Power Electronics Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This specialization provides a comprehensive introduction to power electronics, covering the core principles of switched-mode power converters, circuit design, control systems, and magnetic components. The program is structured into five technical modules and a final capstone project, requiring approximately 81 hours to complete. Learners will gain practical skills through hands-on assignments and peer-reviewed projects, preparing them for real-world applications in industry and research settings.

Module 1: Introduction to Power Electronics

Estimated time: 11 hours

• Principles of switched-mode converter circuits
• Steady-state analysis of voltages and currents
• Derivation of averaged equivalent circuit models
• Efficiency calculations in power converters

Module 2: Converter Circuits

Estimated time: 18 hours

• Implementation of power semiconductor devices in switching converters
• Analysis of discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)
• Design and analysis of dc-dc and dc-ac converter circuits
• Transformer isolation in dc-dc converters: forward and flyback topologies

Module 3: Converter Control

Estimated time: 19 hours

• Feedback system design for switching regulators
• Voltage-mode control techniques
• Current-mode control techniques
• Stability analysis and loop compensation

Module 4: Magnetics for Power Electronic Converters

Estimated time: 17 hours

• Fundamentals of inductors and transformers
• Analysis and modeling of magnetic losses
• Design and optimization of magnetic components
• Role of magnetics in switched-mode power converters

Module 5: Efficiency and Optimization

Estimated time: 16 hours

• Modeling losses in converter components
• Trade-offs between efficiency, size, and performance
• Techniques for improving power converter efficiency
• System-level optimization strategies

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 20 hours

• Design of a complete switched-mode power converter
• Implementation of control and feedback mechanisms
• Peer-reviewed submission and evaluation

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of electrical circuits
• Familiarity with semiconductor devices
• Understanding of Laplace transforms and frequency-domain analysis

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Understand and analyze the operation of various switched-mode power converters
• Design and implement dc-dc and dc-ac converter circuits
• Apply voltage-mode and current-mode control techniques in regulators
• Design and optimize inductors and transformers for power converters
• Analyze efficiency and performance trade-offs in power electronic systems