Graduation Course:

“Power  Converters  for  Photovoltaic  Generation  Systems”

“Switch  Mode  Power  Conversion  

Fundamentals”

Síxifo Falcones
FIEC-ESPOL
Power Electronics Converter [2]
 Power Electronics Interface [1]

The power electronics interface facilitates the transfer

of power from the source to the load by converting
voltages and currents from one form to another, in
which it is possible for the source and load to reverse
roles.
 Ideal Switch [1]
Conceptual abstraction for convenience in the study of a
circuit configuration (topology). Not real.

q(t) = 0 q(t) = 1
Switching Function
 Ideal Switch: Characteristic Curve
The ideal switch can withstand infinity voltage when open and
conduct an infinite current when closed.
 Ideal Switch: Power Consumption
The ideal switch has zero impedance and toggles between ON
and OFF states in no time. Therefore, it DOES NOT consume
power.
 Ideal  Switch  &  Kirchhoff’s  Laws
When ideal switches are used in a circuit configuration, it is
critical  not  to  violate  Kirchhoff’s  Current  Law  (KCL)  or  Kirchhoff’s  
Voltage Law (KVL).
 Solid State Switches
(Power Electronic Devices)
• Uncontrolled (commutated by line)
– Diode
• Half-controlled (controlled turn-on, turned off by line)
– SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier)
– TRIAC (Triode AC Switch)
• Fully-controlled (controlled turn-on and turn-off)
– BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor)
– MOSFET (Metal–oxide–semiconductor Field-effect
Transistor)
– IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor)
– GTO (Gate Turn-off Thyristor)
– MCT (MOS Controlled Thyristor)
– IGCT (Integrated Gate-commutated Thyristor)
 Solid State Switches (cont.)

Diode Thyristor Triac SCS GTO

BJT MOSFET IGBT MCT IGCT

Solid State Switches (cont.)
Solid State Switches (cont.)
Diode Characteristics [1]
BJT Characteristics [1]
Bidirectional-current Switch [1]
Bidirectional-voltage Switch [1]
Four-quadrant Switch [1]
General Classification of Power
Converters
• DC-DC converters
• AC-DC converters (rectifiers)
• DC-AC converters (inverters)
• AC-AC converters (cyclo-converters, matrix converters)

DC: different magnitudes

AC: different magnitudes, frequency, phase
 Commutation Type
• Line commutated converters
– Uncontrolled (diode) Rectifiers
– Controlled (thyristor-based) Rectifiers
• Forced commutated converters
– Switch Mode Converters
 Power supply problem #3
Isolated Power Supplies
Input voltage : 120V AC +/-20%
Output voltage : 5V DC +/- 0.1%
Output current : 20A max.

Linear Approach Line-Commutated Approach

High power loss Thyristor
120 V
60 Hz

Load
Large C

60 Hz transformer 60 Hz transformer
bulky, costly bulky, costly Bulky filter

EEE 572 – Raja Ayyanar

 Switch mode isolated power supply
Low loss Full-Bridge Converter

110 V
60 Hz Load

100 kHz transformer Small filters

Small C Extremely small

• High-frequency transformer
- typically smaller by a factor of 50 – 100
• smaller filter
• higher efficiency
• EMI problems

EEE 572 – Raja Ayyanar

 References

[1]    Binseng  Wang,  Lecture  “Power  Conversion,  Topological  

Fundamental”  EEE  598  Renewable  Energy  Systems,  ASU.  
[2]    Dr.  Raja  Ayyanar,  Lecture  “Introduction”  EEE  572  Advanced  
Power Electronics, ASU.
Questions?
Thanks!