Power Electronics and Motor Drives - Technology Advances, Trends and Applications

Abstract

The technology of power electronics and motor drives has gone through dynamic evolution in the recent years due to many innovations in power semiconductor devices, converter topologies, analytical and simulation techniques, machines, drives, and control techniques. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, such as fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic algorithms are now extending its frontier and bringing new challenge to power electronic engineers. As the technology is advancing, the applications of power electronics are proliferating in industrial, commercial, residential, aerospace, military, transportation and utility systems. Power electronics is destined to play key role in global industrialization and energy conservation trends of the 21st century. In the environmentally clean renewable energy systems, such as wind, PV and fuel cells, the role of power electronics is significant. Power electronics is helping efficient energy utilization in the ever-increasing energy demand of the world, and thus conserving our dwindling fossil fuel energy reserve and helping environmental pollution control. The importance of power electronics will be similar to information technology that is currently causing revolution in our society. The half-day advanced and state-of-the-art tutorial is designed to give a comprehensive overview and recent advances of power electronics and motor drives with emphasis on industrial applications. Starting with historical evolution, importance and energy saving aspects of the technology, the tutorial will review advances and trends on power semiconductor devices, converter topologies, machine drives and control. The application features in renewable energy systems (wind, PV and fuel cells) will be covered.