Module overview
- To introduce fundamental concepts relating to the design, analysis, economics and management of modern electrical power systems.
- To develop awareness of the technical problems associated with operation of such systems.
- To gain analytical and numerical modelling skills for handling particular problems.
- To introduce classification of grid users, load control and tariffs.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Ability to use commercial software for simulation
- A range of analytical and numerical methods of analysis of power systems
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Ability to analyse the performance of power systems
- Appreciation of the complexity of power systems
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Ability to tackle problems of interdisciplinary nature
- Application of modern modelling techniques
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Economic and management aspect
- Advanced concepts of operation of electrical power systems
- Elements of control of power systems
Syllabus
Introduction
- The evolution of electricity generation technologies
- The evolution of environmental awareness
- The size of the industry
- The politics of electricity
- Hierarchy of energy within the national economy
The utilisation of electric power
- Types of loads
- Classification of grid users
- Measurement of load
- Load loss factor
- Load control
- Load forecasting
- Tariffs
- Smart meters
- Impact of electric vehicles on the power grid
Power System Economics
- Basic pricing principles
- Supply-side and demand-side options
- Load management and spot pricing
- Electricity pricing
- Charging for transmission and distribution services
- Cost of generating electrical energy
- Methods of determining depreciation
- Importance of high load factor
Electricity markets
- Markets and monopolies
- Electricity market structure
- Market clearing
- Social welfare
- Market coupling
- Government control versus free market approach
- Decentralisation of the electricity market
Power factor improvement
- Causes and disadvantages of low power factor
- Calculation of power factor correction
- The most economical power factor
- Power factor improvement equipment
Economics of power transmission
- Economic choice of conductor size
- Economic choice of transmission voltage
- Most economical conductor size in a cable
Energy management system
- Load-flow or power-flow computation
- DC load-flow
- Optimal power flow
- State estimator
Control of transported and distributed power
- Evolution of smart grids
- Control of real power flows
- Control of reactive power flows
- Unified Power-Flow Controller
- State of the art of distribution systems
- Comparison of HVAC and HVDC systems in smart grids
Future power systems
- Renewable Energy
- Decentralised or Distributed Generation
- Power-Electronic Interfaces
- Energy Storage
- Blackouts and Chaotic Phenomena
Case studies
- UCTE split of 2006
- Western energy crisis of 2001
- EU market liberalisation
Learning and Teaching
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Follow-up work | 6 |
Completion of assessment task | 54 |
Revision | 10 |
Lecture | 24 |
Wider reading or practice | 50 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 6 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Weedy B.M., B.J. Cory (2012). Electric Power Systems. Wiley.
D.S. Kirschen, G. Strbac (2018). Fundamentals of Power System Economics. Wiley-Blackwell.
B. Murray (2009). Power Markets and Economics. Wiley.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 50% |
Coursework | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External