Special Topics in Power Electronics
A curated series of advanced lectures spanning DAB converters, soft switching, power semiconductor practice, automotive electrification, SVPWM, and modular multilevel converters. Each module blends theory with design trade-offs and real application constraints (thermal, EMI, SOA, reliability). Ideal for senior/graduate students and practitioners seeking concise, high-impact refreshers on modern power electronics topics.
Modules
Description: Introduces the DAB DC-DC converter: two H-bridges and a high-frequency transformer enabling galvanic isolation and bi-directional power flow. Explains phase-shift power control and the role of transformer leakage inductance. Highlights inherent Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) over a broad operating range and key waveforms.
Description: Design trade-offs for maximizing ZVS across bus/load variation. Covers turns-ratio selection, switching frequency choice, and series inductance sizing. Shows how magnetizing inductance extends light-load ZVS and summarizes component (transformer, capacitor) and control/compensator design touchpoints.
Description: Adds PWM strategies to overcome limits of pure phase-shift control. Compares Single-PWM vs Dual-PWM to push ZVS to near-zero load, reduce RMS currents, and lower core loss. Briefly surveys multi-port DABs and half-bridge realizations for application flexibility.
Description: Application-focused IGBT overview for high-V/high-I. Examines hard-switching with inductive loads, trade-offs among VCE(sat), speed, and short-circuit withstand. Defines forward/reverse-biased SOA, reviews high-side gate-drive options (optos, level-shifters, bootstrap), and best practices for paralleling with matched characteristics.
Description: Covers planar, trench, and super-junction MOSFETs with practical datasheet interpretation. Discusses RDS(on) rise with temperature, VGS(th) drift, and thermal/SOA limits including instability and hot-spotting. Advises on paralleling (individual gate resistors) and introduces GaN HEMTs and cascode implementations.
Description: Explains gas-discharge lamp behavior and why ballasts are essential. Presents EMI filter → rectifier → PFC → half-bridge inverter → resonant stage, with ZVS above resonance. Details preheat, strike, and run modes by frequency control, CrCM boost PFC, dimming needs, and LED driver contrasts/CRI considerations.
Description: Surveys the evolution of automotive electronics, harsh environments, and temperature classes by location. Defines EV, HEV, and PHEV, contrasting series, parallel, and power-split (series-parallel) drivetrains. Outlines micro/mild/full hybridization levels and expected fuel-economy gains.
Description: Clarifies inverter (traction) and DC-DC (HV to 12 V) roles and the demands of harsh, high-density, liquid-cooled, cost-sensitive designs. Reviews SVPWM and vector control (id/iq), growing powertrain integration, fuel-cell DC-DC interfacing, and bidirectional V2G operation using the traction inverter.
Description: Compares Toyota’s series-parallel Hybrid Synergy Drive (power-split) with Honda’s parallel IMA, including Prius operating modes and boosted DC link. Samples commercial EVs and plug-ins (Leaf, Volt, Tesla) and machines used. Introduces 48-V micro-hybrid goals and trends toward SiC inverters and higher power density.
Description: Defines soft vs hard switching and benefits (loss, stress, EMI, power density, frequency). Explains ZVS/ZCS and lossless snubbers (parallel C, series L). Demonstrates ZVS in synchronous buck via dead-time/diode conduction and shows series resonant converters operating above resonance for ZVS on both devices.
Description: Extends soft-switching to high-power full-bridges (e.g., phase-shifted ZVS). Covers maintaining ZVS/ZCS across wide load, sizing resonant L/C, EMI and filter implications, and the trade-off between lower switching loss and higher circulating/conduction loss inherent to soft-switched designs.
Description: Builds SVPWM from the space-vector model of a three-phase VSI. Explains six active and two zero vectors, dwell calculations within Ts, and the 2⁄3 relation between space-vector peak and phase voltage. Shows common-mode injection to increase DC-bus utilization vs sine-triangle PWM and notes implementation tips.
Description: Introduces MMC phase legs with upper/lower arms, arm inductors, and series submodules (half-bridge/full-bridge). Shows multilevel staircase synthesis yielding near-sinusoidal waveforms and very low THD. Highlights scalability for HVDC/SST, low device switching frequency, high efficiency, and redundancy.
Description: This module provides a fundamental overview of EMC: ensuring electronic equipment operates reliably in its intended environment. It distinguishes Emissions (do not disturb other equipment) from Susceptibility/Immunity (withstand external disturbances). Related topics include EMI/RFI, power quality, and ESD, with focus on military and commercial standards such as MIL-STD-461 and European EN norms.