Course Catalogue

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This is an advanced course in Electrical Power Systems, with a focus on the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power.  Students will gain a clear overview of present and predicted future transmission and distribution networks, and learn how to model and analyse practical power systems under normal and abnormal (fault) conditions, in order correctly design and operate them.  Students will understand how to identify weaknesses in pre-existing systems, both in the steady-state and transient regimes, and be able to put forward informed solutions for network reinforcement, based on technical merit, economic considerations, and an understanding of emerging trends in generation (such as the introduction of renewable energy sources and local generation)

4 hours of lectures per week.

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

ENG4104 Power Systems 4

None.

70% Written exam

20% Extended Technical Essay

10% Laboratory Reports

The aims of this course are to:

■ provide an in-depth knowledge of the modern theory and practice of electric power systems;

■ provide a solid understanding of the operation and design of electrical power equipment;

■ undertake related analysis and design calculations.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ list key components of the UK electricity generation, transmission and distribution network;

■ describe techniques of transmission system balancing and their economic implications;

■ classify a broad range of power supply problems, causes and typical solutions of these problems;

■ identify new developments in electricity generation and transmission resulting from renewable energy sources and localised and deregulated generation and distribution of power;

■ reproduce standard equations for 3-phase systems and calculate fundamental network parameters;

■ derive per-unit values for real networks, explain how per-unit base values are chosen in practice, and apply these values in network analysis;

■ describe fundamental transmission line physical and electrical characteristics;

■ contrast the nature of transmission networks in compact (e.g. UK) and continental (e.g. China) geographical domains.

■ select appropriate models to analyse transmission line problems for short, medium and long lines under 50 Hz (e.g. voltage regulation) and short pulse (e.g. lightning strike) conditions;

■ calculate power flow, line conditions and possible fault currents in realistic transmission lines;

■ formulate detailed phasor diagrams for transmission networks, and use these to perform industrially relevant systems design;

■ formulate phasor diagrams for synchronous generators and use these to calculate supplied generator power and classify conditions for generator stability;

■ evaluate the effectiveness of automatic voltage regulators in practical networks;

■ explain the nature of transient and sub-transient reactances with regard to generator fault analysis;

■ identify surge impedance loadings, voltage drop and thermal limits for practical transmission systems;

■ classify the limitations to bulk power flow over a transmission system with passive and active loads;

■ explain how power flow is managed in transmission systems, including emerging systems reliant on significant, distributed renewable resources and supported by power electronics;

■ calculate load flow and fault level conditions for industrially relevant generation, transmission and distribution networks;

■ derive the Short Circuit Ratio for transmission systems, and use it to judge system strength;

■ summarise the underlying physics, and key approximations behind the Equal Area Criterion (EAC) in the analysis of transmission system transient stability;

■ compute generator response to faults using the EAC, and use the method to evaluate the stability of transmission systems to transient faults;

■ assess weaknesses in power networks, and posit solutions based on technical and economic considerations;

■ explain the term 'power quality' and classify measures of power quality;

■ calculate harmonic distortion in power systems, and design filter packages for system optimisation;

■ make qualitative and quantitative judgements regarding the fitness of a range of power systems under modern industrial constraints;

■ make coherent arguments regarding the characteristics of future power generation and transmission systems.

Students must attend the degree examination and submit at least 75% by weight of the other components of the course's summative assessment.

Students must attend the timetabled laboratory classes.

Students should attend at least 75% of the timetabled classes of the course.

Note that these are minimum requirements: good students will achieve far higher participation/submission rates.  Any student who misses an assessment or a significant number of classes because of illness or other good cause should report this by completing a MyCampus absence report.