EEE8154 : Control of Electric Drives
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Shafiq Odhano
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module introduces students to the structure, configuration, control and industrial applications of electric drive systems. It aims to prepare students for analysing modern electric drives and operating these as competent engineers. Students learn about different motors and load types and the control of electric drives.
Outline Of Syllabus
Basic drive configurations of electric drives, load characteristics, quadrants of operation, flux-weakening
DC Drives: modelling and control of dc motor drives; operation with variable supply voltage
AC Drives: configurations of a three-phase power electronic converter; induction motor drive basics and control; space vector theory; PM machine dynamic equations; torque control of brushless dc motor; vector control of permanent magnet synchronous motor and induction motor drives; space vector modulation
Advanced control concepts and computer simulation: dc motor simulation; unipolar and bipolar H-Bridge modulation for DC drives; digital current and speed control of a dc motor drive; three-phase power electronic converter with RL load; space vectors, reference-frame transformations; modelling and control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive
Case study: Study of a 24V digitally controlled drive system – electronics design and control software issues
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 32 | 0:40 | 21:20 | Pre-recorded videos of 20-mins (each), replacing some lecture material – 20 minutes |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 26:00 | 26:00 | Revision for final exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | 1x2hr per week formatively assessed online NUMBAS tutorial from second week onwards |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | 2x2hr lectures per week over 4 weeks |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Revision for online NUMBAS tutorial |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | A formatively assessed NUMBAS exercise during the second teaching week. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Final Exam in Assessment Period |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Tutorial and Q&A session every week. |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 4 | 4:30 | 18:00 | Reading activity to supplement knowledge of material taught in each week |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 15:40 | 15:40 | Simulate, analyse and present results in a group report as part of the coursework submission. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | 3hr exercises per week over four weeks in computer labs |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Working as a team to develop models and algorithms for the coursework exercise. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 54:00 | 54:00 | Reviewing lecture notes; practising with computer simulation models; general reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide core material, worked examples, and guidance for further reading.
Computer based learning exercises reinforce the lecture content and provide an opportunity for students to develop industry related simulation and modelling skills.
Drop-in surgeries used for Q&A and interactive discussions on student-proposed topics.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 75 | Closed-book exam during the assessment period |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design/Creative proj | 1 | M | 25 | 2500 words Group Coursework - Design and simulation project – Simulation of the control of a dc motor and PMSM drives. Task to be set in week 1 – report submission in week 4 |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 1 | M | NUMBAS mid-term assessment. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written examination provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to solve engineering problems on electric drive. Knowledge outcomes 1 – 3, 5, 6 and skills outcomes 3 and 4 are assessed.
The coursework allows students to demonstrate their analytical and problem-solving skills to develop fully functioning control algorithms for electric drives. It assesses knowledge outcome 4 and skills outcomes 1, 2, and 5.
Formative assessment and web-based tutorial encourage students to think independently and critically. Solutions to problems are subsequently provided to close the feedback loop.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE8154's Timetable