EEE472/591 - Power Electronics and Power Management

Fall 2018

Solutions to Homework 1

Problem 1 (20 points):

ASU has solar panels on most buildings and parking structures. Multiple power electronic
converters interface the solar panels to the ASU ac power distribution system. The role of the
power converter or solar PV inverter is to condition the power from PV panels and convert the dc
input to ac output at 60 Hz and inject power to the grid typically at unity power factor. The PV
panel voltage (from series connection of several panels) is in the range of 400 V to 900 V DC and
the inverter output is typically at 480 V, three-phase, which is then stepped up to the distribution
voltage of 15 kV by a transformer.

Problem 2 (25 points):

Consider the waveform of some quantity x(t) vs. time shown in Fig. 1 in the context of a switch
mode dc-dc power converter. The unit of x(t) is V or A or W corresponding to the different
questions below.

x (t )
6
4

0 t
3µ s 10 µ s 13µ s 20µ s
Fig. 1

(a) The waveform x ( t ) can be that of the current through a 100µH inductor in steady state. The
corresponding voltage across the same inductor can be calculated using the rising and falling
slopes as shown below.

Rising interval:
di 2
vL L= 100 µ= 66.67 V
=
dt 3µ

Falling interval:
vL = L
di
= 100 µ
( −2 ) = − 28.57 V
dt 7µ
 v L (t )
66.67 V
vL = 0

0 3 20
t (µ s )
10 13
− 28.57 V

(b) The waveform x ( t ) cannot be the voltage across an inductor in steady-state since its cycle-
by-cycle average value ( x ) is not zero, whereas steady-state requires vL to be zero.

(c) The waveform x ( t ) cannot be the current through a capacitor in steady-state since its cycle-
by-cycle average value ( x ) is not zero, whereas steady-state requires iC to be zero.

(d) The waveform x ( t ) can be that of the voltage across a 100µFcapacitor in steady state. The
corresponding current through the same capacitor can be calculated using the rising and falling
slopes as shown below.

Rising interval:
dv 2
iC C= 100 µ= 66.67 A
=
dt 3µ

Falling interval:
iC = C
dv
= 100 µ
( −2 ) = − 28.57 A
dt 7µ

iC ( t )
66.67 A
iC = 0

0 3 20
t (µs)
10 13
−28.57 A

(e) The waveform x ( t ) cannot be the power absorbed or sourced by either a capacitor or an
inductor in steady state, since a constant power absorbed (or sourced) by a capacitor or inductor
will result in the energy in the capacitor or inductor, and therefore the capacitor voltage or inductor
current, to rise (or fall) indefinitely.
Problem 3 (25 points):

+ + +
+

(a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) When the switch is turned off, there is no path for the inductor current. Inductor current
can’t be discontinuous; hence the circuit is not valid. If the circuit is constructed
practically, a very large voltage will result at the instant of turn-off, destroying the switch.
(b) Turning on the switch results in short circuiting the dc voltage source, through the diode
and switch. Hence, not a valid circuit. A diode across an ideal inductor also is not
suitable for steady state operation.
(c) The diode and switch provide a continuous path for the inductor current. However, the
diode across the inductor results in unipolar voltage being applied across the inductor, i.e.,
the voltage is positive when switch is ON but never negative. Hence, volt-second balance
across the inductor is violated and the circuit will not reach steady state. The current will
keep rising indefinitely. (Note that when the series resistance of a real, non-ideal inductor
or the forward voltage drop of a non-ideal diode is considered the inductor voltage can
have a negative component and the circuit can reach steady state.)
(d) The diode in series with the capacitor makes the capacitor current unidirectional. Current-
second balance for capacitor is violated and the circuit will not reach steady state. The
capacitor voltage will keep rising.
Problem 4 (25 points):

iin vo vo =
5 × 0.66 =
3.3V
5V

0
iin iin =
20 × 0.66 =13.2 A
20 A
Vin io
0
pin pin =100 × 0.66 =66 W
5V d = 0.66 + 100 W
f = 200 kHz
20 A vo 0
- po po =100 × 0.66 =66 W
100 W
pin (=
t ) 5V × iin ( t )
0 t
( t ) 20 A × vo ( t )
po= 3.3 µ s
5 µs
Problem 5 (25 points):

+
200  F
(c)
Net iL 20V iL  ?
work 5
- (CCA value of iL)

(a) In the circuit of part (a), the inductor current (same as the source) is switching. So, di/dt and
voltage across the inductor will be very large (infinite). The circuit is not valid.

(b) The circuit of part (b) is valid and results in steady state. The CCA value of inductor voltage
is zero, hence the output voltage is same as the average value of the source (CCA KVL).

100 × 3 − 100 × 2
Vo1 = v s = = 20V
5

(c) The circuit is valid since none of the steady-state principles is violated. Applying CCA KCL
at top (load) node,

iC1 − iL − iC2 − iR =0

20
In steady-state, iC = 0 . Therefore, iL =− iR =− =−4A
5