1

Concordia University
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Power Electronics (I) ELEC-433/6411
Week 1
Review of basic concepts
(Chapter 3)
Outline of the lecture
Review of basic concepts:
Definitions
Analysis of sinusoidal waveforms
Analysis of nonsinusoidal waveforms
Response of an inductor and a capacitor to
pulsed signals
Definitions on power electronic systems
Pulsed versus linear electronics
Classification of power converters
Scope and applications
2
Conventions
IEEE standard letter and graphic symbols.
Units of the International System of Units (SI):
meter (m), second (s), kilogram (kg) etc..
Italic lowercase letters represent the instantaneous
value of quantities.
Italic uppercase letters represent average or rms
values
Bold uppercase letters represent phasors.
) sin( 2 ) ( t V v t v
s s s
= =
Steady-state
When is a linear circuit in steady-state?
When is a switched converter in steady-state?
Consider the following dc-dc converter.
3
Steady-state
In switched circuits, steady-state is reached when
the circuit waveforms repeat with a time period T.
This course focuses on steady-state analysis.
Time
0s 50us 100us 150us 200us 250us 300us 350us 400us 450us 500us
V(VOUT) I(L)
0
10
20
30
Average and rms values
For the following system:
The instantaneous power is:
For resistive loads:

= = =
T
o
T
o
AV
dt i v
T
dt t p
T
P i v t p
1
) (
1
) (

= = =
T
o
rms R
dt i
T
I I I R P
1

2 2
4
Sinusoidal steady-state and phasors

= =
+ = =
=
=

) ( tan ,
,
) ( sin 2
sin 2
1
2 2
R X L X
X R Z Z V I
t I i
t V v
L L
L

Phasor representation
Waveforms with the same frequency can be repre
sented in a complex plane by phasors.
Their rms values are used to represent their magni
tude.
The reference phasor is usually placed in the posi
tive side of the x axis (angle is zero).
Phasors rotate in a counterclockwise direction.
What really matters is the phase angle between the
quantities under consideration.

j j
j
j
j
Ie e
Z
V
Ze
Ve
Ve

= = = = =
0
0
Z
V
I and V
5
Power, reactive power and power factor
Definition of complex power (S):
Phase (I
P
) and out-of-phase (I
Q
) current compo-
nents:
[ ]
[ ]
factor. power , cos PF
(VAr) power reactive , sin S Im
(W) power real , cos S Re
(VA), power apparent
VI S
0

= =
= =
= =
=
= = = =

S
P
VI Q
VI P
VI S
Se VIe Ie Ve
j j j j
Q Q
P P
VI Q I I
VI P I I
= =
= =
sin
cos

POWER TRIANGLE
S
Q
P

2 2 2
, S
sin cos S
Q P S jQ P
jVI VI
+ = + =
+ =
Power factor and reactive power
A resistive load ( = 0

) presents a unity
power factor and does not consume VArs.
A pure inductor ( = 90

) presents PF = 0
lagging, meaning it consumes VArs.
A pure capacitor ( = -90

) presents PF = 0
leading, meaning it produces VArs.
Common loads (motors) consume VArs.
Check Example 3-1: PF correction!
6
Three-phase systems
Positive sequence (a-b-c)
Phase and line quantities:
Balanced systems can be analyzed in a per-phase
basis:
3
2
c
3
2
b
0
a
V , V , V

j j
j
Ve Ve Ve = = =

)
6
( )
6
(
b a ab
)
3
2
(
c
)
3
2
(
b a
3 V V V I , I , I

j
LL
j j j
j
e V Ve Ie Ie Ie = = = = = =
+

I V VI S S
LL
3 3 3
1 3
= = =

Three-phase systems
Phase and line quantities:
Time
0s 5ms 10ms 15ms 20ms 25ms 30ms 35ms 40ms 45ms 50ms
V(Va:+) V(Vb:+) V(Vc:+) V(Va:+,Vb:+)
-400V
-200V
0V
200V
400V
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Nonsinusoidal waveforms in steady state
Output voltage and input current of a frequency converter
Fourier analysis of repetitive waveforms
A nonsinusoidal waveform f(t) with angular fre
quency can be expressed by:
One can identify the dc value (F
0
) , fundamental
component (F
1
) and harmonics (F
2
, F
3
), where:
( ) ( ) [ ]
= =
= =
+ + = + =

=
,..., 1 ), ( ) sin( ) (
1
,..., 0 ), ( ) cos( ) (
1
sin cos
2
1
) ( ) (
2
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
h t d t h t f b
h t d t h t f a
t h b t h a a t f F t f
h
h
h
h h
h
h

( )
h
j
h h
h
h
h
h h
h
e F
a
b b a
F

=

=
+
= F tan since ,
2
2 2
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Waveform symmetry and simplifications
Java applet
Fourier analysis
http://www.ipes.ethz.ch/ipes/iPESelectronic
/fourier/e_fourier.html
Fourier components:
http://www.falstad.com/fourier/
Fourier synthesis:
http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.
php?topic=17
9
Line current distortion
Input current of a 1 diode bridge rectifier
Fourier representation:
RMS value:
THD:
Crest factor:

+ =
1
1
) ( ) ( ) (
h
sh s s
t i t i t i
2 1
1
2
2 1
0
2
) (
1
|
|

\
|
=
|
|

\
|
=

= h
sh
T
s s
I dt t i
T
I

= = =
1
2 2
1
2
1
where , 100 (%)
h
sh s s dis
s
dis
I I I I
I
I
THD
s
s
I
I
peak ,
factor Crest =
Input power and power factor
Definitions of average power, total power factor,
and displacement power for a nonlinear load:
Thus, highly nonlinear loads present low PF
DPF
THD
PF
DPF
DPF
I
I
I
I
I V
I V
S
P
PF
I V S
I V dt i t V
T
dt i v
T
P
i
s
s
s
s
s s
s s
s s
s s
T
o
s s
T
o
s s AV
2
1
1
1
1 1 1
1 1
1
1
cos
cos
cos
cos sin 2
1

1
+
=
=
= = = =
=
= = =

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Inductor and capacitor response
Phasor analysis (steady-state):
2 2
2
V V I
V V V
I

j
L C C
j L
j
L L
L
Ce C j e
L L e L j
= = |

\
|
= = =

Inductor and capacitor response
Transient response to a pulse (time domain)
1 1 1
,
1
) ( ) ( ,
1
) ( ) (
1 1
t t d i
C
t v t v d v
L
t i t i
t
t
C C C
t
t
L L L
> + = + =


11
Inductor current & voltage in steady-state
Volt-second over T (average voltage) equal to zero
Capacitor current & voltage in steady-state
Amp-second over T (average current) equal to zero
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INSTITUT EN GNIE DE
LNERGIE LECTRIQUE
Power Electronic Systems (IGEE 401)
Week 1
Power electronic systems
(Chapter 1)
Power electronic systems
Process and control the flow of electric energy by
supplying voltages and currents in a form that is
optimally suited for user loads.
What about the waveforms at the utility side?
Power electronic converters are essentially non
linear systems that inject current harmonics in the
utility causing power quality problems.
A number of agencies (IEEE, IEC etc.) have
established standards that limit the amount of
harmonic current injection allowed.
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Power quality problems due to static
converters
Block diagram
Power processor is composed of active (semiconductor
switches) and passive elements (inductors and capacitors).
Controller: linear ICs (opamps), application oriented ICs
(TCA785, LM3525) or Digital Signal Processors.
Sensors provide feedback (load) and synchronization
signals (input).
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Switched x linear electronics
Example: 78XX family of linear voltage regulators
Efficiency?
Switched x linear electronics
Smaller high-frequency
transformer.
Transistor operates as a switch.
Higher efficiency.
Lower weight and size.
15
Basic principles of switch-mode converters
The transistor
operates with a fixed
switching frequency
and high efficiency
PWM controls the
average output
voltage (V
oi
).
LC filter reduces the
output voltage ripple.
They can be reduced
by operating at high
frequency.
Switching losses!
) ( ) ( t v V t v
ripple oi oi
+ =
Scope and applications
FACTS
16
Classification of power converters
According to the type of input and output power:
- Ac > dc : Rectifier
- Ac > ac: Ac controller and frequency converter
- Dc > dc: Chopper
- Dc > ac: Inverter
According to the type of commutation:
- Line frequency naturally commutated converters
- Switching forced-commutated converters
- Resonant soft-switching converters
Power flow through ac-dc converters
Rectifier mode of operation: Power flows from the
ac to the dc side.
Inverter mode of operation: Power flows from the
dc to the ac side.
Application examples: AC drives and grid connec
ted Photovoltaic (PV) systems
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Interdisciplinary nature of power
electronics