Security Classification

Tomy SebastianNexteer Automotive

(A Division of General Motors)

Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Power Electronics and Drives

Education:

An Industrial Perspective

Date

2

Engineering Resource Flow

Undergraduate

Bachelors

Graduate

Masters/PhD

Industry

Academic

Teaching / Research

Date

3

Undergraduate Education-Power Engineering

Should be to prepare a student with knowledge in the

wide areas covered by power engineering – Not to

make an expert in any specific area

It should provide the basic foundation to build on

during one’s graduate degree or industry tenure

It should impart sufficient knowledge so that even

when one is specializing in a specific area the impact

of the adjacent areas can be well understood.

Date

4

Areas of required knowledge (Technical Competence)

Magnetics

Machines

Control System

Devices

Computers / Processors

Power Electronic Circuits

Storage Devices Capacitors, Battery etc.

Analysis Techniques

Basic math & Science

Etc.

Date

5

Other areas (Social Competence)

Team work

Design experience

Problem solving

Project management

Financial skills

Leadership skills

Communication

Safety

Manufacturing

Date

6

Safety & Environment

Date

7

Environment

Date

8

Innovation

Date

9

Alarming Trends

Elimination of basic Machines and other power

courses – Still call Power Engineers?

Date

10

Reality

Though we as power engineers love power, no one

wants to deal with it

No space for packaging (It should not take any space)

Nothing to cool (No loss allowed)

It has to do all the work without the user knowing it (hidden

horse)

Date

11

Automotive example

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12

Hubble

Date

13The International Space Station

Date

14The surroundings

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15

The jets are illuminated by 6600 electric bulbs and 50 colored

light projectors.

Date

16

The cost of construction of the fountain was 220 million dollars.

Date

17

80v 44-cell battery

2.5 hp at 120 rpm

sustain 7 hp for up to 20 minutes

Top speed of 31 mph.

At 10 mph, a range of 30 miles.

3.5 HP Engine powered two In wheel motors

300 cars sold

First Hybrid Car

Porsche’s first hybrid, circa 1901

Date

18

Success of a power Engineer depends on his/her ability to

understand the systems needs and apply the specific learnings

to achieve system objectives

Most innovation occurs at the intersection of disciplines and not

within the disciplines conventionally defined

This requires basic understanding of the system involved. Just

power topics knowledge is insufficient

In several cases power engineer has to take responsibility for

other disciplines too.

One should be able to develop and interpret requirements

Need Engineers who can use any of the tools not “MatLAb

Engineers”

Date

19

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

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20

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

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21

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

Date

22

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

Date

23

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

Date

24

There are power electronics systems

hiding everywhere

Date

25

Masters and PhD

Expected to have deeper knowledge in a specific

topic area

Ability to apply these knowledge to solve system

problems

Date

26

Summary

Traditional Basic Power Engineering courses should

not become victims of new courses

Undergraduates should have enough tools in their

tool box to understand and solve system problems

Lab experience and project experiences are

invaluable