Power electronics (4531)
  
Coordinating lecturer :Prof. dr. ir. Wilmar MARTINEZ 

Language of instruction : English
Credits: 4,0
  
Period: semester 1 (4sp)
  
2nd Chance Exam1: Yes
  
Final grade2: Numerical
 
Exam contract: not possible
 
Sequentiality
 
   No sequentiality

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of calculation of electrical and magnetic circuits.

Basic knowledge of Spice simulations.

Basic knowledge of Matlab and / or Python.


Content

Today, around 30% of all electrical energy generated is transported and distributed through power electronic converters. This proportion is expected to rise to 80% in the coming decades, which translates into an annual power-electronic energy conversion of at least 900 TWh in the EEA region. In addition, the energy sector and its current systems are in transition from fossil-based to zero-carbon emission systems. Modern smart grids and electromobility systems involve an increasing amount of dc technologies that have recently become possible due to rapid advancements in power electronic energy conversion systems. Consequently, Power Electronics is a key area to improve the efficiency of our energy systems, to allow a rapid energy transition, and to contribute to the global decarbonisation.

The Power Electronics course will be given in Lectures and Lab/Exercise sessions as follows:

Lecture (12x2u):

  • Components
    • Semiconductors
    • Magnetics
    • Capacitors
    • Control chips
  • Converter Topologies
    • AC-DC: rectifiers, passive as well as active, and for one or more quadrants
    • DC-DC: clippers in one or more quandrants, switched capacitor circuits
    • DC-AC: inverters that work on the basis of modulation techniques
    • AC-AC: cycloconverter, matrix converter
    • Resonant topologies
    • (Non)Isolated topologies
  • Applications

Lab/Exercise(4x3u):

  • Simulation exercise with PLECS or LTSpice (Open source)
  • Converter design, PCB design, and PCB order
  • PCB assembly and Experimental validation
    • DC-DC converter testing
    • Inductor construction (saturation effect) if possible
    • Applications
      • Solar
      • Motor Drives
      • Smart Grids
      • EV chargers


Organisational and teaching methods
Organisational methods  
Application Lecture ✔  
Practical ✔  


Evaluation

Semester 1 (4,00sp)

Evaluation method
Written evaluation during teaching period30 %
Written exam70 %
Closed-book ✔
Multiple-choice questions✔
Open questions✔
Oral explanation✔

Second examination period

Evaluation second examination opportunity different from first examination opprt
No
 

Recommended course material
 

Fundamentals of Power Electronics by Robert W. Erickson

Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices, and Applications by Muhammad H. Rashid

Power Electronics by Daniel W. Hart


Learning outcomes
Master of Teaching in Sciences and Technology
  •  EC 

    • 5.2. The master of education is a domain expert ENG & TECH: the EM has a specialised knowledge and understanding of the acquired subject didactics and can creatively conceive, plan and implement them in an educational context and, in particular, as an integrated part of a methodologically and project-based ordered series of actions within a multidisciplinary STEM project with an important research and/or innovation component.

  •  EC 

    • 5.3. The master of education is a domain expert ENG & TECH: the EM has advanced or specialised knowledge and understanding of the principles, structure and used technologies of various industrial processes and techniques relevant to the specific subject disciplines and can autonomously recognise, critically analyse and methodically and well-foundedly solve complex, multidisciplinary, non-familiar, practice-oriented design or optimisation problems in these, with an eye for application, selection of materials, automation, safety, environment and sustainability, aware of practical limitations and with attention to current technological developments.

 
Master of Energy Engineering Technology (English)
  •  EC 

    • EC1 - The holder of the degree thinks and acts professionally with an appropriate engineering attitude and continuous focus on personal development, adequately communicates, effectively cooperates, takes into account the sustainable, economical, ethical, social and/or international context and is hereby aware of the impact on the environment.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The student can evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the fields that are involved in the power electronics field. The student is able to understand how power conversion in power converters is done. The student seek for valuable and reliable information about power electronics.T he student is critical about her/his own findings and designs, and is able to evaluate their relevance for the application.
  •  EC 

    • EC4 - The holder of the degree has advanced knowledge of and insight in the principles and applications in electrical engineering, possibly complemented with automation or material science and production, in which he/she can independently identify and critically analyse complex, practice-oriented design or optimisation problems, and  methodologically create solutions with eye for data processing and implementation and with attention to the recent technological developments.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M3 - The student can recognize problems, plan activities and perform accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to understand and recognize the problems of designing and implementing power conversion strategies in a wide variety of applications
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M4 - The student can gather, measure or obtain information and refer to it correctly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to get the information about semiconductors, magnetic materials, windings, capacitors, energy sources, load profiles, control strategies, assembly and testing as well as to understand the importance of these components and materialsin power electronics and the energy sector.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M5 - The student can analyze problems, logically structure and interpret them.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student can analyse the different conversion types, can analyse power converter topologies and the effect of technology sele ction in the operation of power converters in the field. The student can distinguish and logically interpret how eachcomponent in the analyses affect key performance indicators like efficiency, size, cost, etc.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M6 - The student can select methods and make calculated choices to solve problems or design solutions.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student can calculate and design suitable components based on given parameters, specifications, and conditions.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M7 - The student can use selected methods and tools to implement solutions and designs.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to implement the power converters and components in a software tool. The student is able to run several stud y cases and analyse results.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The student can evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the results obtained by her/his own designs. The student is able to distinguish reliable results a nd to contrast them with the theory.
  •  EC 

    • EC5 - The holder of the degree has specialist knowledge of and insight in principles and applications within the domain of energy and power systems in which he/she can independently identify and critically analyse unfamiliar, complex design or optimisation problems, and methodologically create solutions with eye for data processing and implementation, with the help of advanced tools, aware of practical constraints and with attention to the recent technological developments.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M3 - The student can recognize problems, plan activities and perform accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to recognize the role of power electronics in the current energy transition, their current challenges, and t he trends towards the future electric systems. The student us able to plan and perform accordingly.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M4 - The student can gather, measure or obtain information and refer to it correctly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to gather reliable information about the components that are used in power conversion systems, as well as th e enrgy sources and loads that the power converter will interconnect.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M5 - The student can analyze problems, logically structure and interpret them.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student understands how electrical energy is used and converted in a power converter, how each component works, and how all of them contribute to power conversion. The student can analyse the energy breakdown among the components, and can logicallyint erpret the points where more energy is consumed.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M7 - The student can use selected methods and tools to implement solutions and designs.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to design power converters for different profiles, loads and boundary conditions. The student is able to int egrate such designs in software tools and obtain reliable results.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The student can evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the results obtained from the software tools. The student is able to contrast the results with the theoretical and literature counterparts.
 
Master of Energy Engineering Technology
  •  EC 

    • EC1 - The holder of the degree thinks and acts professionally with an appropriate engineering attitude and continuous focus on personal development, adequately communicates, effectively cooperates, takes into account the sustainable, economical, ethical, social and/or international context and is hereby aware of the impact on the environment.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The studentcan evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the fields that are involved in the power electronics field. The student is able to understand how power conversion in power converters is done. The student seek for valuable and reliable information about power electronics.T he student is critical about her/his own findings and designs, and is able to evaluate their relevance for the application.
  •  EC 

    • EC4 - The holder of the degree has advanced knowledge of and insight in the principles and applications in electrical engineering , possibly complemented with automation or material science and production, in which he/she can independently identify and critically analyse complex, practice-oriented design or optimisation problems, and  methodologically create solutions with eye for data processing and implementation and with attention to the recent technological developments.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M3 - The studentcan recognize problems, plan activities and perform accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to understand and recognize the problems of designing and implementing power conversion strategies in a wide variety of applications
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M4 - The studentcan gather, measure or obtain information and refer to it correctly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to get the information about semiconductors, magnetic materials, windings, capacitors, energy sources, load profiles, control strategies, assembly and testing as well as to understand the importance of these components and materialsin power electronics and the energy sector.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M5 - The studentcan analyze problems, logically structure and interpret them.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student can analyse the different conversion types, can analyse power converter topologies and the effect of technology sele ction in the operation of power converters in the field. The student can distinguish and logically interpret how eachcomponent in the analyses affect key performance indicators like efficiency, size, cost, etc.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M6 - The studentcan select methods and make calculated choices to solve problems or design solutions.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student can calculate and design suitable components based on given parameters, specifications, and conditions.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M7 - The studentcan use selected methods and tools to implement solutions and designs.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to implement the power converters and components in a software tool. The student is able to run several stud y cases and analyse results.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The studentcan evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the results obtained by her/his own designs. The student is able to distinguish reliable results a nd to contrast them with the theory.
  •  EC 

    • EC5 - The holder of the degree has specialist knowledge of and insight in principles and applications within the domain of energy and power systems in which he/she can independently identify and critically analyse unfamiliar, complex design or optimisation problems, and methodologically create solutions with eye for data processing and implementation, with the help of advanced tools, aware of practical constraints and with attention to the recent technological developments.

     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M3 - The studentcan recognize problems, plan activities and perform accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to recognize the role of power electronics in the current energy transition, their current challenges, and t he trends towards the future electric systems. The student us able to plan and perform accordingly.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M4 - The studentcan gather, measure or obtain information and refer to it correctly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to gather reliable information about the components that are used in power conversion systems, as well as th e enrgy sources and loads that the power converter will interconnect.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M5 - The studentcan analyze problems, logically structure and interpret them.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student understands how electrical energy is used and converted in a power converter, how each component works, and how all of them contribute to power conversion. The student can analyse the energy breakdown among the components, and can logicallyint erpret the points where more energy is consumed.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M7 - The studentcan use selected methods and tools to implement solutions and designs.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is able to design power converters for different profiles, loads and boundary conditions. The student is able to int egrate such designs in software tools and obtain reliable results.
     
  •  DC 

    • DC-M8 - The studentcan evaluate knowledge and skills critically to adjust own reasoning and course of action accordingly.

      
  •  BC 
    		• The student is critical about the results obtained from the software tools. The student is able to contrast the results with the theoretical and literature counterparts.
 
  EC = learning outcomes      DC = partial outcomes      BC = evaluation criteria  
Offered inTolerance3
Exchange Programme Engineering Technology J
Master of Energy Engineering Technology J
Master of Energy Engineering Technology (English) J
Master of Teaching in Sciences and Technology - Engineering and Technology choice for subject didactics engineering & technology J



1   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.12.2, section 2.
2   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.15.1, section 3.
3   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.16.9, section 2.