Overview
In this unit you will build on your electronics knowledge previously acquired. You will learn more about power semiconductor devices and their modeling, such as Diodes, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), metal oxide silicon field effect transistors (MOSFETs), and isolated gate bipolar junction transistors (IGBTs), including their theory of operation and limitations. You will also learn to calculate thermal dissipation requirements of power semiconductors and to choose suitable heat sinks. You will be introduced to the concepts of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC converters. The analysis of each unique circuit and its waveforms will involve much mathematics, including integration and Fourier analysis. You will also review different types of motors and learn about their drives and control, including DC motor drives and AC motor drives. You will learn to design/develop power electronics solutions and test them by simulation and prototyping in the lab. Students enrolled in distance mode are required to attend a compulsory Residential School.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: ENEX12002 Introductory Electronics OR (ENEE13018 Analogue Electronics and ENEE13020 Digital Electronics) AND (ENEX12001 Electrical Power and Machines OR ENEE12015 Electrical Power Engineering)
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2021
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation
Weekly Zoom support meetings were very useful and helpful that they were recorded
Keep the weekly Zoom support meetings. Invite questions via email and Q&A forum for non-attending students.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation
Limiting the scope and content of the textbook to be relevant to the unit was very helpful.
Keep this approach and keep adding examples where content would be applicable in the workplace.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation
Self-paced learning is facilitated by all the unit material is online and available.
Keep this approach and improve further.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Compare and select power electronic components, converters, and drives for a mechatronic system
- Analyse and design variable speed motor drives and controllers for different types of electric motors and evaluate their performances
- Solve real life problems and communicate professionally using power electronics terminology
- Work collaboratively and autonomously and communicate professionally in presenting your solutions.
Learning Outcomes are linked to Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies and also discipline capabilities. You can find the mapping for this on the Engineering Undergraduate Course website.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | |||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 15% | |||||||
| 3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 15% | |||||||
| 4 - Practical and Written Assessment - 15% | |||||||
| 5 - Take Home Exam - 40% | |||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Practical and Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 5 - Take Home Exam - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Power Electronics Devices, Circuits, and Applications
4th Edition (International) (2014)
Authors: Muhammad H. Rashid
Pearson Education Ltd.
Harlaw Harlaw , Essex , England
ISBN: 978-0-273-76908-8
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Multisim 14.0 Education Edition or later (CQU will provide the licence key to install it on student computers).
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.jansevanrensburg@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
- Introduction to Power Electronics
- Power Diodes and LRC Circuits
Chapter
Chapters 1 & 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Diode Rectifiers
Chapter
Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Power Transistors
Chapter
Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- DC - DC Conversions
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- DC - AC Converters
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Multilevel Inverters
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 1 Due: Week 6 Wednesday (21 Apr 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Resonant Pulse Inverters
Chapter
Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Thyristors
- Controlled Rectifiers
Chapter
Chapters 9 + 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- AC Voltage Controllers
Chapter
Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- DC Drives
Chapter
Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 2 Due: Week 10 Wednesday (19 May 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
- AC Drives
Chapter
Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Introduction to Renewable Energy
Chapter
Chapter 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Laboratory Experiments Due: Week 12 Wednesday (2 June 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This individual assignment together with feedback, helps to prepare you for the final exam.
The unit content from Weeks 1 to 4 will be tested in Assignment 1. Questions will be largely analysis based.
Individual work is mandatory - this is a take-home test. None of your steps or solutions may be discussed or divulged to a fellow student.
Please refer to the CQU plagiarism policy - a signed cover page declaring individual work is required.
The assignment questions will be released on the unit website at least 2 weeks before the assignment is due to be submitted.
To prevent electronic plagiarism, typed submissions are not acceptable. Students should scan clear and legible hand written work for online submission as a PDF file.
Week 6 Wednesday (21 Apr 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
We strive to return assessments to students within 2 weeks.
Marks will be allocated for the followings:
- Application of theoretical fundamentals.
- Explanation of reasons to apply specific theory or method to solve a given problem where applicable.
- Correct circuit diagrams/schematics and relevant input/output waveforms.
- Correct mathematical working and correct answers.
- All work and intermediate steps must be shown with justification of steps taken.
- Assignments must be tidy and legible.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
2 Written Assessment
This individual analysis and design based assignment helps to prepare you for the final exam.
The unit content from Weeks 5 to 9 will be tested in Assignment 2.
Individual work is mandatory - this is a take-home test. None of your steps or solutions may be discussed or divulged to a fellow student.
Please refer to the CQU plagiarism policy - a signed cover page declaring individual work is required.
The assignment questions will be released on the unit website at least 2 weeks before the assignment is due to be submitted.
To prevent electronic plagiarism, typed submissions are not acceptable. Students should scan clear and legible hand written work for online submission as a PDF file.
Week 10 Wednesday (19 May 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
We strive to return assessments to students within 2 weeks.
Marks will be allocated for the followings:
- Application of theoretical fundamentals.
- Correct theory or method deployed to analyse and/or design power electronic circuitry where applicable.
- Correct circuit diagrams/schematics and relevant input/output waveforms.
- Correct mathematical working and correct answers.
- All work and intermediate steps must be shown with justification of steps taken.
- Assignments must be tidy and legible.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
3 Practical and Written Assessment
In this individual assessment you will design two kinds of DC-DC power converters to a given specification. Detailed design criteria will be released on the unit website.
You need to submit a Design Report in Week 8 showing both your designs. The Design Report will carry a weight of 8 marks (out of 15) and will be assessed individually.
In the lab, only one designed circuit of each student is to be constructed and evaluated. The lecturer involved will assist with this decision.
The Final Design and Build Report includes the testing results and is again assessed individually. Each student should submit a personal signed cover page declaring that individual work was done.
Reports must be professional and typed, including references.
Photographic evidence is required to prove that your circuit was constructed and measurements were obtained - for this reason it is required that your hand or fingers be included in all your photographs as a 'signature'.
Each student is to report on his own (one) circuit as tested in the lab. This part carries 7 marks (out of 15) allocated for this assessment item.
Laboratory sessions are to be published the unit website.
Laboratories are compulsory and all students must attend and pass all laboratory assessments in order to pass the unit.
Week 8 Wednesday (5 May 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
Take note that the Design report is due in week 8. The final, combined Design + Build/Test report is due in Week 13.
We strive to return assessments to students within 2 weeks.
Design and Build Reports will be graded using the following criteria:
- Correct description of laboratory concepts and procedures;
- Correct calculations, design steps and thinking displayed;
- Photographic evidence that circuit was constructed;
- Correct measurements, answers and units;
- Photographic and other evidence that correct results / measurements were obtained;
- Discussion and understanding of test results;
- Individual reports must be professional and typed, including references;
- Two designs and one 'build' must be submitted by each student.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Compare and select power electronic components, converters, and drives for a mechatronic system
- Analyse and design variable speed motor drives and controllers for different types of electric motors and evaluate their performances
- Solve real life problems and communicate professionally using power electronics terminology
- Work collaboratively and autonomously and communicate professionally in presenting your solutions.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
4 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment item consists of a series of laboratory experiments on plug-and-play power electronic circuits and drives.
Teams of 2 students should be formed, and only ONE combined report needs to be submitted by BOTH students. Each student should submit a personal signed cover page declaring the team work done, specifying the other team member's name.
Team reports must be professional and typed, including references.
Photographic evidence is required to prove that the various circuits were constructed and measurements were obtained - for this reason it is required that a team member's hand or fingers be included in all your photographs as a 'signature'.
Laboratory sessions are to be published the unit website.
Laboratories are compulsory and all students must attend and pass all laboratory assessments in order to pass the unit.
Detailed explanations of these experiments and how to carry them out will be posted on the unit website at the start of the term.
Week 12 Wednesday (2 June 2021) 10:00 pm AEST
Each student should submit a copy of their combined team report.
We strive to return assessments to students within 2 weeks.
Laboratory Exercise Reports will be graded using the following criteria:
- Correct description of laboratory concepts and procedures;
- Correct calculations, analysis and thinking;
- Photographic evidence that circuits were constructed by the team;
- Correct measurements, answers and units;
- Photographic and other evidence that correct results / measurements were obtained by the team;
- Discussion and understanding of laboratory results;
- Team reports must be professional and typed, including references;
- All laboratory exercises must be attempted.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Compare and select power electronic components, converters, and drives for a mechatronic system
- Analyse and design variable speed motor drives and controllers for different types of electric motors and evaluate their performances
- Solve real life problems and communicate professionally using power electronics terminology
- Work collaboratively and autonomously and communicate professionally in presenting your solutions.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
5 Take Home Exam
The Take-Home Exam will be released at 09:00 am AEST on the day (timetable to be published towards the end of term).
This will be an 'open resource' exam including the internet, but you will be required to sign a declaration of individual work done.
I.e. no contact with fellow students or any person proficient in the field, neither virtual contact via the internet to exchange information etc.
5 Hours will be allowed (due 14:00), but this includes scanning and uploading.
It is strongly advised to take one or more break during the 5-hour period and also to eat and drink something.
Late penalties will be deducted at 20% per hour (or proportional part).
Questions during the 5-hour period will be taken via email and where necessary, responses will be sent out to everyone via Q&A emails.
To be advised, please consult the unit Moodle page closer to the time.
Marks will be allocated for the followings:
- Application of theoretical fundamentals.
- Correct theory or method deployed to analyse and/or design power electronic circuitry where applicable.
- Correct circuit diagrams/schematics and relevant input/output waveforms.
- Correct mathematical working and correct answers.
- All work and intermediate steps must be shown with justification of steps taken.
- Work must be tidy and legible.
- Explain the construction of power semiconductor devices, their principle of operation, and their suitability for various switching functions
- Model power electronic devices for accurate circuit analysis, including their thermal performance
- Analyse and model the operation of single-phase and three-phase power electronic circuits, including alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), AC to AC, DC to DC, and DC to AC topologies
- Analyse and design variable speed motor drives and controllers for different types of electric motors and evaluate their performances
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
