Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - SEE 331 D100

Power Electronics (4)

Class Number: 3878

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Surrey

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    SEE 231 and SEE 251.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to the fundamentals of power electronic circuits, components, and operation, and principles of electric power conversion in DC and AC applications. Students with credit for MSE 353 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Subjects and Topics

Fundamentals

  • Overview of power electronics circuits and their application with particular emphasis on sustainable energy technologies
  • Review of basic electrical and magnetic circuit concepts
  • Types of power electronic circuits
  • Characteristics and specifications of power electronic switches

AC-DC Converters - Uncontrolled (Diode) Rectifiers

  • Basic rectifier concepts
  • Single-phase diode bridge rectifiers
  • Effect of single-phase rectifiers on neutral currents in three-phase, four-wire systems
  • Three-phase, full-bridge rectifiers
  • Concerns and remedies for line-current harmonics and low power factor

AC-DC Converters - Controlled (Thyristor) Rectifiers

  • Thyristor circuits and their control
  • Single-phase and three-phase converters
  • Power quality and performance parameters of thyristor rectifiers
  • Effects of source and load inductances
  • Applications of controlled rectifiers with particular emphasis on sustainable energy

DC-DC Converters (Choppers)

  • Step-down (Buck), Step-up (Boost), Buck-Boost, and Cúk DC-DC converters
  • Full-bridge DC-DC converter
  • Design considerations for converter filter design (input and output)
  • Applications of DC-DC converters with particular emphasis on sustainable energy

DC-AC Converters (Inverters)

  • Principals of operation
  • Basic concepts of switch-mode inverters
  • Single-phase and three-phase inverters
  • Modulation techniques
  • Power quality and performance parameters
  • Application of DC-AC inverters in variable-speed drives and sustainable energy technologies

 

Indicative Learning Activities

· Invited lectures by expert(s) from industry

· Laboratory experiments and lab reports

· Problem sets

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Intended Learning Outcomes         

Power Electronic Switches/Circuit Fundamentals

  1. Describe the characteristics of ideal and practical power electronic switches. (GA 1 – 1 & 1 – 3, A)
  2. Describe the fundamentals of AC/DC power conversion and operating principles of common power electronic converter circuits. (GAI1 – 3 & 3 – 1, A)

Power Quality

  1. Calculate harmonic output for different types of switched waveforms and mitigate harmonic distortion issues with appropriate design of filters and modulation schemes. (GA 1 – 1 & 1 – 3, A)

Power Electronics Circuits Design and Analysis

  1. Simulate, analyze and design basic AC-DC, DC-DC, and DC-AC converters, justifying the design decisions. (GA 1 – 3 & 3 – 1, A)
  2. Describe how power electronic converters are applied to condition the power from continuous and variable energy sources with an emphasis on sustainable energy applications. (GA 1 – 3, A)
  3. Analyze commonly used line-commutated and forced-commutated power electronic topologies for three-phase and single-phase AC systems. (GA 3 – 1, A)

Application practice and use of engineering tools

  1. In a laboratory setting, safely build, conduct experiments, and analyze electric power conversion circuits. (GA 3 – 1, A)
  2. Simulate power electronic circuits for applications in renewable energy and variable speed drives. (GA 3 – 1, A)
  3. Describe the applicability and importance of power electronics in sustainable energy technologies. (GA 3 – 1, A)

Engineering Accreditation

The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) requires students to be competent in twelve main areas by graduation, known as Graduate Attributes (GA). The GAs are provided and evaluated at three levels: Introduced (I), Developed (D), and Applied (A). The SEE course learning outcomes are mapped to the GAs to ensure students are educated and graduate with these attributes. The relevant GAs and their associated levels for this course are indicated after each list item in the Intended Learning Outcomes section above. Below is a list of CEAB GAs:

  1. A knowledge base for engineering: Demonstrated competence in university-level mathematics, natural sciences, engineering fundamentals, and specialized engineering knowledge appropriate to the program.
  2. Problem analysis: An ability to use appropriate knowledge and skills to identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems to reach substantiated conclusions.
  3. Investigation: An ability to conduct investigations of complex problems by methods that include appropriate experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis of information to reach valid conclusions.
  4. Design: An ability to design solutions for complex, open-ended engineering problems and to design systems, components or processes that meet specified needs with appropriate attention to health and safety risks, applicable standards, and economic, environmental, cultural and societal considerations.
  5. Use of engineering tools: An ability to create, select, apply, adapt, and extend appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering tools to a range of engineering activities, from simple to complex, with an understanding of the associated limitations.
  6. Individual and teamwork: An ability to work effectively as a member and leader in teams, preferably in a multidisciplinary setting.
  7. Communication skills: An ability to communicate complex engineering concepts within the profession and with society at large. Such ability includes reading, writing, speaking and listening, and the ability to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentation, and to give and effectively respond to clear instructions.
  8. Professionalism: An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the professional engineer in society, especially the primary role of protection of the public and the public interest.
  9. Impact of engineering on society and the environment: An ability to analyze social and environmental aspects of engineering activities. Such ability includes an understanding of the interactions that engineering has with the economic, social, health, safety, legal, and cultural aspects of society, the uncertainties in the prediction of such interactions, and the concepts of sustainable design and development and environmental stewardship.
  10. Ethics and equity: An ability to apply professional ethics, accountability, and equity.
  11. Economics and project management: An ability to appropriately incorporate economics and business practices, including project, risk, and change management into the practice of engineering and to understand their limitations.
  12. Life-long learning: An ability to identify and to address their own educational needs in a changing world in ways sufficient to maintain their competence and to allow them to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

Grading

  • Quizzes 10%
  • Lab Reports 30%
  • Midterm Exam 30%
  • Final Exam 30%

NOTES:

Grading Scale

Letter Grade

Performance

Numeric Equivalent

% Grade

A+

Excellent

4.33

90 – 100

A

4.00

85 – 89

A-

3.67

80 – 84

B+

Good

3.33

76 – 79

B

3.00

73 – 75

B-

2.67

69 – 72

C+

Satisfactory

2.33

65 – 68

C

2.00

60 – 64

C-

Marginal

1.67

55 – 59

D

1.00

50 – 54

F

Fail

0.00

0 – 49

 

REQUIREMENTS:

Additional Information

  • The lab schedule and report due dates will be announced on Canvas.
  • Late submissions are accepted only up to 48 hours after the deadline, with a 25% penalty per day (1 second after the deadline in counted full day).
  • You are allowed to miss up to two quizzes with no penalty – this is to allow for life’s unforeseen events. If you don't miss any quizzes, the two lowest quiz scores will be dropped.
  • Lack of participation in lab activities will result in a zero mark for the related lab report.
  • If lack of participation in the group assessments (lab reports) is reported by more than half of your group members, you will lose a minimum of 50% and up to 100% of that assessment’s mark.
  • Course notes and other teaching materials will be made available on Canvas: canvas.sfu.ca
  • Please check your SFU email account regularly for course announcements, etc. Course assignments will be collected electronically (via Canvas) unless otherwise directed.

It is essential to familiarize yourself with the policies and guidelines about students at SFU, including but not limited to the following:

Use of Technology in Course Assessments

It is understood that students might choose to use a range of tools (including generative AI software such as ChatGPT) to explore concepts associated with this course.  However, using generative AI tools to produce content for graded assignments is strictly prohibited. All submissions for grading must be your work.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Multiple sources will be shared with you as needed.

REQUIRED READING:

Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and Design. Third Edition. Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland, William P. Robbins. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003. ISBN: 0471226939. ISBN: 1-61583-634-9 (online)


ISBN: 1-61583-634-9

RECOMMENDED READING:

Power Electronics: Devices, Circuits, and Applications. Fourth Edition. Muhammad H. Rashid. Pearson Education, 2013.
ISBN: 978-133125900

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.