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 Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Appreciation of the complexity of power systems
- Ability to analyse the performance of power systems
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
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Elements of control of power systems
- Economic and management aspect
- Advanced concepts of operation of electrical power systems
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Application of modern modelling techniques
- Ability to tackle problems of interdisciplinary nature
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 |
---|---|
Completion of assessment task | 54 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 6 |
Wider reading or practice | 50 |
Lecture | 24 |
Follow-up work | 6 |
Revision | 10 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Weedy B.M., B.J. Cory (2012). Electric Power Systems. Wiley.
B. Murray (2009). Power Markets and Economics. Wiley.
D.S. Kirschen, G. Strbac (2018). Fundamentals of Power System Economics. Wiley-Blackwell.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 50% |
Examination | 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