Power Electronics Lecture Slides

Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and

Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 1

 Definition and concepts
Application
Power semiconductor switches
Gate/base drivers
Losses
Snubbers

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 2

 A field of Electrical Engineering that deals with the
application of power semiconductor devices for the
control and conversion of electric power.

Power electronics relates to the control and flow of

electrical energy
Control is done using electronic switches, capacitors,
magnetics, and control systems
Scope of power electronics: milliWatts gigaWatts
Power electronics is a growing field due to the
improvement in switching technologies and the need
for more and more efficient switching circuits

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 3

 DEFINITION:
To convert, i.e to process and control the flow of electric power by supplying voltages and currents
in a form that is optimally suited for user loads.

Basic block diagram

POWER
OUTPUT
POWER vi , i i Power vo , i o
INPUT
Processor
Source Load

Controller measurement
reference

Building Blocks:
(A) Input Power, Output Power (DC/AC Power)
(B) Power Processor & (C) Controller ( i.e., DC/AC Voltage Controller)

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 4

 To convert electrical energy from one form to another, i.e. from the source to load with:

highest efficiency,
highest availability
highest reliability
lowest cost,
smallest size
least weight
Lowest maintenance cost

Static applications
involves non-rotating or non-moving mechanical components.
Examples:
DC Power supply, Un-interruptible power supply, Power generation and transmission
(HVDC), Electroplating, Welding, Heating, Cooling, Electronic ballast

Drive applications
intimately contains moving or rotating components such as motors.
Examples:
Electric trains, Electric vehicles, Air-conditioning System, Pumps, Compressor, Conveyer
Belt (Factory automation).

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 5

 Battery charging
Electric traction
Solid state controllers for home appliances
UPS
Advantages
Higher efficiency
Long life
Small size and low weight
Fast response
 Produce harmonics in the supply system &
controlled system
Interference with communication system
Produce low power factor at low voltage
 Application examples
Static Application: DC Power Supply

AC voltage DIODE DC-DC

FILTER LOAD
RECTIFIER CONVERTER
AC LINE
VOLTAGE V control
(1 phase or three Phase) (derived from
feedback circuit at desired level)

Drive Application: Air-Conditioning System

Power Source Temperature and
Variable speed drive
humidity

Power Motor Air Building

Electronics conditioner Cooling
Converter

Desired
temperature Indoor temperature
System and humidity Indoor
Controller sensors
Desired
humidity

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 8

Power Electronics-An Enabling Technology

Energy System

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 9

 Scope of Power Electronics

Fig. Interdisciplinary nature of power Electronics

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 10

 Supply from Input Source: 50Hz, Vs (Volt)

240V RMS (340V peak).

Customer need DC voltage for
time
welding purpose, say.

Input Source (sine-wave supply)

gives zero DC component!
+ +
Vs Vo
We can use simple half-wave _ _
rectifier. A fixed DC voltage is
now obtained. This is a simple PE
system. Vo

Average output vol tage : Vdc

V
Vo m time

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 11

 How if customer wants variable DC voltage? More complex circuit using SCR is
required.
v s

ig
t
ia
vo
+ +
vs vo
_ _ t

ig

Average output Voltage :

t

Vo
1
Vm sin t .dt
Vm
1 cos
2 2
By controlling the firing angle, , the output DC voltage (after conversion) can be
varied..
Obviously this needs a complicated electronic system to set the firing current pulses for
the SCR.
Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 12
 Power Electronics Converters
AC to DC: RECTIFIER

AC input DC output

DC to DC: CHOPPER
DC motor
DC input DC output speed control
Variable V
control
DC to AC: INVERTER

DC input AC output UPS

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 13

 Power Electronics Converters
AC to AC: CYCLO CONVERTER
Light Dimmer
AC input AC output

STATIC SWITCHES
ON/OFF Switch
input Control output
New era with
electronic
switch
Controlled and Uncontrolled Rectifier
DC Source
output
AC input DC output Speed Control
HVDC

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 14

1. Energy scenario
Need to reduce dependence on fossil fuel
Coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power resource, Depletion of these sources is expected.

Effective usage of renewable energy resources:

Solar, wind, fuel-cell, ocean-wave

Energy saving by Power Electronics (P.E) 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%.
DC Inverter Technology

2. Environment 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 (green house effect), acid rain and urban pollution from smokes.
Possible Solutions by application of P.E. Examples:
Renewable energy resources (Effective Usages with Solar charge controller MPPT/PWM)
Centralization of power stations to remote non-urban area. (mitigation).
Electric vehicles.

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 15

 PE rapid growth due to:
Advances in power (semiconductor) switches
Advances in microelectronics (DSP, VLSI, microprocessor/microcontroller, ASIC)
New ideas in control algorithms
Demand for new applications

PE is an interdisciplinary field:
Digital/analogue electronics
Power and energy
Microelectronics
Control system
Computer, simulation and software
Solid-state physics and devices
Packaging
Heat transfer

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 16

 Power switches: work-horses of PE
systems.

Operates in two states: POWER SWITCH

Fully ON. i.e. switch closed. I

Conducting state Vswitch= 0
Vin
Fully off , i.e. switch opened.
Blocking state SWITCH ON (fully closed)

I=0
Power switch never operates in
linear mode. Vswitch= Vin
Vin
Can be categorised into three groups:
Uncontrolled: Diode : SWITCH OFF (fully opened)
Semi-controlled: Thyristor (SCR).
Fully controlled: Power transistors: e.g. BJT, MOSFET, IGBT, GTO, IGCT
Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 17
Photos of Power Switches
(From Powerex Inc.)

Power Diodes
Stud type
Hockey-puck type

IGBT
Module type: Full bridge
and three phase

IGCT
Integrated with its driver

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 18

 Id
A (Anode)

+
Id Vd Vr
_
Vf Vd
K (Cathode)

Diode: Symbol v-i characteristics

When diode is FORWARD BIASED, it conducts current with a small forward

voltage (Vf) across it (0.3-3V)

When REVERSED (or blocking state), a negligibly small leakage current (uA to
mA) flows until the reverse breakdown occurs.

Diode should not be operated at reverse voltage greater than Vr (Reverse Break-
over voltage/Break down Voltage / Peak Reverse Voltage)

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 19

 When a diode is switched quickly from forward to reverse bias, it
continues to conduct due to the minority carriers which remains in
the p-n junction.

The minority carriers require finite time, i.e, trr (reverse recovery
time) to recombine with opposite charge and neutralise.

Effects of reverse recovery are increase in switching losses,

increase in voltage rating, over-voltage (spikes) in inductive loads

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 20

 Snap-off

Soft-recovery

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 21

 Small Signal Diode. ...
Large Signal Diode. ...
Zener Diode. ...
Light Emitting Diode (LED) ...
Constant Current Diodes. ...
Schottky Diode. ...
Shockley Diode. ...
Step Recovery Diodes.

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 22

 Line frequency (General Purpose):
On state voltage: very low (below 1V)
Large trr (about 25 micro-second) (very slow response)
Very high current ratings (up to 5kA)
Very high voltage ratings(5kV)
Used in line-frequency (50/60Hz) applications such as rectifiers

Fast recovery
Very low trr (<1us).
Power levels at several hundred volts and several hundred amps
Normally used in high frequency circuits

Schottky
Very low forward voltage drop (typical 0.3V)
Limited blocking voltage (50-100V)
Used in low voltage, high current application such as switched
mode power supplies.

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 23

 v-i characteristics

Thyristor: Symbol v-i characteristics

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 24

 v-i characteristics
If the forward break-over voltage (Vbo) is exceeded, the SCR self-triggers into
the conducting state.

The presence of gate current will reduce Vbo (Forward Breakover voltage)

Normal conditions for thyristors to turn on:

the device is in forward blocking state (i.e Vak is positive)
a positive gate current (Ig) is applied at the gate

Once conducting, the anode current is latched. Vak collapses to normal forward
volt-drop, typically 1.5-3V.
In reverse -biased mode, the SCR behaves like a diode.

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 25

 ig
ia v s

+ t
+
vs vo vo
_ _

ig

Thyristor cannot be turned off by applying negative gate current. It can only
be turned off , if Ia goes negative (reverse)
This happens when negative portion of the of sine-wave occurs (natural
commutation),
Another method of turning off is known as forced commutation,
The anode current is diverted to another circuitry.
Term Commutation is used to turn off a thyrister.

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 26

 Phase controlled
rectifying line frequency voltage and current for ac and dc motor drives
large voltage (up to 7kV) and current (up to 4kA) capability
low on-state voltage drop (1.5 to 3V)

Inverter grade
used in inverter and chopper
Quite fast. Can be turned-on using force-commutation method.

Light activated
Similar to phase controlled, but triggered by pulse of light.
Normally very high power ratings

TRIAC
Dual polarity thyristors ( AC to AC control)

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 27

 Can be turned ONand OFF by relatively very small control signals.

Operated in SATURATION and CUT-OFF modes only.

No linear region operation is allowed due to excessive power loss.

In general, power transistors do not operate in latched mode.

Traditional devices: Bipolar junction transistors (BJT), Metal oxide

silicon field effect transistor ( MOSFET), Insulated gate bipolar
transistors (IGBT), Gate turn-off thyristors (GTO)

Emerging (new) devices: Gate controlled thyristors (GCT).

Power Electronics (ELEN-4121) 28