Introduction to Electrical Power and the Grid module (RE32002)

This module aims to equip you with a competent understanding of AC electrical power and electromechanical energy conversion. It prepares you to work in the renewable electrical power generation and distribution industries.

What you will learn
 

In this module, you will:

• learn about power system operation, supply-demand matching, and energy trading
• gain knowledge of synchronous generator operation, equivalent circuits, phasor diagrams, and operation on infinite busbars
   
• familiarize yourselves with basic components of electrical power systems, such as generation, power transformers, lines and cables, circuit breakers, and loads

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• review basic AC concepts, including three-phase systems, apparent power, and reactive power
• understand electrical energy production, both conventional and renewable approaches, and the energy sources used for electrical generation
• control real power, frequency, reactive power, and voltage
• represent power systems using single-line diagrams and the per-unit system, and perform steady-state and short-circuit analyses

understand the intermittency of renewable energy sources

Assignments / assessment:

• logbook (4 sets of experiments) (30%)
• laboratory report (10%)
  • based on the practical session which is carried out as part of this module
  • you will report the applied methods and acquired results which will subsequently be discussed
• written exam (60%)

Teaching methods / timetable:

• seminars
• tutorials
• practical laboratories

Topics for seminars include:

1. Renewable Energy Technologies
2. Electrical Power Transmission Systems
3. Sinusoids and Phasors
4. Single Phase and Three Phase Power Circuits
5. Delta-to-Star and Star-to-delta conversions
6. Linear Transformers
7. Magnetically Coupled Circuits
8. Lightening and its affect on the Grid
9. Energy Equipment - Electric Motors
10. Network & Superposition Theorems
11. Thevenin’s & Norton’s Theorem
12. Maximum Power Transfer Theorem