Qualified electrical engineers are desperately needed by the power industry. There is also a severe shortage of power engineering expertise in other sectors, such as government bodies and finance organisations, where a detailed knowledge of energy supply and demand is increasingly important. This shortage comes as societies develop and adapt to pressing environmental and economic constraints, dwindling reserves of fossil fuels, and the emergence of new energy technologies.
This course will give you the knowledge and skills required for a career in electrical power engineering and is an opportunity to update your knowledge with the latest developments in renewable energy and smart grids.
Core modules
Control of Electrical Drives
Modern electrical drives are complex electromechanical systems combining electrical machines, power electronic converters, control and protection circuits.
The aim of the module is to develop an advanced understanding and systematic analysis and design skills on integration of electrical machines and power electronics into up-to-date electrical drives with predefined and required control quality. It will include development of conceptual functional block diagrams of the electrical drives, their mathematical modelling and simulation, systematic design of required controllers, advanced analysis of steady state and dynamic drives’ characteristics, electrical schematics and modern practical implementation.
Advanced Power Electronic Converters and Devices
Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems. With the foundation of studying the module Power Electronics (ES3E0), this module will give you a wide range, in-depth and advanced knowledge of Power Electronics and Devices.
Operation and Control of Power Systems
This module aims to present the current (advanced) technologies and trends in development that will shape future electrical power systems. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the construction, operation and control principles of power systems. You will learn advanced analytical skills for examining different modes of operation in complex systems. The content includes the following main elements:
- Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Power
- Balanced and Unbalanced 3-Phase Systems
- Load Flow Analyses
- Fault and Stability Analyses of Power Systems
- Power System Protection Concepts and Techniques
- Operational Security Control
- Benefits and Limitations of Wide Area Measurement (WAM)
- Effects and Management of Distributed Generation
- Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) and High Voltage DC (HVDC) Transmission Technologies
- Power Quality Monitoring and Management
- Renewable Power Penetration and Grid Code Requirements
- The Role of Energy Storage and the Development of Relevant Technologies
- Smart Grids: Communications and standards, demand side response, wide area measurements, privacy and cyber security
Individual Project
Electrical Power Engineering Design Project
The Electrical Power Engineering design project is a group project aiming to give you experience of working within a team, and parallel the way engineers often work in industry. You will integrate your knowledge and understanding in order to specify and solve an Electrical Power Engineering problem (or user need), through the creation and development of a product, process or system.
The project also allows you to develop your understanding of project management, time management, ethics, sustainability, health and safety, risk management and intellectual property rights. You will develop effective communication and leadership skills, for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Research Methods and Professional Skills
The module aims to equip you with the research skills necessary to support masters’ level learning in engineering and facilitate engagement with the individual project through equipping you with a broad research skill set. In addition, this module will provide you with the professional and team skills to support the course and your career in engineering.
If you do not have the required previous learning, you are also required to take the following modules:
Power Electronic Converters and Devices
Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems.
Power Systems and Electrical Machines
The aim of this module is to consider, in depth, the design and operation of synchronous, induction and DC machines. In addition, the module aims to provide an in depth knowledge of the modern power system as an interconnection of rotating electrical machines, transformers, transmission lines, switch gear, loads etc.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Systems Modelling and Control
- Heat Transfer Theory and Design
- Mathematical and Computer Modelling
- Batteries and Fuel Cells
- Renewable Energy
- Optical Communications Systems
- Signal Processing
