Power Electronics Laboratory

Introduction

The main research focus for this lab is on power electronics applications in electric motor drives, renewable energy systems, micro-grids, and the smart grid and military and aerospace systems. Electric drives investigated cover a wide range of applications including plug-in, hybrid, and electric vehicles, and electric propulsion. Renewable energy integration is mainly focused on solar photovoltaic but covers several other areas. Efficiency, control, optimization, reliability, and real-time operation of most power electronic systems are of main interest. Military systems have for some time been moving towards "more-electric" aircraft, ships and vehicles, driven by requirements for improved energy efficiency, reduced weight, and high performance electronic loads. We have active research programs supporting design of very high power density bi-directional DC-DC, DC-AC and AC-DC converters with high efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions, controllable output impedance, and fast response time. The application is for integration of distributed energy storage in AC and DC power distribution systems, support of pulsed power loads, and bus disturbance rejection and stability control.

Laboratory Layout

Figure 1: View of Power Electronics Lab

Figure 2 : Equipment placement Power Electronic

Figure 3: Electrical Layout for Power Electronic Lab

Equipment

Each instructional lab bench has the following equipment:

Access to single-phase and three-phase ac power, and dc power Three single-phase transformers, inductors, capacitors Three-phase wattmeter and single-phase wattmeter Oscilloscope, power scope, multimeters, bench dual dc power supply Current probe amplifier, pulse generators Power diode module, power thyristor module, triac-diac module, thyristor firing

board DC-DC converter module, active PFC circuit 2-HP AC Drives, 1/4-HP dc drives, inverter-rated induction motor, dc motor Personal computer with OrCAD Pspice, Matlab ESR meter and LCR meter Fluke 43B and PowerSight Power Analyzers Adjustable AC source supply, and high-voltage/current DC power supplies Oscilloscopes and personal computers Electronic Loads Venable Frequency Response Analyzer Digital Multimeters, Thermo-coupling meter, AC wattmeter Pulse generator Soldering stations Temperature Humidity chamber

Number of students expected to use the lab and frequency

20 students per session/ 2 times per week (Undergraduate)

10 students/ 4 times per week (Postgraduate)

Number of researcher or technician (with job grades)1 Researcher (Q41) and 1 technician (J29)