Skip to main content
Unit outline_

ELEC5207: Advanced Power Conversion Technologies

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

The unit aims to cover advanced topics in power electronics and it applications. In particular, the power electronics interface design and implementation for microgrid, smart grids and modern power systems which have 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 meter implementation. The unit assumes prior fundamental knowledge of power electronics systems and applications, including the ability to analyse basic power converters for all four conversions (ac-ac, ac-dc, dc-ac, and ac-dc), and design and implement various applications, such as motor drive and battery charger, with the consideration of electrical characteristics of semiconductors and passive elements. This unit will cover advanced technologies on power electronics interfaces for smart grids and microgrid implementation, which include dynamic voltage restorer, active power filter, reactive power compensation, energy storage management, hybrid energy sources optimisation, multilevel inverter and control, D-STATCOM, etc. To analyse these advanced power conversion systems, some analytical techniques will be introduced. This includes resonant converters, soft-switching technique, ac equivalent circuit modeling, converter control and input/output filter design.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

ELEC3204

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Weidong Xiao, weidong.xiao@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Online Final Exam
Open-book exam via Canvas Quiz
37% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Assignment Assignment #1
- Caculation, design, analysis, and simulation - Submit via Turnitin
3% Week 03 10 working days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Project proposal
One-page; submit via Turnitin Evalued by writing quality and value.
5% Week 04 3 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Assignment #2
Analysis, design, and simulation; Submit viaTunistin
5% Week 06 10 working days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6
Online task In-class quiz
Canvas Quiz, open book
15% Week 08 50 minutes during Tutorial hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment #3
- Caculation, design, anaysis, and simulation - Submit via Turnitin
5% Week 08 10 working days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO3
Assignment Assignment #4
- Caculation, design, analysis, and simulation - Submit via Turnitin
5% Week 10 10 working days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO4
Creative assessment / demonstration Project presentation
Q&A, evaluated by instructors and tutors.
10% Week 12
Due date: 06 Nov 2021 at 23:00

Closing date: 07 Nov 2021
15 minutes onsite or online
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Final Project Report
Evaluated by the technical value and writing quality.
15% Week 13 from Week 2 to Week 12
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Speedgrader

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Exam mark

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit introduction and hysteresis control Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO7
Week 02 Power factor correction Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial on AC to DC power conversion and power quality issues Computer laboratory (3 hr) LO2
Week 03 Dynamic modeling Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 04 Project proposal Independent study (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Dynamic modeling Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Soft switching Tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 05 Control for power electronics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7
Project support and soft switching Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Control for power electronics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7
Dynamic modeling and control of power converters Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Bidirectional power conversion Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6
Dynamic modeling and control of power converters Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Photovoltaic power systems: Modeling, design, simulation, and control Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Guided project of dynamic modeling and control Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Problem solving and project support Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Photovoltaic power systems: Modeling, design, simulation, and control Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Project support and Q&A Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Photovoltaic power systems: Modeling, design, simulation, and control Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Project support and Q&A Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Photovoltaic power systems: Modeling, design, simulation, and control Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Project support Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Project presentation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Project presentation Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Q&A preparing final exam Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Tutorials: 7 sessions of 2 hour tutorials that will develop skills relating to practical engineering, computer simulation, problem solving, theoretical analysis, and final exam preparation.
  • Laboratories: 5 sessions of 3 hour laboratories that will look at modern power electronic systems relating to power factor correction, and zero voltage switching.
  • Guided Project: 4 sessions of 3 hour laboratories on the subject of dynamic modelling and control.
  • Independent research project (own time): Individual work on design, simulation, and implementation of advanced power conversion systems.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Do dynamic modeling and control of power converters
  • LO2. Design power factor correction
  • LO3. Design soft swtiching in power electronics
  • LO4. Analyze and design bidirectional power conversion
  • LO5. Design power electronics and control engineering for solar PV power generation
  • LO6. Develop advanced simulation skill to prove concept of power conversion and control
  • LO7. Develop a deeper understanding of practical control engineering for power electronics

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment is changed to reduce the weight of final exam; Inclass quiz is added to encourage participation.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.