Module Specification

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Power Systems and Power Electronics
Code ELEC301
Coordinator Dr R Ferrero
Electrical Engineering and Electronics
Roberto.Ferrero@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 6 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To give students a generalised view of the structure of a power system.

To develop the ability to analyse the steady-state and transient operation of an integrated power system in terms of the electrical and other constraints on power flow.

To introduce the basic principles of fault analysis and electrical safety regulations.

To familiarise students with some basic concepts of power electronics and to provide them with the tools to design some basic circuits.

To understand the principles of operation of power converters.

To show how power electronics and machines are complementary components of drive or generating systems, through examples of practical applications .


Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

ELEC271 ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS; ELEC209 ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS & POWER SYSTEMS 

Co-requisite modules:

 

Learning Outcomes

(LO1) An understanding of the nature of the load on a power system and the way in which power is supplied by generators and transmitted to consumers. A clear understanding of how synchronous generators (alternators) interact with a power system in both normal and fault conditions. Knowledge of how these generators are interconnected by the high-voltage transmission grid. Knowledge of complex power flow in a network.  A grounding in the matrix analysis of the network and load flow analysis. An appreciation of the value of the per-unit system in the analysis of large power systems. An understanding of the consequences of different faults on transmission and distribution networks. Awareness of general electrical safety issues.

(LO2) An understanding of AC-DC uncontrolled and controlled rectifiers. An understanding of pulse width modulation to control voltage and its development into switching DC-DC supplies. An appreciation of the AC(-AC) voltage control. An appreciation of the electronic generation of AC from DC and the ability to vary frequency. An appreciation of variable speed DC and AC drives. An appreciation of the fundamental ON-OFF nature of power electronic switches and how they are controlled to vary voltage levels and frequency. An appreciation of various applications of power electronics in power systems and renewable energy.

(S1) Discipline specific practical skills, such as experience in analysis and design of power systems employing a broad range of industrial related engineering tools (e.g. power circle diagram and equal area stability criterion), and utilisation of power electronic based devices in power transmission grid and integration of large scale of renewable energy.

(S2) Independent learning, problem solving and design skills applied to power systems and power electronics.

(S3) Application of numerical methods to solve power flow problems.


Syllabus

 

PART 1 – POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

- Introduction
- Review of power systems and their main component: network layout, voltage and frequency regulation, power quality, present and future challenges, introduction to power flow, stability and fault analysis.
- Power generation  
- Review of active, reactive, complex and apparent power, complex powerflow, three-phase systems, synchronous machine operation, power circle diagram. The relationship between phase and active power and between voltage magnitude and reactive power, generator operating chart.
- Stability analysis: steady-state stability, generator electrical and mechanical model,inertia and rotor dynamics, steady-state stability limit, transient stability,generator swing equation, equal area criterion, faults and critical clearing time.
- Power flow; the definition of nodes in a network, admittance matrix, power flow problemformulation, Gauss-Seidel and Newton-Raph son methods for numerical solutions.
- Fault analysis; balanced and unbalanced short-circuit faults, calculation ofshort-circuit currents, role of neutral connections, circuit breaker operation.
- Electrical safety; electric shock, direct and indirect contacts, regulations fordistribution networks, ground and neutral connections, residual-current circuit breaker.

PART 2 – POWER ELECTRONICS

- Introduction
- Review of semiconductor devices and their properties. Introduction to power electronics for power systems, general principles of power conversion, rectification and inversion.
- DC-DC converters, buck and boost converters, pulse-width-modulation operation, input ripplecurrent and output ripple voltage and other converter topologies.
- AC-DC rectifiers: single-phase and three-phase, uncontrolled and controlled rectifiers, inputand output waveforms, harmonic analysis, filters, electromagnetic interference problem sand other issues.
- DC-AC inverters: single-phase and three-phase inverters, square-wave operation, sinusoidal pulse-width-modulation operation.
- AC-AC converters: phase control and on-off control, light dimmers, static switches andsolid-state relays.
- Practical applications; examples of power electronics applications, DC and AC drives, interconnection of renewable energy sources, high-voltage DC transmission, flexible AC transmission systems.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Due to Covid-19, one or more of the following delivery methods will be implemented based on the current local conditions and the situation of registered students. It is anticipated that both a) & b) will be in operation for semester 1.

(a) Hybrid delivery, with social distancing on Campus
Teaching Method 1 - On-line asynchronous lectures
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: No
Notes: On average two per week

Teaching Method 2 - Synchronous face to face tutorials
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per week

(b) Fully online delivery and assessment
Teaching Method 1 - On-line asynchronous lectures
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: No
Notes: On average two per week

Teaching Method 2 - On-line synchronous tutorials
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per week

(c) Standard on-campus delivery with minimal social distancing
Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average two per week

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per week


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 25

        11

36
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 114
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
(301) Formal exam Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1 examination period    100       
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             

Reading List

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.