Power Electronics and Drives Technology (AC26-32-0)

SynopsisThe task of power electronics is to process and control the flow of electric energy by supplying voltages and currents in a form that is optimally suited for the user loads. So power electronics is the enabling technology behind power processing, the counterpart of information processing. Both information processing and power processing are the twin pillars of the technology foundation of the modern world. However while information processing has been very much publicized, power processing has been working quietly in the background to shape the modern world as we know it today. Partly due to its multi-disciplinary nature and partly due to general laymen's aversion to anything that is high-power, knowledge of power electronics has largely confined to small groups of individuals and companies. Skills in power electronics have even been described as a "black art" that is not easily accessible. This four-day course can help you to understand what power electronics is, and what it can do for you and your companies.

The broad objective of this course is to familiarize the participating individuals with a comprehensive understanding of power electronics and power processing. It will cover topics on power semiconductor and passive devices, which are the bolts and nuts of power processing; different forms of power circuit topologies currently available; and a vast range of power electronic systems and applications in the power utilities sector, industrial and commercial building services, medical applications, consumer products, manufacturing automation, traction and vehicular systems, telecommunication energy systems, petroleum and chemical sector and mining industries. Research and future trends in power electronics will also be discussed.

What You Will Learn

• Understand the basic concepts of power electronics and power conversion
• Know how to select the appropriate power devices for different end applications
• Know how to select the appropriate power converter topology for different end applications
• Understand the various applications of static power converters and motor drive systems
• Know the issues involved in maintenance and protection of power electronic systems
• Understand the future of power electronics technology and the market trends

Who Should AttendThis three-day course is designed for all engineers, managers, executives, chief technology officers, investors and businessmen who may not be familiar with power electronics but need to acquire an in-depth appreciation of this important enabling technology to enhance their management, supervision and decision-making. Power electronics, being a highly specialized post-graduate engineering topic, is generally an unfamiliar and somewhat mysterious technology for most engineers, be they new engineering graduates or experienced senior engineers. As engineering practice has become more and more multi-disciplinary in recent years, it is becoming difficult to ignore power electronics. Managers and chief technology officers need to know what power electronics can do for their companies, directly or indirectly. Investors and businessmen will be much more aware of the vast new opportunities in power electronics sector and how other businesses have been and will be affected by this enabling technology.

PrerequisiteTechnical background in electrical and electronic engineering.

Course MethodologyThis course is conducted in a seminar room. Each participant will receive a set of course material. Participants will immersed themselves into:

• An overview of power electronic systems and their applications
• An introduction to power semiconductor and passive devices
• Understanding the classification and performance of different power converters
• Discussing the many different types of power electronic applications
• Sharing views on protection and maintenance issues, market trends and the future of power electronics business sector

Course Duration3 days, 9am - 5pm

Course StructureDay 1
Introduction to Power Electronics

• History of power electronics
• Overview of electronic conversion of power
• What power electronics can do for you? Power Semiconductor and Passive Devices
• Overview of power semiconductor physics
• Power diodes and thyristors
• Power transistors
• Control and protection of devices
• Passive components and magnetics
• Emerging devices, modeling and simulations

Day 2
Power Electronic Converters

• Overview of power converter topologies
• Uncontrolled and controlled rectifiers
• DC-to-DC converters
• Single-phase and three-phase inverters
• Cyclo and matrix converters
• Soft switching and resonant converters Application Examples
• Power factor correction systems and active filters
• Automotive power electronic systems and electric vehicles
• Switched mode power supplies

Day 3
Variable Speed and Servo Motor Drives and their Applications

• Overview of motor drives fundamentals
• DC motor drives
• AC induction motor drives
• Synchronous motor drives
• Servo and special motor drives
• Automation and traction applications Future Trends in Power Electronics
• Emerging technologies in power devices and topologies
• New applications and new opportunities
• Economic impact of power electronics