Unit information: Power Electronic Systems in 2022/23

Unit name	Power Electronic Systems
Unit code	EENGM7011
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Stark
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	EENG30013 or EENG37000
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None.
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

This is a unit on power electronics, that is built up from short bursts of theory followed by longer in-class activities involving pen-and-paper analysis and hands-on simulation. These activities put previous learning (devices, electronics, control, power systems) into context, bring in new concepts, and clarify the different levels of abstraction used in power electronic design. The course is application oriented, using renewable energy generation, grid-tie inverters, and electric vehicles as prime examples. The course activities are chosen to help students assign design tasks to the right level of abstraction, and use suitable analysis methods and simulation tools for each level.

The subject matter includes power semiconductor device operation, and the breaking down of complex 3-phase inverters into more manageable fundamental converter topologies. Students derive their operating signals, and study their integration into larger systems. Power quality, network stability, influence of parasitics and layout, and energy efficiency are topics throughout.

Your learning on this unit

Having completed this unit, students will be able to:

1. Recommend various levels of abstraction for the design process, from analysing simple circuits with real switching, through more complex topologies where switches are considered ideal, to system integration, where converters are considered ideal (non-switching);
2. Estimate storage and passive component values in converters and power management systems;
3. Analyse switching circuits that are based on 3 fundamental power electronic building blocks, and derive quantitative waveforms;
4. Select switching devices and circuits based on minimal application data;
5. Compute certain aspects of output voltage spectra for power electronic circuits, and debate the benefits of various topologies and switching methods in terms of output harmonics;
6. Determine circuit waveforms in 3-phase inverters as a function of various load and fault conditions;
7. Analyse grid-tied systems using phasor diagrams;
8. Compute control parameters as a function of network power requirements (active and reactive), and analyse control requirements;
9. Select and critically debate system integration topologies for different applications, and contrast these power electronic circuits by their operation and control requirements;
10. Design complex converters and analyse their operation through simulation using Matlab and Simulink.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, practical activities supported by drop-in sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.

How you will be assessed

Formative: Online Test 1

Summative: Exam (January, 100%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EENGM7011).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.