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Session 2520

Computer Exercises to Incorporate Energy Concepts into the Electrical Engineering Curriculum

R. G. Jacquot, J. W. Pierre, and J. C. Hamann/B. H. Chowdhury University of Wyoming/ University of Missouri-Rolla

Abstract

The authors report on a sponsored project to incorporate power concepts into non-power courses. Reported here are efforts to build computer exercises to accomplish a portion of this task.

1. Introduction

In 1997 the National Science Foundation funded university programs to enhance electric power education in the United States in light of a perceived shortage of competent engineers with a power engineering background. A variety of approaches to this enhancement are being explored at eight institutions funded by the project. The University of Wyoming was fortunate to be able to participate in this effort and many of these curricular changes have been reported elsewhere.1 What will be outlined here are some of the computer exercises integrated into the non-power portions of the EE curriculum that address power issues.

The University of Wyoming has a modest program in electrical power so a significant part of our effort was devoted to the incorporation of electrical power concepts into non-power courses such as electronics, signals and systems, digital design and microprocessor system design. The three courses discussed here are the required sophomore linear systems course, the required junior electric networks course, and a senior elective digital signal processing course.

2. Linear Systems

The topics in the linear systems course are Laplace transforms, electrical and mechanical system modeling, transfer functions, poles and zeros, frequency response, convolution, Fourier series, and filtering of periodic signals. When Fourier analysis is discussed a laboratory exercise has been developed that addresses the topic of power quality, particularly harmonics present on the electric power grid and how they might be eliminated to protect appliances, computers and communication equipment. Of course this can be accomplished by lowpass filtering of the line voltage but if current is a consideration this is not a practicable strategy. Power engineers have found a more constructive solution which amounts highpass filtering the harmonics, reversing their phase and recombining these with the original signal to cancel the higher harmonics originally present. This phase reversal and cancellation is accomplished by the use of transformers.

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Pierre, J. W., & Chowdhury, B. H., & Hamann, J., & Jacquot, R. (2000, June), Computer Exercises To Incorporate Energy Concepts Into The Electrical Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8229