An Efficient Pedagogical Approach For Integrating Power Electronics, Drives, And The Pmdc Motor Into The Traditional Energy Conversion Course

Over the last 40 years, the advent of power electronics has extensively impacted almost every aspect of Electromechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC). The effective integration of power electronics, electric drives, and system related issues into the EMEC curriculum demanded a significant redesign of both the course and laboratory exercises. Using a "just-in-time" strategy, four laboratory exercises and corresponding lecture material associated with the buck and boost switch-mode power supply (SMPS), the 2and 4quadrant drive, and the permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor has been developed. Before introducing SMPS, the fundamental operation and electrical equivalent of the PMDC motor is established. Using the volt-second energy balance approach, the buck and boost SMPS and their voltage transfer characteristics are developed. Using the principles of duality, the SMPS is extended to the 2-quadrant drive for the PMDC motor. Three laboratory exercises, associated with these topics, are conducted very near the presentation of the lecture course material. These three exercises culminate into a fourth exercise involving a 2-quadrant drive used as a powerprocessing converter between a solar array and a submersible solar-powered pump. An efficient pedagogical approach integrating these topics has resulted in a concise set of lecture materials and exercises. Elements of the course material and exercises are presented in this paper.