The Master’s course:

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 second semester:

The second term offers several compulsory courses for all the students. These subjects will promote the acquisition of the common skills of the Master. This term includes a subject called "Lab", designed to develop and build a functional experimental prototype based on the theoretical knowledge acquired during the first two semesters. The work done in this subject will serve as a starting point for the Master’s Thesis.

The subject:

This subject integrates different skills gained or reviewed in the first term including advanced contents for modeling, simulation and analysis of generation, transmission and distribution in power systems.

The basic aim of the subject is to study the available modeling and simulation software for power systems, and show the best way to characterize each electrical component, select the solving method and understand the limitations to actual implementation.

The subject is included in the second module of the master, called “common technologies”

The students must certify that they have passed basic skills and competences in power generation, transmission and distribution systems. This can be either accomplished at his/her incoming student profile and CV or, if not covered there, by passing the related subjects of the first semester.

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:

CG3    Knowledge of the principal mathematic tools used in the analysis, modeling and simulation       of power systems.

CG4    Use of computers and digital processors in the analysis, design, simulation, monitoring,     control and supervision of power systems.

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

CG6    Asses the risks of the use of electrical energy, as well as those of industrial installations,   understanding the necessity of safety elements, protections and signaling in power      systems.

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

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:

CE1     Understanding of the importance and the area of utilization of electrical power systems for     generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy

CE2     Characterization and modeling of the main energy sources and electric power loads

CE3     Ability to understand the basics of the dynamic modeling of electrical power systems.

CE6     Identification of the main characteristics, design strategies and the constructive elements         and materials of the Electrical Power Systems

CE8     Acquire the basic knowledge of power electronics to analyze and design electrical power          systems

C16     Ability to analyze the different strategies for grid connection, for both technical and      economic points of view.

Learning Outcomes:

RA77 To know the basic properties of simulation software for power systems.

RA78 To characterize and model the electrical components of power systems.

RA79 To select the best numerical methods of solving transient electromagnetic, knowing the    limitations of the solution.

RA80 To incorporate the system’s dynamic modeling to the system simulation

RA81 To analyze the different strategies of grid connection.

RA82 Extrapolating the results of the simulation to actual implementation, understanding the      limitations implicit in any simulation.

Topic 1: PSPICE ENVIRONMENT

• Program and environment description. Cases of use
• Simulation
• Electronic circuits description
• Modes of circuit analysis
• Results analysis and monitoring

Topic 2: MATLAB/SIMULINK/SIMSCAPE ENVIRONMENT

• Program and environment description. Cases of use
• Simulation
• Electronic circuits description
• Modes of circuit analysis
• Results analysis and monitoring

Topic 3: ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF POWER SYSTEMS IN REAL TIME

• Analysis and simulation of DC/DC converters
  • • DC/DC converters
    • MOSFET commutation process in DC/DC topologies
    • MOSFET drivers in DC/DC topologies
    • Parasitic effects of switching devices in DC/DC topologies
    • Analysis and Simulation of Snubber circuits
    • Soft switching (zero current and zero voltage)
• Analysis and simulation of AC/DC converters
  • • SCR based no controlled and semi controlled rectifiers (single phase, three phase)
    • SCR drivers in AC/DC topologies
    • SCRs commutation in AC/DC topologies
    • Fully controlled single phase rectifiers. Power factor correction
    • Fully controlled three phase rectifiers using IGBTs
    • IGBTs drivers in three phase AC/DC topologies
    • IGBTs commutation process in AC/DC topologies
    • Switching with resistive and inductive loads
• Analysis and simulation of DC/AC converters
  • • Single phase and three phase inverters
    • IGBTs and MOSFETs commutation process in DC/AC topologies
    • Switching with resistive and inductive loads

Topic 4: ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF AVERAGED POWER SYSTEMS

• Analysis and simulation of DC/DC converters
  • • Averaged models of DC/DC topologies
    • Close loop control of DC/DC topologies
    • Comparison with real time models

Topic 5: ANALYSIS, SIMULATION AND CONTROL OF DC/DC, AC/DC AND DC/AC CONVERTERS

• Averaged models of DC/DC, AC/DC and DC/AC topologies
• Comparison with real time models
• Close loop digital control of DC/DC, AC/DC and DC/AC topologies
• Simulation of DC/DC, AC/DC and DC/AC converters for different kind of applications (motors,PV, batteries, grid-tied inverters)
   

As it can be observed in the next table, the numbers of hours assigned to this course are divided in “in-class work” and “homework”. Among the “in-class work” hours are divided in lectures, seminars, computer laboratory, group tutoring and evaluation sessions. The teachers will use the lectures to present the theoretical basis of the subject. However, active learning methods such as “class discussions”, “think-pare-share”, “short written exercises“ or ”student debates” will be applied in order to keep an active attitude. Concepts stated in lectures must be applied to solve different types of problems or developing computer projects in seminars or computer lab hours respectively. The group tutoring sessions will be used to discuss about the theoretical concepts explained in lectures or their application seminars or computer lab.

If online sessions were mandatory due to any concern surrounding a health emergency, these fact doesn´t change both the learning methodology and the hours per topic scheduled for the subject. Lectures, seminars, computer laboratory, group tutoring and evaluation sessions will be carried out by using Microsoft Teams, eCampus, Skype or similar software.

These are the values for the evaluation of the students. If online assessment was mandatory due to any concern surrounding a health emergency, these values doesn´t change:

The final student’s qualification will be obtained as follows.

• The 50% of the student’s mark comes from the assessment of the proposed works / projects. It is a mandatory test.
• Another 20% will come from the proposed homework (assessed by a final exam). It is a mandatory test.
• Another percentage, between 10%-15%, comes from an individual written test, which will be done at the end of the semester. This test will be comprehensive covering all topics discussed. Taking the final exam is mandatory, and a minimum score of 4/10 must be achieved.
• Another 15% will come from presentation of the projects. It is a mandatory test.
• Finally, between 0-5% could come from the attendance to specific technical seminars among the course, and minimum attendance of 80% must be achieved.

If online assessment was mandatory due to any concern surrounding a health emergency, all evaluation systems will be carried out by using Microsoft Teams, eCampus, Skype or similar software.

• Documentation

• • LTSpice® User's Guide and LTSpice ® Reference Manual
  • Simscape reference guide.
  • http://www.digsilent.de/?p=Software/Application_Examples
  • http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials/simulink-launchpad.html
  • https://pscad.com/products/pscad/free_downloads/

• Software

• LTSpice
• MATLAB/Simulink/Simscape