Unit Outline

The aim of this unit is to provide students with expertise in the design and analysis of power electronic circuits for a variety of practical applications. The unit covers a wide range of power electronic switching devices and converter circuits which are used in many industrial applications such as variable speed motor drives, wind power generation, solar power generation, electric vehicles, HVDC transmission, computer power supplies, aircraft power supplies, household equipment, utility power systems and many industrial processes. In this unit the operating principles, design, characteristics and application of power conversion devices/circuits will be treated in detail to provide the students with the ability to design/select/maintain a reliable, efficient, cost effective and appropriate power converter for a particular application. Topics covered include: introduction to power electronics and applications, power analysis and computation, power semiconductor devices, controlled and uncontrolled rectifier circuits, pulse width modulated dc-dc converters, ac-dc inverters, voltage-source converters, converter control, and applications.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Analyse the operation of power electronic circuits by applying electrical circuit analysis techniques.
2	Specify appropriate design criteria for power electronic converters, including in renewable energy applications.
3	Design reliable and efficient power electronic converter systems to satisfy criteria specified for a given application.
4	Evaluate the results of power electronics simulation and experimental studies through professionally prepared reports and presentations.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	KAA112 Engineering Circuits

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Additional project sessions are scheduled to provide students with increased opportunities for project refinement, addressing challenges, and improving the design. Additional face-2-face sessions are added in addition to and to complement online pre-recorded resources. More emphasis will be placed on the operation and analysis of three-phase converters.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
ASSESSMENT TASK 1:	Project	Week 13	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
ASSESSMENT TASK 2:	Examination	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
ASSESSMENT TASK 3:	Quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
ASSESSMENT TASK 4:	Lab	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Project

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Design project involving specifying criteria, performing overview and then detailed designing, simulation and then building and testing, including written report and presentation.

TASK LENGTH:

20 A4 pages + 10 min presentation

DUE DATE:

Week 13

WEIGHT:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Develop fully specified design criteria based upon converter requirements and explain the trade-off associated with key converter design criteria	LO2
2	Choose detailed converter circuit components, based on appropriate circuit analysis calculations	LO3
3	Test and evaluate converter circuit functionality and performance, via simulation or prototype, against design requirements and reflect upon potential improvements	LO3
4	Present measurement and simulation data accurately and meaningfully	LO4
5	Evaluate observations of converter performance with supporting theory	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Examination

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Final exam

TASK LENGTH:

3 hours

DUE DATE:

Exam Period

WEIGHT:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Describe the properties and operation of semiconductor switching devices and their application in power electronics	LO1
2	Analyse and describe the operation of AC-DC rectifiers with different source and load conditions	LO1
3	Analyse and describe the operation of a range of different DC-DC converters	LO1
4	Analyse and describe the operation of DC-AC inverters with linear loads	LO1
5	Identify realistic and achievable converter requirements to suit different applications and explain the trade-off associated with key converter design criteria	LO2
6	Construct high level converter block diagrams to suit a given converter application	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Quiz

TASK DESCRIPTION:

4 x quizzes, either in-class or online, during the semester

TASK LENGTH:

1 hour

DUE DATE:

Refer to Assessment Description

WEIGHT:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Describe the properties and operation of semiconductor switching devices and their application in power electronics (quiz 1)	LO1
2	Analyse and describe the operation of AC-DC rectifiers with different source and load conditions (quiz 2)	LO1
3	Analyse and describe the operation of a range of different DC-DC converters (quiz 2)	LO1
4	Analyse and describe the operation of DC-AC inverters with linear loads (quiz 2)	LO1
5	Identify realistic and achievable converter requirements to suit different applications including for renewable energy applications (quiz 2)	LO2
6	Construct high level converter block diagrams to suit a given converter application (quiz 1)	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Lab

TASK DESCRIPTION:

3 x Lab experiments, 3 hours each plus preparation, analysis and reporting. Labs will be delivered between weeks 3 and 10. Students will submit reports within 1 week after the
lab.

TASK LENGTH:

3 hours, 6 page report

DUE DATE:

Refer to Assessment Description

WEIGHT:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Describe the properties and operation of semiconductor switching devices and their application in power electronics (Lab 1)	LO1
2	Analyse and describe the operation of AC-DC rectifiers with different source and load conditions (Lab 2)	LO1
3	Analyse and describe the operation of a range of different DC-DC converters (Lab 3)	LO1
4	Present measurement and simulation data accurately and meaningfully	LO4
5	Analyse data measured during power electronics experiments or simulations	LO4
6	Evaluate observations made during power electronics experiments and simulations and relate these observations to the theory	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late Penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.