Academic management

The Master’s degree:

The main goal of the Master’s Degree in “Electrical Energy Conversion and Power Systems” (EECPS Master) is the training of qualified staff in areas related to electrical energy management, emphasizing in power systems for renewable energies. The Master presents a double approach: scientific and professional. In the scientific thread, training focuses on the design of two main applications: Electrical Power Systems and Electrical and Hybrid Traction Systems. On the other hand, in the professional thread, training is focused on the management of electrical energy. Thus, the subjects of this thread have been designed attending to two main issues, such as the management of energy in large consumers and the generation and transmission of electrical energy in a liberalized market. Three main lines have been considered as keystones in the Master:

·         Electrical Power Systems

·         Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles

·         Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies

The first semester:

The first semester is intended to provide a uniform level of knowledge among students with different basic training. This equalization term offers a set of optional courses designed to promote the homogenization among students' knowledge. The teaching committee will study every application form independently, selecting 27 ECTS credits for every student among the optional courses. The additional 3 ECTS are dedicated to a compulsory introductory subject, called “introduction to power systems, renewable energies, electrical traction and energy efficiency”.

The subject:

In this subject the main types of power stations used to generate electrical energy are explained, considering the basic components and its main operation principles.

No special requirements are necessary to take this subject.

Ahead are the competences and learning results of the subjkect (with the reference numbers included in the Verification Report):

Basic Competences:

CB6        Be original in the development and application of ideas, within a research environment.

CB7        Solution of problem in new and unfamiliar multidisciplinary environments, related to its knowledge area.

CB8        Integration of knowledge, facing the complexity of issuing judgments and sentences parting from some information that includes ethic and social liability constraints.

CB9        Ability of communicating justified decisions and conclusions, to specialized and unspecialized listeners.

CB10      Ability of autonomous learning.

Generic Competences:

CG5       Critical analysis of the information coming from the sensing and instrumentation subsystems.

CG7       Practical and experimental verification of monitoring and controlling electrical energy conversion systems, including safety operation of electric systems

CG9       Skills related to teamwork, recognizing different roles within a group and different ways of organizing research teams.

CG10     Ability to manage information: search, analysis and synthesis of the specific technical information.

CG11     Ability to assimilate and communicate information in English concerning technical documents.

CG12     Ability to plan and organize work

CG13     Skills for critical reasoning, making decisions and making judgments based on information that include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities of professional activity

CG14     Concern for quality and achievement motivation

Specific Competences:

• Understanding of the importance and the area of utilization of electrical power systems for generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy. (CE1)
• Ability to understand the basics of the dynamic modelling of electrical power systems. (CE3)
• Identification of the main characteristics, design strategies and the constructive elements and materials of the Electrical Power Systems. (CE6)
• Understand the importance of control and monitoring systems in electrical power systems. (CE7)
• Analyse the different grid connection strategies from a technical and economic point of view.  (CE12)
• Identify the technical-economic legislation and regulations at different levels (local, regional, national, European, etc.) applicable to electrical power systems. (CE13)
• Knowing and analysing the energy structures and technologies that guarantee the supply of the determined demand, analysing future energy needs and possible technological solutions, taking into account criteria of efficiency, security, guarantee of supply and environmental implications. (CE15)
• Identify the agents participating in the electricity and gas market, as well as their operation, taking into account different management methodologies. (CE17)
• Understand the price formation process, understanding the different components of the final price of electricity and tariffs. (CE18)

Learning Results:

RA45: Knowing the construction and design aspects, as well as the principle of operation of the main types of electricity generation plants, both conventional and non-conventional.
RA46: To understand the difference between distributed and centralised generation and to identify the different design criteria for both types of generation systems.
RA47: Knowing the elements involved in the protection of power plants as well as their protection criteria.
RA48: To understand the operation of the different types of power plants.

1. Conventional power generation plants
   1.1. Coal-fired power plants
   1.2. Nuclear power plants
   1.3. Combined cycle power plants
   1.4. Hydroelectric power plants

2. Non-conventional power generation plants
   2.1. Wind, solar thermal, photovoltaic, fuel cells, biomass and MSW, tidal and wave power, microturbines,...
3. Distributed generation vs. centralised generation
4. Protection of power plants
5.  Generation control
   5.1. Dispatching
   5.2. Load allocation
   5.3  Voltage and frequency control

This subject has been identified as optinal in the programme guide (verification report). Learning methodology will be based on Lectures as well as on practical sessions in some of the different modules. A final set of assignments will be considered at the end of the course.

Exceptionally, if health conditions so require, non-classroom teaching activities may be included. In this case, students will be informed of the changes made.

For this subject, the students will be evaluated according to these percentages referred to the final grade:

• Written exam: 15% to 40%. Of the final grade. The exact % will be specified at the beginning of the sessions.
• Oral exams: 15% to 40%. Of the final grade. The exact % will be specified at the beginning of the sessions.
• Works and projects: 20% to 50%. The exact % will be specified at the beginning of the sessions.
• Practical cases (experimental or simulations): 10% to 30%. The exact % will be specified at the beginning of the sessions.
• Observation techniques: 10% to 20%

Exceptionally, if health conditions require it, non-attendance evaluation methods may be included. In this case, students will be informed of the changes made.