Electric Power System Fundamentals

Instructor & 
Office Hours

Course Schedule,
Notes and Assignments 

Textbook & 
Reference Texts 

Grading & 
Classroom Policies 

Meeting Times and Place:

Course Description:

This is a foundational course in the engineering, design, construction, operation and key theoretical principles of modern electric power systems (generation, transmission, substations, distribution and end-use).  The course includes such topics as:

History and Key Inventions in the Development of the Electric Power Industry
Mechanical and Electromagnetic Fundamentals
Three Phase Circuits
Transformers
AC Machinery Fundamentals
Synchronous Machines
Induction Motors
DC Machines
Transmission Lines
Introduction to Power Flow
System Reliability - Relay and Control Engineering
Power Generation Fuels  (Fossil, Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal and Tidal)
Advanced Generation Technologies 
    (PV System Design, Fuel Cells, Piezo/Thermoelectrics)
Utility Industry Organization and Deregulation
Remote/Stand-Alone Electric Power Systems 
End-Use Devices, Systems and Efficiency
Sustainable Designs for Electric Power

The course includes a combination of lectures (a lab or two) and tours/field visits where students will see (minds-on) first hand and be able to take apart (hands-on) the electrical devices and components that assure the safe and reliable design/operation of the modern electric utility.

In the Power Generation Area - Students will understand and observe the operation of nuclear generating facilities, coal fired fossil fuel systems and gas-fired combustion turbines.  They will also become familiar with step-up transformers and associated switchgear in power plants.  In addition thy will be exposed to the operation and design of advanced generating concepts and systems (PV, Fuel Cells, etc.)

in the Power Transmission/Substation Area - Students will understand the operation of and observe transmission lines (69kV, 138kV, 230kV) in operation, see and understand one-line diagrams for transmission lines, understand all the components of construction in the substations and on transmission lines (via design manuals, specifications, etc) circuit breakers, substation switchgear, large pad-mounted three-phase transformers, towers, insulators, wire types/sizes, system operating strategy, as well as understand the basic principles of transmission/substation operation and system recovery after outages.

in the Power Distribution Area - They will observe feeders in operation, see and understand one-line diagrams, understand all the components of construction (via design manuals, specifications, etc) poles, insulators, wire types/sizes, capacitor banks, distribution switchgear, fusing strategy, load distributing among phases, as well as understand the basic principles of system operation and system recovery after outages.

In the End-Use Area - Students will become familiar with the devices and appliances that consumers have (industrial, commercial and residential) that utilize electric power.  They will understand basic premise metering, circuit breaker panels, residential wiring, switching, etc. 
 
 
 

Instructional Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should –
 
• have a firm understanding of how the electric power system is designed, constructed and operates
• have experienced first hand (via tours, visits. models and lab work) what it would be like to work in, design, maintain and operate an actual power system
• understand the technology options for providing electricity to society and the features of energy use 
• know the the theoretical basis for the design and operation of the electric power grid

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semester Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Computer Science and Programming (0704.103)