“Power” represents static and rotating power equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, usually > 600 V devices, and capable of > 5 A rms. The area of “Electronics” represents solid-state devices and circuits for signal processing to meet the desired control objectives. The area of “Control” represents steady-state and dynamic characteristics of closed-loop systems. Therefore, Power electronics may be defined as the application of solid-state electronics for the control and conversion of electric power.

Power electronics miniaturization and packaging is the “new revolution” in the technical specialization area of power electronics. It is an amalgamation of many technical areas of study; including Power semiconductor devices, Electric/electronic circuits, Electric machines, Electromagnetics, Digital systems, Linear and nonlinear control, Materials, Thermal management, and Reliability. By definition, power packaging addresses mixed-signal, mixed-power, and mixed-technology systems. Technological Challenges include High power (e.g., 5 kW) in addition to the control portion on a single substrate, in a monolithic format, Thermal management strategies, Interconnect current density, Grounding, shielding, galvanic isolation, Passive elements and passive elements integration such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and transformers.

Typical design constraints include the following factors (all affect cost):

— minimization of part count,

— minimization of mass,

— minimization of footprint and/or form factor (volume),

— minimization of radiated and conduc

tive electrical noise,

— minimization of acoustical noise,

— maximization of input/output efficiency,

— maximization of circuit reliability,

— maximization of “manufacturability,”

— maximization of power density,

— production of light, compact, inexpen

sive, reliable, and efficient product,

and

— environmentally safe product.

Energy and Environmental Issues

It is important to realize that global energy consumption has increased tremendously in order to enhance human living standards. A good measure of a nations’ economic prosperity is per-capita energy consumption. Worldwide, 86-88% of total energy is generated from current abundant fossil fuel such as coal, oil, and gas, 5-6% is generated from nuclear power, and about 6-7% from renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic, water, and wind factors, with lifetime expectancy of 100 years or less depleting most fossil and nuclear fuels. Society is concerned with safety problems associated with increased energy consumption, nuclear plant waste hazard remaining radioactive for a long time, emission of undesired gases creating illness, allergies, and pollution in our environment, climate/weather problems such as global warming, and human and vegetation health problems. These renewable energy sources are heavily dependent on power electronics and power electronics packaging.

Energy Processing Systems/Control (EPSC) Technical Area; a New Emerging Area and Environmental Concerns

In the area of energy efficiency/renewable energy programs, one has to realize the ever-increasing demand for electric power cannot be met by conventional fossil fuels forever. Therefore, a sustainable energy policy must emphasize new, economically viable, renewable energy sources, and more energy-efficient motor drive systems. Deregulation of Electric Utility Industry, an economical reality, resulting in “No” Funding from most Electric Utilities, and “Not” numerous job opportunities in the area.

Revision of the EPSC Curriculum is a fact most academic institutions are dealing with, especially in conjunction of ABET 2000 accreditation criteria. The main objective is to provide students with a breadth of knowledge encompassing: Electric/Hybrid Vehicles, Electromechanical Energy Systems, Electric Machines and Power Electronics, Renewable Energy Sources, and Control Systems (including advanced control topics like stochastic, optimal and nonlinear control systems).

Potential Research Topics in the EPSC area can include the following: US Navy: Electric Propulsion (EP), State-Based Industries, Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency, US Navy: Power Distribution in Ships, Automotive Industry: Power Packaging & EP, US Air Force: More Electric Aircraft, and MEMS: Micro Motor Drive Systems. Current areas of research in energy processing systems may include: a) Common-Mode Current and Shaft Voltage Problems (Industrial Sponsored Research Project), b) Non-Traditional Electric Motors for Electric Propulsion (Government Funded Research Project), c) Power Packaging of Electric Motor Drives (Industrial Sponsored Research Project), d) Motor Drives for Consumer; Air Conditioning Equipment, Automotive Industry, and Renewable Energy Sources (both induction and synchronous machines used in variable speed derives), e) Battery and Fuel cells applications with criteria such as cost, energy density, power density, storage, and lifetime (the reader can be referred to Advanced Battery Consortium for further information), f) Lighting and usage of efficient fluorescent lamps with miniaturized power electronics ballast for boosting instead of incandescent lamps, providing economic benefit in addition of reduced environmental pollution, g) Electric/Hybrid Next generation Vehicles with certain acceptance, specified level of fuel efficiency, low emission standards, and cost-effective for consumers (efforts exerted by GM, Ford, and Chrysler).

Main challenges of the energy processing systems/control technical area may include the following:

• Enhancing laboratory capabilities,

• Having more faculty members devoted to instruction and research in the area,

• Having more technician support,

• Reaching to State-based Industries

• Maintaining a good power quality,

• Maintaining IEEE/IEE standards,

• Development of clean, competitive power technologies, including renewable solar energy, with the primary goal lower energy cost,

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants,

• Improve reliability of service,

• Include reduction of energy consumption,

• Effectively addressing issues and create solutions/answers to energy issues,

• Use of renewable energy, and developing more efficient energy systems, and

• Increase awareness in the State regarding limited natural resources.

Review of Publications of Interest to Guide Readers in this area

Severns [1] has a review of literature and patent records for industry controls and power electronics for circuit reinvention in power electronics, leading readers from resonant transition switching, boost converters and switching amplifiers, to two-inductor rectifier. Bose [2] has shared a review of the recent advances of power electronics including power semiconductor devices, converters, machines, drives, and control circuitry. Advances in converter topologies, PWM techniques, analytical and simulation techniques, control and estimation techniques, computer hardware and software, digital signal processors, and integrated circuits, high power solid state devices silicon based (or wider bandgap material such as GaAs or SiC) such as MOSFET, IGBT, MCT, and IGCT, with higher switching frequency, proper voltage and current ratings, and thyristors implementation in converters, phase-control type static VAR compensators, cyclo-converters, and load-commutated inverters were discussed in the publication. Emphasis has been primary on high carrier mobility, high electrical and thermal conductivities, higher voltage withstanding capability, high efficient temperature operation, higher frequency and lower conduction drop, and strong radiation hardness. Issues such as soft switching technology, elimination of snubber loss, reduced EMI problem, available CAD programs and simulation tools, control and estimation related to induction motor drive, and improvement of device reliability are also discussed. Hefner et al. [3] has provided readers with the potential of silicon carbide (SiC) devices in power electronics applications, with better on-state characteristics, better reverse recovery characteristics, better power converter efficiency, higher operating temperature and withstanding voltage, and far less electromagnetic interference.

References

[1] Rudy Severns, “Circuit Reinvention in Power Electronics and Identification of Prior Work,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-7, January 2001.

[2] Bimal K. Bose, “Energy, Environment, and Advances in Power Electronics,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 688-701, July 2000.

[3] A. R. Hefner, R. Singh, J.-S. Lai, D. W. Berning, S. Bouche, and C. Chapuy, “SiC Power Diodes Provide Breakthrough Performance for a Wide Range of Applications,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Vol. 16. No. 2, pp. 273-280, March 2001.