48561 Power Electronics

6cp

Requisite(s): 48550 Electrical Energy Technology AND 48540 Signals and Systems
Fields of practice: Electrical Engineering program
Undergraduate

The objectives of this subject are to enable students to: acquire reasonable proficiency in power electronics and its applications; gain confidence and expertise in the use of power semiconductor devices; have some understanding of rigorous analysis using computer simulation of real power electronic systems; be aware of the electromagnetic interference problems associated with power electronic systems and how these problems can be overcome; be aware of the interdisciplinary nature of power electronics; be aware of the enormous potential this area has for development and exploitation; learn how to evaluate whether one has the skills to undertake a specific design or analysis task and if not, how to build up the required skill level; be aware of good and bad practice in problem solving and learn the art of improving on practice whenever a weakness is revealed; develop validation strategies that enable one to have sufficient confidence to analyse one's own readiness to accept professional responsibility for conclusions reached; be aware of the importance of continually seeking improved analytical methods and computational tools that will give results more expeditiously and with reduced chance of errors; have a clear conceptual understanding of the difference between real practical systems and the models that are used to represent them.

Topics include: external characteristics, operation and gate drive circuit design of modern power semiconductor devices; protection circuits and thermal design for power devices; power conversion circuits including rectifiers, choppers, inverters, and cycloconverters; pulse-width modulation techniques; harmonic and voltage control of inverters; applications such as switch-mode power supplies, DC drives, AC drives, UPS systems, HVDC; recent advances in device technology; using microcontroller for power electronic applications; EMC and electromagnetic interference in power electronics; use of linear electronics for control of power electronic systems.

Assessment: Typically this subject will be assessed through laboratory exercises, assignments, class tests and final examination.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Autumn semester, Hong Kong
Spring semester, Hong Kong
Summer session, Hong Kong
Winter session, Hong Kong

Fee information

2007 contribution for post-2004 Commonwealth-supported students: $889.75
2007 amount for undergraduate domestic fee-paying students: $2,460.00
Subject EFTSL: 0.125
Note: The above fees are applicable in 2007 for Commonwealth-supported students who commenced after 2004 and domestic fee-paying undergraduate students only. Pre-2005 Commonwealth-supported students should consult the Student contribution charges for Commonwealth supported students webpage.
Not all students are eligible for Commonwealth supported places, and not all subjects are available to Commonwealth supported students. Domestic fee-paying students and international students should refer to the Fees webpage.

Access conditions

Note: The requisite information presented in this subject description covers only academic requisites. Full details of all enforced rules, covering both academic and admission requisites, are available at Access conditions and My Student Admin.