Advanced Power Electronic Converters

Understand the fundamental principles and benefits of advanced power converter topologies.

Overview of advanced converter topologies and their applications in modern power systems. Benefits: higher efficiency, reduced harmonic distortion, improved power quality, and scalability. Comparison with traditional converters: performance, complexity, and application areas. Applications: renewable energy integration, HVDC transmission, motor drives, and power conditioning.

Learn the design and operation of multi-level converters.

Types of multi-level converters: diode-clamped (NPC), flying capacitor, and cascaded H-bridge converters. Operating principles: generation of multi-level waveforms, switching strategies. Design considerations: voltage balancing, component selection, and thermal management. Applications: high-power motor drives, FACTS devices, and renewable energy systems.

Explore the design and application of matrix converters.

Principles of matrix converters: direct AC-AC conversion without intermediate DC link. Topologies: single-phase and three-phase matrix converters. Control techniques: space vector modulation (SVM), PWM strategies. Applications: motor drives, aerospace power systems, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).

Study other advanced converter topologies, such as modular multilevel converters and soft-switching converters.

Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC): structure, operation, and scalability advantages. Soft-Switching Converters: principles of ZVS and ZCS, resonant converters, and applications. Bidirectional Converters: operation in energy storage systems, electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Design challenges and solutions for implementing these advanced topologies in practical systems.

Analyse control strategies for advanced power electronic converters.

Advanced control methods: predictive control, model-based control, and sliding mode control. Control of multi-level converters: capacitor voltage balancing, harmonic reduction. Control of matrix converters: maintaining output voltage and frequency, managing bidirectional power flow. Implementation of digital control: FPGA, DSP, and microcontroller-based solutions.

Implement and troubleshoot advanced converter designs in practical applications.

Simulation and modelling techniques for complex converter topologies: MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS. Testing and validation: hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation, prototype development, and real-time control testing. Troubleshooting common issues: voltage imbalance, EMI, thermal management, and protection circuits. Case studies: successful deployment of advanced converters in industrial, transportation, and renewable energy applications.