Power system plant transports electrical energy from the generating sources to the consumers, and includes transformers, cables, overhead lines, switchgear, and the control and monitoring equipment that ensures power quality and resilience. The basic principles and key issues in designing the plant and ensuring the operational and maintenance strategies are appropriate for a resilient smart grid future are discussed in the module. It also introduces the concept of plant digital twins. This uses condition monitoring data, in conjunction with integrated simulation models, to evaluate the thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical properties of the plant, and assess failure-risk and life-expectancy.
The module aims to educate you about the items of plant used in a power system, with a focus on design principles, modes of operation and lifecycle management. Furthermore, it will teach you the main concepts associated with condition monitoring and asset management. By introducing state-of-art ideas in digital twinning the module will ensure you are equipped with knowledge of the digital tools needed to manage a future low-carbon smart grid.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1. Describe the key equipment of an electrical power network and their operation principles
2. Apply thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical principles to the design of power system plant
3. Critically review condition monitoring techniques used for assessing the plant health and failure-risk
4. Explain the latest trends in digital twinning and its’ importance in asset management
5. Develop digital asset management tools for power transformers based on their condition monitoring data
6. Recognise the environmental impact of traditional insulation materials and development process of new environmentally friendly insulation materials
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
7. Apply a range of computational methods to solve engineering problems
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
8. Oral and written communication skills
9. Effective use of learning resources
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
-
Principles associated with the design of plant used in electrical power networks
-
Key items of plant, including thermal, electrical and mechanical designs, and associated condition monitoring:
-
Transformers
-
Overhead lines
-
Cables
-
Switchgear
-
Modelling lifetime performance of the components
-
Digital twinning of power system plant
-
Asset management
