ECE 59500 - Power Converters for AC Systems
Course Details
Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3
Counts as:
- EE Elective
- CMPE Selective - Special Content
Experimental Course Offered:
Spring 2025
Campus/Online:
On-campus only
Requisites:
ECE 31033
Requisites by Topic:
Power electronics
Catalog Description:
The course introduces students to advanced power electronics converters dealing with ac voltage. The power electronics topologies considered in this course are sorted into two groups: multilevel configurations and back-to-back converters. The multilevel configurations presented are a) neutral-point-clamped, b) cascade, c) flying capacitor, and d) non-conventional multilevel configurations. The back-to-back converters presented are a) three-phase to three- phase, b) single-phase to three-phase, c) single-phase to single-phase ac-dc-ac converters. A new methodology will be employed to present comprehensively multilevel and back-to-back converters topologies. The main applications of those converters are in renewable energy systems, active power filters, energy efficiency devices and motor drive systems. Furthermore, this course introduces a new method to present power electronics converters called Power Blocks Geometry (PBG). Such methods focus on how the main power converters were conceived by following a simple yet effective teaching process. Furthermore, this course offers a comprehensive set of simulation results to help understand the circuits presented as well as applications for those converters.
Required Text(s):
- Advanced Power Electronics Converters: PWM Converters Processing AC Voltage , E. C. dos Santos, E. R. da Silva , Wiley-IEEE Press , 2014 , ISBN No. 9781118880944
Recommended Text(s):
- A Hundred Solved Problems in Power Electronics , 1 Edition , E. C. dos Santos, G. A. Carlos , CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform , 2015 , ISBN No. 508450137
Learning Outcomes:
- an understanding of the primary metrics utilized for comparing power electronics converters. [1]
- an ability to analyze/design power converters capable to generate an output voltage with reduced THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) . [1]
- an understanding how different topologies of converters were conceived . [1]
- an ability to design optimized PWM and linear control strategies for multi-level and ac-dc-ac converters . [1]
- an ability to design/specify control strategies that guarantee power factor correction, dc-link voltage, and output control in back-to-back converters. [1]
- an understanding on how the overall losses of power converters can be estimated and minimized. [1]
- an ability to develop analytical models for both multilevel and back-to-back configurations . [1]
- an ability to specify passive components (inductor and capacitor) and heat sink for a given topology. [1]
- an understanding on how to apply a specific topology of converter that aligns with the requirements of a particular application . [1]
- an understanding of how to design power converters that connect renewable energy systems to the traditional grid that will contribute to decrease carbon emissions. [2]
- an understanding how power processing units connected to AC systems can be used as an active filter, and improve power quality, leading to positive economic outcomes . [2]
- an ability to convey information effectively in both written and oral formats (final project), along with the ability to explain the fundamental concepts of multilevel and back-to-back converters . [3]
- an ability to work in teams for component selection, design, circuit simulation, and define control strategies for multilevel and back-to-back power electronic converters. [4]
- an ability to use simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, PSIM) to model and analyze power electronic circuits and compare simulation results of different topologies of converters processing AC voltages. [6]
- an understanding of how the waveforms can be used to determine device switching characteristics, power losses, and efficiency. [6]
- an ability to calculate key performance metrics via simulation, which includes efficiency, power factor, and harmonic distortion. [6]
- an ability to apply the learned materials regarding Power Block Geometry to propose other configurations of power converters used in AC systems. [7]
Assessment Method:
Homework, exams. (11/2024)