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Pushing Power Density for Automotive On-board Chargers

Modern automotive power electronics power density is constrained by system architecture, converter topologies, packaging, and spatial integration, requiring holistic co-optimization with 3D integration, EMI, and thermal management. This tutorial compares multi-stage vs multi-port OBC and DC-DC, including CLLC resonant and phase-shifted topologies using Pareto-front efficiency–volume trade-offs. Phase-modular AC-DC and double-line-frequency energy storage impacts are evaluated, alongside modelling/control of multi-port series resonant converters. WBG-based 600 kHz DC-DC design, fault-tolerant auxiliary supply, top-side cooling, TIMs, custom heat sinks, multi-domain simulation, and EMI mitigation are covered, drawing on Tiny Power Box and REDSEL project work.

Challenges and Trends of Model Predictive Control in Power Electronics and Electrical Drives

This tutorial presents a unified framework for Model Predictive Control (MPC) in power converters and electrical drives, bridging Continuous Control Set MPC (CCS-MPC) and Finite Control Set MPC (FCS-MPC). Their theoretical foundations, structural differences, performance trade-offs, and implementation aspects are compared with emphasis on hybrid CCS/FCS strategies. The seminar addresses challenges such as computational burden, model dependence, delay and parameter mismatch, scalability, and cost-function tuning via reduced-complexity methods, delay compensation, adaptive identification, and digital twin validation. Finally, the tutorial introduces AI–MPC integration (neural prediction, reinforcement learning, AI-based tuning, data-driven and hybrid architectures) with DSP/FPGA case studies.

Holistic Design and Optimization of High-Frequency Magnetics for Power Converters: From Analytical Modelling to 3D FEM Simulation and Experimental Validation

High-frequency magnetics are critical for modern power converters but present challenges related to electromagnetic behavior, thermal limits, and manufacturing. This tutorial addresses the complete design cycle of high-frequency magnetic components for converters such as DAB and LLC. It covers analytical design methods, core and winding selection, and loss estimation, followed by 3D FEM electromagnetic and electro-thermal simulations. The tutorial concludes with experimental validation using prototypes to compare simulations with measured efficiency, thermal performance, and electrical waveforms.

High Performance Compact Power Electronics

This tutorial covers design strategies for compact, high‑density power electronics: integrated converter topologies (including multi‑port architectures combining OBC and DC‑DC) and voxel‑based digital twins for multi‑physics modelling, dataset generation, and AI‑driven electrical/thermal optimisation to reduce prototyping. This seminar presents design methodology (topology selection, magnetic/PCB transformer integration, system optimisation) with experimental validation and lessons on coupling, thermal management, and integration. It also describes switched‑capacitor and hybrid SC DC‑DC converters, their benefits/limits, key subfamilies, capacitor voltage‑balancing methods, and combining SC structures with isolated DC‑DC for high conversion ratios.

From Theory to Practice I: Fundamentals of WBG Power Semiconductors and Losses

This seminar covers Wide Band Gap (WBG) power semiconductors, explaining how Si devices differ from SiC and GaN across electrical, thermal, and mechanical aspects, and presenting methods to characterize them for effective and reliable use. The tutorial focuses on measuring switching losses in fast-switching WBG devices, comparing measurement approaches and their pros/cons. It also details the Double Pulse Test as the most widely used method, supported by practical implementation examples and a set of experience-based “Do’s and Don’ts.”

Reliability and Qualification of Wide Bandgap Automotive Power Semiconductors

Wide bandgap power devices such as SiC MOSFETs and GaN are emerging in automotive traction inverters and battery chargers, where mission profiles impose severe electrothermal stress. The tutorial addresses the reliability and qualification challenges of applying these devices compared to traditional silicon. It covers automotive reliability requirements, the influence of packaging on electrothermal and thermo-mechanical behavior, the physics of degradation and failure, the specific robustness issues of SiC and GaN devices, and the test methods and circuits used to evaluate reliability and robustness.

Protecting LVDC grids – From fundamentals to applications

This tutorial addresses electrical safety and protection in low-voltage DC (LVDC) grids, where AC protection methods often fail due to converter-dominated, non-linear sources. The seminar presents LVDC state-of-the-art and advantages, typical faults and fault behavior, and gaps in standards (e.g., IEC 61660-1). It covers short-circuit detection, identification, localization, and interruption, including arc-extinction issues and an overview of DC fuses and circuit breakers with a protection methodology. The seminar also discusses earthing strategies, earth faults, touch voltages, and device selection (fuses, MCBs, solid-state breakers). The tutorial demonstrates full designs via DCIDE with experimental results and industry–academia collaboration.

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Unlocking Grid-Forming Technology: From Fundamentals to Requirements and Field Deployment

This tutorial explores why grid-forming (GFM) converters are increasingly necessary in high-renewable, low-inertia power systems, addressing reduced inertia, weaker short-circuit strength, and complex inverter interactions. The tutorial covers core GFM principles versus grid-following behavior, including control foundations, implementations, and the role of effective impedance/admittance in weak-grid and islanded operation. Additionally, system-operator requirements, frequency/voltage support, system strength, and interoperability among diverse inverter controls are also discussed. This tutorial also debunks common misconceptions, provides best-practice guidance (tuning, coordination, validation via HIL/EMT/field tests), and presents case studies and open challenges in grid codes, protection, and model harmonization.

AI-Based Sensor Degradation Monitoring in Multiphase Motor Drives

AI integration for sensor degradation monitoring in a nine-phase motor drive is presented, focusing on current sensor offset faults. The content covers system modeling of machine, converter, and sensing, fault modeling and impact on control and fault tolerance, and limitations of conventional methods. A neural network workflow is detailed, including dataset generation, architecture selection, training, validation, and evaluation. Embedded deployment on an FPGA and integration in the control loop are addressed, with HIL-based real-time validation and video demonstrations. The workflow is applicable to other power electronics degradation and fault detection problems.

Three-Level Neutral-Point-Clamped Converters: Topologies, Control Strategies, and Reliability Considerations

In this tutorial the fundamentals and control challenges of three-level neutral-point-clamped (3L-NPC) converters for high-efficiency, high-reliability power conversion are introduced. This seminar covers diode-clamped, active-clamped, and T-type topologies, explaining operating principles and key issues such as neutral-point voltage balancing and semiconductor thermal stress distribution. It also presents two control approaches: closed-loop control with carrier-based PWM and model predictive control (MPC), including theory and structured implementation steps. The seminar concludes with reliability-oriented analysis: thermal stress modelling, lifetime estimation, and system-level reliability evaluation, showing control choice impacts device and dc-link capacitor reliability.

Python For Power Electronics: From Zero To AI

This tutorial introduces Python for power-supply development as an alternative and complement to Excel-based calculations and advanced simulation tools. The seminar begins with Python basics: installation, workflow, programming paradigm, available resources, and error handling. The seminar alsoo covers the integration of Python with existing engineering tools—Excel, LTspice, and Ansys Maxwell—and how to automate workflows across them. It finishes with advanced examples such as implementing a flyback converter design flow and building a local, secure AI agent that searches and answers questions from PDF content. Hands-on exercises for interactive audience participation are also included in this seminar.

High-Power DC/DC Converters for DC Distribution and Transmission

This tutorial reviews recent advances in high-power DC/DC conversion for emerging DC power systems. It introduces applications and basic concepts, then examines converter solutions for DC distribution and collection, including modular DAB- and SRC-based topologies, control, design, and solid-state transformer applications. It addresses DC/DC converters for HVDC interconnection, including voltage management, integrated DC breakers, and capacitive energy transfer. A novel thyristor-based converter for MVDC–HVDC interconnection and all-DC offshore wind farms is presented, supported by simulation and experimental examples.

From Theory to Practice II: Fundamentals of WBG Power Semiconductors and Losses

This tutorial highlights advanced switching-loss measurement topics for power semiconductors using Double Pulse Testing (DPT), focusing on challenges introduced by fast Wide Band Gap devices (SiC, GaN). The seminar emphasizes correct/incorrect probe selection for fast transients, how probes influence waveform realism and data quality, and measures to improve results. It also analyzes how current and voltage probes affect the device under test, identifies operating regions where DPT becomes limited, and develops a methodology to estimate systematic errors. It also derives solution spaces for semiconductor–sensor combinations and presents a tool to generalize the approach.

Towards Reliable Power Electronics: A Practical Outlook on Design for Reliability

This tutorial offers a practical overview of reliability assessment strategies and tools across the lifecycle of power electronic components. It covers reliability engineering fundamentals, industry methods such as DFMEA, failure mechanisms, reliability modeling, testing, and lifetime models with their limitations. A mission-profile-based reliability assessment procedure is introduced, including assumptions and uncertainties. Advanced approaches such as condition monitoring and artificial intelligence are also discussed, reflecting state-of-the-art research with a strong practical focus for engineers and researchers at different experience levels.