ELECTENG 734 : Power Electronics

Engineering

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Selected advanced concepts in power electronics are introduced through a practical and research based individual design project, utilising modern power converter topologies with supporting lectures that include: inductive power transfer and control, DC-DC converter design and control, high frequency magnetics design, semiconductor switches, practical design issues, controlled rectifiers and PWM converters with application to conventional and brushless DC motors.

Course Overview

Power electronics has been one of the major growth industries during the past two decades and can be found in applications that ranges from micro-watt level biomedical implants to mega-watt level high-voltage DC (HVDC) links. It is a very interesting and challenging area to work in, and is accompanied by feelings of extreme lows (for example when a $300 device blows up for no obvious reason) and extreme highs (when a circuit actually works). To be successful in this field requires not just knowledge of electronics, but also control systems, electromagnetics and signal processing.  This 100% design-based course introduces you to some of the building blocks of power electronics and to a number of important applications, through an electronic design project and giving hands-on experience.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 305, 310, 311 Restriction: ELECTENG 414

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and explain the principles, characteristics, operation, control and applications of Buck, Boost and Buck-Boost DC-DC converters (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  2. Understand and explain the principles, characteristics, operation, control and applications of IPT technology (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of designing, building and testing of a Buck or Boost or Buck-Boost DC-DC converter for given specifications (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of designing, building and testing a wireless power transfer (IPT) ststem for given specifications (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 7.1)
  5. Understand and describe the practical issues encountered in relation to high frequency transformer and inductor design (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  6. Understand and describe the characteristics of semiconductor devices used in high power and high frequency applications (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 7.1)
  7. Understand and analyse the role of power electronics in the society given the social and environmental responsibilities. (Capability 6.1 and 7.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tests 40% Individual Test
Laboratories (IPT & Buck) 10% Individual Coursework
Design Report 25% Group Coursework
Practicals (Bench test, demo, field trials) 15% Group & Individual Coursework
Interviews 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Tests
Laboratories (IPT & Buck)
Design Report
Practicals (Bench test, demo, field trials)
Interviews

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week for each 15-point course in which they are enrolled.

Given that this course focuses heavily on the design aspects of power electronics, the 2-hour lectures span only between week 1 to 7 in the semester. Most of the student time in this course is spent in the compulsory 2-hour laboratory sessions scheduled three times a week between week 2 to 12. Optional extra laboratory sessions are scheduled in week 11 and 12 to assist with any students that need extra time for the project.

Due to the practical nature of the course, the students are expected to spend some extra hours every week on self-directed learning around the topics covered in the lectures and the laboratories.

The course expectation is 150 hours across the semester: 26 hours of lectures, 70 hours of labs, 6 hours of test revision and 48 hours of self-directed learning.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including the labs to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test/labs and other assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Prescribed Text (Online copy available in the library)
Robert W. Erickson and Dragan Maksimović, "Fundamentals of Power Electronics", Second edition (Springer 2001)
More resources will be made available on Canvas.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy. All students must be inducted into MDLS labs.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on the student feedback from previous years, the assignments have been added into the test. Lecture materials have been rearranged to better align with the learning outcomes.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.