Intermediate Power Electronics Power Converter Topologies, Modeling & Control
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Course Overview
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced power conversion systems tailored for professionals and enthusiasts in power electronics. The course delves into various topologies, in-depth modeling techniques, and control strategies vital for high-performance & high reliability DC-DC & DC-AC power conversion applications.
Designed for hands-on learning, the program equips participants with the ability to analyze, derive, and apply operating principles, select, and size critical components, and optimize power conversion systems effectively. Real-world case studies, interactive discussion, and engaging exercises enhance the practical application of concepts.
Learning Outcomes
- Characterize and Differentiate Power Conversion Devices and Circuits
- Identify and explain the operating principles, benefits, and limitations of power conversion devices (rectifiers, DC-DC converters, DC-AC inverters) with an emphasis on their application in real-world systems like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
- Compare Silicon-based devices with Wide Bandgap (WBG) materials like SiC and GaN, noting their impact on efficiency, thermal management, EMI, and integration.
- Select, Size, & Analyze Components in Power Electronics Circuits
- Derive key operating parameters and analyze transient voltage and current waveforms in circuits like buck, boost, and flyback converters, ensuring component selection meets design specifications for reliability and efficiency.
- Calculate the impact of design variables, including duty cycle, ripple, and load resistance, on overall circuit performance.
- Develop and Validate Simulation Models for Power Electronics Systems
- Construct and simulate models of power electronic circuits (e.g., PWM algorithms, DC-DC converters, and inverters) using LTspice and MATLAB/Simulink, validating against theoretical calculations for accuracy in performance metrics.
- Conduct frequency spectrum analyses to assess the harmonic profiles and power quality of PWM-based circuits.
- Quantify Thermal and Electrical Performance in Power Semiconductors
- Calculate conduction and switching losses in MOSFETs, IGBTs, and WBG transistors, applying this understanding to design effective cooling systems for temperature regulation.
- Define gate drive techniques and control mechanisms for dv/dt & di/dt.
- Define approaches for EMI/EMC mitigation with WBG devices.
- Identify reliability concepts and approaches to predict power electronics lifetime.
- Identify and assess emerging trends and applications in power electronics technology, including size reduction and efficiency gains through advanced packaging and integrated motor drives, and evaluate their implications for applications like automotive and industrial systems.
Who Should Attend?
Traditional engineering roles electrical, software engineering who are looking to enhance their power conversion knowledge base.
Course Outline
Day 1
Session 01: Future Trends and Applications of Power Electronics Technology
Key trends driving size reductions and efficiency improvements.
Session 02: Rectifiers
Applications and types of rectifiers, focusing on the electric vehicle industry.
Session 03: Single Phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
Introduction to PWM algorithms for DC and single-phase AC applications.
Session 04: DC to DC Converters (Part 1)
Basic principles, including buck and boost converters, interleaving, and bi-directional power flow.
Session 05: DC to DC Converters (Part 2)
Advanced DC-DC converter concepts, including flyback and isolated topologies.
Day 2
Session 06: DC to DC Converters (Part 3) – Modeling & Simulation
Average and switching models for DC-DC converters, with simulation exercises.
Session 07: DC to AC Inverters (Part 1)
Fundamental topologies for single-phase and three-phase AC waveform generation.
Session 08: Three Phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
PWM strategies for three-phase applications, with harmonic analysis.
Session 09: DC to AC Inverters (Part 2) – Multilevel
Overview of multilevel inverters, modulation techniques, and harmonic performance.
Session 10: DC to AC Inverters (Part 3) – Simulation & Advanced Topics
Advanced topics in AC/DC and DC/AC converters for DC motors and three-phase loads.
Day 3
Session 11: Switching Transistors for Power Electronics
Differentiate between switching transistor technologies and optimize their performance in power converter designs.
Session 12: Gate Drive for Power Transistors
Design and optimize gate drive circuits considering power stage requirements and isolation technologies.
Session 13: PCB Layout for Gate-Drive Circuits
Apply PCB layout principles to minimize inductance, improve EMI performance, and enhance reliability of gate-drive circuits.
Session 14: PCB Layout for Power Transistors
Design PCB layouts to optimize thermal and electrical performance in power transistor applications.
Day 4
Session 15: Thermal Engineering Practice for Power Electronics
Basics of thermal design, conduction/switching losses, and cooling methods.
Session 16: Insulation Design
Electrical insulation materials, standards, and failure mechanisms in applications.
Session 17: Reliability Engineering for Power Electronics
Reliability concepts, failure mechanisms, and accelerated testing for power electronics.
Session 18: Course Review & Roundtable Wrap-up
Summary and interactive roundtable discussion to consolidate learning.
Instructors
Steven Fredette
Fredette is an associate teaching professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at UW-Madison. He is interested in the design, simulation, modeling, controls, and development of power conversion systems for alternative energy (wind, solar PV, fuel cells) and industrial (HVAC, elevator, traction) applications. Fredette has delivered innovative, producible solutions to the industrial, aerospace, and alternative energy fields.
He has acquired a wide range of industrial experience through work for United Technologies, Vestas Technology R&D, and American Superconductor (AMSC). He has a PhD from UW-Madison.
Thomas Jahns
Dr. Thomas M. Jahns received his bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from MIT, all in electrical engineering.
Dr. Jahns joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He served for 14 years as a Co-Director of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC), a world-renowned university/industry consortium in the electrical power engineering field. Since 2021, he is the Grainger Emeritus Professor of Power Electronics and Electrical Machines.
Prior to coming to UW-Madison, Dr. Jahns worked at GE Corporate Research and Development (now GE Global Research) in Niskayuna, NY, for 15 years, where he pursued new power electronics and motor drive technology in a variety of research and management positions. His current research interests at UW-Madison include integrated motor drives and electrified propulsion for both land vehicles and aircraft.
Dr. Jahns is a Fellow of IEEE. He received the 2005 IEEE Nikola Tesla Technical Field Award “for pioneering contributions to the design and application of AC permanent magnet machines”. Dr. Jahns is a Past President of the IEEE Power Electronics Society. He was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering in 2015 and received the IEEE Medal in Power Engineering in 2022.
Weijun Yin
Weijun earned her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1993. She has an extensive background in creating electrical insulation materials and systems for various power generation and coversion applications, including electrical machines and drives, wires and cables, and transformers.
Prior to her retirement in September 2022, Dr. Yin held the position of Senior Principal Engineer at the GE Global Research Center in New York. There, she led the development of advanced electrical insulation systems tailored for high voltage and high power density electrical systems. She also served as the chair of SAE AE-11 and played a pivotal role in the recent publication of AIR 7374. Dr. Yin holds more than 30 US patents, alongside numerous patent applications.
Currently, Dr. Yin contributes her expertise as a consultant, focusing on the development and design of dielectric materials and electrical insulation systems for high voltage and high power density electrical systems.
Eric Persson
Eric Persson is Executive Director of GaN Applications Engineering at Infineon Technologies. He is a semiconductor industry veteran with 15 years at International Rectifier, and a hands-on power electronic design engineer for 20 years before that. He has presented more than 70 seminars, tutorials and short courses on power electronics at various conferences and Universities around the world.
Intermediate Power Electronics
Course #: RA00072Intermediate Power Electronics
Date: Mon. March 24, 2025 – Thu. March 27, 2025ID: RA00072-D697
Fee:
- $1,995
-
Online attendance fee includes online instruction and course materials. Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.
When three or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $1795.00 each. Team affiliation will be verified.
WEMPEC members received $200 off the course fee. Membership affiliation will be verified.
- CEU: 2.4
- PDH: 24
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