EE 660

Applications of Power Electronics to Power Systems

Instructor: Prof. Anshuman Shukla

Email: ashukla@ee.iitb.ac.in
Office: Power Electronics Lab 2, EE Main Building
Lecture hours: Slot 8
Lecture: 3
 Power Semiconductor Devices

• Power Semiconductor Devices and their Capabilities

– Polarity of voltage blocked and direction of current conduction
– Switching speeds and power ratings

Power semiconductors primarily consist of “self-commutated” or “controllable-switched” devices.

Presently, the devices used in the

high-power application fields are Thyristor IGCT
primarily thyristors, IGBTs, and IGCTs.

Reverse current conduction and reverse voltage blocking?

IGBT MOSFET
Overview of Silicon Power Electronic Devices
Voltage and current rating for different power electronics application areas

The yellow shading indicates that the combined voltage and current ratings
exceed those of today’s power electronics technology and that several devices
must be combined in series or parallel in order to achieve the required application
rating for many high-power utility applications.
 Structure of Power Electronic Systems
• Voltage-Link Systems
– Transistors and diodes that can block voltage of only one
polarity. AC1 AC2

– A parallel capacitor forms a dc-link, hence the name voltage-link or voltage source system.
– Power flow through the converters reverses by reversal of current direction at dc ports.
– Used in power range from a few tens of watts to hundreds to MW.

• Current-Link Systems
– higher power bipolar voltage-blocking capabilities of thyristors.
– Inductor in series with two converters acts as a current link.
AC1 AC2
– Power transfer can be reversed by reversing the voltage polarity.

• Solid State Switches

– bidirectional voltage blocking and current conduction
 Role of PE in Important Utility Applications
• Distributed Generation (DG) Applications
Power electronic interface depends on the source characteristics
Wound rotor Wind Power Generation with
Induction Generator Doubly Fed Induction Motors
Isolated
PWM
DC-DC
Converter
Converter

AC DC Utility
Max. Power- Photovoltaics Interface 1f
Wind
Turbine DC AC point Tracker
Generator-side Grid-side
Converter Converter PV arrays (typically four of them connected
in series) provide a voltage of 52 to 90 V
The rotor windings are accessible through slip-rings and
DC, which is converted using the power
brushes to a PE converters system, which supplies the
electronic system to AC voltage suitable for
rotor current. By controlling the rotor current
interfacing with the single-phase utility.
appropriately, the machine can be made to act like a
generator at both subsynchronous and supersynchronous • Fuel-cell systems
speeds. Grid-side converter can control the reactive • Micro-turbines
power supplied to the utility.
The converter rating ≈ 15 % of rated power. • Energy Storage Systems
Role of PE in Important Utility Applications Switch-mode
Utility Converter
• Power Electronic Loads:
Motor
Adjustable Speed Drives

Rectifier
Controller

• Power Quality Solutions for

– voltage distortion
– unbalances Power Electronic Load
Interface
– voltage sags and swells
– power outages
Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVR)

Feeder 1 Critical
Rectifier Inverter Filter
Load
Load
Energy
Feeder 2 Storage

Dual Feeders Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Role of PE in Important Utility Applications
• Transmission and Distribution
It is desirable to have capability to dictate the flow of power on designated power lines, avoiding
overloading of transmission lines and excessive power losses in them, without sacrificing reliability.

• DC Transmission
– most flexible solution for connection of two ac systems

AC1 AC2
AC1 AC2
H/MVDC
HVDC

• Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

In existing ac transmission networks, limitation on constructing new power lines and their cost has
led to several ways to increase power transmission capability without sacrificing the stability
margin. These techniques can also help in directing the power flow to designated lines.