525.727.81 - Advanced Power Electronics

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Course Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

1. Review Material EN.525.725 Current Regulator
2. Peak Power tracking of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array
   
3. DC motor control
4. Peak current mode control
5. Zero voltage switching
6. Operation of a full shift phase shifted converter
7. AC-DC Power Factor Correction
8. DC/AC Single Phase Grid Tied Inverter and Control
9. Introduction to Three Phase Voltage Source Inverter
10. Modeling and Control of Three Phase Grid Tied Inverter
11. Introduction to Three Phase Motor Control 
    
12. Modeling and Control of Three Phase Permanent Magnet Machine
    
13. Nonlinear load feedforward control
14. Current sharing in parallel power trains
15. Buck Converter Power Train and Control Design

Course Goals

Survey advanced power electronics applications and develop valuable analysis techniques for practicing power electronics engineers working in the industry. Extend the fundamentals acquired during the power electronics course to practical and interesting power electronics topics.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• 1.Examine advanced topics in power electronics such as solar array peak power tracking, dc motor control, three phase electric drive and control, converter soft switching techniques, power factor correction and nonlinear control techniques for optimum dynamic converter performance
• 2.Create equivalent circuit models of advanced power electronic circuits
• 3.Design closed loop controllers for advanced power electronic circuits
• 4.Evaluate performance of designs using MATLAB SIMULINK
• 5.Explain critical performance measures and design tradeoffs in advanced power electronic circuits

Textbooks

Erickson, R.W. & Maksimović, D. (2004). Fundamentals of power electronics Second Edition. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

ISBN: 978-1-4757-0559-1

Link for textbook included in course information. You may find pdf version online. This course uses the second edition, NOT the third edition. 

Required Software

MATLAB

You will need access to MATLAB/Simulink version 2025b with the Power Systems library add on under Simscape. NOTE: More recent versions than 2025b do NOT have the power systems library. The MATLAB Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license is now in effect. This license is provided at no cost to you. Send an email to software@jhu.edu to request your license file/code. Please indicate that you need a standalone file/code. You will need to provide your first and last name, as well as your Hopkins email address. You will receive an email from Mathworks with instructions to create a Mathworks account. The MATLAB software will be available for download from the Mathworks site.

Visit the JHU IT Services Portal. Log in with your JHED ID and type “Matlab” in the search bar. Click on “Matlab for Students” in the search results and follow the instructions provided.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 7–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the suggested sections of the texts (approximately 1–2 hours per week), listening to the audio annotated slide presentations OR attending a live virtual class, responding to the discussion forum (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and learning assessments (approximately 4–5 hours per week). This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

Weekly Module Quiz (10% of Final Grade Calculation)

A three question quiz is given for each module. The intent of the quiz is to verify the student has grasped fundamental concepts from the lecture material. Each question is 1 point for a total of 3 points. The answers to the quiz must be entirely your own. Sharing answers with classmates is a violation of the academic conduct policy. I highly recommend looking at the quiz questions prior to lecture.

Weekly Module Assignments (40% of Final Grade Calculation)

Each module will contain a graded assignment that students will complete individually.  All assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar. All assignment submissions and solution sets are to be electronically generated. Handwritten work will not be accepted.

Unless extenuating circumstances such as personal/family emergency, NO Late submissions will be accepted. 

Final Course Project (40% of Final Grade Calculation)

• The final project involves the design of a residential micro grid and will be introduced at the beginning of module 9 and will consist of three deliverables.
  
• The first deliverable will be the architecture definition and converter selection along with power usage plan for a 24-hour period.
• The second deliverable will consist of design calculations and controller design for each power converter.
• The third and final deliverable will be the final system simulation result.

Weekly discussion forum (10% of Final Grade Calculation)

Most modules will include a supporting web video animation, link or article that is related to one of the module learning objectives. Students will be asked to comment on the supporting web link animations and articles through discussion forums. Students will also be asked to comment on another students post. In addition, simulation techniques and strategies should be shared through the discussion forums.

Late Policy:
It is very important to keep up with all assignments and quizzes since each module builds on previous modules. 2 points out of 10 will be deducted for every 24 hours past the due date.

Weekly assignments are graded out of ten points:

Grading Policy

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I will post grades one-two weeks after assignment due dates. All assignments submissions should be computer generated. No handwritten calculations are accepted. All plots must use large fonts and thick traces that are readable in canvas. Please check your submission result to ensure the result is easy to read and grade. 

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course. 

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu. 

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.