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ES4D4 - Power Electronic Converters and Devices

  • Module code: ES4D4
  • Module name: Power Electronic Converters and Devices
  • Department: School of Engineering
  • Credit: 15

Module content and teaching

Principal aims

Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems.

The module aims are:

  • To introduce the concept of power electronics as power processing and control, and to present the range of applications of power electronics in today’s society.
  • To introduce power semiconductor devices as basic switching elements used in power electronic converters, and describe the theory of their operation.
  • To introduce power electronic converters, explain their operation and give examples of applications.
  • To develop an understanding of the issues present in converter and device design, including the impact of physical layout and fabrication techniques
Principal learning outcomes

By the end of the module the student should be able to:

  • Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the operation of power semiconductor devices.
  • Apply the concepts of device physics in the context of device switching in a power converter.
  • Design a power converter, including an AC-DC converter, a DC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter.
  • Analyse the power quality and harmonics. Design the basic filters to smooth the converter output and to improve the power quality.
  • Consolidate knowledge on the practical issues in converter design.
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the applications of power electronics and the development of new devices.
  • Design and analyse the closed-loop control for power converters.
  • Demonstrate a systematic knowledge in DC motor drives and control analysis.