Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)

BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

*This course is now closed for applications for 2025 entry.

  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: H600 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Power System Plant & Protection

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN30252
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

his unit will cover the following topics:

Power system plant:

  • Overhead line (Basic constructional details, illustration of electrical clearances, discussion of thermal ratings)
  • Cables (Basic construction of single core cables, electrical parameters of cables, thermal modelling)
  • Switchgear (Types of switchgear, arc model, high and low resistance interruption techniques, description of transient recovery voltages)
  • Transformers (Transformer structure and functions of basic components including oil/cellulose insulation materials, magnetic circuit and volts per turn calculation, phasor connections / parallel operation / impedance selection)

High voltage testing techniques and insulation design of power system plant (including a laboratory class)

Protection of power systems

  • Earth-fault calculation for a power system, basic principles of power system protections, Numerical solution of an overcurrent protection and coordination scheme for protecting a typical power network.

Aims

The course unit aims to:

  • Introduce the fundamental issues relating to the design of high voltage power system plant
  • Introduce the use of high voltage testing within a laboratory environment 
  • Explore the protection of power systems.

Learning outcomes

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

ILO 1: Compare the methods used for HV testing of power system equipment

ILO 2: Appraise the design of an item of power system plant and determine whether it is fit for purpose

ILO 3: Describe the fundamental design principles of the four major items of power system plant (cables, lines, transformers and switchgear)

ILO 4: Analyse the design of a simple protection scheme and assess if it is fit for purpose

ILO 5: Explain the basic design of simple power system protection schemes

Teaching and learning methods

This course is delivered through face to face lectures that involve problem classes during the sessions. Additional material including films and worksheets are provided in the virtual learning environment. Students are encouraged to ask questions during the classes and use is made of sli.do to capture these.

The course also involves demonstrations within the high voltage laboratories where students see practical testing being carried out on power system equipment.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Written exam 80%

Coursework Plant Design Exercise:

Report of a maximum of 5 A4 pages:

This coursework forms 10% of the unit assessment.

Coursework Protection Design Exercise:

This forms 10% of the unit assessment.

Feedback methods

.

Recommended reading

High voltage engineering : fundamentals, Kuffel, E., Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000
Electric power substations engineering, McDonald, John D., CRC Press, 2012, ISBN: 9781439856383
J & p transformer book, Heathcote, Martin, Newnes, 2007, ISBN: 9780750681643
Electric cables handbook, Moore, G. F., Blackwell Science, 1997, ISBN: 0632063238
Overhead lines, Papailiou, Konstantin O., Springer Reference, 2016, ISBN: 9783319317472
Switching in electrical transmission and distribution systems, Smeets, Rene Peter Paul, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015, ISBN: 9781118703625

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Practical classes & workshops 4
Tutorials 4
Independent study hours
Independent study 72

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Haiyu Li Unit coordinator
Ian Cotton Unit coordinator

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