Course Catalogue

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This is an advanced course providing insight into the devices, circuits and software used to control electric motors and generators. Students are prepared to design such systems for various applications.

1 hour lecture/tutorial every week 

3 hour lab sessions, 3 times per semester

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

70% Written Examination

20% Written Assignment

10% Report

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade D3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below:

The aims of this course are to:

■ provide students with knowledge of the range and design of electromechanical devices and associated power electronic circuits;

■ develop a solid understanding of the operation of electronic control systems in the context of power electronic devices;

■ prepare students to design such systems.

■ place all this learning in an industrial context.

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

■ identify motor drive topologies for a range of practical motors-including brushless dc, permanent magnet ac (embracing vector control), and induction machines;

■ analyse and design optimal drive systems for a range of applications, selecting the appropriate motor type;

■ critique different motor types and control options for fan, pump and actuator purposes;

■ illustrate the benefits of various generator topologies-including permanent magnet generators and induction generators (embracing doubly-fed induction generators);

■ contrast convertor topologies in terms of power quality, cost and efficiency;

■ select and integrate drive convertor components for a given turbine specification and electrical load;

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

■ make coherent arguments regarding the characteristics of future power electronic 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.

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.