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Module

EEE8154 : Control of Electric Drives

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • 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
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion126:0026:00Revision for final exam
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion32:006:001x2hr per week formatively assessed online NUMBAS tutorial from second week onwards
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture82:0016:002x2hr lectures per week over 4 weeks
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion110:0010:00Revision for online NUMBAS tutorial
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion13:003:00A formatively assessed NUMBAS exercise during the second teaching week
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Final Exam in Assessment Period
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials320:4021:20Non-synchronous pre-recorded videos of 20-mins (each), replacing some lecture material – 20 minutes
Guided Independent StudySkills practice44:3018:00Reading activity to supplement knowledge of material taught in each week
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops81:3012:002x1.5hr Matlab exercises per week over four weeks in computer labs
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery41:004:00One online synchronous tutorial and Q&A session on chatroom/discussion board per week – synchronous
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study181:4081:40Reviewing lecture notes; practising with computer simulation models; general reading
Total200:00
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 Examination1201A75Closed-book exam during the assessment period
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M252500 words 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
Aural Examination1MNUMBAS 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