Beschreibung

This course discusses the engineering of power conversion for the integration of renewable energy sources within the power system. The following topics will be covered:

  • Power Semiconductor Devices
  • DC-DC Converters
  • AC-DC Converters
  • Power Systems
  • Batteries
  • Electrical Machines
  • E-Mobility

Zielgruppe(n)

This course targets students in Schleswig-Holstein as well as international students interested in joining Kiel University. It is on an advanced engineering bachelor level. As prerequisites, engineering mathematics, physics, and fundamentals of electrical engineering are expected.

Lernziele

Power electronics is a key enabling technology for modern energy systems, industrial automation, renewable energy integration, and electric mobility. As society moves toward higher energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization, power electronic converters play a decisive role in controlling, converting, and distributing electrical energy in a reliable and efficient manner. From low-power electronic devices to high-power transmission systems, power electronics bridges the gap between energy sources, storage systems, and electrical loads.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles, components, and system-level applications of power electronics. You will gain a solid understanding of how power semiconductor devices operate, how they are combined into converter topologies, and how these converters interact with electrical machines, batteries, and power systems. Special emphasis is placed on efficiency, reliability, thermal behavior, and control strategies, which are critical for designing high-performance power electronic systems.

By studying DC-DC, AC-DC, and system-level converters, you will learn how electrical energy can be transformed between voltage levels, current levels, and AC/DC domains to meet the requirements of modern applications. The course also explores the role of power electronics in electrical power systems, energy storage technologies, and e-mobility, highlighting both technical opportunities and engineering challenges.

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to answer questions such as: How do power semiconductor devices enable efficient switching at high-power levels? What are the operating principles and limitations of common DC-DC and AC-DC converter topologies? How do power electronic converters interact with batteries and electrical machines? What challenges arise when integrating power electronics into power systems and electric vehicles? Equipped with this knowledge, you will be prepared to analyze, design, and evaluate power electronic systems for a wide range of modern energy and mobility applications.