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
+−24 VSL = ?CR+−9.6 V

An ideal buck converter turns 24 V into 9.6 V at a switching frequency of 20 kHz. Find the inductance L that keeps the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current at 1.5 A.

Vin​ = 24 VVo​ = 9.6 Vf = 20 kHzΔIL = 1.5 A
L = µH
2.DC-DC convertersHard
+−36 VLSC = 47 µFR = 2 Ω+−120 V

An ideal boost converter turns 36 V into 120 V for a 2 Ω load at 100 kHz. The output capacitor is 47 µF. Find the peak-to-peak output voltage ripple ΔVo in mV.

Vin​ = 36 VVo​ = 120 Vf = 100 kHzC = 47 µFR = 2 Ω
ΔVo = mV
3.DC motorsMedium
T (N·m)n (rpm)n0​ = ?

A DC motor with k = 1.5 V·s/rad runs from 220 V. Neglecting all losses at no load, find its no-load speed n0 in rpm.

V = 220 Vk = 1.5 V·s/rad
n0 = rpm
4.DC motorsHard
+−110 VRst​ = ?Ra​ = 0.8 Ω100 AM+−E = 0n = 0T

A 110 V DC motor has an armature resistance of 0.8 Ω. Find the series starting resistance Rst that limits the starting current to 100 A.

V = 110 VRa = 0.8 ΩImax = 100 A
Rst = Ω
5.AC power & power factorMedium
230 VR + jXP = 3324 W17 A

An inductive load takes 17 A and 3324 W from a 230 V (rms) single-phase supply. Model it as a resistance R in series with a reactance X. Find R.

V = 230 VI = 17 AP = 3324 W
R = Ω
6.AC power & power factorHard
240 V60 Hzload15 kW, 0.65C470 µFI

A single-phase load takes 15 kW at a power factor of 0.65 lagging from a 240 V, 60 Hz supply. A 470 µF capacitor is connected in parallel with the load. Find the new power factor cos φ seen by the supply.

P = 15 kWpf1 = 0.65V = 240 Vf = 60 HzC = 470 µF
cos φ =
7.Three-phase powerMedium
ABCVL​ = 415 VIL​ = ?M7.5 kW, η = 93%cos φ = 0.88

A three-phase induction motor delivers 7.5 kW of mechanical output power at full load. At this load its efficiency is 93% and its power factor is 0.88 lagging. The supply has a line-to-line voltage of 415 V. Find the line current IL.

Pout = 7.5 kWη = 93%cos φ = 0.88VL = 415 V
IL = A
8.Three-phase powerHard
P = 200 kWφ1​S1​Q2​QC​ = ?

A balanced three-phase load takes 200 kW at a power factor of 0.78 lagging from a 690 V (line-to-line), 50 Hz supply. A three-phase capacitor bank in parallel with the load must raise the overall power factor to 0.9 lagging. The real power stays the same. Find the total reactive power QC the capacitor bank must supply, in kvar.

P = 200 kWpf1 = 0.78pf2 = 0.9VL = 690 Vf = 50 Hz
QC = kvar

3Solutions

1.DC-DC converters

Answer: L = 192 µH

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 = 9.6/24 = 0.4

Inductance

L = 14.4·0.4/(1.5·20·10³) = 192 µH

Answer

L = 192 µH
2.DC-DC converters

Answer: ΔVo = 8936 mV

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 = 1 − 36/120 = 0.7

Load current

Io = 120/2 = 60 A

Output ripple

ΔVo = 60·0.7/(100·10³·47·10⁻⁶) = 8936 mV

Answer

ΔVo = 8936 mV
3.DC motors

Answer: n0 = 1401 rpm

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.

No-load speed

ω₀ = V/k = 220/1.5 = 146.7 rad/s
n0 = 60·146.7/(2π) = 1401 rpm

Answer

n0 = 1401 rpm
4.DC motors

Answer: Rst = 0.3 Ω

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.

Total resistance

Ra + Rst = 110/100 = 1.1 Ω

Starting resistor

Rst = 1.1 − 0.8 = 0.3 Ω

Answer

Rst = 0.3 Ω

The resistor is cut out step by step as the motor speeds up and the back-EMF grows.

5.AC power & power factor

Answer: R = 11.5 Ω

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.

Resistance from the real power

R = P/I² = 3324/17² = 11.5 Ω

Answer

R = 11.5 Ω
6.AC power & power factor

Answer: cos φ = 0.8984

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 = 15·tan(arccos 0.65) = 17.54 kvar
QC = V²·2πf·C = 240²·2π·60·470·10⁻⁶ = 10206 var = 10.21 kvar
Q2 = 17.54 − 10.21 = 7.331 kvar

New apparent power

S2 = √(15² + 7.331²) = 16.7 kVA

New power factor

cos φ = P/S2 = 15/16.7 = 0.8984

Answer

cos φ = 0.8984
7.Three-phase power

Answer: IL = 12.75 A

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.

Electrical input power

Pin = Pout/η = 7.5/0.93 = 8.065 kW

Line current

IL = Pin/(√3·VL·cos φ) = 8065/(√3·415·0.88) = 12.75 A

Answer

IL = 12.75 A
8.Three-phase power

Answer: QC = 63.59 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 = 200·tan(acos 0.78) = 200·0.8023 = 160.5 kvar
Q2 = 200·tan(acos 0.9) = 200·0.4843 = 96.86 kvar

Reactive power from the capacitors

QC = Q1 − Q2 = 63.59 kvar

Answer

QC = 63.59 kvar

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