Introduction to Power Electronics Course

Course Information

• Platform: Canvas (site has been published)
• Class Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 1 PM
• Textbooks: Main textbook (required); Additional textbooks (optional, listed in the course handout, available in libraries)

Homework and Assessments

• Homeworks:

  • Typically issued on a Monday and due the following Monday.
  • Collaboration is encouraged, but final submission must be individual.

• Assessments:

  • Replacing in-class exams with weekly take-home mini-quizzes.
  • Issued on Wednesdays and due on Thursdays (submitted through Canvas/Gradescope).
  • No collaboration allowed; treated as exams.
  • Use course materials but do not use external resources or old materials.

• Late Submissions:

  • Late homeworks accepted with prior arrangement and a compelling reason.
  • No late assessments allowed.

• Office Hours:

  • Thursday: 4-5 PM
  • Friday: 4-5 PM
  • Located in 10178, building 10

Grading

• Homeworks: 40%
• Assessments: 50%
• Final Project: 10%
  • Integration of learned knowledge into a real-world design (paper-based).
  • Significant despite the lower percentage.

Course Focus

• Main Topics:

  • Circuit Theory
  • Design Techniques
  • Components for Power Electronics
  • Controls and Energy Conversion Systems

• Historical Context

  • Tesla's vision of transforming conditions on the planet through electrical effects.
  • Modern revolutions in energy usage for vehicles, transportation, and power generation from renewable sources.
  • Handling of energy requires processing, controlling, and converting electricity.

• Applications of Power Electronics

  • Portable Electronics
  • Computers and Data Centers
  • Communication Systems
  • Household Appliances
  • Medical Applications
  • Scientific Applications
  • Transportation (Electric Vehicles, Trains, Maglev)
  • Space Propulsion
  • Power Transmission and Generation
  • Industrial Applications (e.g., Plasma Processing, DC Arc Furnace)

Core Technology

• Convert electrical energy from one form to another efficiently.
• Used in LED lighting, computer power supplies, electric vehicles, etc.
• Techniques range from historical vacuum tubes to modern switch-mode power supplies.

Components of a Power Converter

• Energy Storage Elements: Inductors, Capacitors
• Semiconductor Switches: For processing energy
• Filters: To manage ripple and noise
• Control Circuitry: To regulate energy flow

Efficiency and Design

• Linear Regulators: Simple but inefficient
• Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS): Efficient through use of switches and energy storage
• PWM (Pulse Width Modulation): Controls average voltage to the load
• LC Filters: Used to smooth out voltage to desired DC level

Key Concepts

• Switching Function: Regulates energy transfer
• Inductors/Capacitors: Store and release energy efficiently
• Control Timing: Ensures desired output voltage

Goals

• Understand underlying principles and techniques for energy conversion
• Learn to design, control, and implement power electronic systems
• Prepare for practical applications in various high-tech fields