In this thesis, a detailed study of the electrical and optical characterisations of Heterojuction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs) for optical detection is presented. By comparing both DC and optical characterisations between In0.49Ga0.51P/GaAs Single Heterojuction Bipolar Transistors (SHBTs) and Double Heterojuction Bipolar Transistors (DHBTs), the advantages of using the DHBT as a short wavelength detector are shown. Phenomena related to the base region energy band bending in the DHBT caused by a self-induced effective electric field is discussed and its effects on the performance of the device are elaborated. The use of an eye diagram has been employed to provide requisite information for performance qualification of SHBT/DHBT devices. These give a more detailed understanding compared to conventional S-parameters method. A detailed comparison of In0.49Ga0.51P/GaAs SHBT and DHBT performance using an eye diagram as a functional tool by adopting a modified T-shaped small signal equivalent circuit are given. By adopting this modified T-shaped small signal equivalent circuit, the use of In0.49Ga0.51P/GaAs Double Heterojuction Phototransistors (DHPT) as a short wavelength photodetector is analysed. It is therefore shown that an eye diagram can act as a powerful tool in HBTs/HPTs design optimisations, for the first time in this work. In order to predict the spectral response (SR) and optical characterisations of GaAs-based HPTs, a detailed theoretical absorption model is also presented. The layer dependence of an optical flux absorption profile, along with doping dependent absorption coefficients are taken into account for the optical characterisation prediction. With the aim of eliminating the limitation of current gain as a prerequisite, analytical modelling of SR has been developed by resolving the continuity equation and applying realistic boundary conditions. Then, related physical parameters and a layer structure profile are used to implement simulations. A good agreement with the measured results of the Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs HPT is shown validating the proposed theoretical model.

No description available.

No description available.

The performance of III-V heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) has improved significantly over the past two decades. Today’s state of the art Indium Phosphide (InP) HBTs have a maximum frequency of oscillation greater than 800 GHz and have been used to realize an amplifier operating above 600 GHz . In comparison to silicon (Si) based devices, III-V HBTs have superior transport properties that enables a higher gain, higher speed, and noise performance, and much higher Johnson figure- of-merit . From this perspective, the InP HBT is one of the most promising candidates for high performance mixed signal electronic systems.

Motivated by the recent commercialization of gallium-nitride (GaN) switches, an effort was initiated to determine whether it was feasible to switch the flyback converter at 5 MHz in order to improve the power density of this versatile isolated topology. Soft switching techniques have to be utilized to eliminate the switching loss to maintain high efficiency at multi-megahertz. Compared to the traditional modeling of zero-voltage-switching quasi-square-wave converters, a numerical methodology of parameters design is proposed based on the steady-state model of zero-voltage switching quasi-square-wave flyback converter. The magnetizing inductance is selected to guarantee zero-voltage switching for the entire input and load range with the trade-off design for conduction loss and turn-off loss. A design methodology is introduced to select a minimum core volume for an inductor or coupled inductors experiencing appreciable core loss. The geometric constant Kgac = MLT/(Ac2WA) is shown to be a power function of the core volume Ve, where Ac is the effective core area, WA is the area of the winding window, and MLT is the mean length per turn for commercial toroidal, ER, and PQ cores, permitting the total loss to be expressed as a direct function of the core volume. The inductor is designed to meet specific loss or thermal constraints. An iterative procedure is described in which two- or three-dimensional proximity effects are first neglected and then subsequently incorporated via finite-element simulation. Interleaved and non-interleaved planar PCB winding structures were also evaluated to minimize leakage inductance, self-capacitance and winding loss. The analysis on the trade-off between magnetic size, frequency, loss and temperature indicated the potential for a higher density flyback converter. A small-signal equivalent circuit of QSW converter was proposed to design the control loop and to understand the small-signal behavior. By adding a simple damping resistor on the traditional small-signal CCM model, it can predict the pole splitting phenomenon observed in QSW converter. With the analytical expressions of the transfer functions of QSW converters, the impact of key parameters including magnetizing inductance, dead time, input voltage and output power on the small-signal behavior can be analyzed. The closed-loop bandwidth can be pushed much higher with this modified model, and the transient performance is significantly improved. With the traditional fix dead-time control, a large amount of loss during dead time occurred, especially for the eGaN FETs with high reverse voltage drop. An adaptive dead time control scheme was implemented with simple combinational logic circuitries to adjust the turn on time of the power switches. A variable deadtime control was proposed to further improve the performance of adaptive dead-time control with simplified sensing circuit, and the extra conduction loss caused by propagation delay in adaptive dead-time control can be minimized at multi-megahertz frequency. / Ph. D.

This work utilizes the small-signal impedance-based stability analysis method to develop stability assessment criteria for a single-aisle turboelectric aircraft with aft boundary-layer propulsion (STARC-ABL) system. The impedance-based stability analysis method outperforms other stability analysis methods because it does not require detailed information of individual components for system integration, therefore, a system integrator can just require the vendors to make the individual components meet the impedance specifications to ensure whole system stability. This thesis presents models of a generator, motor, housekeeping loads, and battery all with power electronics interface which form an onboard electrical system and analyzes the relationship between the impedance shape of each component and their physical design and control loop design. Based on the developed small-signal model of the turbine-generator-rectifier subsystem and load subsystem, this thesis analyzes the impact of electromechanical dynamics of the turbofan passed through the generator on the dc distribution system, concluding that the rectifier can mitigate the impact. Finally, to ensure the studied system stable operation during the whole flying profile, the thesis provides impedance specifications of the dc distribution system and verifies the specifications with several cases in time-domain simulations. / M.S. / Electric aircraft propulsion (EAP) technologies have been a trend in the aviation industry for their potential to reduce environmental emissions, increase fuel efficiency and reduce noise for commercial airplanes. Achieving these benefits would be a vital step towards environmental sustainability. However, the development of all-electric aircraft is still limited by the current battery technologies and maintenance systems. The single-aisle turboelectric aircraft with aft boundary-layer (STARC-ABL) propulsion concept is therefore developed by NASA aiming to bridge the gap between the current jet fuel-powered aircraft and future all-electric vehicles. The plane uses electric motors powered by onboard gas turbines and transfers the generated power to other locations of the airplane like the tail fan motor to provide distributed propulsion. Power electronics-based converter converts electricity in one form of electricity to another form, for example, from ac voltage to dc voltage. This conversion of power is very important in the whole society, from small onboard chips to Mega Watts level electrical power system. In the aircraft electrical power system context, power electronics converter plays an important role in the power transfer process especially with the recent trend of using high voltage dc (HVDC) distribution instead of conventional ac distribution for the advantage of increased efficiency and better voltage regulation. The power generated by the electric motors is in ac form. Power electronics converter is used to convert the ac power into dc power and transfer it to the dc bus. Because the power to drive the electric motor to provide distributed propulsion is also in ac form, the dc power needs to be converted back into ac power still through a power electronics converter. With a high penetration of power electronics into the onboard electrical power system and the increase of electrical power level, potential stability issues resulted from the interactions of each subsystem need to be paid attention to. There are mainly two stability-related studies conducted in this work. One is the potential cross-domain dynamic interaction between the mechanical system and the electrical system. The other is a design-oriented study to provide sufficient stability margin in the design process to ensure the electrical system’s stable operation during the whole flying profile. The methodology used in this thesis is the impedance-based stability analysis. The main analyzing process is to find an interface of interest first, then grouped each subsystem into a source subsystem and load subsystem, then extract the source impedance and load impedance respectively, and eventually using the Nyquist Criterion (or in bode plot form) to assess the stability with the impedance modeling results. The two stability-related issues mentioned above are then studied by performing impedance analysis of the system. For the electromechanical dynamics interaction study, this thesis mainly studies the rotor dynamics’ impact on the output impedance of the turbine-generator-rectifier system to assess the mechanical dynamics’ impact on the stability condition of the electrical system. It is found that the rotor dynamics of the turbine is masked by the rectifier; therefore, it does not cause stability problem to the pre-tuned system. For the design-oriented study, this thesis mainly explores and provides the impedance shaping guidelines of each subsystem to ensure the whole system's stable operation. It is found that the stability boundary case is at rated power level, the generator voltage loop bandwidth is expected to be higher than 300Hz, 60˚ to achieve a 6dB, 45˚ stability margin, and load impedance mainly depends on the motor-converter impedance.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / In RF power transistor characterisation, the designer is confronted with low impedance measurements (typically from 1 Ohm to 12 Ohm). These transistors are contained in metal-ceramic packages of which the lead widths vary with power capability. This thesis presents a high-quality fixture design with low impedance TRL calibration standards for characterisation of an LDMOS transistor. Pre-matching networks are used to transform to the low impedance environment. Since these pre-matching networks are independent of the termination impedance, the low impedance port can always be designed to comply with the same dimension as the device which is being measured.

Nesta tese de doutorado é proposta uma abordagem para estimar a velocidade angular de geradores síncronos conectados em um sistema elétrico de potência, a partir de sinais que podem ser facilmente mensurados, tais como a corrente e a tensão na barra do lado de alta tensão do transformador que conecta o gerador em análise ao restante do sistema. Uma vez que informações precisas sobre o comportamento dinâmico do sistema são de elevada importância para um controle efetivo do SEP, especialmente com o aumento da complexidade da rede, a abordagem proposta nesta tese fornece uma estimativa do sinal de velocidade que pode ser aplicada no estudo da estabilidade a pequenas perturbações para mitigar os problemas inerentes a presença das oscilações eletromecânicas mal amortecidas nos SEPs. A abordagem desenvolvida é composta por dois métodos sendo cada um deles aplicável dependendo das características do problema a ser resolvido e das informações disponíveis para tanto. No primeiro método, uma técnica de sensibilidade da trajetória é aplicada ao sinal de diferença entre a resposta obtida pelo modelo simulado e aquela fornecida por dados amostrados no sistema real emulado. A partir desse sinal de erro e das curvas de sensibilidade, a técnica possibilita calibrar os coeficientes de um modelo linear do SEP e, consequentemente, descrever de forma precisa a resposta da velocidade do gerador em análise. No segundo método, uma técnica de filtragem é utilizada (filtro de Kalman Unscented) a qual fornece uma estimativa adequada para a velocidade angular do rotor mesmo quando elevadas discrepâncias são observadas entre a saída do modelo simulado e a resposta amostrada no sistema real. Os resultados obtidos sobre diferentes sistemas testes evidenciam a eficiência da abordagem proposta. / In this thesis, an approach is proposed to estimate the rotor speed of synchronous generators connected to an electric power system (EPS), from signals that can be easily sampled by measuring equipment, such as current and voltage in high voltage side of the step-up transformer of the power plant. Accurate information about the dynamic behavior of system is essential for effective control and reliable operation of EPS, especially with the increasing complexity of the grid. Hence, the main aim of this work is to provide an estimate of the rotor speed signal that can be applied in the area of small-signal stability, in order to mitigate the detrimental effects of poorly damped electromechanical oscillations in EPSs. The developed approach is composed of two methods, where each of them is applicable depending on the characteristics of the problem to be solved and the available information. In the first method, a trajectory sensitivity technique is applied on the mismatch between the simulated output in the system linear model and the response of the real system. Using this error signal and the sensitivity curves, this method allows to identify and to calibrate some coefficients of the linear model and, consequently, to adequately describe the speed response of the generator under analysis. In this second method, a filtering technique is used, the Unscented Kalman Filter, which provides an adequate estimate for rotor speed even when high discrepancies are observed between the linear model and the sampled response of real system. The results obtained on test systems with different characteristics show the efficiency of the proposed approach.

O crescimento da demanda por eletricidade tem promovido a diversificação da matriz energética em termos de fontes primárias, porte de geração e alocação dos geradores. Neste cenário, a inserção de geradores de pequeno porte nos sistemas de distribuição tem causado a descentralização da produção de energia elétrica e, no contexto nacional, o alto potencial para geração de eletricidade através de pequenas centrais hidrelétricas e usinas de cogeração tem dado destaque aos geradores síncronos distribuídos. Contudo, é necessário avaliar as implicações da presença dos geradores síncronos em sistemas de distribuição e avaliar se as metodologias já consagradas de análises, operação e normalização técnica estão adequadas. Dentre as principais peculiaridades dos sistemas de distribuição estão a proximidade dos geradores às cargas e a presença de eventos aleatórios de maior amplitude, tais como variações de carga que ocorrem natural e intermitentemente no sistema. Além disso, problemas relacionados a oscilações eletromecânica mal amortecidas podem agora ocorrer em níveis de distribuição e deve-se estabelecer um procedimento para identificação destes modos. Entretanto, o procedimento usual para o estudo de estabilidade a pequenas perturbações pode se tornar inviável, pois a construção do modelo completo é de extrema complexidade e os parâmetros dos elementos em níveis de distribuição são de difícil obtenção. Para reverter estes problemas citados, esta pesquisa oferece um procedimento alternativo para a obtenção dos modos de oscilação eletromecânica em sistemas de distribuição, sugerindo a estimação modal através de dados ambiente. / The electricity demand increase has promoted the energy matrix diversification in terms of primary sources, generation size and allocation of generators. In this scenario, the insertion of small sized generators in distribution systems has caused the power production decentralization and, in the national context, a high potential for generating electricity through small hydroelectric power plants and cogeneration plants has drawn attention to distributed synchronous generators. However, it is necessary to assess the implications of synchronous generators presence in distribution systems and evaluate if the current methodologies of analysis, operation and technical standards are appropriate to this context. Among the main distribution systems particularities, there are the proximity of generators to loads and more significant random perturbations conceptualized as load switching. In addition, problems related to lightly damped modes can occur in distribution and there is a need to establish a procedure for modal identification. However, the usual procedure for the small-signal stability analysis is not adequate to this problem, because the model construction is very complex and the parameters in distribution are very difficult to obtain. To face the challenges, this research provides an alternative procedure for obtaining electromechanical modes in distribution systems, suggesting modal estimation techniques that use measured ambient data.

O crescimento da demanda por eletricidade tem promovido a diversificação da matriz energética em termos de fontes primárias, porte de geração e alocação dos geradores. Neste cenário, a inserção de geradores de pequeno porte nos sistemas de distribuição tem causado a descentralização da produção de energia elétrica e, no contexto nacional, o alto potencial para geração de eletricidade através de pequenas centrais hidrelétricas e usinas de cogeração tem dado destaque aos geradores síncronos distribuídos. Contudo, é necessário avaliar as implicações da presença dos geradores síncronos em sistemas de distribuição e avaliar se as metodologias já consagradas de análises, operação e normalização técnica estão adequadas. Dentre as principais peculiaridades dos sistemas de distribuição estão a proximidade dos geradores às cargas e a presença de eventos aleatórios de maior amplitude, tais como variações de carga que ocorrem natural e intermitentemente no sistema. Além disso, problemas relacionados a oscilações eletromecânica mal amortecidas podem agora ocorrer em níveis de distribuição e deve-se estabelecer um procedimento para identificação destes modos. Entretanto, o procedimento usual para o estudo de estabilidade a pequenas perturbações pode se tornar inviável, pois a construção do modelo completo é de extrema complexidade e os parâmetros dos elementos em níveis de distribuição são de difícil obtenção. Para reverter estes problemas citados, esta pesquisa oferece um procedimento alternativo para a obtenção dos modos de oscilação eletromecânica em sistemas de distribuição, sugerindo a estimação modal através de dados ambiente. / The electricity demand increase has promoted the energy matrix diversification in terms of primary sources, generation size and allocation of generators. In this scenario, the insertion of small sized generators in distribution systems has caused the power production decentralization and, in the national context, a high potential for generating electricity through small hydroelectric power plants and cogeneration plants has drawn attention to distributed synchronous generators. However, it is necessary to assess the implications of synchronous generators presence in distribution systems and evaluate if the current methodologies of analysis, operation and technical standards are appropriate to this context. Among the main distribution systems particularities, there are the proximity of generators to loads and more significant random perturbations conceptualized as load switching. In addition, problems related to lightly damped modes can occur in distribution and there is a need to establish a procedure for modal identification. However, the usual procedure for the small-signal stability analysis is not adequate to this problem, because the model construction is very complex and the parameters in distribution are very difficult to obtain. To face the challenges, this research provides an alternative procedure for obtaining electromechanical modes in distribution systems, suggesting modal estimation techniques that use measured ambient data.