Outline

Overview

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
Lecturer(s)	Rui Chu, rui.chu@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Xuan Jiao, xuan.jiao@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Paper-based Final Exam Closed-book exam	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance	Attending the first lab session Attending the 1st lab session is important for WHS rules and lab facility.	2%	Week 02 Due date: 11 Aug 2023 at 13:00	2-3 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project proposal One-page; submit via Turnitin Evalued by writing quality and value.	5%	Week 04 Due date: 26 Aug 2023 at 23:59	3 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report #1 - Caculation, design, analysis, and simulation - Submit via Turnitin	5%	Week 06 Due date: 09 Sep 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 21 Sep 2023	10 working days
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	quiz via Canvas Canvas Quiz, open book	5%	Week 07	50 minutes during Tutorial hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report #2 Lab activity and report quality	5%	Week 08 Due date: 23 Sep 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 Oct 2023	10 days after the lab session
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment #1 Analysis, design, and simulation; Submit viaTunistin	4%	Week 09 Due date: 07 Oct 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 21 Oct 2023	10 working days
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Online quiz via Canvas Open-book online quiz during tutorial time	5%	Week 10	50 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment #2 - Caculation, design, anaysis, and simulation - Submit via Turnitin	4%	Week 11 Due date: 21 Oct 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 31 Oct 2023	10 working days
Outcomes assessed:
Creative assessment / demonstration	Project presentation Q&A, evaluated by instructors and tutors.	10%	Week 12 Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 11:00 Closing date: 27 Oct 2023	15 minutes onsite or online
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final Project Report Evaluated by the technical value and writing quality.	15%	Week 13 Due date: 28 Oct 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 11 Nov 2023	from Week 2 to Week 12
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

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

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.

Weidong Xiao, Power Electronics Step-by-Step: Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Control, McGraw-Hill Education, 2021.
High-quality journal papers.
Industry white papers and application notes.
Weidong Xiao, Photovoltaic Power System: Modeling, Design, and Control (1). Wiley, 2017. 1119280346.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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
LO8. Gain hand-on experience dealing with 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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ELEC5207: Advanced Power Conversion Technologies

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect