42092 Advanced Power Electronics
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): (120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Honours Embedded owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Honours owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Degree co-owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Honours co-owned by FEIT) AND (48561 Renewable Energy Systems Studio A OR 41278 Power Electronics)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
Power electronics interface design and implementation for microgrid, smart grids and modern power systems, has received tremendous attention in recent years. Many countries including Australia are developing different power electronics technologies such as integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, managing charging and discharging of high power energy storage system, controlling the reactive power of power electronics interfaces for grid stability, and adding communication capability to power electronics interfaces for smart grid applications.
This subject enables students to research and develop their own solutions to complex design challenges. Upon completion of this subject, students will have in-depth understanding of various power converter operating principles, control and modulation strategies. In addition, students will be able to model, simulate and identify the most important design parameters for control and prototype design.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Apply the mathematical tools associated with transform theory to the analysis and design of power converters. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Model real and complex power electronic systems using a hierarchical approach, and be able to simplify them with practical assumptions. (D.1) |
| 3. | Analyse, design, simulate and test power converters and a control system in both the time-domain and frequency-domain. (C.1) |
| 4. | Measure time and frequency domain characteristics of power converters using appropriate laboratory equipment. (D.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering should note that this subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies:
- 1.2. Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline.
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
- 2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
Teaching and learning strategies
A weekly learning schedule will be provided as a Study Guide with a list of topics, exercise problems and suggested readings for each week. Labs and quizzes inform the project and final exam.
Face-to-face class time consists of tutorials and laboratories. The tutorials are an opportunity to meet with fellow students and academic staff to work on and discuss problems and raise any issues. Online videos and presentation slides on each topic will be provided. Prior to each tutorial session, students are required to go through online notes and videos. Continuous and dialogic feedback is central to these sessions.
Laboratories form a significant component of the subject. They reinforce the theoretical material and are a lead-up to undertaking the group project. The labs will also provide practical experience in setting up and using specialised test equipment. Each lab requires a significant amount of reading, hand-analysis and computer simulation as part of pre and post lab work. Students work on the labs in groups of 2, and academic staff are available in each lab to review the lab work and provide immediate feedback.
Students undertake a substantial group project that reinforces the theoretical content and culminates in a formal written and oral presentation of their work. Students work in groups of 2 to analyse a set of specifications, design, simulate, test and practically demonstrate a Power Converter System in the lab. Students are required to submit one Progress Report and one Final Report per group for assessment followed by a final group presentation. At the end of the project, an individual viva-voce will be conducted to assess each student’s individual understanding of the project. Throughout the project work students will reflect on the progress of their work in the project.
Content (topics)
Topic 1: Introduction to Power Semiconductor Devices. Power diodes, SCR, MOSFET, IGBT and GTO and other emerging devices, operation, switching characteristics, protection circuits, gate drive circuit, preliminary design considerations, heat sink & magnetics components and design
Topic 2: Challenges and Opportunities in Power Electronics. This topic covers issues related to bottlenecks in power electronics technology and systems, such as reliability, power density and power quality. It also covers Wide-Band-Gap Devices (SiC, GaN) and High Frequency Power Converter.
Topic 3: Topologies and Control of DC/DC Power Converters. This topic covers stability and control of dc-dc converter circuits (buck, boost, buck-boost, flyback, forward, SEPIC, CUK, full-bridge, push-pull, continuous, discontinuous and boundary mode of operations, operation and design considerations).
Topic 4: Topologies and Control of DC/AC Power Converters. This topic covers single phase and three phase inverter circuits, Pulse Width Modulation (sinusoidal, Space Vector, Selective Harmonic Elimination).
Topic 5: Topologies and Control of AC/DC Power Converters. This topic covers single phase and three phase PFC converter circuits, continuous, discontinuous and boundary mode of operations.
Topic 6: Topologies and Control of Multilevel Converters. This topic covers topologies, control and modulation of different multilevel converter topologies (Diode Clamped, Cascaded H-Bridge, Active Neutral Point Clamped, flying Capacitor, and some other hybrid topologies.
Topic 7: Modelling, Control and Simulation of Power Converters. This topic covers modelling, control design and simulation of some of the common dc-dc, dc-ac and ac-dc converters in CCM and DCM modes. This includes stability analysis and design of feedback controllers.
Topic 8: Application. This topic covers application of power converters in Solar PV Systems (MPPT operation), Wind Turbine, Electric Vehicle, Wireless-Power Transfer, HVDC, VAR Compensation etc, and various grid standards.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Problem solving quizzes
| Intent: | To test knowledge of in-depth understanding of theory and application individual components of power electronics circuits as preparation for the project. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 20 minutes per quiz |
Assessment task 2: Laboratory
| Intent: | To develop skills in modelling and practical applications of power electronics as preparation for the project. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 10-15 pages for each lab report |
Assessment task 3: Project
| Intent: | Design, simulate, test and practically demonstrate a working model of a converter meeting a set of criteria (power density, cost, efficiency, and transient behaviour). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 4000 words |
Minimum requirements
To pass this subject students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or greater.
Required texts
Ned Mohan, Power Electronics - A First Course, 1st Edition, 2012, John Wiley & Sons.
Additional, online lecture videos, lecture slides and recommended readings will be provided online.
Recommended texts
Recent top Power Electronics journals and conferences papers and early success material from the journals relevant to the subject will be updated regularly online. Information about webinar and seminar will be updated regularly online.