Course Outline
Session Offered
Course Name
Course Code
Program Name
Prerequisite
Course Description
TERM 2, 2011- 2012
Power Electronics
ELEC ENG 4PK4
Electrical Engineering
ELEC ENG 3EJ4, 3TP4.
This course familiarizes the students with basic power switch technology and
associated electronic circuits. In this course power electronic circuits and switching
devices such as power transistors, MOSFETs, SCRs, GTOs, IGBTs and UJTs are
studied. Their applications in AC/DC, DC/DC, DC/AC and AC/AC converters as well
as switching power supplies are studied. Simulation and lab experiments
emphasizing the power electronic circuit analysis, design and control will also be
covered.
Course Objective
To analyze, model, and predict the performance of basic power converter
configuration. To explain the power electronics topologies. To design proper
switching circuits.
Instructor
Contact Information
Dr. Francisco J. Perez-Pinal
fperez@mcmaster.ca
Course Description
Schedule
Three lectures, one tutorial, one lab every other week.
Textbook
The textbook is Daniel W. Hart, Power Electronics, 2010 Edition.
These are the suggested course references:


Course Specific
Policies/Procedure
N. Mohan, T. M. Undeland, and W. P. Robbins, Power Electronics:
Converters, Applications, and Design, Media Enhanced Third Edition, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-471-22693-9.
M. H. Rashid, Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices, and Applications, Third
Edition, Prentice Hall, 2004, ISBN 0-13-101140-5.
The instructor reserves the right to choose the format of any deferred midterms or
deferred final exams (i.e. format may be written or oral).
Please note that announcements concerning any type of graded material may be in
any format (e.g., announcements may be made only in class). Students are
responsible for completing the graded material regardless of whether they received
the announcement or not.
Course webpage
http://www.ece.mcmaster.ca/~fperez/courses.htm
Course Structure
MAJOR TOPIC(S)
Topic 1
Introduction to Power Electronics
Topic 2
Power Semiconductor Devices
1. Power diodes
2. Thyristors
3. Commutation techniques
4. Power transistors
5. Power MOSFETs
6. Diac, Triac, GTOs, IGBTs, UJTs
7. Switching losses
8. Switch selection
DC/DC Converter
1. Buck
2. Boost
3. Buck-boost converters
4. Flyback
5. Forward converter
AC/DC Rectifier Part 1
1. Power computations
2. Sinusoidal and non sinusoidal waveforms
3. Power factor
4. Half-wave rectifiers
Midterm
Topic 3
Topic 4
Review
Topic 5
Topic 6
Topic 7
AC/DC Rectifier Part 2
1. Single-phase, uncontrolled full-wave rectifiers
2. Single-phase, controlled full-wave rectifiers
3. Power factor, displacement factor and distortion factor applied to power
electronic equipment. Three-phase half wave uncontrolled rectifier
4. Three phase uncontrolled (diode) rectifiers. Basic mode of operation and
waveforms.
5. Overlap in 3 phase diode rectifiers, waveforms and calculations.
6. Harmonics generation, 12-18 multi pulse rectifier.
7. Introduction to thyristor characteristics. 3-Phase controlled rectifiers, waveforms
and calculations, effect of overlap.
DC/AC Inverter
1. PWM techniques
2. Three inverter
3. High power converter
4. Multilevel converter
AC/AC Voltage controller
1. Single Phase Converter
2. Direct Power Converter
3. Modeling of DC-DC Converter
* Note that this structure represents a plan and it is subject to adjustment depending on
session/term/holidays, etc.
“The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The
university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either
type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be
given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to
check their McMaster email and course website weekly during the term and to note any changes.”
Passing grade is 50%, (Course Grade up to 110%)
5% Lecture Attendance
5% Tutorial Performance
20% Lab performance
10% Assignment
30% Mid-term examination (two hours exam)
40% Final examination (3 hours, scheduled and supervised by the
registrar)
Calculator: Only the McMaster Standard calculator (Casio fx 991)
can be used on quizzes, tests and examinations.
Assessment of Learning
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
By the end of this course students should be able to do the following things correctly.
1. Given a power semiconductor device such as power diodes, Thyristors, power transistors, power
MOSFETs, Diac, Triac, GTOs, IGBTs, and UJTs, draw the v-i characteristics and analyze the
switching behavior.
2. Given a power electronic circuit including power diodes and Thyristors, determine time intervals
when the semiconductor devices are ON and OFF, draw the equivalent circuits for ON and OFF time
intervals, analyze the circuit, and find RMS, average, harmonics, THD, and CF of the current and
voltage signals.
3. Derive and apply the relevant equations of DC/DC converters: Buck, Boost, and Buck-Boost
converters in continuous-conduction and discontinuous-conduction mode of operation.
4. Given a half-wave/full-wave controlled/uncontrolled single-phase AC/DC rectifier, find the voltage
and current waveforms and analyze the equivalent circuits.
5. Given a half-wave/full-wave controlled/uncontrolled three-phase AC/DC rectifier, find the voltage and
current waveforms and analyze the equivalent circuits.
6. Derive and apply the relevant equations of single-phase and three-phase AC voltage controllers
including power diodes and Thyristors.
7. Given a PWM/square-wave, single-phase/three-phase DC/AC inverter, find the voltage and current
waveforms and analyze the equivalent circuits.
University Policies
The Faculty of Engineering is concerned with ensuring an environment that is free of all discrimination. If
there is a problem, individuals are reminded that they should contact the Department Chair, the Sexual
Harassment Officer or the Human Rights Consultant, as soon as possible.
Attention is drawn to the Statement on Academic Ethics and the Senate Resolutions on Academic
Dishonesty as found in the Senate Policy Statements distributed at registration and available in the Senate
Office. Any student who infringes one of these resolutions will be treated according to the published policy.
Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can
result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the
transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion
from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various
kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located
at:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/AcademicIntegrity.pdf
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one's own or for which other credit has been obtained.
2. Improper collaboration in group work or individual assignments.
3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.
E-Learning Policy
Consistent with the ECE´s policy to utilize e-learning as a complement to traditional classroom instruction,
students are expected to obtain appropriate passwords and accounts to access the webpage for this course.
Materials will be posted by class for student download. It is expected that students avail themselves of these
materials prior to class.
Communications
Instructors cannot be certain that a communication sent by e-mail is from a student unless it comes from a
valid McMaster address. Instructors reserve the right to refuse to respond to any queries made from
alternative e-mail accounts (Hotmail, AOL, Cogeco, etc.). In addition, all official course announcements will
either be posted on ELM or e-mailed to valid McMaster accounts. It is the responsibility of the student to
ensure that they activate their e-mail account, check it regularly, and ensure that they do not exceed their
allocated disk space for storing e-mail.
Copyright
McMaster University has signed a license with the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright)
which allows professors, students, and staff to make copies allowed under fair dealing. Fair dealing with a
work does not require the permission of the copyright owner or the payment of royalties as long as the
purpose for the material is private study, and that the total amount copied equals NO MORE THAN 10% of a
work or an entire chapter that is less than 20% of a work. In other words, it is illegal to: i) copy an entire
book, or ii) repeatedly copy small sections of a publication that cumulatively cover over 10 percent of the
total work’s content. Please refer to the following copyright guide for further information:
http://library.mcmaster.ca/about/copying.pdf.
Missed Tests and Assignments
Where students miss a regularly scheduled midterm for legitimate reasons as adjudicated by the ECE Office,
the weight for that test will be distributed across other evaluative components of the course at the discretion
of the instructor. Documentation explaining such an absence must be provided to the ECE Program within
five (5) working days upon returning to school. The approved McMaster Medical Form must be used to
document
absence
for
health
related
reasons
and
is
available
online
(http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/registered/forms.html).
If an exam is missed without a valid reason, students will receive a grade of zero (0) for that component.
University policy states that a student may submit a maximum of three (3) medical certificates per year after
which the student must meet with the Director of the program. This translates to one (1) medical certificate
per academic term: fall, winter, and summer.
Students unable to write at the posted examination time due to the following reasons: Religious; work-related
(for part-time students only); representing university at an academic or varsity athletic event; and conflicts
between two overlapping scheduled midterm exams have the option of applying for special exam
arrangements. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the Program Administrator at least ten (10)
working days before the scheduled exam along with acceptable documentation. There will be only one
common sitting for the special exam. Instructors cannot allow students to write make-up exams/tests
themselves.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities are required to inform the Centre for Student Development (CSD) of
accommodation needs for examinations at the beginning of each term. Students must forward a copy of
such CSD accommodation to the instructor and the Program Administrator of the Bachelor of Technology
Program immediately upon receipt. If a student with a disability chooses NOT to take advantage of a CSD
accommodation and chooses to sit for a regular exam, a petition for relief may not be filed after the
examination is complete. The CSD website is: http://csd.mcmaster.ca.
Grading
Percentage
90-100
85-89
80-84
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
57-59
53-56
50-52
0-49 -- Failure
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Equivalent Grade Point
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0