Stanimir Valtchev

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Important requirements for the modern electric drives are the high overload capacity and a wide range of speed control. A two-phase adjustable low-power drive has these properties, but its implementation in small-scale mechanics is hindered by the need a frequency converter that provides a three-phase power grid into a two-phase network, which is important when the power of the mechanisms increases. Previous studies have already shown the possibility of using a typical frequency converter based on a three-phase full-bridge voltage inverter applying space-vector PWM method. The switching frequency of the inverter remains, unfortunately, relatively high. It is not possible to reduce this frequency without degrading the harmonic composition. The goal of this work is to develop an algorithm for controlling the two-phase electric drive system, while reducing the numberof commutations of the switching devices of the three-phase inverter, and at the same time keeping the deviations of the instantaneous values of the phase currents close enough to the reference.

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This chapter presents control methods applied in the operation of the series loaded series resonant (SLSR) power converters in a most efficient operation zone. The choice of the control method is affected by the objective to guarantee suitably the efficiency, being this method in the same time, relatively easy to apply. The first part of the chapter compares three basic principles of regulation: frequency mode (FM), pulse width mode (PWM), and their combination (PWM/FM). Finally, a new method for instantaneous regulation is developed. The proposed technique consists of a simplified observation of a state variable value to limit each portion of supplied energy, depending on the requirement for power in each half period. The result of this regulation is comparable to the current mode (CM) control applied to the hard-switching power converters. The viability of this new regulation method is demonstrated by simulations of its analogue circuit implementations and experimentally proved. The circuit is also prepared for the changes in the magnetic coupling (contactless energy transfer).

This chapter focuses on mid-range wireless power transfer (WPT) systems applied to electric vehicle (EV) battery chargers. The WPT is recently considered as an efficient electric energy transfer process between two or more points in space, without wiring. The technology associated with each specific process of WPT differs from case to case depending on the distance between those points and the power to be transferred between them. The widely adopted distance categories are named short-range, mid-range, and long-range. The short-range is normally defined as up to a few millimeters range. The mid-range is between a few millimeters and a few meters. The long-range distance is defined as a longer than that of the previous category, stretching up to a few kilometers.

The focus of this chapter is the electromagnetic interference (EMI) and the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) that the wireless power transfer (WPT) systems reveal as problems. The wireless power transfer (WPT) was introduced by Nikola Tesla more than one hundred years ago, and only recently it attracted the attention of specialists, due to the improved technical means. The WPT technology now has many applications, especially for charging of various electronic devices (i.e., mobile phones, laptops, implants, and home appliances), informatics, and electronics equipment. The high-power equipment and installations (e.g., intelligent machining systems, robots, forklift trucks, and electric cars) are also getting wireless. Moreover, much attention has been focused on the electric transportation system for improving the safe and convenient charging of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

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Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHiL) system for asynchronous electric drives application based on power inverter with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based control system is discussed. Proposed PHiL structure and scheme for asynchronous electric drives are under discussion as well. Described PHiL can be used for power inverters multi-stage testing.

A low power wireless sensor network utilizing the neutral to earth voltage as a power source is developed and analyzed. It consists of a batteryless energy harvesting powered wireless sensor nodes, a gateway (if needed) and a local or remote server (if used). An invasive energy harvesting method to use the voltage between the neutral conductor and the ground conductor is used for the sensor module. A test network is built in a household. Statistics of the household's electric current and the corresponding neutral conductor's voltage is obtained during a two months period. The statistics is further processed to verify the working principle of the proposed network and to enlighten its strengths and weaknesses. The sensor nodes are developed using widely existing electronic components and don't require specialized devices.

Problem of the reliability increasing of the vehicles electric drives is discussed in context of the reduction of the electric motor heating during variable character of movement. Opportunities of the induction motor stator winding heating reduction by means of the control of the vehicles electric drives in transient and steady state modes of movement are shown. Analytical expressions for dynamic torque, optimal on minimal of the winding temperature rise during acceleration, as well as expressions for dynamic torque and value of the motor torque limitation, optimal on energy consumption during acceleration are presented. It is shown that desire to reduce the stator winding temperature rise by means of dynamic torque optimal value selection or motor torque limitation can lead to the rise of energy consumption. Results of the modeling are presented.

This paper presents a wireless energy transfer system operating at the frequency values of kHz order: modeling, simulation, and comparison with prototype measurement results. Wireless energy transfer system model using finite element method was carried out to simulate the electric field and the magnetic flux density for different air gap sizes between the transmitter and the receiver coils. Results are presented and compared with the electromagnetic emission measurements radiated by the wireless energy transfer system prototype. The electric field comparison between the simulated and the prototype measurement values shows an error of roughly 8.7{%}. In the recent years, the interest in the wireless energy transfer technology, especially for electric vehicles batteries charging, is rapidly increasing. As a result of the increasing application of this technology in the industrial and consumer electronic products, more concerns are raised about the electromagnetic compatibility, since the wireless energy transfer systems produce electromagnetic emissions in the surrounding environment.

Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHiL) system for electric drives application based on power converter with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) -based control system which realizes in real time model of converter, motor and mechanism is discussed. Two PHiL structures are under consideration. Difference between both of them is shown. Test results obtained in the PHiLs with Converter Under Test (CUT) control system are presented in the paper. Proposed PHIL is intended for converters testing and for their operating modes studying. The PHIL repeats electric drive instantaneous current and angular velocity.

In this paper, we identify the common mode impedance of a parallel converter cell and the impact of each converter on the entire system. The study is done in two cases, favorable when all the sane converters, and degraded when at least one converter in insulation fault. We also put the distinction load type to see their effect on the propagation path. The equivalent method of the Thevenin and impedance circuit is used for the prediction electromagnetic interference generated by these converters. The good knowledge of these electromagnetic interferences allows a proper optimization of the filters (volume/efficiency), and the optimum choice of exploitation of the whole of the cell. The model is tested by PSpice simulation with a wide frequency range up to 30 MHz.

Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) is one of the most promising topologies for high power-medium voltage application. However, the use of MMC in variable speed drive applications is still limited. This is due to the fact that the fluctuation of the submodules capacitor voltage is large at low speed constant torque operation. This paper proposes an improved balancing approach based on Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM). The proposed method uses only one SVPWM, which not only simplifies the calculation but also reduces the submodules capacitor fluctuation and the circulating current in the MMC, thereby allowing the operation of MMC-based variable speed drive over the entire operating speed range and improve the converter efficiency. The closed loop operation of the MMC-based variable speed drive is verified through extensive simulations.

Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHiL) system for electric drives application based on power converter with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based control system is discussed. PHiL structures are under discussion as well. During the PHiL mathematical model analysis instantaneous current repeating quality is increased. Variable frequency drive (VFD) was selected for testing.

This paper presents a wireless energy transfer (WET) system operating at the frequency of tens of kHz. It treats the modeling and simulation of WET prototype and its comparison with experimental measuring results. The wireless energy transfer system model was created to simulate the electric field between the emitting and the receiving coils, applying the finite element method. The results from the simulation are compared to the measured values of the electric field emission from the wireless energy transfer equipment. In the recent years the interest in the WET technology, especially for the electric vehicles (EV) batteries charging, is rapidly growing. The WET systems pollute the environment by electromagnetic emissions. Due to the expanding use of this technology in industrial and consumer electronics products, the problems associated with the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and the adverse impact on the human health becomes highly important.

This paper presents the experimental results obtained in the wireless energy transfer (WET) system prototype based on coils: circular or planar. With these experimental results we can choose the tuning settings to improve the efficiency of power transmission of the WET systems. In WET for electric vehicle batteries charging, the coil shape and the range between the coils are the most important issues of those systems.

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The Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) systems become nowadays popular. In the same time, the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) allow for creating the HiL with time step 1 μs or less. The FPGA usually executes the numerical operations on Fixed Point variables. That is why during the FPGA-based HiL creation process it is important to select a proper number of bits for the modeled variables. A mathematical model based on the induction motor is selected as a basis for comparative tests between the floating point model and the fixed point model. In consequence, recommendations for the Bit Capacity (the length of the digital word) selection are given, based on the obtained results.

Hardware-in-The-loop (HiL) systems nowadays become popular. During the HiL creation process it is important to select a proper numerical method because the accuracy of the process simulation, in case of the HiL, depends on the correct numerical approach selection. That is why it is important to evaluate the most popular numerical approaches. The {"}Sequential{"} Euler (solves equations step-by-step), the Forward Euler (the most popular method for HiL creators), and the Second-order Adams-Bashforth approach are under consideration. A mathematical model based on the DC-motor with independent excitation is selected as a basis for the experimental numerical calculation. In consequence, recommendations for the numerical method selection are given, based on the obtained results.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting has received great attention over the last 20 years. The main goal of this work is to discuss the potential advantages of introducing non-linearities in the dynamics of a beam type piezoelectric vibration energy harvester. The described device is essentially a cantilever beam partially covered by piezoelectric material with a force electromagnetically applied to the beam. Through experimental tests it has been confirmed the benefits of introducing non-linearities in these types of systems.

With the objective of having a solar thermoelectric system, running for 24 h a day along the different seasons of the year it is necessary to dimension the adequate storage and back-up systems. The choice of the back-up source of energy depends on how sustainable the power plant should be. In this study, the choice was the use of biomass in order to have a 100{%} renewable power plant. The selected site was the Alentejo region (Portugal). The local Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) data was used to simulate with the System Advisor Model program (SAM) considering a solar system with north field and molten salt storage. The system needs no back-up during three months in a year. The use of biomass pellets is a viable alternative because it makes the power plant 100{%} renewable and dispatchable without loss of energy due to over-dimension of the expensive solar field and molten storage system.

This paper proposes a Tunnel FET (TFET)-based power management circuit (PMC) for ultra-low power RF energy harvesting applications. In contrast with conventional thermionic devices, the band-to-band tunneling mechanism of TFETs allows a better switching performance at sub-0.2 V operation. As a result, improved efficiencies in RF-powered circuits are achieved, thanks to increased rectification performance at low power levels and to the reduced energy required for a proper PMC operation. It is shown by simulations that heterojunction TFET devices designed with III-V materials can improve the rectification process at received power levels below-20 dBm (915 MHz) when compared to the application of homojunction III-V TFETs and Si FinFETs. For an available power of-25 dBm, the proposed converter is able to deliver 1.1 $μ }\text{W}$ of average power (with 0.5 V) to the output load with a boost efficiency of 86{%}.

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This paper presents a control process and frequency adjustment based on the Magnetic Core Reactor prototype. For the past decades, there has been significant development in the technologies used in Wireless Power Transfer systems. In the Wireless Power Transfer systems it is essential that the operating frequency of the primary circuit be equal to the resonant frequency of the secondary circuit so there is the maximum energy transfer. The Magnetic Core Reactor allows controlling of the frequencies on both sides of the transmission and reception circuits. In addition, the assembly diagrams and test results are presented.

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The applications of wireless power transmission have become widely increasing over the last decade, mainly in the battery charging systems for electric vehicles. This paper focuses on the single-phase wireless power transfer prototype controlled by magnetic core reactors in either side of the system: that of the transmitter, and that of the receiver. The described wireless power transfer system prototype employs a strong magnetic coupling technology to improve the power transmission efficiency. In the same time, a magnetic core reactor is used to control the “tuning” between the transmitter and the receiver frequencies, allowing for that increase of the system efficiency. Finally, practical results of the implemented prototype are presented.

This paper presents a magnetic field three dimensional mapping produced by a threephase prototype for wireless power transfer. The presented magnetic field mapping is a contribution to improve the design of electric vehicles battery chargers using the wireless power transfer. To collect the magnetic field data, a prototype was built, in order to support the tests. The prototype primary is an electrical three-phase system that allows to be connected electrically and geometrically in star or delta. The losses due to the magnetic field dispersion and the generated interferences in the surrounding equipment or in human body are discussed. The different standards organizations related to electric vehicles battery chargers are presented. Finally the magnetic field influence on the human body is addressed.

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Nowadays some possible alternative methods to replace the batteries as power source, or to achieve better maintenance of existing (or smaller) batteries, are the so called Energy Harvesting (EH) methods, i.e. to obtain energy from the environment or recover and store energy generated by the human body in its usual activities. However, this requires specific technology and materials and usually a multidisciplinary team. For this reason, inclusion a topic on energy harvesting in educational programs of several engineering specialties at technical universities is of great importance.In this paper we present some results from interdisciplinary collaboration at Faculty of Science and Technology at Nova University of Lisbon on the energy harvesting. Experiments were performed in order to calculate the power that could be generated from the chest movements during breathing and from the feet during walking, etc. For the experiments, mostly piezoelectric effect was explored.

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The improved characteristics of Tunnel FETs (TFETs) like steep sub-threshold swing and low off-currents make them an attractive choice for low power operations compared to MOSFETs and Multi-gate FETs like FINFETs. Such characteristics are favorable to digital design, but the drain current saturation in their output characteristics can also benefit the analog design. In this paper, it is shown by simulations that analog characteristics as voltage gain, power consumption and bandwidth are improved using TFETs compared to their counterparts, at a sub-22 nm technology node and 0.8 V supply voltage.

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Recent issues of global heating and energy shortages are imposing a need to change our paradigm around transportation. Somehow, electric vehicles are progressively standing as a strong and necessary alternative for the society. Technically and technologically the acceptance of the EV is easier now than ever but the psychology of the consumers and the running business of internal combustion vehicles, the whole existing infrastructure are too much conservative to be changed easily. The changes in technology require changes in the engineering society and its human resources. The objective of this paper is to give a contribution to the discussion and reflection of potential future scenarios where EV/HEV‘s are spread across the society. It gives an overview of the range of knowledge and competences necessary for a sustainable and streamlined development of those. In fact, it is expected that a new kind of professional profiles need to be created or developed to supply the work market with the right human resources. The paper provides some discussion on the creation of new profiles or adaption of existing ones. Among different possible scenarios the creation of post-graduation courses for students holding undergraduate profiles in the fields referred to earlier would be an interesting and viable solution for fast response. The post graduation would be focused in specific key areas of the EV/HEV. Several factors are pointed out to endorse this scenario

Currently, the energy supply for the portable and autonomous equipment comes almost exclusively from the battery. Unfortunately the maintenance of those sources of energy brings disadvantages due to the need for frequent recharging or replacement. In many cases the battery brings extra weight and volume to the electronic equipment, limiting its autonomy. Some possible alternative methods to replace the batteries as power source, or to achieve better maintenance of existing (or smaller) batteries, are the so called Energy Harvesting (EH) methods, i.e. to obtain energy from the environment. For the medical equipment, there is also a possibility to recover and store energy generated by the human body in its usual activities. To harvest energy from the human body or from the environment requires specific technology and materials. The electronic circuits must have extremely high efficiency both in energy conversion and energy consumption. Experiments were performed in order to calculate the power that could be generated from the chest during breathing, from the feet, during walking, etc. For the experiments, mostly piezoelectric effect was explored.

There have been many and very significant advances in the Wireless Power Transfer, resulting up to now in flexible and safe battery charging eliminating the necessity of power cables. The relatively low frequencies (tens of kilohertz) applied for those {"}classical{"} chargers are already well developed. A {"}new{"} technology appeared now that makes possible to apply a strong magnetic resonant coupling. Similar experiments were applied by N. Tesla more than a hundred years ago but now the researchers are capable to reach much higher frequencies. To achieve the necessary high level of magnetic field coupling it is essential to allow high levels of electric current intensity inside the resonant loops. In this article the achievement of highest magnetic field is analysed and experimented. Some results are discussed based on the choice of the resonant loop type and construction. The applications in the on-line energy supply for the EV are one of the aimed goals. The other goal may be the future more efficient induction machine.

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The research on the solar concentrating equipment is intensified in the recent years in many scientific and industry groups and institutions. This growing interest is based mainly on the higher efficiency and lower investment in material that is typical for this solar technology. This work started not to answer a market problem but with the idea of development a new application for an domestic size collector of line-focussing Fresnel collector. Which is will be a important step for the renewable energy. If successful, in a few years a common person will be ready to produce solar thermoelectricity at home with the double benefit of producing electricity and hot steam. The paper presents a design methodology and heat transfer calculation for an concentrating system based on the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) concept. The basic absorber design is an trapezoidal inverted air cavity without glass cover. The absorber is covered with a selective surface and is oriented north- south. This arrangement has shown good optical and thermal performance results validated by measurements during outdoor tests.

In the last time many research works were devoted to the electrical drive train with induction motors due to its robust construction and low cost in comparison with its competitor, PM synchronous motor. The construction of the induction motor is simple but its efficient control needs more sophisticated algorithms and appropriate inverters in order to obtain the highest technical and economical performance. In this paper we present a review of the last research results on the induction motor topologies dedicated to EV, on the architecture of inverters and of the efficient control strategies. There will be presented many promising solutions which are analysed and compared in order to offer to the EV electrical drive train designers the necessary information for a selection to be done.

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This paper presents a system to harvest electromagnetic energy from the environment. The proposed solution differs from others already existent in the literature because it makes possible to harvest energy from a large frequency spectrum. Typically the existing energy harvesting systems only gather energy from one specific source, thus not taking advantage of the several RF sources existing in one place. The full system and its componentsare simulated and implemented, and the results obtained are shown. The system harvest energy from UHF sources, and converts the harvested energy to a DC voltage, in order to feed electronic devices. This conversion is made through the utilization of a voltage multiplier, followed by a voltage regulator.

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Would it be necessary to charge rapidly the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)? It is not easy to answer without a thorough look at the capability of the modern propulsion battery and the power necessities of the EV and HEV. The different possible solutions are compared and maximum speed of charging is analysed. The wired connection for charging is compared to the wireless energy transfer and because of the limitations imposed by the modern and future batteries, the contactless energy transfer is chosen as the future charging method.

The proposed regulation strategy consists in obtaining at the right time the correct information about the energy contained in the resonant tank. This information allows a stable operation of the switches and a higher efficiency of any Series Loaded Series Resonant (SLSR) power converter, especially when contactless energy transfer is concerned. The strategy is based on guaranteeing the correct portion of energy transported by the resonant tank to the load. The portion has to vary corresponding to the error signal taken from the output voltage and remains unchanged if the error signal is at its minimum. In a certain way this method is similar to the Current Mode Control of the classical power converters. The viability of the idea is demonstrated by simulation of a realistic analogue circuit (on preparation for a digital implementation in the near future).

Recent issues of global heating and energy shortages are imposing a need to change our paradigm around transportation. Somehow, electric vehicles are progressively standing as a strong and necessary alternative for the society. Technically and technologically the acceptance of the EV is easier now than ever but the psychology of the consumers and the running business of internal combustion vehicles, the whole existing infrastructure are too much conservative to be changed easily. The changes in technology require changes in the engineering society and its human resources. The objective of this paper is to give a contribution to the discussion and reflection of potential future scenarios where EV?HEV?s are spread across the society. It gives an overview of the range of knowledge and competences necessary for a sustainable and streamlined development of those. In fact, it is expected that a new kind of professional profiles need to be created or developed to supply the work market with the right human resources. The paper provides some discussion on the creation of new profiles or adaption of existing ones. Among different possible scenarios the creation of post-graduation courses for students holding undergraduate profiles in the fields referred to earlier would be an interesting and viable solution for fast response. The post graduation would be focused in specific key areas of the EV?HEV. Several factors are pointed out to endorse this scenario

The electromagnetic resonance became irreplaceable tool for wirelessly transfer energy and information. Since long this effect is widely used in communications but recently it is deeply studied and applied at the contactless transfer of energy. The electric?hybrid car battery charging is an urgent need and the knowledge about the resonant contactless transfer became very important. The study of the Series Loaded Series Resonant converter shows it as well suitable for the contactless energy transfer. The idealized Series Resonant Power Converter is used as a base for defining the best (most efficient) modes of operation. Based on the magnetic parameters of the loosely coupled transformer (magnetic link), the characteristics of the contactless power converter are described in approximated form, thus permitting an easier and faster calculation of the converter variables. This is used for instantaneous control of the converter, free from previously known defects.

This dissertation tries to track the route of power production from photovoltaic sources. A worldwide look into the photovoltaic solar power production is given. The theory behind the PV cell and its application in PV power modules is presented. The DC ? DC power converters usually associated with solar PV panels are showed. The main maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are also showed. A solar PV system was dimensioned using the theoretical models and the solar PV modules (BS ? 40) available at the Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica (DEE). This system was used as a reference for designing a simulator implemented in MatLab?Simulink. This simulator includes all the components needed to test the different MPP tracking algorithms. Those components are: A PV solar module, which can be associated with others to form a solar panel; A Flyback DC ? DC power converter and a classic perturb and observe (P&O) tracking algorithm. A solar power meter that gives values in W?m2 was built in order to validate simulation values of the solar PV modules. Measuring the solar module characteristics (tension ? current) and knowing the solar irradiation at that given time it is possible to check if the simulated values and the measured ones agree. With the data collected in the simulation a new MPP tracking algorithm was presented. This is based in the classic P&O algorithm, but using modules that try to overcome the local maxima problem. It also tries to minimize the control oscillations in the converter?inverter, this is done in order to minimize losses and to maximize power production.

Would it be necessary to charge rapidly the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)? It is not easy to answer without a thorough look at the capability of the modern propulsion battery and the power necessities of the EV and HEV. The different possible solutions are compared and maximum speed of charging is analysed. The wired connection for charging is compared to the wireless energy transfer and because of the limitations imposed by the modern and future batteries, the contactless energy transfer is chosen as the future charging method.

Recent issues of global heating and energy shortages are imposing a need to change our paradigm around transportation. Somehow, electric vehicles are progressively standing as a strong and necessary alternative for the society. Technically and technologically the acceptance of the EV is easier now than ever but the psychology of the consumers and the running business of internal combustion vehicles, the whole existing infrastructure are too much conservative to be changed easily. The changes in technology require changes in the engineering society and its human resources. The objective of this paper is to give a contribution to the discussion and reflection of potential future scenarios where EV/HEV‘s are spread across the society. It gives an overview of the range of knowledge and competences necessary for a sustainable and streamlined development of those. In fact, it is expected that a new kind of professional profiles need to be created or developed to supply the work market with the right human resources. The paper provides some discussion on the creation of new profiles or adaption of existing ones. Among different possible scenarios the creation of post-graduation courses for students holding undergraduate profiles in the fields referred to earlier would be an interesting and viable solution for fast response. The post graduation would be focused in specific key areas of the EV/HEV. Several factors are pointed out to endorse this scenario

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The electromagnetic resonance became irreplaceable tool for wirelessly transfer energy and information. Since long this effect is widely used in communications but recently it is deeply studied and applied at the contactless transfer of energy. The electric/hybrid car battery charging is an urgent need and the knowledge about the resonant contactless transfer became very important. The study of the Series Loaded Series Resonant converter shows it as well suitable for the contactless energy transfer. The idealized Series Resonant Power Converter is used as a base for defining the best (most efficient) modes of operation. Based on the magnetic parameters of the loosely coupled transformer (magnetic link), the characteristics of the contactless power converter are described in approximated form, thus permitting an easier and faster calculation of the converter variables. This is used for instantaneous control of the converter, free from previously known defects.

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This was a cooperation with Electric Power Processing laboratory of TU Delft. During this stay organized and financed by TU Delft, S.Valtchev supported by teaching some students, PhD students and post-doc associates (in workshops?seminars).

Os motores passo a passo podem ser vistos como motores eléctricos sem comutação electromecânica (escovas e anéis). Tipicamente, todos os enrolamentos no motor são parte do estator, e o rotor ou é um magneto permanente ou, no caso dos motores de relutância variável, um bloco dentado de algum material ferro-magnético macio. Toda a comutação deve ser lidada externamente pelo controlador do motor, e normalmente, os motores e os controladores são dimensionados de modo que o motor possa ser posicionado numa posição fixa, assim como rodar em ambos os sentidos. Os motores passo a passo podem ser usados em sistemas de controlo em malha aberta; estes são geralmente adequados para sistemas que operam em baixas acelerações com cargas fixas, mas o controlo em malha fechada pode ser essencial para acelerações elevadas, particularmente se envolverem cargas variáveis. Se um motor de passo num sistema de controlo em malha aberta sofre um binário demasiado grande, todo o conhecimento da posição do rotor será perdido e o sistema deverá ser reiniciado. Nesta dissertação, é proposto um novo conversor elétrico em malha aberta, especialmente dimensionado para motores de pequenas dimensões e de alto binário, alimentados com correntes unidirecionais. Este conversor é baseado na mudança do declive de subida da corrente em cada enrolamento, através da descarga de um condensador adicional carregado.

A new faster control method is presented, inattempt to achieve stable operation and higher efficiency of anySeries Loaded Series Resonant (SLSR) power converter, andespecially when the application requires contactless energytransfer. This instantaneously reacting control method is basedon calculated individual energy portions delivered to theresonant circuit. Its viability is demonstrated by simulation of ananalogue circuit implementation.

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In this paper, a poly-phase disc motor innovative feeding and control strategy, based on a variable poles approach, and its application to a high temperature superconductor (HTS) disc motor, are presented. The stator windings may be electronically commutated to implement a 2, 4, 6 or 8 poles winding, thus changing the motor's torque?speed characteristics. The motor may be a conventional induction motor with a conductive disc rotor, or a new HTS disc motor, with conventional copper windings at its two iron semi-stators and a HTS disc as a rotor. The conventional induction motor's operation principle is related with the induced electromotive forces in the conductive rotor. Its behaviour, characteristics and modelling through Steinmetz and others theories are well known. The operation principle of the motor with HTS rotor, however, is rather different and is related with vortices' dynamics and pinning characteristics; this is a much more complex process than induction, and its modelling is quite complicated. In this paper, the operation was simulated through finite-elements commercial software (FLUX2D), whereas superconductivity was simulated by the E-J power law. The electromechanical performance of both motor's computed are compared. Considerations about the systems overall efficiency, including cryogenics, are also discussed.

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This paper describes the theoretical and experimental results achieved in optimizing the application of the series loaded series resonant converter for contactless energy transfer. The main goal of this work is to define the power stage operation mode that guarantees the highest possible efficiency. The results suggest a method to select the physical parameters (operation frequency, characteristic impedance, transformer ratio, etc.) to achieve that efficiency improvement. The research clarifies also the effects of the physical separation between both halves of the ferromagnetic core on the characteristics of the transformer. It is shown that for practical values of the separation distance, the leakage inductance, being part of the resonant inductor, remains almost unchanged. Nevertheless, the current distribution between the primary and the secondary windings changes significantly due to the large variation of the magnetizing inductance. An approximation in the circuit analysis permits to obtain more rapidly the changing values of the converter parameters. The analysis results in a set of equations which solutions are presented graphically. The graphics show a shift of the best efficiency operation zone, compared to the converter with an ideally coupled transformer. Experimental results are presented confirming that expected tendency.

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Nesta dissertação apresenta-se um motor em disco polifásico inovador bem como uma estratégia de controlo com base no método de variação de velocidade por comutação do número de pares de pólos. A configuração das bobinas aliada à escolha das correntes e tensões que se injectam nas bobinas dos estatores, permite comutar electronicamente o número de pólos do motor entre 2, 4 6 e 8 pólos, conseguindo-se controlar a característica binário?velocidade do motor. O motor em disco possui a bobinagem feita em cobre com dois semi-estatores, em que quando utiliza o rotor em alumínio (com condutividade diferente de zero) comporta-se como um motor de indução convencional. Quando se substitui o rotor em alumínio por um constituído por um supercondutor de alta temperatura (SAT), o dispositivo comporta-se como um motor de histerese. O princípio de funcionamento do motor em disco convencional é baseado na indução de força electromotrizes no rotor e, consequentemente, uma vez que o alumínio é bom condutor eléctrico, correntes eléctricas induzidas, originadas por haver um campo magnético variável que é criado pelos semi-estatores. O comportamento deste tipo de motores, no que diz respeito a principais características (como o binário?velocidade para os diferentes números de pares de pólos), circuito equivalente de Steinmetz, entre outras teorias associadas é já conhecido há bastante tempo. O princípio de funcionamento do motor SAT é diferente do apresentado anteriormente, funciona com base na dinâmica de vórtices e devido ao facto de aparecer o fenómeno de ancoragem de fluxo (flux pinning) nos supercondutores de alta temperatura. Como o campo magnético varia, então o disco roda. Este motor tem um princípio de funcionamento muito mais complexo que o motor de indução sendo a obtenção do modelo do motor SAT complicada. A obtenção do modelo do motor SAT não é abordado nesta dissertação. Os comportamentos e modos de operação do motor com disco de alumínio e em materiais SAT são simulados através de um programa comercial de elementos finitos, nesta dissertação, sendo a supercondutividade simulada com base na relação entre o campo eléctrico e a densidade de corrente pela lei da potenciação (E-J power law). Com as simulações pretende-se comparar o rendimento electromecânico de ambos os motores.

This seminar was a presentation of S.Valtchev on the methods of wireless energy transfer. The seminar was invited by the colleagues of the Power Processing Laboratory of TU Delft, the Netherlands.

The development of more efficient power converters is the most important and challenging task for Power Electronics specialists. In the same time, many currently existing or yet to appear future applications require full mechanical independence between the transmitter and receiver of the electrical energy. This contactless form of energy transfer is the concern of the presented work. The work is based on the study of the Series Loaded Series Resonant converter which prove to be the best suitable for the contactless energy transfer. The work investigates the idealized Series Resonant Power Converter with the objective to find the best efficiency zones of operation. Generalized expressions obtained are original and useful. Based on the magnetic parameters of the loosely coupled transformer (magnetic link), the characteristics of the contactless power converter are described in approximated form. The approximation permits easier and faster calculation of the converter variables, thus predicting a shift of the maximum efficiency zone compared to the ideal converter case. The approximated form of the equations permitted to present a new instantaneous form of regulation which combines the frequency and pulse width modes which is free from the previously known defects. The method is based on calculating the energy portions supplied to the load during each half period. Measurements performed on industrial converters and on the laboratory experimental converter, confirm the predicted theoretically behaviour of the converter.

In this paper, a poly-phase disc motor innovative feeding and control strategy, based on a variable poles approach, and its application to a HTS disc motor, are presented. The stator windings may be electronically commutated to implement a 2, 4, 6 or 8 poles winding, thus changing the motor's torque?speed characteristics. The motor may be a conventional induction motor with a conductive disc rotor, or a new HTS disc motor, with conventional copper windings at its two iron semi-stators, and a HTS disc as a rotor. The conventional induction motor's operation principle is related with the induced electromotive forces in the conductive rotor. Its behaviour, characteristics (namely their torque?speed characteristics for different number of pole pairs) and modelling through Steinmetz and others theories are well known. The operation principle of the motor with HTS rotor, however, is rather different and is related with vortices' dynamics and pinning characteristics; this is a much more complex process than induction, and its modelling is quite complicated. In this paper, the operation was simulated through finite-elements commercial software, whereas superconductivity was simulated by the E-J power law. The Electromechanical performances of both motors where computed and are presented and compared. Considerations about the systems overall efficiency, including cryogenics, are also discussed.

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Power electronics (PE) plays a major role in electrical devices and systems, namely in electromechanical drives, in motor and generator controllers, and in power grids, including high-voltage DC (HVDC) power transmission. PE is also used in devices for the protection against grid disturbances, like voltage sags or power breakdowns. To cope with these disturbances, back-up energy storage devices are used, like uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and flywheels. Some of these devices may use superconductivity. Commercial PE semiconductor devices (power diodes, power MOSFETs, IGBTs, power Darlington transistors and others) are rarely (or never) experimented for cryogenic temperatures, even when designed for military applications. This means that its integration with HTS power devices is usually done in the hot environment, raising several implementation restrictions. These reasons led to the natural desire of characterising PE under extreme conditions, e. g. at liquid nitrogen temperatures, for use in HTS devices. Some researchers expect that cryogenic temperatures may increase power electronics' performance when compared with room-temperature operation, namely reducing conduction losses and switching time. Also the overall system efficiency may increase due to improved properties of semiconductor materials at low temperatures, reduced losses, and removal of dissipation elements. In this work, steady state operation of commercial PE semiconductors and devices were investigated at liquid nitrogen and room temperatures. Performances in cryogenic and room temperatures are compared. Results help to decide which environment is to be used for different power HTS applications.

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This paper presents the design of a test rig for an all HTS linear synchronous motor. Although this motor showed to have several unattractive characteristics, its design raised a number of problems which must be considered in future HTS machines design. HTS electromagnetic properties led to the development of new paradigms in electrical machines and power systems, as e. g. in some cases iron removal and consequent assembly of lighter devices. This is due to superconductor's ability to carry high currents with minimum losses and consequent generation in the surrounding air of flux densities much higher than the allowed by ferromagnetic saturation. However, severe restrictions in HTS power devices design that goes further beyond cryogenic considerations must be accounted in. This is usually the case when BSCCO tapes are used as conductors. Its bending limitations and the presence of flux components perpendicular to tape surface, due to the absence of iron, have to be considered for it may turn some possible applications not so attractive or even practically unfeasible. An all HTS linear synchronous motor built by BSCCO tapes as armature conductors and two trapped-flux YBCO bulks in the mover was constructed and thrust force measurements are starting to be performed. Although the device presents severe restrictions due to the exposed and other reasons, it allowed systematising its design. A pulsed-field magnetiser to generate opposite fluxes for both YBCO bulks is also detailed. Thrust force numerical predictions were already derived and presented.

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Power electronics (PE) plays a major role in electrical devices and systems, namely in electromechanical drives, in motor and generator controllers, and in power grids, including high-voltage DC (HVDC) power transmission. PE is also used in devices for the protection against grid disturbances, like voltage sags or power breakdowns. To cope with these disturbances, back-up energy storage devices are used, like uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and flywheels. Some of these devices may use superconductivity. Commercial PE semiconductor devices (power diodes, power MOSFETs, IGBTs, power Darlington transistors and others) are rarely (or never) experimented for cryogenic temperatures, even when designed for military applications. This means that its integration with HTS power devices is usually done in the hot environment, raising several implementation restrictions. These reasons led to the natural desire of characterising PE under extreme conditions, e. g. at liquid nitrogen temperatures, for use in HTS devices. Some researchers expect that cryogenic temperatures may increase power electronics' performance when compared with room-temperature operation, namely reducing conduction losses and switching time. Also the overall system efficiency may increase due to improved properties of semiconductor materials at low temperatures, reduced losses, and removal of dissipation elements. In this work, steady state operation of commercial PE semiconductors and devices were investigated at liquid nitrogen and room temperatures. Performances in cryogenic and room temperatures are compared. Results help to decide which environment is to be used for different power HTS applications

In this paper, a poly-phase disc motor innovative feeding and control strategy, based on a variable poles approach, and its application to a HTS disc motor, are presented. The stator windings may be electronically commutated to implement a 2, 4, 6 or 8 poles winding, thus changing the motor's torque?speed characteristics. The motor may be a conventional induction motor with a conductive disc rotor, or a new HTS disc motor, with conventional copper windings at its two iron semi-stators, and a HTS disc as a rotor. The conventional induction motor's operation principle is related with the induced electromotive forces in the conductive rotor. Its behaviour, characteristics (namely their torque?speed characteristics for different number of pole pairs) and modelling through Steinmetz and others theories are well known. The operation principle of the motor with HTS rotor, however, is rather different and is related with vortices' dynamics and pinning characteristics; this is a much more complex process than induction, and its modelling is quite complicated. In this paper, the operation was simulated through finite-elements commercial software, whereas superconductivity was simulated by the E-J power law. The Electromechanical performances of both motors where computed and are presented and compared. Considerations about the systems overall efficiency, including cryogenics, are also discussed.

This paper presents the design of a test rig for an all HTS linear synchronous motor. Although this motor showed to have several unattractive characteristics, its design raised a number of problems which must be considered in future HTS machines design. HTS electromagnetic properties led to the development of new paradigms in electrical machines and power systems, as e. g. in some cases iron removal and consequent assembly of lighter devices. This is due to superconductor's ability to carry high currents with minimum losses and consequent generation in the surrounding air of flux densities much higher than the allowed by ferromagnetic saturation. However, severe restrictions in HTS power devices design that goes further beyond cryogenic considerations must be accounted in. This is usually the case when BSCCO tapes are used as conductors. Its bending limitations and the presence of flux components perpendicular to tape surface, due to the absence of iron, have to be considered for it may turn some possible applications not so attractive or even practically unfeasible. An all HTS linear synchronous motor built by BSCCO tapes as armature conductors and two trapped-flux YBCO bulks in the mover was constructed and thrust force measurements are starting to be performed. Although the device presents severe restrictions due to the exposed and other reasons, it allowed systematising its design. A pulsed-field magnetiser to generate opposite fluxes for both YBCO bulks is also detailed. Thrust force numerical predictions were already derived and presented.

This paper describes some theoretical and experimental results obtained in an effort to optimize the Series Resonant Converter (SRC) when used with a loosely coupled transformer for Inductive Coupling Power Transfer (ICPT). The main goal of this work is to define precisely which mode of operation of the power stage is the most efficient. The results also suggest a way to choose the design criteria for the physical parameters (operation frequency, characteristic impedance, transformer ratio, etc.) to achieve that mode of operation. The analysis involves also the investigation of the separated in two halves pot core ferrite transformer, especially the way it changes its magnetizing and leakage fluxes and hence, inductances. It is shown that for the practical values of the separation distance, the leakage inductance remains almost unchanged. Nevertheless the current distribution between the primary and the secondary windings changes drastically due to the large variation of the magnetizing inductance. The analysis has lead to a set of equations with solutions that show graphically the way to an optimized operation of the converter, i.e. higher primary currents and higher transformer ratios to fit in the desired mode.

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Series connection of power devices has evolved into a mature technique and is widely applied in HV dc systems. Static and dynamic voltage balance is ensured by shunting individual devices with dissipative snubbers. The snubber losses become pronounced for increased operating frequencies and adversely affect power density. Capacitive snubbers do not exhibit these disadvantages, but they require a zero-voltage switching mode. Super-resonant power converters facilitate the principle of zero-voltage switching. A high-voltage dc-dc power converter with multiple series-connected devices is proposed. It allows the application of nondissipating snubbers to assist the voltage sharing between the multiple series-connected devices and lowers turn-off losses. Simulation results obtained with a circuit simulator are validated in an experimental converter operating with two series-connected devices. The behavior of the series connection is examined for MOSFET's and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT's) by both experimental work with a 2-kW prototype and computer simulation. Applications can be found in traction and heavy industry, where the soft-switching converter is directly powered from a high-voltage source.

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This new chapter of the PhD thesis was an addition to the presented already material at TU Sofia, Bulgaria. This was necessary to obtain the permission to prepare the thesis for its final version. Unfortunatelly this thesis was never presented but it served for the core to the presented in IST, Portugal, later on.

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VEEM93A13

Mode of operation and area of rnhanced efficiency for series-resonant converters is presented. Frequency control on voltage source DC-DC converters is discussed and other principles of control are introduced. Optimum modes of operation for power transistor resonant converters are also considered. For even better efficiency a resonant current shaping is discussed.

The DC analysis of a series-resonant converter operating above resonant frequency is presented. The results are used to analyze the current form factor and its effect on the efficiency. The selection of the switching frequency to maximize the efficiency is considered. The derived expressions are generalized and can be applied to calculations in any of the switching modes for a series-resonant circuit. For switching frequencies higher than the resonant frequency, an area of more efficient operation is indicated which will aid in the design of this class of converters and power supplies. It is pointed out that (especially for power MOSFETs where ohmic losses dominate) it is more attractive to select switching frequencies that are higher than the resonant frequency because of the possibility of nondissipative snubbers. Slowing down the rise of the gate voltage and, hence, the slow decrease of ON resistance during turn-on is also not a drawback to high-frequency switching. Because of this safer operation, the standard intrinsic diode of the power MOSFET could be used at high frequencies instead of the more expensive FREDFET

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International project (1251?78 and 1252?78) in which the Technical University of Sofia (S.Valtchev, N.Stefanov) has sucessfully acomplished the task of constructing and implementing in production a high precision (0.01% regulation) power supply for a cirurgical laser tool (1977-1980). The construction involved a vacuum tube cascaded with MOS-FET to obtain very high quality current source necessary for the stable characteristics of the gas discharge in the laser tube.

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Eng. Stanimir Valtchev, Top MSc Graduate of the year 1974, Specialized in Technology of Electronic Equipment and Integrated Circuits