The Power Electronics Laboratory

POWER ELECTRONICS LABORATORY

The Power Electronics Laboratory is where theory meets innovation. Here, students and researchers design and test the electronic systems that power tomorrow’s world — from renewable energy grids and electric vehicles to industrial automation and smart devices.

More than just a workspace, the lab offers a hands-on journey: analysing high-speed switching devices, simulating real-world energy systems, and building circuits that drive motors, charge batteries, and optimise efficiency. Whether through cutting-edge simulation tools like MATLAB and PSIM or hardware experiments with advanced gate drivers and power modules, the lab transforms classroom knowledge into practical expertise.

WHY IT MATTERS

Energy is the backbone of every modern technology. The lab bridges theory and practice, empowering students and researchers to:

  • Understand and analyse switching devices such as MOSFETs, IGBTs, and SCRs.
  • Compare real-world device behaviour with theoretical predictions.
  • Design, simulate, and test circuits for renewable energy, EVs, and automation.
  • Develop expertise in hardware implementation, simulation, and advanced measurement techniques.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

In this lab, learning goes beyond textbooks:

  • Circuit design & fabrication – build and optimise converters, inverters, and controllers.
  • Cutting-edge instrumentation – use oscilloscopes, DSOs, and power analysers to measure high-frequency and high-voltage systems.
  • Practical engineering – apply gate driver circuits, cooling systems, and protection circuits.
  • Simulation practice – master MATLAB/Simulink, PSIM, and PSpice to predict and refine real-world behaviour.

INDUSTRY RELEVANCE

The skills built here are directly aligned with industry needs, preparing graduates for careers in:

  • Electric vehicle drive systems
  • Renewable energy and grid integration
  • UPS and inverter design
  • Motor drives and industrial automation
  • Power supply design and efficiency optimisation
  • Gain exposure to EMI mitigation, thermal management

LABORATORY FACILITIES

The lab is equipped with tools for exploration, innovation, and research.

Power and Devices

  • DC & AC power supplies (single-phase & three-phase, programmable, variable).
  • Power semiconductor modules: MOSFETs, IGBTs, SCRs, TRIACs, diode bridges.
  • Converter & inverter kits: buck, boost, rectifiers, voltage controllers, full/half-bridge inverters.

Motor and Drive Systems

  • DC motors with torque and speed sensors.
  • Induction motors (single-phase & three-phase).
  • BLDC motor kits for advanced experiments.

Measurement and Control

  • Oscilloscopes and DSOs (50–100 MHz+).
  • Voltage/current probes, RMS multimeters, clamp meters.
  • Power analysers, tachometers, and LCR meters.
  • DSP and microcontroller boards (TI C2000, Arduino, STM32).
  • MATLAB/Simulink, PSIM, PSpice simulation platforms.

Safety and Prototyping

  • Isolation transformers, circuit breakers, emergency cut-offs.
  • Insulated benches, safety covers, soldering and PCB prototyping kits.

RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

The laboratory is a research hub, enabling advanced experiments in:

  • Solar PV emulation and MPPT testing.
  • Grid-connected inverter systems.
  • Battery charging/discharging and energy storage studies.
  • Electric vehicle drive emulation and testing.
  • Power Electronics Converter design for low power and high-power applications
  • Microgrid Control

PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

The lab maintains strong industry partnerships and academic collaborations that keep it at the forefront of innovation. Its industry links include MG Motors India and Foxconn, while its academic tie-ups extend to prestigious institutions such as IIT Kharagpur , IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, NIT Rourkela, Jadavpur University, Aalto University (Finland), University of Technology Sydney (Australia), National Chen Kung University (Taiwan), Aalborg University (Denmark).

COURSES SUPPORTED

  • Power Electronics and Machine Drives [ECE 206]
  • EV Converter and Powertrain [ECE 305]
  • Digital Control of Power Converter [ECE 378]

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Title: Development of GaN-FET based high efficiency bidirectional DC-DC Converter with zero input current ripple for PV application.

Funded by SERB from Dec 2021 to Dec 2024. 18.3 Lakhs. [Completed]

PUBLICATIONS:

  • K. K. Gautam, A. Chatterjee, S. B. Santra and D. Prasad, "Size Optimized Load Independent Constant Current and Constant Voltage Wireless Charging System for EVs," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 1588-1600, Oct. 2025.
  • D. Barman, S. B. Santra and P. Pillay, "Analysis of Cogging Torque in a Series Hybrid Variable Flux Machine for EV Using Lumped Magnetic Circuit," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 7423-7438, May 2025.
  • D. Barman, S. B. Santra, D. Chatterjee, R. Palisetty and P. Pillay, "Cogging Torque Computation in an Asymmetrical Interior Permanent Magnet Machine for Electric Vehicles," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 877-887, July 2025.
  • S B Santra , SK Mohanty, T Roy Choudhury, "Simplified circuit model of novel bypass diode based PV array for circulating current and power loss minimization under partial shading". COMPEL, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2025.
  • M. Ramana, S. B. Santra, D. Chatterjee and Y. P. Siwakoti, "Sector Wise Modified Droop Control to Improve Voltage Regulation and Current Sharing in Parallel Boost Converter Interfaced DC Microgrid," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2024.
  • K. K. Gautam, A. Chatterjee, S. B. Santra and D. Prasad, "Constant Frequency CC-CV Operation of Isolated LLC Resonant DC-DC Converter Using Switched Capacitor Network for WCS," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2024.
  • S. R. Biswal, T. R. Choudhury, S B Santra, B. Panda, S. Mishra and S. Padmanaban, "Simplified Prediction Based AI-IoT Model for Energy Management Scheme in Standalone PV Powered Greenhouse," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, 2024.
  • “Coupled Inductor based Soft Switched High Gain Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with Reduced Input Current Ripple”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Debashis Chatterjee,Yam.P.Siwakoti, .IEEE Transctions on Industrial Electronics vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 1431-1443, July 2022.
  • “High Efficiency Operation of Brushless DC Motor Drive using Optimized Harmonic Minimization based Switching Technique”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Arunava Chatterjee, Debashis Chatterjee, P. Sanjeevikumar, Krishnatreya Bhattacharya. IEEE Transctions on Industrial Applications, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 2122-2133, Feb 2022.
  • “Performance Analysis of Novel Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with LD Based Modified GaN-FET DriverHigh Gain and High Efficiency Bidirectional DC-DC Converter”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Makireddi Ramana, Debashis Chatterjee. IEEE Transctions on Industry Applications, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 5199-5214, July 2021.
  • “High Gain and High Efficiency Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with Current Sharing Characteristics Using Coupled Inductor.”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Debashis Chatterjee,Tsorng-Juu Liang. IEEE Transctions on Power Electronics, vol. 36, no. 11, pp. 12819-12833, Nov. 2021.
  • “Selection of capacitor in PV system suitable for maximum power point tracking”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Debashis Chatterjee, Kundan Kumar, Manuele Bertoluzzo, Ariya Sangwongwanich, Frede Blaabjerg. IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 2136-2146, April 2021.
  • “Generalized Switch Current Stress Reduction Technique for Coupled-Inductor based Single Switch High Step-Up Boost Converter”, Subhendu Bikash Santra, Debashis Chatterjee, Yam P Siwakoti, Frede Blaabjerg. IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1863-1875, April 2021.
  • “A Novel Switch Current Stress Reduction Technique for Single Switch Boost- Fly-back Integrated High Step Up DC-DC Converter”, Tanmoy Roy Choudhury, B.K.Nayak, Subhendu Bikash Santra, IEEE Transaction in Industrial Electronics, Vol.66, no.9, pp.6876-6886, Nov.2018.
  • “Performance analysis of a three-phase propulsion inverter for electric vehicles using GaN semiconductor devices”, Tanmoy Roy Choudhury, K. Kumar, Subhendu Bikash Santra, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Applications, Vol.54, no.6, pp.6247-6257, Aug.2018.

Contact Information:

  1. Prof. Dinkar Prasad

Email ID: [email protected]

  1. Dr. Subhendu Bikash Santra

Email ID: [email protected]

Office: C322G