EPE

08 – Power Electronics
Prof. Dr. Raphael Lechner
OTH Amberg-Weiden
Literature
Power electronics for renewable and
distributed energy systems (2013). Berlin:
Springer (Green energy and technology).

2
Contents

• Power Electronic Converter Topologies

• DC/DC Converters
• AC/DC Converters (Rectifiers)
• DC/AC Converters (Inverters)

3
Power Electronic Converter Topologies
1) DC/DC converter: also known as “switching regulator”. Electronic circuit for converting DC
voltage levels, e.g., from a solar cell, fuel cell or battery to supply a DC load. Is also used as part
of DC/AC converter circuits. DC/DC coupled with AC/DC converters are used in high voltage DC
(HVDC) transmission systems.
2) DC/AC converter: also known as “inverter”. Electronic circuit that converts DC source into a
(sinusoidal) AC voltage to supply AC loads. Is used typically as inverter to converts DC output of
solar cells, fuel cells, batteries to AC. Can be part of a more complex circuit, e.g., in AC/AC
converters, where it is supplied from an intermediate DC link.
3) AC/DC converter: typically known as “rectifier”. Input is usually sinusoidal AC, e.g. 230 Vrms 50
Hz. AC voltage is rectified to a unidirectional DC voltage and used to supply DC loads. Rectifiers
are often combined with DC/DC converters or DC/AC converters in more complex circuits.
4) AC/AC converter: used to convert AC voltages both in level and frequency. Typically used in
frequency converters for variable speed AC motors and generators. Can be, e.g., a combination
of an AC/DC and a DC/AC converter trough an intermediate DC link.

4
Contents

• Power Electronic Converter Topologies

• DC/DC Converters
• AC/DC Converters (Rectifiers)
• DC/AC Converters (Inverters)

5
DC Converters
Conversion of a DC voltage V1 into a DC voltage V2 > V1 or V2 < V1.
In the ideal converter no losses occur: P1 = P2. Voltage and current change.

𝑉1 𝐼1 = 𝑉2 𝐼2
𝑉1 𝐼1
𝐼2 =
𝑉2

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Buck Converter (1)
Buck converters are used to step-down DC voltages. S is a controlled semiconductor switch, e.g., a
MOSFET or IGBT.

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Buck Converter (2)
“On“ State
𝑑𝑖𝐿
𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑛 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 =න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑜𝑛
𝐿 𝐿

“Off“ State
L
𝑑𝑖𝐿
i1=0 S iL vL i2 𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = −𝑉2
V1 vD=0 V2 R
−𝑉2 −𝑉2
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 T𝑜𝑓𝑓 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑆
𝐿 𝐿

8
Buck Converter (3)
Stationary operation 𝑣𝑆 (𝑡)
𝑉1
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) = 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=𝑇
𝑆) 𝑉2
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) = 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 (𝑡=0...𝑇 + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓
𝑜𝑛 ) (𝑡=𝑇𝑜𝑛 ...𝑇𝑆 )

𝑇𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑇𝑆 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉2
𝑉1 − 𝑉2 −𝑉2 −
𝑇𝑜𝑛 + (𝑇𝑆 − 𝑇𝑜𝑛 ) = 0 𝐿 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿
𝑉1 𝑇𝑜𝑛 − 𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑛 − 𝑉2 𝑇𝑆 + 𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑛 = 0
𝑉1 𝑇𝑜𝑛 − 𝑉2 𝑇𝑆 = 0

𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑛
= =𝛿 Duty Factor
𝑉1 𝑇𝑆

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Boost Converter (1)
Boost converters are used to step-up DC voltages. S is a controlled semiconductor switch, e.g., a
MOSFET or IGBT.

i1 i2
vL

V1 S vS C V2 R

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Boost Converter (2)
“Off“ State
L

i1 i2 𝑑𝑖𝐿
vL 𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
S
𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
V1 vS = V2 V2 R 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉1 − 𝑉2
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓
𝐿 𝐿

“On“ State
𝑑𝑖𝐿
i1 vL i2 𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑛 = 𝑉1
V1 S vS = 0 V2=0 R 𝑉1 𝑉1
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 = න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 T𝑜𝑓𝑓 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑆
𝐿 𝐿

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Boost Converter (3)
Stationary operation 𝑣𝑆 (𝑡)
𝑉2

𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) = 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=𝑇 𝑉1
𝑆)
𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) = 𝑖𝐿 (𝑡=0) + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 (𝑡=𝑇
(𝑡=0...𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 ) 𝑜𝑓𝑓 ...𝑇𝑆 )

𝑇𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑇𝑆 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉1
𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑉1 −
(𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 − 0) + (𝑇𝑆 − 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 ) = 0 𝐿 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿
𝑉1 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 − 𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 + 𝑉1 𝑇𝑆 − 𝑉1 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 = 0
𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 = 𝑇𝑆 − 𝑇𝑜𝑛
−𝑉2 𝑇𝑆 − 𝑇𝑜𝑛 + 𝑉1 𝑇𝑆 = 0

𝑉1 − 𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑛 𝑉1
= =𝛿 =1−𝛿
−𝑉2 𝑇𝑆 𝑉2

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Buck-Boost Converter (1)
Buck-Boost converters are used to step-down and step-up DC voltages. S is a controlled
semiconductor switch, e.g., a MOSFET or IGBT.

i1 S

V1 L vL C V2 R

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Buck-Boost Converter (2)
“On“ State

i1 S
𝑑𝑖𝐿
𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
L vL 𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑛 = 𝑉1
V1 V2 R 𝑉1 𝑉1
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 = න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑜𝑛
iL 𝐿 𝐿

“Off“ State

i1 S i2 𝑑𝑖𝐿
𝐿 = 𝑣𝐿
𝑑𝑡
vL L 𝑣𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = −𝑉2
V1 V2 R −𝑉2 −𝑉2
𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 = න 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 T𝑜𝑛 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇𝑆
iL 𝐿 𝐿
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Buck-Boost Converter (3)
Stationary operation
Example for 24 V source
40
𝑖𝐿 0 = 𝑖𝐿 𝑇𝑆
20
𝑖𝐿 0 = 𝑖𝐿 0 + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑜𝑛 − 0 + 𝑖𝐿,𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑇𝑜𝑛 + 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 − 𝑇𝑜𝑛
0

Voltage in V
-20

𝑉1 −𝑉2 -40
𝑇 + 𝑇 =0
𝐿 𝑜𝑛 𝐿 𝑜𝑓𝑓
-60

𝑉1 𝑇𝑜𝑛 = 𝑉2 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 -80

𝑉2 𝑇 -100
= 𝑇 𝑜𝑛 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
𝑉1 𝑜𝑓𝑓
Duty factor
V_2 V_1

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Exercise 1
A PV module is used to charge a battery. In order to always set the correct charging voltage,
a buck-boost converter is used. The maximum power point (MPP) of the PV generator
reaches 21 V at STC (Standard Test Conditions), the battery charging voltage is 14.4V.
Determine the required duty factor.
Now assume the temperature of the PV module increases to 75 °C. The temperature
coefficient of the MPP voltage is -0.4 %/K. What duty factor do you require now?

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Exercise 1

17
Questions?

18
Contents

• Power Electronic Converter Topologies

• DC/DC Converters
• AC/DC Converters (Rectifiers)
• DC/AC Converters (Inverters)

19
Rectifiers
Conversion of an AC voltage VAC into a DC voltage VDC with VDC ≤ VAC.
Ideally, the rms value of the generated DC voltage is equal to the rms value of the feeding AC voltage.
However, in real operation, no ideal DC voltage can be generated, i.e., VDC is always smaller than VAC.
With controllable semiconductor switches (e.g., thyristors), the transmitted power can be varied by
controlling the turn-on delay angle.

iAC
~ iDC

~ vAC vDC R

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Single Phase Half Wave Rectifier
Diode

iD
vD

~ vAC VDC

Voltage V u
Spannung
    

𝑣𝐴𝐶 = 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔 𝑡

𝑣𝐷𝐶 = 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔 𝑡 0 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋
𝑣𝐷𝐶 = 0 𝜋 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋 Phasenwinkel
ωt 
u_AC u_DC U_DC

2
𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 𝑉 = 0.450 ⋅ 𝑉𝐴𝐶
𝜋 𝐴𝐶

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Single Phase Full Wave Rectifier with Centre
Tapped Transformer
D1 iD
R VDC

~ vAC

Voltage V u
Spannung
D2     

1 𝑁2
𝑣𝐷𝐶 = 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔𝑡 0 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋
2 𝑁1
1 𝑁2
𝑣𝐷𝐶 =− 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝜋 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋
2 𝑁1 Phasenwinkel
ωt 
u_AC u_DC U_DC

𝑁2 2 𝑁2
𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 𝑉 = 0.450𝑉𝐴𝐶
𝑁1 𝜋 𝐴𝐶 𝑁1

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Single Phase Full Wave Bridge Rectifier Circuit
iD
D1 D3

Voltage V u
Spannung
VDC R
~

Voltage U
vAC
    

D4 D2

Phasenwinkel
ωt 

𝑣𝐷𝐶 = 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔 𝑡 0 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋 u_AC u_DC U_DC

𝑣𝐷𝐶 = − 2𝑉𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜔 𝑡 𝜋 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋

2 2
𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 𝑉 = 0.900 ⋅ 𝑉𝐴𝐶
𝜋 𝐴𝐶
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 Three Phase 6 Pulse Rectifier
iD

Voltage V u
R
~ VDC

Spannung
vAC ~
    

3 6 Phasenwinkel 
𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 𝑉 𝑉𝐴𝐶 : rms value of phase voltage ωt
𝜋 𝐴𝐶 u_AC u_DC U_DC
1
𝑉𝑌 = 𝑉∆
3
1
𝑉∆ = 𝑣∆
2
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Exercise 2
A DC power supply is used to power a DC load from the AC mains. The power supply consists of a single
phase full wave rectifier with centre tapped transformer and a DC buck converter.
The transformer has a turn ratio of 5:1. The mains rms voltage is 230 V. The required DC voltage is 12 V.
Determine the required duty factor of the buck converter.

25
Questions?

26
Contents

• Power Electronic Converter Topologies

• DC/DC Converters
• AC/DC Converters (Rectifiers)
• DC/AC Converters (Inverters)

27
Inverters
Conversion of a DC voltage into an AC voltage of any frequency. Distinction can be made between line-
commutated or externally commutated inverters and self-commutated inverters.
Externally commutated inverters require a commutating voltage supplied by the mains to commutate
(change the current flow from one inverter valve to the other). Externally commutated inverters require
power semiconductors (e.g., thyristor) that can be switched on.
Self-commutated inverters require fully controlled switches.

iDC iAC

vDC vAC R

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Half Bridge Inverter
vDC

S1

VDC t

vAC
vAC

S2 t

29
Full Bridge Inverter
vDC

S1 S3

t

VDC vAC
vAC

S2 S4
t

30
Full Bridge Inverter with PWM

D1 S1 D3 S3
L

VDC C vL vAC

D2 S2 D4 S4

VDC
v
VL1

31
Pulse Width Modulation – 2 level PWM

vSt = control voltage

vR = reference voltage

𝑓𝑣𝑆𝑡 > 𝑓𝑣𝑅

t1 < t < t2: S1 and S4 are switched on

simultaneously and switched off at t2
t2 < t < t3: S2 are S3 are switched
on simultaneously and switched off at t3
t3 < t < t4: S1 and S4 are switched again

The voltage alternates between the values Vd and –Vd

 two voltage levels

32
Pulse Width Modulation – 3 level PWM

t1 < t < t2: S1 and S4 are switched on

simultaneously vL = Vd

t2 < t < t3: S1 is switched off and S2

switched on vL = 0
t3 < t < t4: S2 is switched off and S1
switched on again vL = Vd
t4 < t < t5: S4 is switched off and S3switched on vL = 0

t5 < t < t6: S2 is switched on and S1 switched off vL = -Vd

The voltage alternates between Vd , –Vd and V0

 three voltage levels

33
Three phase inverter
Connections Wye Y oder delta Δ

S1 S3 S5

VDC C

S2 S4 S6
Output waveform

L1 L2 L3

34
Digital Voltage Synthesis

11V
Binary addition of voltages to form a desired output
22V 44V
voltage waveform. With n voltage sources there are 2n
possibilities for combination

VDC VAC

S1 S3
25 Voltage levels
S4 S2

35
Inverter with High Frequency Transformer
L1
Advantages of high frequency transformer:
- Smaller and lighter magnetic core
L2
VDC
- Fewer turns
C vAC
- Lower cost
Disadvantages:
- More complex inverter circuit
- Core design with low hysteresis losses
High frequency PWM bridge circuit operating required (e.g., ferrite core)
transformer with grid frequency

36
Questions?

37
Image sources
Title slide: Hans, Pixabay
Slide 9,12: Böcker, J.: Leistungselektronik – Skript zur Vorlesung. Universität Paderborn, 2006
Slide 31,32: Hagmann, G.: Leistungselektronik Grundlagen und Anwendungen. Wiesbaden, AULA-Verlag, 1993
Slide 33 right: Power electronics for renewable and distributed energy systems (2013). Berlin: Springer (Green energy and technology).

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