A project-oriented power engineering laboratory

This paper presents a power engineering educational laboratory suitable for undergraduate and graduate students. The laboratory development is based on the new academic system, called “Institut Universitaire Professionnalise (IUP)”, initiated in France. The pedagogical approach taken is one where the students revisit previously studied material placed in a practical context. This approach supports the prerequisite lecture material and allows study of some practical issues which are best handled in a laboratory setting. The experimental format gradually puts the students in touch with industrial realities. The laboratory experience culminates in a project, based on a computer aided design (CAD) technique, where the student analyzes, designs, simulates and demonstrates electric machines and power systems related topics     

A project-oriented power engineering curriculum

This paper describes the main features of the undergraduate power engineering curriculum at Nanyang Technological University. Specifically the contents of the projects, in-house practical training, industrial attachment and design modules are described. Through these modules, students are exposed to different aspects of power engineering and gain a better knowledge about the power industry. Factory visits, industrial talks, industrial attachment and industry-sponsored projects help in strengthening the cooperation between the local power industry and university and in promoting students' interest toward careers in power engineering     

A differential relay for power transformers using intelligent tools

This paper presents alternative approaches using artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the protection of power transformers. A complete protection scheme was implemented. An ANN subroutine was used to discriminate internal faults from other situations, replacing the traditional Fourier method for harmonic restraint. In addition, a routine for reconstruction of saturated current signals based on recurrent ANNs is also proposed. The proposed methods were extensively tested and then compared to the traditional differential protection algorithm, showing promising results. The application of the ANN tools is a new and important stage in the differential relay analysis methodology for power transformer protection.     

A comparative study of PC based software packages for power engineering education and research

This paper describes the main features of 13 of the most widely used PC based interactive software packages in the field of power engineering that are used for industrial applications, education and research.

A comparative study for these software packages is presented with respect to their major modules, modeling, capabilities, software and hardware requirements, and their use in teaching, design, analysis, operation and research on power systems.     

Sustainability and the design of knowledge tools

The concept of sustainable development has gained widespread support over the last decade, with many organizations adopting it as an important goal. The motivation behind people's interest in sustainable development is the belief that current human activities may degrade the environment and cause serious negative consequences for human populations. These concerns are especially understandable when we consider that the current practices of industrialized countries will in the future be used to support an ever-growing population. What needs to be present in any useful discussion of sustainability is a rigorous application of both relevant theory and technological expertise. These are examples of knowledge tools which can be used to organize and give meaning to data, create and analyze concepts, and synthesize the two (data and concepts) to aid in decision making. The author offers some insights which may help in the design of knowledge tools for a sustainable civilization     

Coal-water suspensions in power engineering

The problem of utilizing coal-water fuel in power engineering is analyzed, and prospective fields of its application are determined.     

Small-capacity power engineering in Russia

Estimated scales on which small-capacity power-generating installations are used in Russia are presented.     

Web-based tutoring in power engineering

This paper deals with the application of web-based technologies to power engineering education in an interactive student/mentor environment. The modern teaching/learning concepts and new technologies to support these concepts have been developed. This project incorporates web-based tools, including Internet, videoconferencing, and educational intelligent system modules for power engineering education. Different student learning styles are adapted for power engineering applications. The proposed interactive learning environment allows the mentor and students to best utilize the facilities for effective teaching and learning.     

A lecture on autotransformers for power engineering students

A lecture on autotransformers intended specifically for power engineering students is proposed in this paper. An original approach to introducing the equipment is shown, and important information that does not appear in most textbooks is provided and discussed. In particular, a strong connection between the theoretical aspects and the engineer's every day practice is emphasized. Simple laboratory experiments are also proposed to validate the theoretical information.     

A learning aid for power electronics with knowledge basedcomponents

In this paper we have presented a self-study expert system based power electronics instruction aid for selection and analysis of suitable power electronic converter configurations. Converter input output specifications, analysis, and converter design methodologies are interactively pursued with extensive graphical aid to guide the user (student, engineers, etc.) in the study process. Furthermore, transient, steady-state, and harmonic analysis are possible with an integrated simulator within the instruction module. A fault diagnosis expert system based module for converter-fed motor-drives, which can be chained with the expert learning aid, has also been developed. This is in the process of development to diagnose faults on all converters available in the package     

Using MATHCAD in teaching power engineering

Students typically use small calculators or personal computer applications such as MATLAB or MATHCAD to perform basic electrical engineering calculations. From the experience of teaching several power engineering courses, the author noted that when using computer software to solve problems, students tend to lose the meaning of the equations, concentrating solely on typing variables and numbers. Some programs are especially inviting for making this error. MATLAB, for instance, does not use any built-in units of measurement, leaving the management of such units to the user. The user's attention shifts from the problem to the units. Although not as powerful and fast as MATLAB, MATHCAD, on the other hand, has a great potential to help students better understand introductory courses. There are two most important features. First, the screen appearance of the equations matches as closely as possible to the traditional form of the equations and helps the students to become familiar with the concepts. Although a bit difficult to type, the equations written in their natural form help avoid errors. A second feature, the use of built-in measurement units, is particularly helpful because the students can concentrate on the meaning of what they learn and know the transformation will be done properly. A technique for representing magnetization curves in MATHCAD (and the corresponding calculations) is also presented. The technique allows for a computer simulation of "graphical calculations" traditionally used in electrical machine design. The class-related experience has shown that even the simple examples presented in This work could prove to be difficult for students, especially when choosing a programming language to help with the calculations.     

Simulations of wind power integration with complementary power system planning tools

This paper describes a procedure for simulations of wind power integration in a deregulated power system with two complementary planning tools. The first planning tool is a joint market model (JMM) taking into account the day-ahead market and the regulating power market using 1 h average time steps. The second tool is the stepwise power flow (SPF) model simulating the frequency deviations and power balancing within the hour, e.g. based on 5 min average time steps. Input data is shared by the two tools, and the simulation results from JMM are used in the SPF simulations to ensure consistent results. JMM simulations are performed using two different scenarios for the development in the Nordic power system. The first scenario is the most likely development for 2010, and the second is a high-wind scenario assuming 10% of the electricity consumption in the Nordic countries supplied by wind power. Subsequently, a worst case 1 h period is selected from the JMM simulations, converted to the more detailed grid representation in SPF, and finally simulated and analysed with SPF.     

Collaborative distance education in power engineering

This paper presents a perspective on offering “shared-courses,” or courses simultaneously offered at two or more universities via various distance educational frameworks. Over a three year duration, two senior/graduate level courses were jointly developed and offered to the students at the University of Missouri-Rolla, the University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, and Purdue University. This paper discusses the various distance educational technologies including two-way audio/visual via ISDN line, video-tapes, and web-based conferencing. Both instructor and student reactions to these mediums are included. Pedagogical methods appropriate for these mediums are outlined. The paper concludes with recommendations and strategies for engineering institutions who would like to "course-share" with other universities and industry     

Development of nontraditional power engineering

Analysis of the current state and forecasts of the development of nontraditional renewable energy sources (NRESs¹ is presented. Competitiveness of nontraditional power engineering at the current phase of its development and in the future is assessed. The role of the State in introducing the objects of nontraditional power engineering by enhancing financial support of research and development work and legislative controlling of the processes of the development of NRESs is shown.     

基于价值服务工程的电力营销服务管理成本效益研究

介绍了基于价值服务工程的电力营销服务管理成本效益研究的基本概念.将价值服务工程引入电力营销服务管理成本效益研究,并对某省电力公司的电力营销服务工作进行了实例研究.从成本系数、功能系数、价值系数等方面阐述了电力营销服务管理成本效益的计算.将技术、经济与管理结合起来分析问题,是服务科学的新兴分支,实例分析证明了该方法是行之有效的,对电力营销策划的工作具有借鉴意义.     

Analytical tools for power system restoration-conceptual design

A conceptual framework for computer-aided monitoring and assessment during system restoration using analytical tools is proposed. The basic structure is similar to one for security monitoring and assessment (ibid., vol.3, no.1, p.1-9, 1988). State estimation and the related functions, such as observability analysis, bad-data identification and external network modeling which are used in security analysis, are modified for application to system restoration monitoring. In addition to the load flows and optimal power flows that are used in security assessment, a host of analysis/optimization programs is required. These analytical tools are identified and categorized. A knowledge-based expert system architecture is suggested for synthesizing possible control sequences and to select and coordinate analysis procedures for assessing restoration plans. The conceptual design of the knowledge-based system and its interface with analytical tools are presented     

Electric power engineering education resources 2001-02 IEEE power engineering society committee report

This report is based on a survey of power engineering education resources in the U.S. and Canada similar to 12 earlier such efforts. This survey is conducted to determine the electric power engineering education resources available in Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited engineering programs in the U.S. and Canada for the 2001-02 academic year. The report is limited to colleges and universities that replied to a questionnaire on a voluntary basis. For the 115 colleges and universities (107 U.S., 8 Canadian) that submitted data on their power programs, the report contains a list of faculty active during the 2001-02 academic year with academic participation and professional experience, each school's research area and funding levels, Ph.D. and MS student enrollment by type of support and by domestic versus international, and each school's power course offerings with enrollments and other data.