SENSORS &
CONTROLLERS
Sensors

Controller Power Source &

(Analog/Digital) Converter

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 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Space

Ground

Sea

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 Scope and Applications

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 Variable Speed/Frequency Drives
Applications (VFDs)
• Application Areas

Mining / cement Petrochemical Metals Paper / pulp

Marine Oil / gas Power generation Water / waste water

Source: Robicon
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 APPLICATIONS: SPACE
Mars rover Space Station
Satellite

Airplane actuation systems

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 APPLICATIONS: SEA
Boats

Ships

Submarines

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND
Electric Vehicles

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND
Elevators Escalators Chairlifts

Belt Conveyors Toboggans

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND

Robotics

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND

Oil Industry: Gas Compressors

Oil Industry: Fluid pumps

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND

Household
Appliances

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 APPLICATIONS: GROUND
Hard-disk drive Printers Plotters

CD/DVD Players Tape Player

Scanners

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 APPLICATIONS: UNDERGROUND
Oil Industry: Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP)

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 APPLICATIONS: UNDERGROUND

Mining

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 Variable Speed Drive Applications
• High Speed Train

Rectifier: Single-phase three-level diode clamped

Inverter: Three-phase three-level diode clamped
Ratings: 1.1MW, 1850V Source: Fuji Electric
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 Variable Speed Drive Applications
Canada
• Megawatt Drive for Pipeline Pumps

Trans Mountain
Pipeline

Length: 1,150 km
Pipe Size: 24” and 30”
Capacity: 225,000 bpd
Pump stations: 10

USA
Source: Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.

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 Variable Speed Drive Applications
• Megawatt Drive for oil/gas pipeline Pumps in Oman

https://www.pdo.co.om/hseforcontractors/Environment/Documents/EIA%20Repo
rts/Infrastructure%20Asset.pdf
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 POWER ELECTRONICS FOR RENEWABLE
ENERGY SYSTEMS: WIND ENERGY

Variable frequency
50/60 Hz

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 APPLICATIONS OF PES IN WIND ENERGY
SYSTEMS
The application of Power electronics has dramatically
increased in wind turbine: from “0” in 1980s to 100% in 2005 and afterwards

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 APPLICATIONS OF PES IN WIND ENERGY
SYSTEMS
Wind Turbines are classified into four types: Type A, Type B, Type C and
Type D. Type A and Type B are obsolete. (Type C&D) are shown below.

 Variable Speed Wind Turbine with partial-scale power converter (Type C)

DFIG

 Variable Speed Wind Turbine with Full-scale Power Converter (Type D)

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 POWER ELECTRONICS FOR RENEWABLE
PHOTOVOLTAICS (PVS)
DC AC

Isolated
PWM
DC-DC
Converter
Converter
DC/AC

Utility
Max. Power-
point Tracker

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Power Electronics and
Interface 43
 SUMMARY
 Power electronics circuits convert electric power from one
form to another using electronic devices.
 Power electronics circuits function by using semiconductor
devices as switches, thereby controlling or modifying a
voltage or current.
 Applications of power electronics range from high-power
conversion equipment such as dc power transmission to
everyday appliances, such as cordless screwdrivers,
power supplies for computers, cell phone chargers, and hybrid
automobiles.

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 SUMMARY
Power electronics includes applications in which
circuits process milliwatts or megawatts.
Typical applications of power electronics include
conversion of ac to dc, conversion of dc to ac,
conversion of an unregulated dc voltage to a
regulated dc voltage, and conversion of an ac
power source from one amplitude and frequency
to another amplitude and frequency.

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 SUMMARY
 The design of power conversion equipment includes many
disciplines from electrical engineering.

 Power electronics includes applications of circuit theory,

control theory, electronics, electromagnetics,
microprocessors (for control), and heat transfer.

 Advances in semiconductor switching capability combined

with the desire to improve the efficiency and performance
of electrical devices have made power electronics an
important and fast-growing area in electrical engineering.

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 PE SOFTWARE
 PSIM Demo version
 PSCAD Free student version
 MATLAB Simulink
 DIgSILENT ( Power factory) https://www.digsilent.de/en/de
mo-request-31.html

https://powersimtech.com/try-psim/

https://www.pscad.com/s
oftware/pscad/free-
edition

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