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ECE 411 - Power Electronics
Course Description: Power electronic circuits and switching devices such as power transistors, MOSFETs, SCRs, GTOs, IGBTs, and UJTs are studied. Their applications in AC/DC, DC/DC, DC/AC, and AC/AC converters as well as switching power supplies and UPS systems are explained. Simulation mini-projects and lab experiments emphasize power electronic circuit analysis, design, and control.
Course Purpose: Power electronic converters are used in different applications from low-power personal computers, home appliances, and automotive systems, to medium-power telecommunication systems, switching power supplies, and industrial motor drives, to high-power active filters and flexible AC transmission systems for terrestrial power systems. In fact, power electronics provides the basis for a variety of new electrical circuit architectures that allow substantial improvements in performance and flexibility.
The purpose of this introductory course in power electronics is to give an overview of the major aspects of switching power devices and circuits. Operating principles of different electronic switches as well as converters such as rectifiers, choppers, and inverters are presented. Applications of power electronics are explained. Guidelines to design proper switching circuits are also established.
Prerequisite: ECE 311
Course Text: Daniel W. Hart, Power Electronics, McGraw-Hill Education; 1st edition (January 22, 2010) ISBN-10: 0073380679
Other References:
R1. N. Mohan, T. M. Undeland, and W. P. Robbins, Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and Design, Media Enhanced Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-471-22693-9.
R2. M. H. Rashid, Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices, and Applications, Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2004, ISBN 0-13-101140-5.
ECE 412/512- Hybrid Electric Vehicle Drives
Course Description: Designed with support from the TUES program of the National Science Foundation (NSF), this course provides students with a strong academic background and hands on laboratory-based experience focused on energy-efficient hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Fundamentals of drivetrains for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicle drives are studied with a brief introduction to different machine topologies. Applications of semiconductor switching circuits to adjustable speed drives, robotics, and traction applications are explored. Selection of motors and drives, calculating the ratings, speed control, position control, starting, and braking are also covered. Simulation mini-projects and lab experiments are based on the lectures given.
Course Purpose: The purpose of this design course in hybrid electric vehicle technologies is to use the HEV and EV as a platform to integrate fundamental concepts from electric machines, micro-controllers, signal processing and control theory. It will give an overview of the major components of powertrains in Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. Operation of the electric motor drive (including electric machine and power electronics) will be explored in the context of power, torque and performance in this high-efficiency system. It will evaluate the design electric machines, control of adjustable speed drives for electrified transportation systems with industry-relevant examples and problems.
Pre-requisite: ECE 308, ECE 311, ECE 319
Course text: Principles of Electric Machines and Power Electronics, 3rd Edition, P. C. Sen, Wiley Press, ISBN-10: 9781118078877
Other references:
R1. AC Motor Control and Electrical Vehicle Applications, K. H. Nam, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, ISBN: 9781351778183, 2018.
R2. Electric Vehicle Machines and Drives: Design, Analysis and Application, K. T. Chau, 1st Edition, Wiley – IEEE Press, 2015.
IPRO 497: Electrified Transportation for Land and Space
Course Purpose: Automotive companies such as Tesla and Faraday Future, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), autonomous vehicles are some of the areas that have made giant strides in recent years. Electrification has allowed fast and powerful operation in addition to substantial benefits in efficiency. However, this area is still in development stage and has been very receptive to advanced design and innovation. This has created a major demand for engineers with practical, hands-on experience in system design and hardware development, leadership and teamwork.
In this IPRO, students work in interdisciplinary teams towards two international student competitions- the Formula electric SAE racecar competition and the NASA Robotic Mining Competition. Students get an opportunity to design and implement the two vehicles and compete in the international competition to be held in New Hampshire and Kennedy Space Center (Florida), respectively.
The team working on the design and implementation of a Formula SAE electric racecar towards the international SAE Formula Hybrid competition held in New Hampshire in May each year. From an industry standpoint, petroleum prices continue to rise every year and consumers are hard pressed to find alternatives to their gasoline-hungry vehicles. Through this project, students explore and develop the same cutting-edge automotive technology that will be making its way into many markets in the next few years. The vehicle will be judged on design innovation, endurance and overall system engineering.
More information about the Formula SAE Racecar competition
The team working on a NASA Robotic Mining Competition towards the international competition held at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in May each year. In this competition, students will design and build a mining robot that can traverse a simulated Martian terrain. The robot must excavate Martian soil the basaltic regolith simulant and move the excavated mass into the collector bin to simulate an off-world resource-mining mission. The robot will be judged on completion of task, design innovation, size and weight. It must consider design and operation factors including dust tolerance, communications, energy management, and autonomous operation.
More information about NASA Robotics Mining Competition
In addition to the Idea shop at Kaplan Institute, the team will have access to the research capabilities of the Electric Drives and Energy Conversion lab in the department of electrical and computer engineering and the SAE garage. The team will also develop relationships with technical sponsors and commercial partners, which will allow access to necessary software, hardware, material and services for the implementation.
Additional Courses
These courses are offered on a rotating basis, giving students the opportunity to engage with a variety of specialized topics over time. The rotation ensures exposure to emerging technologies and applied research areas while maintaining flexibility in scheduling.
ECE 552: Adjustable Speed Drives
Course Description: Fundamentals of electric machines, basic principles of variable speed controls, field orientation theory, direct torque control, vector control of AC drives, induction machines, switched reluctance and synchronous reluctance motors, permanent magnet brushless DC drives, converter topologies of DC and AC drives, and sensorless operation.
ECE 539: CAD Design of Electric Machines
Course Description: Fundamentals of energy conversion will be discussed, which are the foundation of efficient design and operation of motors & generators in modern day automotive, domestic and renewable energy systems. It will further investigate application-based principles of structural assessment, electromagnetic analysis, dimensional and thermal constraints for different machines and motor drives. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software and Matlab-based design projects will be used using to model the performance and operation of electric machines.
ECE 538: Renewable Energies
Course Description: Fundamentals of energy conversion will be discussed, which are the foundation of efficient design and operation of motors & generators in modern day automotive, domestic and renewable energy systems. It will further investigate application-based principles of structural assessment, electromagnetic analysis, dimensional and thermal constraints for different machines and motor drives. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software and Matlab-based design projects will be used using to model the performance and operation of electric machines.