Power Electronics Specialization Online Course

Power electronics is a field of electrical engineering that deals with the conversion, control, and regulation of electrical power. With the growing demand for energy-efficient systems and renewable energy sources, the demand for skilled professionals in power electronics is increasing. Online courses for power electronics provide an opportunity for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills in this field at their own pace and convenience. These courses offer a comprehensive understanding of power electronics concepts, circuit design, and practical applications. In this article, we will explore some of the best power electronics courses available online, covering their curriculum, advantages, and suitability for different skill levels.

Here’s a look at the Best Power Electronics Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

Power Electronics Specialization Online Course

1. Introduction to Power Electronics: From Theory to Practice by ADVANNOR – ENGINEERING, UNIPESSOAL LDA. 514489081 (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The Introduction to Power Electronics: From Theory to Practice course is offered by ADVANNOR – ENGINEERING, UNIPESSOAL LDA. The course provides basic concepts for understanding the world of power electronics. The course instructor offers guidance to help participants start creating their own simulations and circuit analysis. The course is divided into four modules. The first module focuses on getting the necessary base in AC Circuit. In the second module, participants will analyze the behavior of the basic elements. In the third module, they will discover the operation of the power semiconductors and how they modify the basic characteristics of the circuits. Finally, in the fourth module, they will study real applications. The course includes documentation that accompanies the sessions. It provides notes for participants to review and continue improving their skills in this discipline. This course is designed to help participants leverage their knowledge and expand their limits in the exciting world of power electronics.

2. Ultimate Power Electronics Bundle for Complete Beginners by Ahmed Mahdy / Khadija Academy (Udemy)

The Ultimate Power Electronics Bundle for Complete Beginners is a comprehensive course bundle aimed at beginners who want to learn everything about power electronics for electrical engineering, including rectifiers, AC and DC choppers, and inverters. The bundle consists of five courses, each covering different topics related to power electronics.

The first course, Complete Rectifiers Course for Electrical Engineering, covers the definition of power electronics circuit and its application, different types of switches, types and applications for different switching devices, and different single-phase rectifier circuits and their configurations.

The second course, Complete AC Choppers Course for Electrical Engineering, covers AC chopper circuits with R load, AC chopper circuits with L load, R-L parallel, and series load, AC chopper with capacitive load, integral cycle control of AC chopper, AC chopper in transformer tap changing, applications, and disadvantages of AC choppers.

The third course, Complete DC Choppers Course for Electrical Engineering, teaches the definition of DC choppers and its applications, generation of the duty cycle, types of circuits used to step up or step down the DC voltage, analyze the step-down DC chopper with R and R-L-E load, analyze the step-up DC chopper with R, RL, and RE loads, analyze buck regulator, boost regulator, and buck-boost regulator circuits, equations to get the minimum values of inductance and capacitance required for those circuits.

The fourth course, Complete Inverters Course for Electrical Engineering, covers the definition of the inverter, importance and applications of inverters, single-phase half-bridge R-load, single-phase half-bridge RL-load, performance parameters of an inverter, single-phase bridge inverter R-load, single-phase bridge inverter RL-load, three-phase inverters, and obtaining the line voltages and phase voltages, single pulse width modulation, multiple pulse width modulation, and sinusoidal pulse width modulation.

3. Electrical Engineering: Power Electronics Masterclass by Ricardo Romero, PE (Udemy)

The Electrical Engineering: Power Electronics Masterclass course offered on Udemy provides an in-depth overview of power electronics, a major area in electrical and power engineering. The course is led by Ricardo Romero, PE, and covers three main types of power electronics devices: rectifiers, dc-to-dc converters, and inverters. The ideal circuit for each device is discussed, as well as various circuit topologies to allow for practical applications.

By completing the course, individuals will gain the fundamental knowledge required to design their own power electronics devices, including battery chargers, switched-mode power supplies, solar inverters, and variable frequency drives, among others. To reinforce the theoretical concepts, practical numerical problems are solved throughout the course.

The course includes 5 quizzes with a total of 15 questions, and three articles are provided to supplement the video lectures. Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the instructor is available for questions throughout the course to ensure clarity.

Course content is grouped into 10 sections, including an introduction to the course, a discussion on rectifiers, both single-phase and three-phase, and a rectifier design example. The course also includes an introduction to DC-to-DC converters and inverters, both single-phase and three-phase. A bonus section is also included.

4. MATLAB/Simulink for Power Electronics Simulations by Ricardo Romero, PE (Udemy)

The MATLAB/Simulink for Power Electronics Simulations course is designed to teach students how to simulate power electronics devices using MATLAB/Simulink. The course covers the theory and simulation of rectifiers, dc-to-dc converters, and inverters. Each section includes several models which are available for download so that students can follow along and modify them to create their own designs. The course also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and the instructor is available for questions throughout the course.

The first section of the course is an introduction to MATLAB/Simulink for Power Electronics. Students will review the theory behind semiconductor devices used in power electronics, voltage sources, current sources, and passive components (resistors, capacitors, and inductors). They will also learn how to put these components together in a model using Simulink and how to take measurements to ensure proper simulation.

The second section of the course covers Rectifier Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink. Students will review the theory behind the operation and topologies of power electronics rectifiers and learn how to simulate both single-phase and three-phase rectifiers using Simulink.

The third section of the course covers DC-to-DC Converter Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink. Students will review the theory behind the operation and topologies of power electronics DC-to-DC converters and learn how to simulate buck, boost, and buck/boost converters.

The fourth section of the course covers Inverter Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink. Students will review the theory behind the operation and topologies of inverters and learn how to simulate single-phase and three-phase inverters.

In each section, students will have access to several models which illustrate how to design and simulate power electronics devices in MATLAB/Simulink. By learning how to simulate power electronics devices in MATLAB/Simulink, students will be able to further their careers in electrical engineering and power electronics.

5. Simulating Power Electronic Circuits using Python by Shivkumar Iyer (Udemy)

The Simulating Power Electronic Circuits using Python course is aimed towards electrical engineering students and practicing technicians who want to learn how to simulate electrical circuits. The course covers the basics of simulation and provides theory lectures to help students understand how simulations can be used to learn the workings of power converters. The course uses free and open-source software that is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS. The course includes a tutorial on Python programming and focuses on using Python Power Electronics simulator. Although the course does not cover a vast number of power converters, it does use fundamental concepts of physics to understand how power converter circuits work.

To successfully complete the course, students should have basic electrical knowledge, including Kirchoff’s Voltage Law, Kirchoff’s Current Law, and Ohm’s Law, which are taught in first-year electrical engineering, and some basic knowledge of programming. Students who have used high-level languages such as C, C++, or Java can take the course. No prior knowledge of power electronics or analog electronics is required. Expert knowledge of programming is not necessary, but this course should not be the student’s first time coding.

The course is divided into sections, including Welcome, Introduction, Installing Software, Simulating Basic Resistive Circuits, Energy Storage in Electrical Circuits, Basic Nonlinear Circuits, Tutorial on Python Programming, Writing Control Functions in Python Power Electronics, Simulating a Buck Converter, and Conclusion. The course includes code-along sessions where the instructors build simulations from scratch, switching back and forth between theory presentations and simulation results to understand how circuits work. The course is not heavily mathematical and focuses on depth rather than breadth.

6. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems by Prof. Dr. Mohamed EL-Shimy (Udemy)

The Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems course, led by Prof. Dr. Mohamed EL-Shimy, aims to address the challenges of designing, operating, and maintaining power supply systems while balancing reliability and cost. The course covers the impact of power interruptions on non-essential, essential, and critical loads, with critical loads requiring uninterrupted power supply. UPSs are an effective tool for providing safe power supply for these load classes, with various designs, operation, and control algorithms available. The course covers the differences in UPS categories, including power capacity, switching time, safe duration, maintenance requirements, available system monitoring, self-diagnosis, and costs. A justified mix of static and electromechanical UPSs may be chosen based on load requirements and interruption statistics.

The course provides an in-depth analysis of supply requirements for various load classes and surveys various options for providing an adequate supply system considering the design of the power distribution systems up to UPSs. The choice and design of system designs and UPSs are covered, as well as operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of various supply alternatives. The course includes typical case studies and simulations.

Module 1 focuses on improving reliability and power quality with standby power supplies, while Module 2 covers standby power supply devices. Module 3 discusses the UPS configurations for 7 X 24 Continuous Power Facilities and Power Plants, while Module 4 covers the design and selection of UPS systems. Module 5 focuses on the installation, testing, and troubleshooting of static UPS systems, and Module 6 covers UPS systems maintenance procedures. Finally, Power Electronics for UPS and Chargers – Fundamentals and Applications is covered, followed by a questions section.

7. Basics of Power Electronics by Walid Issa (Udemy)

The Basics of Power Electronics course, taught by Walid Issa, covers fundamental topics such as Si, SiC, GaN, LTSpics, DC/DC converters, Inverters, power dissipation, and thermal stresses. The course is designed to provide learners with a solid understanding of power electronics, including how to calculate power dissipation and thermal stresses for different waveforms on switches using LTspice. Learners will gain insight into Silicon, Silicon Carbide, and Gallium Nitrate switches and learn to analyze DC/DC Converters: Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost, and inverters.

The course is structured to introduce learners to LTSpice and its use in validating calculations while designing a closed-loop Buck converter. The course includes problem sets and labs, with problem sets consisting of practice problems supplied with their respective solutions. The labs are designed to aid learners in conquering LTspice, with tasks that require learners to engage fully with the course to gain a proper understanding of each part and practice the problem sets.

The course content is divided into sections, namely Introduction, Linear VS Switched Operation, Signal Computation, Tutorial 1, Lab 1 Introduction to LTspice, Thermal Consideration, Switching Losses, Lab 2 Efficiency and Thermal Assessment, Power Diodes, Power Transistors, Inverters, SCRs, Tutorial 2, DC to DC Converters, Tutorial 3, Lab 3 Buck Converter in LTspice, Lab 4, and Extra Simulations. The course is highly recommended for those interested in pursuing more advanced topics in power electronics.

8. Power Electronics: Control and Simulation of PWM Inverters by Manuel Gómez (Udemy)

The course Power Electronics: Control and Simulation of PWM Inverters is aimed at teaching the participants how to model, control, and simulate the main type of Power Converter used in energy and transport through the use of Simulink. The course is instructed by Manuel Gómez.

Nowadays, Power Electronics involves the conversion and control of electrical power through electronic converters that use semiconductors power switches. Among the various types of converters, three-phase Voltage Source Inverters based on IGBTs are one of the most commonly used topologies. These DC to AC inverters provide natural interfaces with direct energy sources such as solar cells, wind turbines, and batteries. They are also used to feed industrial motor drives, electrical vehicles, and control generator systems.

The course will cover topics such as the Introduction to Modulation Techniques, Current Control of Voltage Source Inverters, Active and Reactive Power Control of Voltage Source Inverters, DC Voltage Control of Voltage Source Inverters, Implementation of Controllers for Inverters, and Simulink Simulation Files.

9. Basics of Power Electronics & Practical Guide with PSIM by Dr. Shailendra Kumar Mittal (Udemy)

This course, titled Basics of Power Electronics & Practical Guide with PSIM, is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of power electronics fundamentals. The course objectives include gaining knowledge and understanding of power electronic devices and characteristics, different converter circuits, power converter circuit analysis and design, and waveform analysis using PSIM software. Learners will acquire skills to build, troubleshoot, and understand the use of power converters in commercial and industrial applications. The course is divided into six modules, each covering different aspects of power electronics. Module one focuses on power semiconductor devices, including the construction, operation, characteristics, two transistor model, applications, and ratings of a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). Module two covers firing circuits, protection circuits of the SCR, and commutation circuits. Module three discusses DC to DC converters (choppers), including step-down and step-up choppers and strategies for controlling the output voltage. Module four covers AC to DC converters (rectifiers), including single- and three-phase fully controlled and half controlled converters. Module five discusses AC to AC converters (AC voltage controllers), including single-phase half wave and full wave controllers with R-load and RL-load and two-stage sequence control. Module six covers DC to AC converters (inverters), including single-phase half bridge and full bridge converters with R-load and RL-load. In addition to the modules, the course includes a section on numerical problems related to SCR and converters and a final test. By the end of the course, learners will have a strong understanding of power electronics fundamental concepts and techniques, as well as the ability to analyze various single-phase and three-phase power converter circuits and understand their applications. They will acquire the skills needed to build, troubleshoot, and design power electronics circuits and understand the use of power converters in commercial and industrial applications.

10. Basics of Photovoltaic System Models Using MATLAB/ Simulink. by Mohammed Al-Mahmodi (Udemy)

The Basics of Photovoltaic System Models Using MATLAB/Simulink course, instructed by Mohammed Al-Mahmodi, covers the control and simulation of photovoltaic systems and power electronics using MATLAB/Simulink. The course offers downloadable models for free. The content of the course includes the control and simulation of photovoltaic systems using a boost converter, MPPT control using MATLAB code, battery integration, and the design and simulation of buck, boost, and buck-boost converters. Mathematical modeling of photovoltaic cells is also briefly introduced.

The course is broken down into different sections that cover an introduction to photovoltaic systems, the design and simulation of boost and buck-boost converters, and the control and integration of battery systems. Additionally, the course covers the mathematical modeling of photovoltaic cells. All models are available for free download.