Unit 2122: Power Electronics Fundamentals and Applications

1. Introduction to Power Electronics

• Definition and scope of power electronics
• Importance in modern electrical and electronic systems
• Overview of power electronic converters
  • AC-DC converters
  • DC-DC converters
  • DC-AC converters
  • AC-AC converters (brief mention)

2. Power Semiconductor Devices

• Overview of semiconductor devices in power electronics
• Diodes
  • Structure and characteristics
  • Forward and reverse operation
• Thyristors (Silicon Controlled Rectifiers - SCRs)
  • Working principle and triggering methods
  • Latching and holding current concepts
• MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors)
  • Operation and switching characteristics
• IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors)
  • Hybrid properties and applications
• Comparison of devices: switching speed, voltage/current ratings, and applications

3. Rectifiers and AC-DC Converters

• Role of rectifiers in power electronics
• Types of rectifiers
  • Half-wave rectifier
  • Full-wave rectifier
  • Bridge rectifier
• Operation and waveform analysis
• Performance parameters: ripple factor, efficiency, regulation
• Applications of rectifiers

4. DC-DC Converters

• Purpose of DC-DC converters in voltage regulation
• Buck converter
  • Operation and waveform analysis
  • Applications
• Boost converter
  • Working principle
• Buck-Boost converter
  • Features and use cases
• Flyback converter
  • Transformer isolation and operation
• Comparison of converters and selection criteria

5. Inverters and DC-AC Converters

• Purpose of inverters: converting DC to AC
• Types of inverters
  • Square wave inverter
  • Modified sine wave inverter
  • Pure sine wave inverter
• Operation principles and output waveform characteristics
• Applications in renewable energy and motor drives

6. Power Factor Correction

• Definition of power factor and its significance
• Effects of poor power factor on systems
• Power factor correction methods
  • Passive techniques (capacitors, inductors)
  • Active power factor correction (APFC) methods
• Implementation in power electronics systems

7. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Techniques

• Importance of PWM in controlling power converters
• Constant frequency PWM
• Variable frequency PWM
• Sinusoidal PWM
• Analysis of PWM waveforms and harmonic content
• Applications in motor drives and inverters

8. Control Techniques in Power Electronics

• Objectives of control in power electronics
• Voltage mode control
  • Principles and typical applications
• Current mode control
  • Benefits and implementation
• Hysteresis control
  • Operation and advantages
• Comparison of control strategies

9. Applications of Power Electronics

• Renewable energy systems
  • Solar inverters
  • Wind turbine converters
• Electric vehicles
  • Motor drives and battery management
• Motor drives
  • Speed and torque control
• Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
• Industrial automation
  • Robotics and process control