In today’s energy conservative world, an efficient
means of processing and controlling energy from one form to another to satisfy
different load requirements is crucial and needed. The technology that deals
with this issue is called Power Electronics. Power Electronics is one of the
broadest growth areas in electrical technology. Today, electronic energy
processing circuits are needed for every computer system, every digital
product, industrial systems of all types, automobiles, home appliances, lamps
and lighting equipment, motor controllers, and just about every possible
application of electricity. Today there are many more benefits in terms of
reliable, lightweight power processors. A host of new applications is made
possible by improvements in semiconductors and by better understanding of
power electronics. Motors with integrated electronic controls will soon be the
norm. Portable telephones and communication device demand tightly optimized
power management. Advanced microprocessors need special techniques to supply
their power. Utility companies worry about the quality of their product, and
about how to use electronics for more effective power delivery. It was noted
that in the United States alone at the end of 2000 over 50% of the electrical
load were supplied through power electronic system. This growth in market may
even be higher in other parts of the world where the cost of energy is
significantly higher than that in the United States.
Power Electronics lab is provided for students to learn
different techniques on achieving the most efficient methods in energy
conversion process. Experiments ranging from power converter topologies to
convert AC to DC, AC-AC, DC-AC, DC-DC to their practical aspects such as those
used in AC and DC drives have been and will be designed for students. In
addition, students will also be exposed to contemporary issues in Power
Electronics such as that of Resonant power converters, DC power transmission,
and FACTS controllers. A total of ten hardware setups will be designed for lab
experiments in our two power electronic courses. Five hardware setups are
expected to be completed in the Fall 2001. The rest of the setups should be
finalized by Fall 2002. The lab will also be the center of students' research
and project activities involving power electronics. This may be in the form of
senior design projects, individual study, and master thesis. Possible
activities include power quality study in power converters, switching power
supply design, FACTS controller design and testing, internet-based power
electronic controllers, soft-switching techniques, EMI/EMC on power
electronics converters, DSP-based and microprocessor-based controllers for
converters and drives, among others. Currently, the lab needs to upgrade most
of its outdated equipment, and therefore funding to support the lab has been
sought from different sources such as the NSF and the industry. Should you be
interested in supporting the power electronics lab, please contact the lab
room coordinator Dr. Taufik at taufik@calpoly.edu.
