Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2000? / Bibliography: leaves 182-190. Also available in print form.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 23, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Scott D. Kovaleski. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

D.Ing. / In the field of power electronics, the relentless demand for higher efficiencies, lower costs and ever-decreasing volume and profile have driven the development of many innovative technologies. Planarization and hybridization have become a substantial part of present system integration methodology. With the subsequent size reduction, the effects of layout and component parasitics are becoming vital issues in the development of innovative structures. The component ‘parasitics’ can be considered dimensional effects of the component structure that are not considered during the design process. The concept of electromagnetic integration is aimed at the utilization and modification of these dimensional effects. This leads to an integrated structure that fulfills multiple electromagnetic functions with the potential for improved power density, efficiency and reliability. In this dissertation, a family of electromagnetically integrated passives is presented. The related electromagnetic modeling and design approach of these complex electromagnetic structures is presented through a case study of L-L-C-T structures. The development of a sufficiently accurate, yet simplified electromagnetic model for design purposes is presented for the case study. With the electromagnetic model as basis, a comprehensive electromagnetic loss model is created. The electromagnetic design and loss models are combined into a design evaluation program. The graphical output of this design evaluation program allows for rapid selection of improved designs based on external cost criteria. This led to numerous insights into the relationships between the design variables. Through modification of the program, some fundamental limits of the integration approach are addressed. A case study design for a 1MHz, 500W dc-dc converter was considered to evaluate the design program. To assess the accuracy of the electromagnetic modeling, three L-L-C-T prototypes are constructed and experimentally tested. The construction process presented improved power density by 80% over previous processes. The electromagnetic component parameters for three prototypes were within 10% of the required design values, while the electromagnetic loss model estimations were within measurement error. The design evaluation program was enlisted in the design of two of these prototypes. This resulted in a 100% further improvement in power density (480W/in3 or 29.3W/cm3) compared to the original prototype without a loss in efficiency.

M.Ing (Electrical and Electronic Science) / High frequency magnetic components have significant advantages related to cost and physical size compared to their low frequency counterparts. The advent of high frequency power switch technology made the transformer frequency a variable and recent advances in this field have been ever pushing the switching frequency of higher power converters. Although high frequency inductors and transformers have been used and applied extensively to an increasingly broad range of applications over recent decades, analysis and design of these devices involves certain difficulties, related to extra losses due to eddy currents as well as smaller cooling surfaces, to the developer and designer. Numerical simulations of eddy currents in windings are slow, if not impossible in many cases, due to the large mesh impositions required in order to converge. Eddy currents and thermal constraints impose limitations on flux- and current densities, complicating the design. As yet, a convenient means of design, analysis and optimization of the physical magnetic topology does not exist. In this study, a method for analysing eddy currents in windings, usmg a combined analytical and numerical approach, is presented and implemented in a CAD tool. The one dimensional solutions for eddy currents in strip conductors are written in a more flexible form. A new approach to magnetic component design, called scant modelling, is presented and applied to two practical examples. The scant model comprises a minimum number of functional and form parameters in analysing and optimizing a design, but considers eddy current effects, thermal constraints and the effects of physical size and shape of core and windings at high frequencies.

D.Ing. / In this thesis, contactless power transmission with sliding transformers to mobile loads is investigated. The sliding transformer comprises an extended primary winding - placed along the path of travel - which is fed through a core containing a secondary winding and which is attached to a mobile load. In the first chapter problems with existing power supply systems are discussed whereafter several possible applications of such a system are identified. In this chapter different methods of obtaining contactless power transmission are also discussed and a brief discussion of a practical, cost effective system is given. In chapter two the application of different resonant topologies to compensate the large structural inductance of the sliding transformer is investigated. A Series Resonant, Series Loaded topology is identified as the most practical and efficient topology for this application and a more detailed analysis of this topology - as applied to this case - is given. Formulas to calculate the sliding transformer parameters are given in the third chapter and two quantities relating the optimization of sliding transformers to the parameters thereof, are defined. Methods to optimize sliding transformers in terms of these two quantities, and also with respect to EMI, are also discussed in this chapter. The design of a five meter long experimental system which delivers 15 kVA to a mobile load is given in chapter four and experimental results of this system are presented. In chapter five a detailed investigation into different output power control methods is conducted. The effect of these control methods on EMI is investigated by means of numerical simulation of a Series Resonant, Series Loaded system under these different control methods. The most complex control method which generates the most EMI, namely frequency and pulse burst control, is implemented into the experimental system to investigate the limitations thereof. Experimental results of this controlled system are presented. It is found that this control method increases the control range obtainable with classical frequency control but introduces many limitations due to discontinuous primary current. It is concluded in the last chapter that it is possible to optimize sliding transformers within achievable cost constraints to such an extent that such systems have acceptable efficiencies and that reasonable system lengths are obtainable.

No description available.

M.S.

High voltage transformers inherently contain undesirable parasitic reactances. A resonant circuit formed by the leakage inductance and parasitic reflected capacitance, makes various resonant technologies practical for high voltage dc applications. The components of a typical high voltage power stage will be investigated in order to identify these parasitics and determine their influence on converter operation. Proto-type high voltage converters will be designed and built using PWM and quasi-resonant techniques and experimental results will be given. Dc analysis will be performed for the PWM and the quasi-resonant designs in order to obtain insight into the actual operation of the two converters. The design of the two proto-type converters will be reviewed and design guidelines will be established. / Master of Science

A new method for analyzing axisymmetric, high-frequency transformers is presented. The method is based on the simultaneous solution of the coupled, nonlinear thermal and electromagnetic equations using the finite element method. A novel technique for modeling the reluctivity of the soft-ferrite core material permits a time-harmonic transformation of the electromagnetic equations. This eliminates the need to step through time while maintaining the effects of hysteresis losses. Also, a quasi-steady formulation of the heat-conduction equation eliminates the time dependency on the thermal problem. A direct substitution iterative scheme is used in conjunction with the finite element method to compensate for the coupled and nonlinear nature of the equations. To verify the magnetics portion of the finite element code numerically, a linear, uncoupled test case is given which compares the magnetic results from the present method to those from a commercial software package. To investigate the accuracy of the fully coupled and nonlinear model, an example is presented which compares the results from the numerical analysis of an inductor to those obtained by experimental measurement. / Master of Science