ELECTENG 738 : Selected Topics in Advanced Power Systems

Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Electricity markets: structure, pricing, optimisation, ancillary services; Power system protection practices; Distribution Network Development: Smart Grids, Demand Side Participation, Integration of DG/renewable sources and Electric Vehicles. Core concepts are extended by an individual research project, a self-guided protection laboratory and industry engagement in advanced power system practices.

Course Overview

In this course, a number of specialized topics that are of relevance to power system research & current industry needs will be covered. Students are expected to have a good understanding of power system analysis principles covered in a typical power systems undergraduate course. The topics covered in this course may vary from year to year depending on the staff and industry interest. This year, the topics to be covered are: renewable energy generation, solar and wind power, grid integration, introduction to microgrid, demand response management, energy storage, power electronics applications in power systems: HVDC/FACTS/STATCOM.

1. Renewable Energy Generation and its Grid Integration
Overview of renewable energy; Renewable energy generation; Renewable energy landscape in New Zealand; Solar photovoltaic system; Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms; Wind energy conversion system; Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) for wind energy;  Grid integration of renewable energy; Buck/Boost converter; Control of wind turbine; Challenges in grid integration of renewable energy.

2. Power Electronics Applications in Power Systems
 Overview of power electronics applications in power systems; High Voltage DC (HVDC) Transmission; Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS); Static VAR compensators, static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs), Distribution static synchronous compensators (D-STATCOMs), Load compensation & voltage control using D-STATCOM.

3. Microgrid & Energy Management
Current Status, trends and challenges; Distributed generation; AC/DC micro and nano grids; Demand side management, Droop control, Grid services, Energy storage technologies.

4. Power System Relaying Practices
 Protective CTs & PTs, Circuit breakers, Basic tripping circuit; Classification of relays based on technology, Operating principles & protective functions; AC generator & motor protection scheme; Transformer protection scheme; Line protection schemes; Co-ordination of protective schemes; Smart Grid challenges and opportunities for Protective Relaying to address Distributed Generation (DG) and Smart Grids.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 731 Restriction: ELECTENG 703

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the art and science of protective relaying (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the background and issues surrounding grid integration of renewables (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
  3. Articulate and demonstrate understanding of the technologies and applications of power electronics to power systems (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  4. Demonstrate modelling of HVDC technology with control actions (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of microgrid architecture with control and energy management (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Laboratories
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.


For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures; 24 hours of laboratories, assignments and quiz; 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 hours of work on assignments and test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

1. N. Jenkins, J. Ekanayake, “Renewable Energy Engineering,” Cambridge Univ. Press, 2017.
2. S. Chakraborty, M.G. Simões, W. E. Kramer, “Power Electronics for Renewable and Distributed Energy Systems,” Springer, 2013.
3. R. Huggins, ed., “Energy Storage: Fundamentals, Materials and Applications,” Springer, 2015.

Health & Safety

  • Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
  • Standard health & safety regulations in the power systems lab will need to be followed at all times. 
  • Laboratories will be conducted in MDLS lab for which training will be required. 
  •  For substation tours, the visiting utilities might have some special instructions to be followed as regards footwear, clothing and PPE.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

As per student feedback, 
Labs are shifted from last weeks to the middle part of the course
More practice problems will be provided for final exam, as 738 students do not sit for coursework tests

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

All students enrolled at the University of Auckland are required to complete a compulsory Academic Integrity course, usually in their first semester/year of enrolment. The University of Auckland’s full guidelines on procedures and penalties for academic dishonesty are available by following this link

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/academic-integrity-copyright/about-academic-integrity.html

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.