Power Electronics: Sample Questions

1. Explain the reverse recovery time and charge of a power diode. + Math similar to example in class.
2. Compare the performance of BJT with MOSFET.
3. With neat drawing, describe the construction of SCR. Draw the I-V characteristics of SCR and
explain its different operating modes.
4. Draw the two-transistor model of an SCR and find the expression of anode current terms of the
parameters of the transistors.
5. Briefly describe the different methods of SCR triggering and commutation.
6. With neat drawing, describe the construction and operation of IGBT.
7. Compare the performance of IGBT with MOSFET.
8. With neat drawing, describe the construction and working of GTO.
9. Describe the working of a TRIAC.
10. Compare the performance among half-wave, full-wave and 3-phase rectifiers.
11. Draw circuit diagram of a half /full-wave single- / three-phase controlled rectifier and draw the
wave shapes of output voltage and current for R / R-L load with sinusoidal input.
12. Design a half- / full-wave AC to DC single-phase converter circuit to produce an average output
voltage of 10 V across a 50 Ω resistor from a source of 200 V. Also, determine the power
absorbed by the resistor.

13. With necessary diagrams and equations, explain how an appropriate chopper performs step-down
/ step-up operation.
14. Derive the expressions of average and rms values of output voltage of step-down / step-up
chopper.
15. Describe constant and variable frequency operation of chopper control. Describe how duty cycle
is generated by saw-tooth and sinusoidal modulating signal and compare their performance.
16. With neat diagrams and mathematical equations, describe the working of a buck / boost / buck-
boost / Cuk converter.
17. Math similar to examples 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7
18. With necessary diagrams and equations, describe the operations of single-phase half-bridge and
full-bridge inverters. Briefly describe the internal and external control of inverters.
19. With necessary diagrams and equations, describe the operation of different types of single phase
PWM inverters. Compare multiple-pulse and sinusoidal pulse modulation schemes with single
phase PWM scheme.
20. Draw circuit diagrams of different modes of three phase VSI and draw the output wave shapes of
line and phase voltages.
21. Describe different control schemes of AC regulators and derive the expressions of average and
effective values of output voltages.
22. Describe the purpose and with neat diagrams, the working of cycloconverters.
23. Draw the block diagram of a HVDC converter station and briefly describe the function of each
component. Define LCC and VSC and compare their performance.
24. Define FACTS and write its necessity and benefits. With neat diagrams, briefly describe
different types of FACTS controllers. Describe SVC and STATCOM and compare their
performance.
25. Write the necessity of power supply and briefly describe different types of SMPS and UPS.
___________________________________ ___________________________________