Power Electronics and Drives: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

DC-DC converters

Buck
Vo = D·Vin
Boost
Vo = Vin/(1 − D)
Inverting buck-boost
|Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D)
Ideal power balance
VinIin = VoIo
Inductor ripple
ΔIL = VL,on·D/(L·f); buck Vin − Vo, boost and buck-boost Vin
Average inductor current
buck Io; boost and buck-boost Io/(1 − D)
Output ripple
buck ΔIL/(8fC); boost and buck-boost Io·D/(fC)
CCM boundary
buck (1 − D)R/(2f); boost D(1 − D)²R/(2f); buck-boost (1 − D)²R/(2f)

Method

  1. Identify the converter (buck, boost or buck-boost) and the duty cycle D from the voltage ratio.
  2. Use volt-second balance on the inductor: the average inductor voltage over a period is zero.
  3. Find the inductor voltage while the switch is on, then ΔIL = VL·D/(L·f).
  4. For the output ripple, find the charge that flows in and out of the capacitor; for the CCM boundary, set the average inductor current equal to ΔIL/2.

DC motors

Armature circuit
V = E + IaRa
Back-EMF and torque
E = k·ω, T = k·Ia
Speed
ω = 2π·n/60, ω = (V − IaRa)/k
No-load speed and stall torque
ω0 = V/k, Tstall = k·V/Ra
Powers
Pin = V·Ia, Pdev = E·Ia = T·ω, Pout = Pdev − Prot
Starting
Istart = V/(Ra + Rst)
Speed regulation
SR = (n0 − nFL)/nFL
Maximum developed power
Pmax = V²/(4Ra)
Chopper drive
Va = D·Vdc

Method

  1. Draw the armature circuit: supply V, resistance Ra and the back-EMF E in series.
  2. Use V = E + Ia·Ra to link voltage, current and back-EMF.
  3. Use E = k·ω for speed and T = k·Ia for torque, with ω = 2π·n/60.
  4. For power and efficiency, start from V·Ia, subtract the copper loss Ia²·Ra and then the rotational losses.

AC power & power factor

Real power
P = V·I·cos φ
Reactive power
Q = V·I·sin φ
Apparent power
S = V·I = √(P² + Q²)
Power factor
pf = cos φ = P/S
Correction capacitor
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(ωV²)

Three-phase power

Y connection
VL = √3·Vph, IL = Iph
Δ connection
VL = Vph, IL = √3·Iph
Total real power
P = √3·VL·IL·cos φ = 3·Iph²·R
Apparent and reactive power
S = √3·VL·IL, Q = P·tan φ
Correction capacitors
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(3ωV²)
Voltage across each capacitor
Δ: VL Y: VL/√3
Motor input
Pin = Pout/η

2Practice problems

1.DC-DC convertersMedium
tiL​Imax​Imin​ΔI = ?DTT2T

An ideal buck converter turns 36 V into 18 V at 500 kHz with L = 100 µH. Find the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current ΔIL.

Vin​ = 36 VVo​ = 18 Vf = 500 kHzL = 100 µH
ΔIL = A
2.DC-DC convertersHard
tiL​Imax​Io​DTT2T

A buck converter turns 48 V into 33.6 V at 25 kHz with L = 68 µH. Find the smallest load current Io,min for which it stays in continuous conduction.

Vin​ = 48 VVo​ = 33.6 Vf = 25 kHzL = 68 µH
Io,min = A
3.DC motorsMedium
+−110 VRa​ = 1.2 ΩIa​ = 10 AM+−EωT

A DC motor draws 10 A from a 110 V supply. Its armature resistance is 1.2 Ω and its rotational (friction, windage and iron) losses are 39 W. Find its efficiency η.

V = 110 VIa = 10 ARa = 1.2 ΩProt = 39 W
η = %
4.DC motorsHard
+−240 VD = ?Ra​ = 0.5 ΩM+−En = 500 rpmT = 18.75 N·m

A DC chopper feeds a motor (k = 0.75 V·s/rad, Ra = 0.5 Ω) from a 240 V DC bus. The average armature voltage is D·240 V. Find the duty cycle D that runs the motor at 500 rpm with a load of 18.75 N·m.

Vdc = 240 Vk = 0.75 V·s/radRa = 0.5 ΩT = 18.75 N·mn = 500 rpm
D = %
5.AC power & power factorMedium
P = 23 kWQ = ?Sφ

A single-phase motor takes 23 kW at a power factor of 0.6 lagging from a 400 V supply. Find the reactive power Q it draws.

P = 23 kWpf = 0.6V = 400 V
Q = kvar
6.AC power & power factorHard
240 V60 Hzload9 kW, 0.75C68 µFI = ?

A single-phase load takes 9 kW at a power factor of 0.75 lagging from a 240 V, 60 Hz supply. A 68 µF capacitor is connected in parallel with the load. Find the new line current I.

P = 9 kWpf1 = 0.75V = 240 Vf = 60 HzC = 68 µF
I = A
7.Three-phase powerMedium
ABCVL​ = 400 VNZ = 5 + j12 Ωper phase

A balanced Y-connected load with an impedance of 5 + j12 Ω per phase is connected to a balanced three-phase supply with a line-to-line voltage of 400 V. Find the total real power P absorbed by the load in kW.

VL = 400 VZ = 5 + j12 Ω per phase
P = kW
8.Three-phase powerHard
P = 80 kWφ1​S1​Q2​QC​ = ?

A balanced three-phase load takes 80 kW at a power factor of 0.78 lagging from a 400 V (line-to-line), 60 Hz supply. A three-phase capacitor bank in parallel with the load must raise the overall power factor to 0.98 lagging. The real power stays the same. Find the total reactive power QC the capacitor bank must supply, in kvar.

P = 80 kWpf1 = 0.78pf2 = 0.98VL = 400 Vf = 60 Hz
QC = kvar

3Solutions

1.DC-DC converters

Answer: ΔIL = 0.18 A

DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.

Duty cycle

D = 18/36 = 0.5

Inductor voltage during the on-time

While S is on, the inductor sits between Vin and Vo.

VL = 36 − 18 = 18 V

Ripple current

ΔIL = VL·D/(L·f) = 18·0.5/(100·10⁻⁶·500·10³) = 0.18 A

Answer

ΔIL = 0.18 A
2.DC-DC converters

Answer: Io,min = 2.965 A

DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.

Duty cycle

D = 33.6/48 = 0.7

Ripple current

ΔIL = 33.6·0.3/(68·10⁻⁶·25·10³) = 5.929 A

Boundary load current

Io,min = ΔIL/2 = 2.965 A

Answer

Io,min = 2.965 A

Below this current the converter enters discontinuous conduction and Vo rises above D·Vin.

3.DC motors

Answer: η = 85.55 %

DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.

Powers

Pin = 110·10 = 1100 W
Pdev = 98·10 = 980 W
Pout = 980 − 39 = 941 W

Efficiency

η = 941/1100·100 = 85.55 %

Answer

η = 85.55 %
4.DC motors

Answer: D = 21.57 %

DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.

Required armature voltage

Va = 0.75·52.36 + 25·0.5 = 51.77 V

Duty cycle

D = 51.77/240 = 21.57 %

Answer

D = 21.57 %
5.AC power & power factor

Answer: Q = 30.67 kvar

AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.

Angle

φ = arccos(0.6) = 53.13°, tan φ = 1.333

Reactive power

Q = P·tan φ = 23·1.333 = 30.67 kvar

Answer

Q = 30.67 kvar
6.AC power & power factor

Answer: I = 46.16 A

AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.

Reactive power before and after

The real power P does not change; only the reactive power drawn from the supply does.

Q1 = 9·tan(arccos 0.75) = 7.937 kvar
QC = V²·2πf·C = 240²·2π·60·68·10⁻⁶ = 1477 var = 1.477 kvar
Q2 = 7.937 − 1.477 = 6.461 kvar

New apparent power

S2 = √(9² + 6.461²) = 11.08 kVA

New line current

I = S2/V = 11079/240 = 46.16 A

Answer

I = 46.16 A
7.Three-phase power

Answer: P = 4.734 kW

Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ.

Phase voltage

Vph = 400/√3 = 230.9 V

Phase current

|Z| = √(5² + 12²) = 13 Ω
Iph = 230.9/13 = 17.76 A

Total real power

Only the resistive part of each impedance absorbs real power.

P = 3·Iph²·R = 3·17.76²·5 = 4.734 kW

Answer

P = 4.734 kW

Check: cos φ = R/|Z| = 0.3846, and √3·VL·IL·cos φ gives the same power.

8.Three-phase power

Answer: QC = 47.94 kvar

Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ. Power factor correction: capacitors supply reactive power locally, QC = P·(tan φ1 − tan φ2). Each of the three capacitors supplies QC/3 = V²·ω·C, where V is the voltage across that capacitor: VL in a Δ bank, VL/√3 in a Y bank.

Reactive power before and after

The real power is unchanged, so each power factor fixes the reactive power: Q = P·tan φ.

Q1 = 80·tan(acos 0.78) = 80·0.8023 = 64.18 kvar
Q2 = 80·tan(acos 0.98) = 80·0.2031 = 16.24 kvar

Reactive power from the capacitors

QC = Q1 − Q2 = 47.94 kvar

Answer

QC = 47.94 kvar

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