Electromagnetic energy propagation in power electronic converters: toward future electromagnetic integration

Abstract

I. POWER ELECTRONICS TOWARD ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY PROCESSING A. Shrinking Dimensions and Increasing FrequencyStudying the historical development of power electronics [1], [2] indicates that for a long time after its inception, a discrete, decoupled approach to modeling, design, and construction of power electronic converters was totally adequate. Electrical, thermal, and mechanical modeling and design was decoupled, while the sequential type of manufacturing in use was based on using separate components and after laying them out on a plane, wiring them together. This approach had a convenient, almost one-to-one correspondence to the lumped element circuit modeling, using ideal component transfer functions. This discrete, sequential thinking has permeated research, development, design methodology, and teaching to the present. Even hybrid, integrated power electronics modules are still constructed in a quasi-discrete way. However, continuing change in power device technology, a continuing increase in power density and/or frequency [3], [4] over the past decades have resulted in close electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical coupling of all the "components" and interconnections that comprise the converter, accentuating undesirable side effects due to the close proximity of "components," materials used, interconnections necessary, etc. ("parasitics"). As the tendency toward integration of modules for the future continues, the integrated power processor is approaching (see Fig. 1), signaling the necessity for change in the present methodology for analysis and design. B. The Integrated Power Processor as Electromagnetic DeviceAt present, a power electronic converter may be characterized as a spread-out electromagnetic device. The quest for increased power density continues the reduction in dimensions and the tendency toward physical integration. This will eventually make the electromagnetic coupling between different subsections of the converter, the electromagnetic nature of inter-and intraconnections, and the electromagnetic nature of the switching processes dominant for determining the energy processing transfer function. For this eventual electromagnetic energy processor, it follows that the electromagnetic limits will be dominant and will have to be explored. As an aid to analyze this development of power electronics technology, the different fundamental functions performed in a converter had been defined in previous work [5]. This analysis did not include the thermal and mechanical functions and

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