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. You will analyse circuits and it's waveforms using 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. In this unit, you must complete compulsory practical activities. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for proposed dates.

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 Student unit evaluation, email and class.

The 'Useful Learning Materials' feedback item scored lower in the unit evaluation. Students have further expressed that the unit workload is high due to excess learning material for this unit.

Review learning material to eliminate peripheral or excess work.

Feedback from Email and class.

Self-paced learning is facilitated, seeing much of the unit material is online and available from the start of the semester.

Keep this approach, especially for distance students' sake.

Feedback from Email, class and unit evaluation

Students enjoyed the practical approach to the unit and felt that they learned a lot from the assessment tasks.

Keep developing the practical design approach as well as assessment tasks.