After completing the taught components of the course, you will undertake a major piece of advanced independent research over the summer under the supervision of a specialist in your chosen area.
We will provide you with advice and guidance while you select and refine your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research and your MSc.
The MSc Power Electronics and Drives is taught on a full-time basis over 12 months.
This course is operated on a modular basis and consists of two semesters during which you will follow a series of taught modules (worth 120 credits), followed by a 60-credit research project undertaken during the summer period.
You will be taught using the latest advances in teaching methods and electronic resources, as well as small-group and individual tuition.
Tutors provide feedback on assignments. Our objective is to help you develop the confidence to work as a professional academic, at ease with the conventions of the discipline, and ready to tackle any area of research in Power Electronics and Drives.
In the early stages of your project dissertation, your supervisor will read through and comment on your draft work. The project dissertation itself comprises a significant piece of your own research.
We offer a Postgraduate Diploma Power Electronics and Drives, which shares its taught components with the MSc but does not carry a dissertation requirement.
In addition, you may be interested in the MSc and CPD flexible learning course in Power Electronics, Machines and Drives, which is specifically aimed at industrially-based, part-time students and is taught through a mixture of classroom-based study and via web-based distance learning.
This module considers the design and integration of existing and future Power Electronic Devices.
Power semiconductor devices:
Introduction (review of electrical characteristics, physics); Power module construction (functional components, variants); Layout issues, stray inductance, partial discharge
Passive devices:
Capacitors (types, characteristics); Wound components
Thermal management:
Theory, developing thermal models; Analysis of gas and liquid-cooled systems (nat and forced convection)
Reliability:
Wear-out mechanisms; Optional practical - study of wear-out failures; Relibility testing/qualification;
Reliability driven design and physics of failure; Analysis of wear-out mechanisms
Integration:
Introduction ; Schematic to system methodologies; CAD tools (use of); Packaging;
Multi-functional components; Examples
This module addresses the control of AC drives and consists of a lecture component (10 credits) and a design and assessment project (10 credits)
The lecture component covers vector controlled induction motor drives and permanent magnet motor drives. Vector control is covered in depth covering the concept of space vectors, dq representation of 3-phase machines, dynamic equation structure and the concepts of direct and indirect flux orientation. Implementation of Indirect Vector Control, including current flux and speed control is covered in some detail and includes the effect of incorrect parameters.
Both AC and Brushless DC permanent magnet motor drives are introduced. The vector control concepts learned for induction machines are applied to AC PM machines. The concept of salient and non-salient AC PM machines are covered leading to the vector control using maximum torque per amp control strategies. Finally the field weakening control of both non-salient and salient PM machines are considered.
The project component is a design and simulation exercise using MATLAB/Simulink. The student is required to design an indirect vector controlled induction motor drive, implement the design in Simulink, and undertake evaluative tests covering current and speed loop performance, including field weakening for high speed. The exercise covers investigating the effects of parameter variation and designing engineered solutions to reducing the sensitivity.