MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Industrial Experience / Course details

Year of entry: 2027

Course unit details:
Machines, Drives & Power Electronics

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN20212
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit will cover the following:

(1) Transformers

• Principles of single-phase transformer operation.

• Analysis of transformers using equivalent circuits including load calculations, open- and short-circuit tests, regulation and loss mechanisms.

• Uses of transformers, overview of transformer construction, and basic design principles.


(2) Induction Machines

• Production of a rotating field using three-phase windings, and induced emf.

• Principles of operation and analysis of induction machines using reduced steady state equivalent circuits, including the concept of slip, performance calculations, loss mechanisms, efficiency, torque/speed characteristics, load curves and speed of operation.

• Induction machine speed control by classical means and the need for variable frequency operation.


(3) Synchronous Machines

• Machine topologies and construction.

• Principles of operation and analysis of permanent magnet and wound field synchronous machines using their reduced steady state equivalent circuits, including performance calculations using phasor diagrams.

• Overview of the brushless DC motor equivalent circuit and torque/speed characteristics.


(4) DC-DC converters

• Principle of switched-mode power conversion.

• Power MOSFET device.

• Step-up and step-down DC-DC converters.

• Bi-directional step-down / step-up DC-DC converter.

• High-frequency transformer isolation and the two-transistor forward converter.

• Inductive switching waveforms and switching losses.


(5) AC-DC Converters

• Single-phase diode rectifier circuit with inductor or capacitor DC filter.

• Calculation of active power, apparent power and power factor.

• Power transfer in AC circuits to non-linear loads, harmonics and power factor.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
EEEN10121 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
EEEN10212 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
EEEN10222 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

The course unit aims to: Introduce the operating principles of electrical machines and power electronic circuits. The main electrical machine and power electronic converter types will be studied, along with basic analysis methods, providing a basis for equipment design and systems analysis. Practical, measurement techniques and equipment characteristics will also be studied.

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

ILO 1: Describe using sketched waveforms the operation of DC-DC converters and single-phase rectifiers.

ILO 2: Formulate equivalent circuits of transformers, induction, synchronous and BLDC machines.

ILO 3: Model transformer and machine behaviour using per-phase equivalent circuits.

ILO 4: Measure induction motor characteristics and DC-DC converter waveforms and critically evaluate the results.

ILO 5: Evaluate the technical, environmental and sustainability impacts of electrical drive and power electronic technologies.

ILO 6: Analyse DC-DC and AC-DC converter waveforms, calculate operating conditions, component values and switching losses.

 

 

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures supported by laboratories, tutorials and Bb assessments and quizzes. Revision classes provided for examination support. All lecture notes and overheads are provided on Bb and all lectures are podcasted with camera.

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Written exam 80%

Coursework:
Machines Lab (10%)
Power electronics Lab (10%)
The coursework forms 20% of the unit assessment

Coursework prep and submission - 4 hours.

Feedback methods

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Recommended reading

D. O’Kelly:’Performance and control of electrical drives’, McGraw-Hill
G.R. Slemon: ‘Electrical Machines and Drives’, Addison Wesley
Mohan, Undeland and Robbins, ‘Power Electronics: Converters, Applications and Design’, Wiley.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Practical classes & workshops 6
Independent study hours
Independent study 72

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Andrew Forsyth Unit coordinator
Theodor Heath Unit coordinator

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