This thesis presents System Identification based On-Line Health Monitoring to analyse the dynamic behaviour of the Switch-Mode Power Converter (SMPC), detect, and diagnose anomalies in passive electronic components. The anomaly detection in this research is determined by examining the change in passive component values due to degradation. Degradation, which is a long-term process, however, is characterised by inserting different component values in the power converter. The novel health-monitoring capability enables accurate detection of passive electronic components despite component variations and uncertainties and is valid for different topologies of the switch-mode power converter. The need for a novel on-line health-monitoring capability is driven by the need to improve unscheduled in-service, logistics, and engineering costs, including the requirement of Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) for electronic systems and components. The detection and diagnosis of degradations and failures within power converters is of great importance for aircraft electronic manufacturers, such as Thales, where component failures result in equipment downtime and large maintenance costs. The fact that existing techniques, including built-in-self test, use of dedicated sensors, physics-of-failure, and data-driven based health-monitoring, have yet to deliver extensive application in IVHM, provides the motivation for this research ... [cont.].

AC-DC converters find application in every day life as a front-end to DC-DC and DC-AC converters. Active three-phase converters shape the three-phase input current to be sinusoidal and to be in-phase with the input voltage, as well as to provide a steady DC output voltage. This thesis investigates various active three-phase rectifier and control topologies and identifies a rectifier and control topology most suitable for use in converting a variable voltage variable frequency generator output to a DC voltage. In this dissertation, design relations are derived for determining the plant transfer response (for the suitable topology/controller), design equations are derived for designing/choosing the filter components, and guidelines are derived that will assist in choosing the right semi-conductor components and to give an estimation of expected system efficiency. The dissertation investigates the implementation of both analogue and digital control and provides implementation methodologies for both controllers. Expected results are verified by simulation and a build-up prototype. It was shown that the VIENNA rectifier is able to convert a generator type input, with variable input voltage amplitude and variable frequency, to a constant DC-bus voltage whilst controlling the input current to be sinusoidal and in phase with the input voltage. The rectifier was able to maintain a constant DC voltage at the output for input voltages as low as half the rated input voltage and for an equivalent output power of half the rated output power. This suggests that the VIENNA rectifier, controlled as a dual-boost rectifier, is suitable for applications that require power factor corrections and simultaneously operate from a wide input voltage range. / Dissertation (MEng (Electrical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MEng / unrestricted

Orientadores: Jose Antenor Pomilio, Simone Buso / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T01:54:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Machado_RicardoQuadros_D.pdf: 40226020 bytes, checksum: 3daf262738d5d4691a16184af4e741f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Esta tese apresenta uma nova forma de conexão direta entre um gerador de indução trifásico e uma rede monofásica, situação típica de ambientes rurais, com possibilidade de geração local de energia. O funcionamento do sistema prevê que seja garantida ao usuário local energia elétrica de boa qualidade. Por energia de boa qualidade entende-se: tensões senoidais e equilibradas, freqüência fixa e boa regulação de tensão. Para a rede monofásica, controla-se o fluxo de potência de modo que o fator de potência resultante seja unitário. A obtenção destes comportamentos se dá com o uso de um conversor CC-CA PWM trifásico, conectado em derivação no ponto de acoplamento das cargas locais. Por este conversor flui uma parcela da potência da carga relacionada com desequilíbrios e distorções. A maior parte da potência ativa não precisa ser processada pelo conversor, o que dá a esta solução um rendimento maior do que se obtém com as alternativas de dupla conversão. O sistema completo de geração distribuída pode receber energia, da geração CA (gerador de indução), de uma fonte CC (células a combustível, painéis fotovoltáicos ou bancos de baterias) conectada ao barramento CC do conversor PWM ou da rede monofásica. No caso de alimentação apenas pela rede, tem-se uma estrutura de conversão mono-trifásica interativa com a linha / Abstract: This thesis proposes a novel solution to connect a three-phase induction generator directly to a single-phase feeder. Typical situations are found in rural areas in which is possible to obtain local power generation. High power quality at the customers such as sinusoidal and balanced voltages, constant frequency and regulated AC voltage, is provided. Additionally, unity power factor on the feeder is obtained. A three-phase shunt voltage source inverter VSI-PWM is connected at the point of common coupling. This converter processes a fraction of the load power that is associated with unbalances, reactive power and harmonics, as well. The efficiency of the partial power processing is higher when compared to double-conversion systems. On the other hand, the system is able to manage a DC source as a fuel cells, a solar panel and batteries. If only the single-phase source is available, the system operates as a single to three-phase line-interactive converter / Doutorado / Energia Eletrica / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

Practice of landing with paraglider is very inefficient since every flight requires lengthy preparation. Therefore paragliding schools look for a more efficient alternative how to train new pilots. A paraglider flying simulator, which is the subject of this Master`s Thesis, could be that alternative. The design of the simulator includes three parts: a mechanical part - a frame to hang a pilot, that is the same as in real paraglider; an electronic part - scanning of pilot`s control actions and control of force in breaks of a paraglider; and a software part - a design of firmware for a microcontroller. Within the Master`s thesis a function prototype has been made.

Important considerations of a photovoltaic (PV) source are achieving a high voltage and drawing currents with very little ripple component from it. Furthermore, the output from such a source is variable depending on irradiation and temperature. In this research, literature review of prior methods employed to boost the output voltage of a PV source is examined and their limitations identified. This research then proposes a multi-phase tapped-coupled inductor boost DC-DC converter that can achieve high voltage boost ratios, without adversely compromising performance, to be used as an interface to a PV source. The proposed converter achieves minimal current and voltage ripple both at the input and output. The suitability of the proposed converter topology for variable input voltage and variable power operation is demonstrated in this dissertation. The proposed converter is also shown to have good performance at high power levels, making it very suitable for high power applications. Detailed analysis of the proposed converter is done. Advantages of the proposed converter are explained analytically and confirmed through simulations and experimentally. Regulation of the converter output voltage is also explained and implemented using a digital controller. The simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed converter is suitable for high power as well as variable power, variable voltage applications where high voltage boost ratios are required. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / Unrestricted

En la actualidad, cada vez se hace más frecuente el uso de drones para la recopilación de imágenes. Debido a la accesibilidad que poseen estos para sobrevolar espacios aéreos. Sin embargo, en esta tarea de recopilación de imágenes se dan los efectos de subexposición y sobreexposición. Los cuales dependiendo de su intensidad llegan a la saturación de diferentes pixeles de la imagen en las tonalidades negras y blancas respectivamente. Esta saturación conlleva a la pérdida de información en dichas imágenes. La presente tesis se basa en el diseño de un módulo que automatice la regulación del tiempo de exposición de un par de cámaras de la marca Point Grey. Esta regulación se dará mediante el uso de un sensor de luminosidad, el cual medirá los niveles de flujo luminoso incidentes a la cámara por parte del escenario a fotografiar. La metodología seguida será la de integración por partes, desarrollando primero la comunicación del sensor de luminosidad con el controlador. Luego, se desarrollará la comunicación de las cámaras con el controlador haciendo una regulación manual del tiempo de exposición. Finalmente, se integrará ambas partes y se remplazará la regulación manual por una automática en base a las medidas que registre el sensor de luminosidad. La lógica que relaciona la iluminación y el tiempo de exposición se condensa en una ecuación, la cual será ajustada mediante las pruebas realizadas para reducir los efectos de subexposición y sobreexposición.

At many American colleges and universities, efforts to enhance the retention of a diverse group of students have become a priority. This study represents part of this effort at the University of Central Florida, a large public suburban state university in the South. Specifically, this investigation evaluated Pegasus '95 and the Academic Mentoring Program offered in the Summer and Fall Semesters of 1995 to specially-admitted students who fell short of regular admissions requirements. During the summer, Pegasus '95 provided testing, orientation, guided course work, study skills workshops, and mentoring, both individually and in the context of cohesive socialization groups of approximately 15 students each. In the Fall 1995 Semester, students were highly encouraged to participate in one-on-one mentoring in the Academic Mentoring Program (AMP) available through the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC), a university-based office which provides a variety of academic assistance services. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using the following independent predictor variables: gender, SAT/ACT scores, Pegasus participation, use of the AMP in the Fall 1995 semester, four summary scores from the College Student Inventory (CSI), and eight scaled scores from the Noncognitive Questionnaire (NCQ). Dependent variables were individual student GPA in the Summer and Fall 1995 semesters, cumulative GPA after two semesters, and enrolled credit hours into the Spring 1996 academic term. Overall, it was expected that a combination of predictor variables, including both traditional cognitive factors (SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA) and noncognitive factors (NCQ scores and CSI scores, Pegasus participation, and mentoring by the SARC) would significantly predict GP A and retention. The study found that a regression equation including gender, high school GPA, overall SAT scores and the eight NCQ scale scores significantly predicted Fall 1995 and cumulative GPA after two semesters but not Summer 1995 GPA or credit hours enrolled in Spring 1996. Attendance at Pegasus meetings was also shown to be significantly and positively associated with Fall 1995 GPA and cumulative GPA after two semesters but not of Summer 1995 GPA or credit hours enrolled in Spring 1996. Gender, high school GP A, the ACT score and the CSI Dropout Proneness scale significantly predicted credit hours enrolled in Spring 1996, as did use of the AMP program provided by the SARC. Of particular interest was the finding that including noncognitive factors in significant equations led to a greater explanation of the variance than could be obtained with any of the traditional cognitive measurements alone, suggesting that with academically disadvantaged students noncognitive measures must be considered in predicting who can succeed and persist in college.

Due to increasing concerns on the power quality, power factor correction (PFC) has become an important issue in light-emitting diode (LED) lighting applications. A boost converter is one of the most well-known PFC topologies, due to its simple circuitry, simple control scheme and small number of passive components. Even though a boost converter is recognized as a typical PFC converter, its output voltage must be higher than its input voltage. This feature is disadvantageous because the device requires an additional buck-stage for LED lighting systems. As an alternative to the boost converter, a single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) allows output voltage to be lower or higher than the input voltage. Thus, the SEPIC converter is gaining popularity as a LED driver because it does not require additional power conversion stage. However, designing a controller to meet stability requirements and international standards is quite challenging for SEPIC converters. Additionally, if the digital controller is adopted for its built-in communication features, creating a digitally controlled SEPIC converter would be even more challenging. This thesis focuses on the state-space averaging modeling of the SEPIC PFC converter and the design of controllers based on both analog and digital controls with precise modeling. The proposed SEPIC converter incorporates RC damping circuits to avoid the instability, and thus the entire SEPIC converter becomes a 5th order system. Such a high-order system model was derived mathematically and verified with circuit simulator modeling. After verification of the circuit model, the controller was designed with analog transfer functions and converted to and the discrete domain for digital controller implementation. A 150-W single-switch bridgeless SEPIC PFC converter prototype was built accordingly to verify the design. In addition to the current loop controller design for stability, a feed-forward compensator for is introduced and derived for better waveform quality. Simulation results and experiment results are also presented to verify the complete controller with feed-forward compensation. The Texas Instruments (TI) digital signal processor (DSP) TMS320F28335 was adopted for digital controller implementation. For comparison purpose, the TI UC3854 controller was implemented to verify the analog controller design results. / Master of Science

This thesis proposes a novel approach to power electronics system design that is based on the open-architecture distributed digital controller and modular power electronics building blocks (PEBBs). The proposed distributed digital controller partitions the controller in three levels of control authority. The power stage controller, designated as hardware manager, is responsible for low-level hardware oriented tasks; the high level controller, designated as applications manager, performs higher-level application-oriented tasks; and the system level controller handles system control and monitoring functions. Communications between the hardware-oriented controller and the higher-level controller are implemented with the previously proposed 125 Mbits/sec daisy-chained fiber optic communication protocol. Real-time control and status data are communicated by means of communication protocol. The distributed controller on the power converter level makes the system open, flexible and simple to use. Furthermore, this work gives an overview and comparison of current state-of-the-art communication protocols for real-time control applications with emphasis on industrial automation and motion control. All of the studied protocols have been considered as local area networks (LAN) for system-level control in power converter systems. The most promising solution has been chosen for the system level communication protocol. This thesis also provides the details of design and implementation of the distributed controller. The design of both the hardware and software components are explained. A 100 kVA three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI) prototype was built and tested using the distributed controller approach to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept. / Master of Science

A brief analysis of the nonresonant-coupled parallel resonant converter is performed. The converter is modeled and a reference classical analog controller is designed and simulated. Infrastructure required for digital control of the converter (including anti-aliasing filters and a modulator) is designed and a classical digital controller is designed and simulated, yielding a ~30% degradation in control bandwidth at the worst-case operating point as compared with the analog controller. Based on the strong relationship observed between low-frequency converter gain and operating point, a gain-scheduled digital controller is proposed, designed, and simulated, showing 4:1 improved worst-case control bandwidth as compared with the analog controller. A complete prototype is designed and built which experimentally validates the results of the gain-scheduled controller simulation with good correlation. The three approaches that were investigated are compared and conclusions are drawn. Suggestions for further research are presented. / Master of Science