Power & thermal electronics for energy conversion

This course provides the basis for the study of power electronic converters applied to the supply of electronic systems or the control of electromechanical actuators (motors). These devices are based on the principle of switching to approach a theoretical efficiency of 100%. Switching imposes a non-dissipative power filtering (inductors and capacitors) whose dimensioning is an important step.

This course also provides basic skills in thermal calculations and sizing for cooling power semiconductor devices.

It is a prerequisite for further study in the Master EEA.

The main objective of this course is to give students the ability to analyze independently a power electronics circuit operating in open loop and steady state. This analysis is based on the establishment of successive partial equivalent diagrams, equations and chronograms of internal time variables (currents, voltages). It leads to the determination of the conversion functions as well as the dimensioning of the circuit components to meet a simple specification.

A second objective is the acquisition of skills in the thermal field to know how to analyze and calculate the heating in an electrical energy conversion system and in particular the temperatures of power semiconductors.

- Perfect command of the study of electrical circuits, application of Kirchhoff's laws.
- Solid foundations in elementary mathematics and physics. Simple differential and integral calculus. Fourier series.

Recommended prerequisites: UE of the EEA L2 license: HAE403E: Circuit and measurements in electrical engineering.

Continuous assessment for the course part (70% of the final grade) and for the practical work (30% of the final grade).

Evaluation by two continuous assessment exams for the course part.

Evaluation of the practical work by an individual practical exam at the end of the series including an oral examination. Possible modulation of this mark according to the whole of the practical work: reports, work in session and preparations.

1. Introduction to power electronics: comparison of linear power supplies and switching devices.
2. Generalities on converters: loss suppression, switching electronics, non dissipative filtering.
3. Semiconductor power switch components and reactive components (inductors and capacitors).
4. Study of non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converters: series chopper (buck), parallel chopper (boost) and inverting chopper (inductive storage).
5. Study of non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converters: 2 quadrant chopper and 4 quadrant chopper.
6. DC-AC converters: full wave inverters and pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters.
7. Isolated DC-DC converters: direct transfer power supply type FORWARD and inductive storage power supply type FLYBACK.
8. Thermal engineering applied to power electronics and electrical machines. Heat transfer modes (conduction, convection, radiation).
9. Application: calculation of internal temperatures of semiconductor components in a power converter under real operating conditions.