With the advent of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions are more pronounced due to high slew rates in the form of high dv/dt and high di/dt at higher switching frequencies compared to the traditional silicon technology. To comply with the stringent conducted emission requirements, EMI filters are adopted to attenuate the high frequency common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) noise through the propagation path. However, self and mutual parasitic components are known to degrade the EMI filter performance. While parasitic cancellation techniques have been discussed at length in prior literature, most of them have focused mainly on single phase applications. As such this work focuses on extending the preexisting concepts to three-phase systems. Novel component placement, winding strategy as well as shielding and grounding techniques were developed to desensitize the influence of the parasitic effects on a three-phase multi-stage filter. The effectiveness of the three-phase filter structure employing the proposed methodologies has been validated via noise measurements at the line impedance stabilization network (LISN) in a 15kW rated motor drive system. Consequently, general design guidelines have been formulated for filter topologies with different inductor and capacitor form-factors. / Master of Science / The adoption of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) or Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors, improves the power density with higher slew rates and switching frequencies compared to the traditional Silicon technology. However, the high switching speeds and high frequencies have generated higher electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise in the surroundings. To comply with the conducted emission requirements at the grid terminal, EMI filter is mandatory to attenuate the high frequency EMI noise that flows into grid. However, near field and the effect of parasitic components are known to degrade the filter performance at the higher end of frequency spectrum where the limit lines are typically stringent. While parasitic cancellation techniques have been discussed at length in prior literature, most of them has focused mainly on single phase applications. Therefore, this thesis aims to extend the pre-existing concepts to compensate the mutual and self-parasitic coupling components in a three-phase multi-stage filter. In this regard, novel component placement, winding strategy as well as shielding and grounding techniques were developed to compensate for the parasitic effects in a three- phase multi-stage filter. The effectiveness of the three-phase filter structure employing the proposed methodologies has been validated in a 15kW rated motor drive system. Consequently, general design guidelines have been formulated for filter design with minimal parasitic effects.

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Among PWM power conversion topologies, the single-switch forward topology is the one that has been most widely used for decades. Its popularity has been based on many factors, including its low cost, circuit simplicity and high efficiency. However, several issues need to be addressed when using the forward converter such as the core reset, the voltage spikes caused by the transformer leakage inductance, and the pulsating input current waveform. The transformer is driven in a unidirectional fashion in the forward converter; a tertiary forward converter (TFC) is an example of this. Therefore, the third winding and reset diode must be provided with an adequate period of reset time so that the flux can be fully reset by the end of each switching cycle to prevent core saturation. Also, due to the utilization of a transformer, leakage inductances cannot be avoided. The energy stored in the leakage inductance during current ramp-up is not transferred to the load, and is not recovered during its discharge phase. As a result, the VDS waveform has a voltage spike and undesirable high-frequency oscillation. Therefore, a higher voltage-rating switch should be used to reduce the risk of high-voltage breakdown. Although a switch with amply high voltage ratings is available, it would tend to have a higher on-resistance, RDS(ON), resulting in increased conduction losses. Moreover, selection of a switch with higher voltage ratings than necessary may needlessly increase the cost of the design. Usually an additional circuit such as a snubber circuit or a clamp circuit or the soft-switching technique is used to absorb these voltage spikes. Consequently, the leakage inductance is intentionally minimized in the PWM power conversion technique so that it will not degrade the circuit performance. In contrast, the leakage inductance of the transformer may enhance rather than detract from circuit performance with a resonant power conversion technique. To date, however, no single-switch forward converter has been claimed to be able to enhance the converter performance with the PWM power conversion technique by utilizing the leakage inductance. Therefore, research on the utilization of the transformer leakage inductance in the PWM forward converter is needed. Two techniques, input current ripple reduction and an embedded filter, are proposed to enhance the performance of forward converter using the PWM technique. By inserting a capacitor between two primary windings of the TFC, an input current ripple reduction technique is proposed and a forward converter with ripple reduction (FRR) is presented in this research work. Because the voltage of the capacitor is clamped to input voltage, the capacitor becomes a second voltage source to share part of the load current. As a result, the input current ripple is reduced. Moreover, the capacitor voltage is clamped both at the static and dynamic states; thus the excessive voltage stress on the main switch S1 of the FAC during low-line to high-line step transient is eliminated. Furthermore, without an external LC filter, the EMI noise levels can be further reduced as a result of the embedded notch filter formed by the transformer leakage inductance and clamp capacitor if the notch frequency is designed to be the same as the switching frequency. With the help of the clamp capacitor, therefore, the leakage inductance can enhance rather than detract from the converter performance. The input current ripple can be reduced further by employing the proposed techniques. Two sets of the clamp capacitors and the leakage inductances are utilized, and the current ripple can even be cancelled if the condition is met. Consequently, the input current becomes a non-pulsating waveform and a forward converter with ripple cancellation (FRC) is presented. Moreover, without an external LC filter, the EMI noise levels can be further attenuated as a result of the embedded low-pass filter formed by the transformer leakage inductances and clamp capacitors. Again, the leakage inductance can enhance the converter performance just as the resonant converter does. In addition to providing the analysis and design procedure, this work verifies the performance of the presented converters, the FRR and the FRC, by the experimental results. By employing the proposed techniques, eight new topologies have been extended for different power conversion applications. Each member of the FRR and the FRC families is able to enhance the converter performance, in ways such as the elimination of the voltage spikes on the main switch without a snubber circuit and the improvement of the EMI performance with small filter components. Consequently, the cost can be reduced and the space of the converter can be saved. / Ph. D.

This thesis deals with design algorithms for filter banks based on optimization. The design specifications consist of the perfect reconstruction and frequency response specifications for finite impulse response (FIR) analysis and synthesis filters. The perfect reconstruction conditions are formulated as a set of linear equations with respect to the analysis filters’ coefficients and the synthesis filters’ coefficients. Five design algorithms are presented. The first three are based on an unconstrained optimization of performance indices, which include the perfect reconstruction error and the error in the frequency specifications. The last two algorithms are formulated as constrained optimization problems with the perfect reconstruction error as the performance index and the frequency specifications as constraints. The performance of the five algorithms is evaluated and compared using six examples; these examples include uniform filter bank, compatible non-uniform filter bank and incompatible non-uniform filter bank designs. The evaluation criteria are based on distortion and aliasing errors, the magnitude response characteristics of analysis and synthesis filters, the computation time required for the optimization, and the convergence of the performance index with respect to the number of iterations. The results show that the five algorithms can achieve almost perfect reconstruction and can meet the frequency response specifications at an acceptable level. In the case of incompatible non-uniform filter banks, the algorithms have challenges to achieve almost perfect reconstruction. / Graduate

Text in English / Submitted in partial fulfillment of a Master's Degree at the University of South Africa / Our main goal is to collate into a single document what is presently known regarding pointfree convergence. This will be done by exposing some well-known results on pointfree convergence in a much more simpler way. We will start to study the convergence and clustering of filters in frames in terms of covers and use this to characterise compact frames and some type of uniform frames. We will extend this study to a more general type of filters. We will then discuss convergence and clustering of filters on a locale, where a filter on a locale L is just a filter in the sublattice of all the sublocales of L. This convergence has many applications like characterising compact locales and also characterising sharp points which will also be studied. Finally, the latter concepts of convergence and clustering will be reconciled with the previous one. / Mathematical Sciences

Harmonics are created by non-linear devices connected to the power system. Power system harmonics are multiples of the fundamental power system frequency and these harmonic frequencies can create distorted voltages and currents. Distortion of voltages and currents can affect the power system adversely causing power quality problems. Therefore, estimation of harmonics is of high importance for efficiency of the power system network. The problem of harmonic loss evaluation is of growing importance for renewable power system industry by impacting the operating costs and the useful life of the system components. Non-linear devices such as power electronics converters can inject harmonics alternating currents (AC) in the electrical power system. The number of sensitive loads that require ideal sinusoidal supply voltage for their proper operation has been increasing. To maintain the quality limits proposed by standards to protect the sensitive loads, it is necessary to include some form of filtering device to the power system. Harmonics also increases overall reactive power demanded by equivalent load. Filters have been devised to achieve an optimal control strategy for harmonic alleviation problems. To achieve an acceptable distortion, increase the power quality and to reduce the harmonics hence several three phase filter banks are used and connected in parallel. In this thesis, high order harmonics cases have been suppressed by employing variants of Butterworth, Chebyshev and Cauer filters. MATLAB/SIMULINK wind farm model was used to generate and analyze the different harmonics magnitude and frequency. High voltage direct current (HVDC) lines for an electrical grid that is more than50km far away wind farm generation plant was investigated for harmonics. These HVDC lines are also used in offshore wind farm plant. Investigated three-phase harmonics filters are shunt elements that are used in power systems for decreasing voltage distortion and for correcting the power factor. Renewable energy sources are not the stable source of energy generation like wind, solar and tidal e.t.c. Though they are secondary sources of generation and hard to connect with electrical grid. In near future the technique is to use the wave digital filter (WDF) or circulator-tree wave digital filter (CTWDF) for the renewable energy application can be employed to mitigate the harmonics. These WDF and CTWDF can b eused in HVDC lines and smart grid applications. A preliminary analysis is conducted for such a study.

The state-variable analog filter topologies are described. Using the transfer function theory and operational configurations suitable for integration and derivation, a new universal filter topology are proposed. The circuit has been implemented in CMOS technology by using six operational amplifiers, eight analog switches and five programming resistor array. Tunable corner frequencies, quality factors and gain are realized. Using the serial peripheral interface or digital memory can be realized this real-time digitally programmable first- and second-order analog filter with the tunable parameters.

Evaluating the performance of filter media for filtration applications is essential to assure design engineers and users that filter device will deliver promised performance for specific applications under the environmental stress. The study of particle loading characteristics of filter media in the laboratory setting is typically performed under the steady flow conditions, i.e., at the constant particle concentration and flow rate. In reality, filtration products are operated under the situations that the flow rate and mass concentration of particles are varied in time. The success of translating the laboratory data to estimate the performance of filter media in the fields is thus limited. It is necessary to investigate the performance of filter media under the real-world conditions, i.e., unsteady flow rate and mass concentration to bridge the gap. The overall goals of this research are (1) to study the performance of filter medium under unsteady conditions (i.e., the performance of respirator filter media under simulated breathing conditions); and (2) to investigate the issue of non-uniform particle deposition on HVAC filter panels. A new experimental setup was developed to accomplish the former goal. Numerical modeling tool, Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), was applied to achieve the latter objective……