Some Applications of Power Electronics

(Lecture-2)
R S Ananda Murthy
Associate Professor and Head
Dept. of Electrical & Electronics Engineering,
Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering,
Mysore 570 006

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Major Areas of Application of Power Electronics

Motor Drives and Actuators

Illumination Engineering
Energy Efficient Power Supplies
Sustainable Energy Systems
Vehicle and Transportation Systems
Power and Control Core Technologies

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Affinity Laws of Hydraulics

Affinity Laws are applicable to pumps and fans. According

to this law, at a given diameter of the impeller,
Q1 N1
=
;
Q2 N2

H1
=
H2

N1
N2

2

P1
=
P2

N1
N2

3
;

where Q is the flow, H is head, P refers to the power and N

is the speed of the pump or fan.
Keeping the speed constant, the flow can be controlled by
using a valve or a damper. Then, as per equation given
above, the power remains constant even at reduced flow.
This is not an efficient method of reducing the flow.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Variable Speed Drive Saves Power

Suppose, to reduce the flow by 50 %, if we decrease the

speed by 50%, then,
Q1 N1 1
=
= ;
Q2 N2 2

and

P1
=
P2

 3
1
1
=
2
8

which shows that the power is reduced by a factor of 8 if

the speed is decreased by a factor of 2.
This is more energy efficient than using a valve or a
damper.
But this requires a variable speed drive.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Why A.C. Drive?

Most of the industrial pumps and fans are driven by

three-phase induction motors.
The rotor speed of three-phase induction motor is given by
N2 =

120f1
(1 s)
P1

where f1 is the stator supply frequency, P1 is the number of

poles in the stator rotating magnetic field, and s is the slip.
This shows that the speed can be controlled smoothly by
changing the frequency of the supply given to the stator.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Block Diagram of A.C. Drive

3-ph
Supply

Diode Bridge
Rectifier

Speed
Reference

Control Circuit

PWM
Inverter

IM

Output Voltage
and Frequency
Control Signals

Variable speed induction motor drives are now used to

drive compressors and fans in industries to improve energy
efficiency.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Other Advantages of A.C. Drive

Limits inrush current at the time of starting preventing utility
supply voltage dips and thereby prevents maloperation of
other equipment connected to the same power supply.
Soft start reduces stress on the insulation of the motor
winding and the power cable and prolong their life.
In an induction motor we have m |V1 |/f1 where m is
the airgap flux, |V1 | is the supply voltage per phase, and f1
is the supply frequency.
Using an A.C. drive we can adjust the motor voltage and
frequency to ensure that iron loss is equal to the copper
loss at all loads so that the motor runs at the highest
efficiency at any load.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Static Kramer Drive for Slip Ring Induction Motor

Three-phase
Power Supply
Input
Power

Starting
Rheostats

Wound Rotor
Induction
Motor

Bridge
Rectifier

Transformer

Feedback
Power

Bridge
Inverter

Slip
Power

This method of speed control is also known as slip-power

recovery scheme.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

D.C. Motor Drive

Speed
Reference

Control
Circuit

3-ph
Supply

Diode
Rectifier
+

Output Voltage
Control Signals

+
3-ph
Supply

Controlled
Rectifier

M
-

Field Coil

D.C. motors are now being replaced by squirrel-cage

induction motors driven by A.C. drives because they are
more rugged and need lesser maintenance.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Domestic Fan Speed Regulators

Power electronic fan regulators, shown above right are

very compact and more energy efficient than inefficient
resistive old fan speed regulators shown above left.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Brushless D.C. Motor Drive

Brushless D.C. motors (BLDC) are special type of D.C.

motors which are now being increasingly used in
applications where speed variation is needed as in the
case of electric vehicles.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Brushless D.C. Motor Drive

D.C. +
Source -

Bridge
Inverter
Control
Signals

Speed
Reference

Microcontroller
or DSP Based
Control Circuit

BLDC
Motor

Feedback
from sensors

A BLDC motor cannot run without power electronic drive circuit.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Compact Flourescent Lamp Controllers

1-Ph Power
50 or 60 Hz

EMI
Filter

Rectifier
with C
Filter

User
Brightness
Set Point

Half
Bridge
Inverter

Brightness
Control
Signals
Brightness
Feedback
Control
Circuit

CFL
Tube

L-C Tank
Circuit

Current
Sensor

Compared to incandescent lamps, though CFLs are

costlier, they give the same amount of visible light, use 2030% lesser electric power, and last 8-15 times longer.
A CFL can save about five times its purchase price in
electricity costs during the lamps lifetime.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

LED Lamp Driver

1-Ph Power
50 or 60 Hz

EMI
Filter

Bridge
Rectifier

Power Factor
Correction
Circuit

Current
Regulator

The power factor correction circuit which is a power

electronic circuit maintains high power factor on the
supply side.
The current regulator which is another power electronic
circuit maintains constant current through the series
connection of several LEDs.
Some of the modern LED driving circuits also provide
dimming facility.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Power Electronics in D.C. Power Supplies

Power electronics helps in realizing switched mode power

supplies (SMPS), shown on the right side above, which are
compact and more energy efficient than conventional
regulated power supplies shown on the left side.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics

Next Lecture...

In the next lecture we will describe some more applications of

power electronics.

Thank You.

R S Ananda Murthy

Some Applications of Power Electronics