Unit information: Electrical Drives in 2021/22

Unit name	Electrical Drives
Unit code	EENGM7041
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Phil Mellor
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	EENG37000
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit builds on the previous Industrial Electronics courses EENG 27000 and EENG 37000 to investigate in more detail the performance and characteristics of electrical drives and in particular focusing on digital variable speed control of AC induction and permanent magnet machines.

Vector Based Control

Review of the equivalent circuits and defining equations that describe the operation of AC machines. Discussion of the concepts of model order reduction and vector control. Develop mathematical descriptions of flux and torque control methods and their application to brushless AC permanent magnet and induction motors. Comparison with other control techniques.

Realisation in an Industrial Drive System

Review the generation and characteristics of the various PWM techniques used in the voltage and flux control of AC machines. Develop typical torque and speed control structures used in AC drives and discuss their implementation. Illustrate the application of vector control through a case study on a typical industrial drive.

Sensors and Sensor-less Methods

Introduce the need for sensors and the various types. Describe the operation, data processing, advantages and disadvantages of each type. Introduce position sensor-less techniques and discuss the suitability of these techniques

Intended Learning Outcomes

Having completed the unit the student will:

1. Apply flux and current vectors to the operation of brushless AC machines;
2. Use vector based control to improve dynamic performance beyond other control techniques;
3. Recall the mathematical techniques used in the implementation of vector control in brushless AC permanent magnet and induction motor drives.
4. Explain the concept of the power electronic drive as an intelligent unit;
5. Explain various PWM voltage generation techniques and their impact on drive system performance;
6. Describe the methods of implementation of vector control in a typical industrial drive.
7. List the various types of position and speed sensor and their relative advantages and disadvantages;
8. Explain the concept of position sensor-less control, the key difficulties and the main techniques for its implementation in brushless permanent-magnet drives.

Teaching Information

Lectures

Assessment Information

Exam, 2 hours, 100% (All ILOs)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EENGM7041).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.