48583 Power Systems Studio B
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade, no marksRequisite(s): 48572 Electrical Power Systems
Recommended studies: power circuit theory knowledge is essential for this subject; complex numbers and its application to the analysis of AC circuits; power circuit analysis and fault calculations; fundamentals of electrical machines; MATLAB programming to solve simple problems
Description
The primary objective of this subject is the development of a working knowledge of power systems operation and protection. The subject aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of elements of power system protection and operation. Detailed contents covers the principles of overcurrent protection, differential protection, distance protection and their applications in transmission and distribution power network; the basic principles of power economic dispatch and components of electricity market; and demand side management options including smart meters, load forecast and optimal load scheduling for secure energy supply and use. Basic design, connection and standards of current and voltage instrument transformers for protection and metering applications, communications and automation with the aid of SCADA systems will also be covered. Students engage in hands-on experimental learning through completion of a design project. Students work in the studio in collaboration with other students, academic staff and industry mentors. Students do a combination of individual self-directed study and project work as a team.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Illustrate basic design, connections and standards of current voltage instrument transformers for protection and metering to suit general engineering applications. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Design protection schemes using overcurrent, differential and distance protection methods. (C.1) |
| 3. | Improve power system operation by applying techniques from power dispatch, electricity market, demand side management, communication and controls, etc. (D.1) |
| 4. | Produce a scenario that solves challenges based on the needs of a product owner. (C.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.
Teaching and learning strategies
The studio learning environment uses agile methodology where students will need to participate in weekly ‘sprints’ and ‘scrums’. Each pair will emulate a real-life project management team and record their progress on Trello or MS TEAMS.
The scrums are set up to discuss the concerns that present themselves each week; to discuss possible solutions and prioritise as a team, how to proceed during the week. Weekly sprints are scheduled for students to present their progress for that week, to receive peer and tutor feedback and to use this in the following week. The studio learning environment will concentrate on reinforcing fundamental concepts through drill problems, computer simulations and design exercises.
Design Thinking is the methodology used to find desirable solutions for clients; and students will use all 5 stages of the design thinking process to solve the design project problem.
Students will need to access and engage in online learning modules. Strict processes are explained in the online modules that develop student technical knowledge. These short educational modules introduce the basic material in a modular fashion starting from electricity supply chain fundamentals and working up to power system operation and protection scheme design. Lecture notes will be available online: face to face lectures are replaced with online modules, reading material and weekly exercises. Students are advised not to depend only on the lecture notes but to work through the prescribed textbooks as well as other published texts on the topic, using the notes as a guideline. The textbooks contain many examples and exercises. Although solving these exercises is not formally assessed, this work is part of the learning process. The students are expected to enhance their competency in the course by solving these exercises and to demonstrate their level of understanding through the project, laboratory work and assessment tasks. Students will have the opportunity to raise any doubts and questions in relation to the project, and receive the feedback from the lecturer online and in the studio learning environment.
Laboratories will reinforce fundamental concepts and provide opportunities for verification of power system behaviour from model predictions. In order to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to increase familiarity with the literature, students will be required to attempt a number of computing and experimental assignments based on theory and techniques treated in the online modules, but which require further individual investigation based on the design project.
Laboratories are structured sessions that allow students to put into practice online learning using specialised equipment. They generally involve prep-work. Students should complete any pre-lab work included in the experiment before coming to the lab. The online modules will direct students more specifically. The power system laboratories will include experiments that may involve high voltages hence the students have to strictly adhere to the safety procedure and the safety instructions given by the lab staff members. In the power system lab, students will work in groups of 2-3 on their laboratory tasks. At the beginning of the lab, academic staff will check the pre-lab work and discuss with the entire group the challenges they are facing to receive feedback.
Content (topics)
In developing their studio product, students will need to learn some or all topics from the following list:
- Protection of Transmission and Distribution Networks: Abnormal conditions; protection functions; protection system elements (DC tripping circuits, primary protection and zone overlapping, back-up protection); protection requirements (reliability, dependability, security, selectivity, speed, sensitivity, simplicity, economics); design and operation of fuses, relays, circuit breakers, surge diverters; and overvoltage, overcurrent, distance, transformer, bus and auto-reclose protection schemes.
- Instrument Transformers and Protection Relay Settings: current transformers, magnetic voltage transformers, capacitive voltage transformers; protection drawings; protection settings process; feeder protection settings; transformer protection settings; and backup earth fault and overcurrent protection coordination.
- Electricity Supply Chain Fundamentals, and Demand Side Management: Overview of power generation dispatch, electricity market, and the roles of the various market participants in planning and operating the supply and delivery of energy to the end user; market security operations; market financial operations; and demand-side management and load forecasting.
- Communications and Control: Communication principles and terminologies used in power systems; power system automation and integration concepts; architectures and protocols utilised in power system communication networks; power system security aspects, SCADA and contingency analysis; operational metering; and future technologies and their implications for power system communications.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Team Product/Prototype proposal
| Intent: | For students to define a scope for their studio work for the current session, and to negotiate the scope and outcomes with the academic mentor(s). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
Assessment task 2: Personal Design Journal
| Intent: | For students to demonstrate that they have achieved the goals set near the start of the session. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 3: Team Product/Prototype Delivery 1
| Intent: | For students to demonstrate their ability to deliver a Product or Prototype, and to demonstrate their capacity to solve problems, create solutions, work in teams, communicate professionally, and manage timelines. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Demonstration |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | A 10 minutes demonstration will be required, followed by question/answer sessions |
Assessment task 4: Team Product/Prototype Delivery 2
| Intent: | For students to demonstrate academic writing capabilities to summarize what they have been achieved during the studio design process. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 5000 words |
Minimum requirements
To pass this subject students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or greater
Required texts
Y. G. Paithankar and S. R. Bhide , Fundamentals of Power System protection, Prentice-Hall of India, Second Edition, 2010.
Daniel Kirschen and Goran Strbac, Fundamentals of Power System Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2004
Recommended texts
A. Wright and C. Christopoulos , Electrical power system protection, Chapman & Hall, 1993.
Robert H. Miller and James H. Malinowski , Power system operation, McGraw-Hill, 1993.
Jurgen Schlabbach and Karl-Heinz Rofalski , Power system engineering,Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2008.
John J. Grainger and William D. Stevenson, Jr., Power system analysis, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Hadi Saadat, Power system analysis, McGraw-Hill Primis custom publishing.
References
A. Wright and C. Christopoulos , Electrical power system protection, Chapman & Hall,
1993.
Robert H. Miller and James H. Malinowski , Power system operation, McGraw-Hill, 1993.
Jurgen Schlabbach and Karl-Heinz Rofalski , Power system engineering,Wiley-VCH Verlag
GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2008.
John J. Grainger and William D. Stevenson, Jr., Power system analysis, McGraw-Hill, Inc,.
Hadi Saadat, Power system analysis, McGraw-Hill Primis custom publishing.
Since the subject covers wide topics, it is hard to recommend list of books covering the entire subject. Students are advised not to restrict themselves to the above mentioned text books but to refer books in the power system discipline to widen their knowledge in the subject.
Other resources
UTSOnline provides a subject web site with notes in PDF format and links to on-line resources etc.
Twenty four hour access to computer laboratories that have MATLAB will be given to the students.
It is important for the students to visit http://online.uts.edu.au regularly as important course announcements, lecture notes, lab handouts and assignment sheets will be posted in UTSOnline.