EEEN40100 Power Electronics and Drives

Academic Year 2022/2023

⚡ This module is about modern electric motors, as found in transport applications like cars, bikes and trains, and also ubiquitously in factory settings. Importantly, the performance of such motors depends on the electronic circuits which are used to supply them: it is no longer common to directly connect a motor to an ᴀᴄ source (such as the national grid) nor a ᴅᴄ source (such as a battery) There is generally an intervening layer of electronics, known as a motor drives, which allow the motor's operation to be controlled and optimised. This module will describe how such drives work, alongside some treatment of power converters more generally.

🔋 The topic of this module is growing in relevance as batteries continue to get cheaper, smaller and more energy dense. More and more transport applications will transition to battery electric traction systems. For instance, electric aircraft are already commercially available, and battery powered ships are beginning to emerge. On our streets, more and more cars will become electric, as will motorbikes, buses & vans, alongside micromobility solutions like electric scooters & unicycles.

👨‍🏫 Broadly, the module will treat:

ᴅᴄ power conversion:
• Three phase uncontrolled and controlled rectification: current and voltage waveforms, power factor, firing angle, overlap angle, generation of firing pulses.
• Switch-mode power supplies,
• Operation of DC motors and generators (Speed control, starting procedures etc.)

ᴀᴄ power conversion:
• Single phase inverters.
• Three phase inverters: line commutated and full wave converters.
• Rotating magnetic field motors fed from inverter supplies.
• Motor torque/speed characteristics and control approaches.
• Speed control and starting of ᴀᴄ motors and generators.
• Device characteristics, diode, thyristor, ғᴇᴛ & ɪɢʙᴛ valves, snubber circuits. Thermal characteristics of devices.

While not mandatory, some relevant books include:
📙 "Electric Motors and Drives: Fundamentals, Types and Applications" by Austin Hughes
📙 "Fundamental of Power Electronic" by Robert Erickson & Dragan Maksimovic
📙 "Electrical Machines" by JD Edwards

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Describe the principles of torque production and commutation in brushed DC machines
Articulate the torque/speed characteristic of DC machines
Understand current and historical approaches to starting and operating DC machines.
Analyse the use of chopper circuits for speed control of DC machines

Describe the operation of 3-phase controlled and uncontrolled rectifier circuits.
Analyse controlled and uncontrolled rectifier circuits connected to electrical networks and electrical motors.


Describe the operating principles of rotating field AC machines
Understand current and historical approaches to starting and controlling AC motors.


Describe and analyse the operation of inverter-fed three phase motors.
Articulate relationship between control of AC motors and resulting torque/speed characteristics.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Laboratories

12
Specified Learning Activities

24
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Total

108
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
There will be a good amount of practical work in the machines lab (ENG 024) to complement the material covered in the traditional lecture sessions. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: 2 hour end of trimester exam. 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60
Lab Report: Five laboratory reports with short corresponding exercises.

Labs will run in ENG024 in weeks 2 to 11.		 Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided to students on their lab report submissions.