John Salmon

Area of Study / Keywords

Energy Systems

Research

Research Interests

Dr. Salmon has over 25 years of research experience in the field of power electronics, including a range of topics such as: medium voltage drives; variable frequency drive systems for high speed generators and induction motors; industrial drive systems; power supplies for laser systems; electronic ballasts for fluorescent and metal halide lamps; and microturbine generators. He has also participated in many industrially sponsored research projects.

His main research activity has been the design of PWM switchmode power electronics for industrial variable speed drives and the rectification of 1-phase and 3-phase utility power into DC power. He has worked on many aspects associated with the power electronics for alternative energy systems and energy storage systems. His main expertise are novel power electronics for voltage source PWM inverters requiring high fundamental frequencies. This includes topologies that are multi-level, multi-module, and multi-pulse. This research has successfully contributed in the following areas:

• High speed electric drive systems
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery power management systems
• High speed flywheel energy storage systems
• Audio amplifiers
• Multi-level, multi-modular & multi-pulse power electronics
• Coupled inductor inverter topologies

Dr. Salmon’s recent research activity has involved projects in the following areas: industrial motor drive systems; utility rectifiers; alternative energy systems for windpower generators; high speed flywheel energy storage systems; audio switchmode amplifiers; and high speed permanent magnet and induction machines. His main technical research goals are to design new power electronic topologies that reduce the electrical stresses on power electronic components, decrease switch count, reduce the size and cost, and increase system efficiencies. More specifically, this work has included topics such as multi-functional inverter systems and multi-level PWM inverters using coupled inductors. Dr. Salmon’s research increases the efficiency and performance of multi-level PWM power electronics both in low power systems and systems requiring high fundamental output frequencies. His work has applications in such areas such as plug-in electric vehicles, wind generators, photovoltaics, and many industrial drive systems.

ECE 401 - Power Electronics

Introduction to power electronics. AC-DC conversion. DC-AC conversion. DC-DC conversion. AC-AC conversion. Prerequisite: ECE 302 or E E 340. Credit may be obtained in only one of ECE 401 or E E 431.

ECE 432 - Variable Speed Drives

Introduction to variable speed drives. Frequency, phase and vector control of induction motors. Dynamic models for induction motors. Permanent magnet synchronous and brushless dc motor drives. Prerequisite: ECE 332 or E E 332. Credit may be obtained in only one of ECE 432 or E E 432.

ECE 531 - Industrial Drive Systems

Variable speed control of induction motors; soft-starts. Utility interface of drives; pwm, csi and vvi drive systems; slip-energy recovery drives; medium voltage drives; application issues of industrial drive systems. Prerequisite: E E 332 and E E 431 or equivalent.

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