Revolutionize Power Electronics: Behind Prof. Matthias Preindl and Dr. Liwei Zhou's New Book ‘Software-Defined Power Electronics’

The quest for carbon neutrality has never been more critical and at the heart of this effort lies the electrification of transportation and energy systems. In a groundbreaking step toward this goal, EE Professor Matthias Preindl and his former PhD student, Dr. Liwei Zhou (EE Ph.D ‘22), have authored a comprehensive book titled Software-Defined Power Electronics. This book introduces a novel approach to power converter design and control, promising to reshape the landscape of energy conversion technologies.

A Novel Approach to Power Electronics

Power electronic converters are the cornerstone of sustainable energy systems such as electric vehicles. Software-defined power electronics is a key research thrust of Preindl’s Motor Drives and Power Electronics Laboratory (MPlab) and was the subject of Dr. Zhou’s PhD thesis. The new book offers an in-depth exploration of the topic and summarizes key research outcomes. It introduces a software-defined power electronics architecture that generalizes power converter design and control procedures across various applications. This architecture envisions the creation of reconfigurable, standardized atomic power modules applicable to diverse electrified energy resources, including electric vehicle (EV) charging, motor traction, and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

The authors detail several advanced control and design techniques essential for achieving high-performance energy conversion systems. Key concepts include optimization-based control and estimation, variable frequency soft switching, and the design and optimization of passive components. This generalized architecture aims to eliminate redundant hardware and algorithm design processes, thereby streamlining development and enhancing efficiency.

For Engineers and Researchers

Software-Defined Power Electronics is not just a theoretical text; it is a practical guide tailored for engineers and academic researchers working in power converter design and development. The book's insights into cutting-edge techniques and methodologies make it an invaluable resource for those aiming to advance in this rapidly evolving field.

About the Authors

Dr. Liwei Zhou (EE Ph.D ‘22) is a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Electrical Engineering. He received his bachelor and master’s degrees both from Shandong University in 2014 and 2017. He obtained his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University in 2022, where he also concluded his postdoctoral work in 2023.

Dr. Zhou has been recognized for his contributions to the field. He was the recipient of the US Department of Energy Community Energy Innovation Prize, First Prize of the IEEE Industry Applications Society PhD Thesis Contest 2023, Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Applied Energy, MIT A+B 2022, and the Best Student Paper Award at IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (ITEC), 2021.​​​​

Professor Matthias Preindl is an Associate Professor at Columbia University, USA. He earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Padua and an M.Sc. degree from ETH Zurich. Before joining Columbia in 2016, he worked as an R&D Engineer of Power Electronics and Drives at Leitwind AG, a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at McMaster University, Canada, visiting scholar at UC Berkeley, and a visiting student at Aalborg University, Denmark.

A Senior Member of the IEEE and a Fellow of the IET, Dr. Preindl has made significant contributions to the field of power electronics. He serves as Area Editor of IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Treasurer of the IEEE Transportation Electrification Council (TEC), and he was the general chair of 2022 IEEE/AIAA ITEC+EATS. His accolades include the NSF CAREER Award (2017) and AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Innovation of the Year (2023). His authorship was recognized by awards including the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics best paper award (2019), the MIT A+B best paper award (2022), and he serves as VTS Distinguished Lecturer (class 2023). His research interests encompass the design and control of motor drives, power electronics, and batteries for transportation electrification.

About the Book

The book stands as a testament to the innovative spirit of Professor Matthias Preindl and Dr. Liwei Zhou. Their work paves the way for significant advancements in power electronics, supporting global efforts toward sustainable and efficient energy conversion systems. This book is poised to become an essential resource for those dedicated to advancing the electrification of energy systems and achieving carbon neutrality. 

You can access the book via Columbia University’s library here.