EEE472/591 – Power Electronics & Power Management

Homework #1

Problem 1 (20 points)

Select any one application of power electronics that you use or see on a daily basis. Describe
briefly (about 3 sentences) the role of the power converter in this application. Give the basic
specifications for the converter such as input voltage and current and output voltage and current,
and any other unique requirement if applicable.

Problem 2: (25 points)

Consider the waveform of some quantity x(t) vs. time shown in Fig. 1 in the context of a switch
mode dc-dc power converter. The unit of x(t) is V or A or W corresponding to the different
questions below.

x (t )
6
4

0 t
3µ s 10 µ s 13µ s 20µ s
Fig. 1.

(a) Can the waveform of Fig. 1 be that of the current through a 100µH inductor in steady state?
If Yes, calculate and plot the corresponding voltage across the same inductor.
If No, give a specific reason why it is not a valid waveform.
(b) Can the waveform of Fig. 1 be that of the voltage across a 100 µH inductor in steady state?
If Yes, calculate and plot the corresponding current through the same inductor.
If No, give a specific reason why it is not a valid waveform.
(c) Can the waveform of Fig. 1 be that of current through a 100µF capacitor in steady state?
If Yes, calculate and plot the corresponding voltage through the same capacitor.
If No, give a specific reason why it is not a valid waveform.
(d) Can the waveform of Fig. 1 be that of the voltage across a 100 µF capacitor in steady state?
If Yes, calculate and plot the corresponding current through the same capacitor.
If No, give a specific reason why it is not a valid waveform.
(e) Can the waveform of Fig. 1 be that of power absorbed or sourced by either a 100µF capacitor
or a 100µH inductor in steady state?
If Yes, plot the corresponding instantaneous energy in the capacitor or inductor.
If No, give a specific reason why it is not a valid waveform.

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Problem 3: (25 points)

+ + +
+

(a) (b) (c) (d)

In the above circuits all the components are assumed ideal. The value of inductance is 25 µ H and
the capacitance is 10 µ F . The switching frequency is 200 kHz and the duty ratio is 0.4. Which
of the above circuit(s) result in valid steady-state operation? Justify your answers clearly, i.e., for
the circuits that do not result in valid steady-state operation explain exactly what requirement is
violated.

Problem 4: (25 points)

Referring to the figure below, plot the following waveforms for 0 < t < 10µs, clearly showing all
the relevant magnitudes. Assume that the circuit is in steady state.

(i) vo t  , (ii) vo t  , (iii) iin t  , (iv) iin t 

(v) instantaneous and average power supplied by the source
(vi) instantaneous and average power absorbed by the load
iin

Vin io

5V d = 0.66 +
f = 200 kHz
20 A vo
-

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Problem 5: (25 points)
Determine if each of the following circuits can result in valid steady state operation (and without
infinite voltage(s) or current(s)) or not. For the valid circuit(s), calculate the indicated parameters.
For the invalid circuits, explain why they are not valid.
100 µH
is 1A
+ vL −
t (µ s )
vL (t ) = ?
(a) 0 1 is 10 Ω
2
− 1A

200 µH
100V +
+ Vo1 = ?
vs 20 Ω Vo1
(b) 0 t (µs ) vs
100 µF −
3 5 8 10 −
−100V

+
200  F
(c)
Net iL 20V iL  ?
work 5
- (CCA value of iL)

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