Electrical Power Engineering 3

Power Electronics
Dr Ewen Macpherson
Dr Sasa Djokic
Dr Markus Mueller
Electrical Power Engineering 3
Power Systems
14 lectures
Power Electronics
10 lectures
Powerway
lab exercise, 2 mornings
Castaway
power system design exercise, weeks 6-11
Electrical Power Engineering 3
Assessment:
60% Exam (Power Systems, Power Electronics)
15% Powerway
25% Castaway


Electrical Power Engineering 3
Powerway:
Starts week 2
2 mornings total
Groups of 8-12
Work in pairs
Check when you are due to attend!
Prepare Beforehand
Electrical Power Engineering 3
Castaway:
Design power system expansion in Sri Lanka
Starts week 6
Groups of 5 (approx.)
Power System simulation (Powerworld)
Costings required
Presentation week 11
Power Electronics
Dr Ewen Macpherson
Lectures
Monday 2-3 (every week)
Examples Class
Friday 2-3 (every 3
rd
week)
Tutorials
Wednesday 12-1 (weeks 4/5 and 9/10)
Power Electronics
Recommended Text:

Power Electronics: Converters,
Applications & Design

Mohan, Undeland & Robbins (Wiley)
(also used for Power Electronics 4)
Power Electronics uses Semiconductor
Devices to process power (1W to
10,000MW)
Devices
Diode p-n 8,000A, 6,500V
Bipolar transistor n-p-n (rarely used)
Thyristor p-n-p-n 7,000A, 12,000V
Triac 150A, 1,500V
Power MOSFET 100A, 1,200V
IGBT (insulated gate bipolar
transistor)
2,400A, 6,500V
GTO (gate turn off thyristor) 4,000A, 6,500V
Circuits
Rectifier converts ac dc
Inverter converts dc ac
(dc) chopper converts dc dc
ac controller converts ac ac

General term for all: Converter
Applications
Motor Speed Control:
Rectifier
Control
Circuit
E
I
a
R
a
I
f
V
dc
3-
phase
ac
Speed controlled by varying V
dc

Applications
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS):
For critical loads where a mains failure is
unacceptable
Computers
Safety systems (oil rigs)
Emergency lighting (hospitals, cinemas)

Applications
Uninterruptible Power Supplies:

Rectifier Inverter
Load
ac dc ac
Applications
High Voltage DC Power Transmission (HVDC):


AC normally used, except:
bulk power transmission, long distances
submarine cables
2000 MW cross-channel link, France-UK
500 MW Scotland-Ireland link

Applications
High Voltage DC Power Transmission (HVDC):


Rectifier
Inverter
+
-
3 phase
ac
3 phase
ac
UK
FRANCE
Applications
Electronic Power Supplies:
All electronic equipment needs a power supply


Power
Supply
+24 V dc
+12 V dc
+5 V dc
0
- 12 V dc
230 V
50 Hz
Worldwide market: $20 billion?
Thyristor
SCR Silicon Controlled Rectifier
4 layer (p-n-p-n) device
Switched on by applying gate pulse
Stays on when gate signal removed, if current
flowing through it
Like a diode, current only flows in one direction
Thyristor
Reverse
Breakdown
Voltage
Forward
Breakover
Voltage
Reverse
Leakage
Current
Latching
Current
Holding
Current
ON
OFF
I
Reverse bias
blocking
reverse breakdown voltage exceeded - dies!

Thyristor
Reverse
Breakdown
Voltage
Forward
Breakover
Voltage
Reverse
Leakage
Current
Latching
Current
Holding
Current
ON
OFF
I
Forward bias
blocking
forward breakover voltage exceeded turns on

Thyristor
Reverse
Breakdown
Voltage
Forward
Breakover
Voltage
Reverse
Leakage
Current
Latching
Current
Holding
Current
ON
OFF
I
Forward bias gate pulse applied
turns on
stays on

Thyristor Example Circuit
Control
Circuit
V
I
I
G
R
A
C
G
Short gate pulse (3V, 20us, 50mA to 1A)
turns on
Gate pulse removed
stays on if current > holding current

Thyristor
Control
Circuit
V
I
I
G
R
A
C
G
Serious problem:
Not easily switched off
Only switches off when current through it goes to
zero (or drops below holding current)
Power MOSFET
Voltage controlled device
Remove gate drive to turn off
Very low gate current
Very high speed (up to 10MHz)
Up to 100A, 1,200V

Gate Turn Off Thyristor (GTO)
Current controlled device
Turned off by negative gate pulse
Very high gain at turn-on
Low gain at turn-off (typically 4)
Low frequency (up to 3 kHz)
Up to 6.5kV, 4kA

Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor
(IGBT)
Combines high gate impedance of MOSFET with
high current capability of BJT
Medium frequency (up to 100 kHz)
Up to 2.4 kA, 6.5 kV