Control Methods for Power Electronics

Understand the fundamental principles of control in power electronics.

Overview of control theory and its importance in power electronics. Key concepts: open-loop vs. closed-loop control, stability, and dynamic response. Control objectives: voltage regulation, current control, and power factor correction.

Learn the basics of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques.

Principles of PWM and its role in controlling power converters. Types of PWM: single-edge, double-edge, and space vector modulation. Generation of PWM signals and modulation index. Applications of PWM in DC-DC converters, inverters, and motor drives.

Explore feedback control methods for power converters.

Proportional (P), Integral (I), and Derivative (D) control: PI, PD, PID controllers. Voltage mode control (VMC) and current mode control (CMC). Design and tuning of feedback loops for stability and performance. Implementation of analog and digital controllers in power converter circuits.

Understand advanced control methods and their applications.

Sliding mode control: principles and application in robust control. Predictive control: model predictive control (MPC) for power converters. Hysteresis control: principles and applications in current control. Multivariable control methods for complex systems like multilevel converters.

Implement digital control techniques using microcontrollers and DSPs.

Overview of digital control in power electronics. Implementation of control algorithms in microcontrollers and digital signal processors (DSPs). Sampling, quantization, and discretization effects in digital control. Real-time control implementation and challenges in high-frequency switching applications.

Analyse and troubleshoot control systems in power electronics.

Simulation tools for control design and verification (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink). Techniques for analysing system stability and response (Bode plots, Nyquist plots). Troubleshooting common control issues: noise, instability, oscillations. Case studies in control system failures and their resolution in power electronics applications.