Electrical Machines

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The principles of operation of electrical generators and motors; fundamental characteristics of various types of machines
• Construction and design issues associated with electrical machines
• Fundamentals of modelling, simulation techniques and components of CAD systems for Electromagnetics and Electrical Machines.
• Theory of electromechanical energy conversion, the concepts of fundamental torque equation and rotating and oscillating fields

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Undertake virtual prototyping of electromagnetic devices, by setting up models and solving them via FE software
• Conduct simple experiments on rotating electrical machines and transformers

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use electromagnetic CAD packages and write a technical report

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply equivalent circuits to performance prediction, interpret results and correlate them with theoretical predictions
• Tackle problems of analysis of performance and explain the shape of characteristics of actual machines

3 phase transformers. (4 hours)

• Review of principles of operation, construction, review of equivalent circuit, open-circuit and short-circuit tests, regulation, three-phase connections, parallel operation, auto-transformer, introduction to 3rd harmonic phenomenon and unbalanced loading.

Introduction to rotating machines. (4 hours)

• Underlying concepts and features of rotating machines, fundamental torque equation, rotating field principle, air-gap mmf and permeance, 3-phase windings, winding factors.

Synchronous machines. (4 hours)

• Generated EMF, output equation, armature reaction, phasor diagram, synchronous reactance, equivalent circuit, open and short-circuit characteristics, regulation, load angle, synchronous machine on infinite busbars, effects of saturation, salient-pole machine, synchronising, synchronous motor, V curves, power factor correction.

Polyphase induction motors. (4 hours)

• Basic theory and construction of squirrel-cage and wound-rotor motors, equivalent circuit, measurement of equivalent circuit parameters, analysis of machine equations, speed/torque curves, circle diagram, starting performance, speed control, single-phase induction motor, deep bar effect in squirrel-cage induction motor.

Direct current machine. (4 hours)

• Review of construction, basic equations and steady-state characteristics, windings, field form and armature reaction, commutation and use of interpoles, starting and speed control.

Single-phase ac motors. (1 hour)

• Outline of shaded-pole, universal, permanent magnet, and reluctance machines with applications.

Case Studies: (3 hours)

• Wind turbines
• Electrical and hybrid vehicles
• Maglev and conventional trains

Computing Labs (12 hours)

• The finite element method for virtual prototyping
• Analysis of errors

Laboratories (9 hours)

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

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.