Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £14,700
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £38,400

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Course unit details:
Power System Dynamics and Stability

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN60342
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Brief Description Of The Unit

(1) Power System Dynamics (17 hours)

(i) Introduction to the module and review of general dynamic characteristics and control requirements of power systems as well as the classification of power system stability and instability phenomena. (3 hours)

(ii) Modelling of major power system components and controls for power system dynamic studies including (4 hours)

- Review of synchronous generator operation and reduced dynamic models, including associated controllers

- Power system loads, excitation systems and governors and review of transmission lines and transformers models

(iii) Methodologies for small and large disturbances stability studies including power system modal analysis, equal area criterion, classical transient stability model and techniques to assess small and large disturbance stability of small and large power systems. Theoretical stability limits and its practical use, including impact of non-linearities (5 hours)  

(iv) Methodologies for designing and tuning damping controllers and for enhancement of small and large disturbance power system stability (3 hours).

(v) Basics of frequency and voltage stability. Low frequency phenomena (4 hours)

(2) Converter interfaced units modelling and control for power system dynamic studies (14 hours)

(i) Converter transients modelling (2 hours)

- Converter modelling fidelity

- Different modelling levels for different types of studies (RMS and EMT simulation frameworks).

(ii) FACTS and HVDC static and dynamic modelling (5 hours)

- Simplified 3-phase inverter representation

- Inverter DQ current control and Q/P/Vac/Vdc control

(iii) Renewables and storage (3 hours)

- Control aspects and schemes

- Modelling and simulation

(iv) Converter stability and system interactions (4 hours)

(v) High frequency phenomena

(3) Example classes and Computer simulation laboratory (11 hours)

(i) Example classes (5 hours)

(ii) Computer simulation laboratory covering elements of steady state voltage stability assessment and large disturbance (transient) stability assessment. The laboratory will cover the influence of load modelling on voltage stability, effects of automatic voltage regulators (AVRs), damping controllers, fault location and fault critical clearing time, generator loading and inertia on large disturbance stability. (6 hours)

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Electrical Machines and Power Electronic Modelling EEEN60341 Co-Requisite Compulsory
Smart Distribution Networks EEEN60322 Co-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This unit aims to:

Introduce students to power system dynamics and stability and develop an awareness of the reasons for changes in power system dynamic behaviour from the proliferation of converter interfaced technologies. Revise and build on control systems analysis for electrical/mechanical systems and power networks. The unit develops models for use in system studies and integration studies of renewables. These include machines, power electronic converters, other actuators, control mechanisms and electrical and thermal considerations. The unit will also revise techniques for dynamic analysis of faulted power systems and apply these to larger networks to evaluate post-fault system performance. 

 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1 Formulate, judge and explain basic principles of power system dynamics and causes of it in modern power systems 

ILO 2 Formulate the explain the reasons for the changes in system dynamic behaviour that will be caused by proliferation of low carbon technologies; Categorize and compare subdivisions of power system dynamic and stability phenomena. 

ILO 3 Derive models of power system components such as, synchronous and renewable generation, storage and demand technologies and associated controls, as well as transformers, converts, AC and HVDC transmission lines and most widely used FACTS devices for transient studies; Evaluate, analyse and compare their behaviours. 

ILO 4 Evaluate and analyse different aspects of power system stability including rotor angle stability, voltage stability, frequency stability, resonance stability and converter driven stability. 

ILO 5 Design the software models, apply the software tools to simulate and analyse different aspects of power system dynamic behaviour and stability 

ILO 6 Design and evaluate appropriate measures to improve or ensure power system stability; Develop and analyse the procedures for the tuning of power system controllers. 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 80%
Report 20%

Feedback methods

.

Recommended reading

  1. Power system analysis Grainger, John J., McGraw-Hill Education, 2016, ISBN: 9781259008351

  2. Power system dynamics : stability and control, Machowski, Jan, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2020, ISBN: 9781119526346

  3. Power system stability and control, Kundur, P., McGraw Hill LLC, 2022, ISBN: 9781260473551

  4. Power system dynamics : stability and control, Machowski, Jan., Wiley, 2008, ISBN: 1601198469

  5. Power system stability and control, Grigsby, Leonard L., CRC Press, 2012     

  6. Power system control and stability, Vittal, Vijay, Wiley, 2020, ISBN: 1119433711

  7. Power system control and stability, Anderson, P. M. (Paul M.), 1926-, Wiley, 2002, ISBN: 0471238627

  8. Voltage stability of electric power systems, Cutsem, Thierry Van, Springer Science+Business Media BV, 1998, ISBN: 9780387755366

  9. Electric power systems quality, Dugan, Roger, McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN: 007138622

  10. Understanding Power Quality Problems: Voltage Sags and Interruptions, Math H. J.Bollen, IEEE Press, 1999, ISBN: 9780780347137

  11. Voltage quality in electrical power systems, Schlabbach, J. (Jürgen), Institution of Electrical Engineers, 2001, ISBN: 9780863419829

  12. Power quality VAR compensation in power systems, Vedam, R. Sastry, CRC Press, 2008

  13. Power systems harmonics : fundamentals, analysis and filter design, Wakileh, George J., Springer, 2001, ISBN: 9783662043431

  14. Power system harmonics and passive filter designs, Das, J. C., IEEE Press/Wiley, 2015, ISBN: 9781118887059

  15. Electrical power systems quality, Dugan, Roger C.; Dugan, Roger C., McGraw-Hill, 2003, ISBN: 9786610918751

  16. Risk assessment of power systems : models, methods, and applications, Li, Wenyuan, Wiley IEEE Press, 2014, ISBN: 9781118849972

  17. Reliability Evaluation of Power Systems, Billinton, Roy., Springer US, 1984, ISBN: 9781461577317

  18. Reliability Evaluation of Engineering Systems Concepts and Techniques, Billinton, Roy., Springer, 1992, ISBN: 9781489906854

  19. Reliability evaluation of engineering systems : concepts and techniques, Billinton, Roy, Plenum Press, 1992, ISBN: 0306440636

  20. Reliability assessment of electric power systems using Monte Carlo methods, Billinton, Roy, author, Springer, Science+Business Media, 1994, ISBN: 9781489913463

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 31
Practical classes & workshops 6
Tutorials 5
Independent study hours
Independent study 108

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Mike Barnes Unit coordinator
Panagiotis Papadopoulos Unit coordinator

Return to course details

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