OVERVIEW

The largest part of electric energy produced is not utilised in the form in which it is produced, transmitted and distributed: it is converted depending on the user's needs, in order to get maximum performance. Power electronics groups knowledge related to static energy conversion in applications for industry, renewable energy, transport and home consumer, and particularly for torque and speed regulation of electrical drives in such applications.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of principles of electric energy static conversion, of power converters and related control methods, of main dc and ac electric drives. Ability of making simple quantitative estimations and of managing mathematical models of converters and electric motors for calculation and simulation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide the students with the ability of harmonising what acquired within their studies of mathematics, physics, electrotechnics and electrical machinery, integrating with operation of power static converters in relation to power supply to users (particularly electrical machines), in order to achieve basic modelling, analysis and design in different applications.  

At the end of the course the student will have to demonstrate to: 

1. know the fundamental power static converters for industry, renewable enrgy, trasnport and electric drives
2. know how tho choose a power converter for a specific application as a function of current, voltage and power flow
3. know how to control current/voltage/frequency with a specific converter according to the user's needs
4. know how to estimate power quality, in terms of current an voltage harmonics
5. know how to build simple model of converters and motors for simple simulations

PREREQUISITES

It is necessary to have fundamental knowledge of electrotechnics and electrical machines.Basic knowledge of electronics is useful. Students should know about Fourier series expansion for a periodical signal. 

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching method is oriented to integrate theoretical aspects with numarical calculations in the classroom and with modelling and computer simulation. During the theoretical lectures examples of numerical calculations are insertedn and then proposed for computer simulation. Moreover, interactive "question time" are included.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• General principles of static conversion of electric energy .
• Passive devices and semiconductor power devices.
• Switching and natural commutation converters.
• dc-dc converters with and without islating transformer. Continuous and discontinuous conduction modes.
• Voltage source inverters: single phase, three-phase and multilevel.
• Single phase and three phase uncontrolled and controlled rectifiers.Twelve pulse rectifiers.
• Current source inverters, cycloconverters, synchroconverters.
• Modulation techniques.
• Interaction with supply system and load: current and voltage harmonics, real and reactive power.
• Modelling and simulation of simple power converters.
• Production of elòectromagnetic torque, types of electric motors.
• Mechanical loads (transmission mechanisms, torque-speed characteristics of mechanical loads).
• dc drives (dynamic model of dc motors, drives with controlled rectifiers and dc-dc converters, applications).
• Induction motor drives (dynamic model of the induction motor, converter structures, scalar and vector control, direct torque control, applications).
• Synchronous motor drives (wound rotor and permanent magnet, conversion structures, open loop control, self-control).
• Hints of trapezoidal and sinusoidal brushless drives, reluctance motor drives, step motor drives, switched reluctance motor drives.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture notes from the teacher

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

STEFANO GUGLIELMO SAVIO (President)

LUIS RAMON VACCARO

PAOLO POZZOBON (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/8716/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

POWER ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL DRIVES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written exam (solution of problems as seen in the classroom)

Oral exam (as above, and verification of theoretical aspects)

Written and oral exams are divided into two parts, according to the structure of the lectures:

1. Static energy conversion
2. Electric drives

Written and oral related to the same part have to be completed in the same session of exams. Exams related to the two parts have to be completed in the order above.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it ), the School's disability liaison.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exams will be related to the topics treated in the classroom and will evaluate the level of knowledge reached by the students and their capability of performing simple quantitative estimations on systems with power static converters and electrical machines. The students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired the ability of describing the associated electromechanical processes clearly, adopting correct terminology and notations.

Exam schedule