Power Systems and Energy Conversion Technical Area

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Power Systems and Energy Conversion Technical
Area

• Ross Baldick October 27, 2005

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Outline

• Course topics.
• Typical electives.
• Local employers.

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Power systems and energy conversion.

• Conversion of fuel energy and solar energy into
  electricity,
• Conversion of electricity to mechanical and
  other forms of energy,
• Operation of power systems,
• Markets for electricity,
• Control of power with power semiconductors,
• Power quality.

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Energy conversion topics Mechanical to and from
electrical

• Transform electricity into mechanical energy and
  vice versa, transformers
• From large generators to tiny motors in disk
  drives.
• CourseEE 341 Electric drives and machines.

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Energy conversion topicsFrom solar to electric.

• Thermal generation
• Boil water, turn turbine and generator, make
  electricity!
• Solar thermal
• Use sunlight to boil water,
• Photovoltaic
• Conversion of light into electricity using
  semiconductors,
• Course
• ME 374S Solar Energy Systems Design.

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Energy conversion topicsFrom wind to electric.

• Force of wind
• turn turbine and generator, make electricity!
• Course (offered every two years, meets with
  graduate class)
• EE 379K Wind Energy Systems.

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Energy conversion topicsFrom renewables to
electric.

• Use renewable sources such as biomass, wind, and
  solar to generate electricity,
• Impacts when intermittent resources such as wind
  and solar are inter-connected with other types of
  generation,
• Course
• EE 379K Renewable Energy Systems.

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Energy conversion topicsFrom nuclear to
electric.

• Use nuclear reaction to boil water,
• Course
• ME 337C Introduction to Nuclear Power Systems.

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Electric power systems.

• Just about everybody uses electricity!
• The industry has developed a reputation for being
  stodgy...
• but this has changed with deregulation,
• Deregulation or restructuring in the electric
  energy sector is leading to
• competition for provision of energy in
  electricity markets,
• new energy services.

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Electric power systems topics.

• Principles of transmission and distribution,
• Steady-state and transient behavior of power
  systems
• How did the August 2003 blackout occur?
• Economic and reliable operation of power systems.
• Trading of electricity.
• Courses
• EE 369 Power systems engineering.
• EE 368 Power transmission and distribution.

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The blackout?
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Before the blackout.
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After the blackout.
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Power electronics.

• Every electronic device has a power supply.
• Efficient dimmers use power electronics.
• Many electric machines are controlled by power
  electronics.
• Power electronics is increasingly used in bulk
  power transmission and control.

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Power electronics topics.

• Analysis and design of power electronic circuits.
• Rectification, conversion, and inversion
• Convert 35 volt DC output of solar panel to other
  DC voltages without wasting (much) energy!
• Control of machines, robots.
• Course
• EE 362L Power Electronics Laboratory.

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Power Electronics Laboratory, Spring 2004
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Power quality.

• Analyzing the reliability and properties of power
  delivered to demand
• Make sure your computer and industrial processes
  dont fail due to poor power quality.
• Course (offered every two years, meets with
  graduate class)
• EE 379K Power Quality and Harmonics.

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Technical area course summary.

• Three courses from
• EE 341 Electric Drives and Machines.
• EE 362L Power Electronics Laboratory.
• EE 368 Power Transmission and Distribution.
• EE 369 Power systems engineering.
• ME 337C Introduction to Nuclear Power Systems.
• ME 374S Solar Energy Systems Design.
• EE 379K Power Quality and Harmonics.
• EE 379K Wind Energy Systems .
• EE 379K Renewable Energy Systems .
• An advanced public policy, economics, or
  management course, subject to undergraduate
  advisor approval.

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Local employers

• Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
• Responsible for preventing blackouts!
• Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
• Owns generation and transmission assets,
• Austin Energy
• Local utility,
• Major purchaser of wind and renewable energy.