Energy Conversion Systems

This course consists of several sections. The first section covers the power electronics structures required to power an electronic system. The second section will focus on current- or voltage-based control of these structures. A third section will cover the conversion functions required to control MCC and brushless DC actuators.

The final section presents actuator topologies for robotics and their implementation. The control of a DC motor and the self-driving control of a synchronous motor will illustrate this final section.

Hands-on exercises will allow students to observe the principles and implementation of controlled systems for electronics and actuators. This course unit may serve as the basis for M1 project topics.

The objective of this course is to provide students with the basic knowledge necessary to understand how a closed-loop energy conversion system works, whether it involves voltage or current regulation in an electronic power supply or the control of an electric actuator.

The student must be able to analyze the operation of a non-isolated static converter by studying its various operating phases. The student must be able to draw the various associated diagrams, equations, and time-domain graphs, and determine the control parameters associated with a voltage- or current-controlled loop of a power converter based on technical documentation and calculation methods.

Students must be familiar with the architectures and specific characteristics of the converters required to control electric actuators.

Students should be familiar with the actuators used in robotic applications or low-power drive systems.

The student must be able to model a DC machine using transfer functions based on its electrical and mechanical equations and its electrical model, and must be able to implement a cascade control system: speed control and internal current control.

Students will need to understand the principle of autonomous control for brushless DC motors used in low-power applications (model building, drones, electric propulsion).

The lab exercises will demonstrate and illustrate the principle of voltage regulation in a DC/DC power supply, the regulation of a magnet-based MCC, and the autopilot control of a brushless DC motor.

Students must be able to use the relevant circuit simulation or block diagram software.

A bachelor’s degree in EEA or science and technology in the field of applied physics or electrical engineering, with coursework on the basic principles of power electronics.

Understand the basic principles of how electric machines work.

Fundamentals of Automatic Control for the Analog Control of a Linear System.

Course unit with continuous assessment.

1. Introduction and Overview of Power Electronics.
2. DC/DC Conversion
3. Voltage Regulation of a Series Chopper: Principle and Transfer Function
4. Calculations for the compensators in a voltage- and current-controlled loop. Applications
5. Converters for controlling brushed and brushless DC motors. Full-bridge configuration. DC-to-AC conversion: Inverter. Control principles

1. Actuators for Robotics. Different Types of Actuators and Components. Control Architectures. Kinematic Chains: Definitions
2. Closed-loop analysis of a magnet-based MCC. Modeling of the power conversion chain. Determination of the correction values for a voltage- and current-controlled regulation loop
3. Study of the control of a brushless DC motor. Control principle of a brushless DC motor: self-control. Control architecture of a brushless motor

CM: 24 hours           

Practical Training: 6:00 p.m.