Electrical Technology for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems Masters (MSc)

Duration: 1 year full-time

Course Content

After completing the taught components of the course, you will undertake a major piece of advanced independent research under the supervision of a specialist in your chosen area.

We will provide you with advice and guidance while you select and refine your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research and your MSc.

Course Structure

The MSc Electrical Technology for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems is taught on a full-time basis over one year.

This course is operated on a modular basis and consists of two semesters during which you will follow a series of taught modules (worth 120 credits), followed by a 60-credit research project undertaken during the summer period.

You will be taught using the latest advances in teaching methods and electronic resources, as well as small-group and individual tuition.

Tutors provide feedback on assignments. Our objective is to help you develop the confidence to work as a professional academic, at ease with the conventions of the discipline, and ready to tackle any area of research in Electronic Technology for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems.

In the early stages of your project dissertation, your supervisor will read through and comment on your draft work. The project dissertation itself comprises a significant piece of your own research.

We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma Electrical Technology for Sustainable and Renewable Energy.

Modules

MSc Project
In this module a student will be assigned to an individual supervisor who will be a staff member in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The student will carry out a practical or theoretical project chosen from the current interests of the staff member concerned. The student will be expected to conduct a literature survey, undertake practical or theoretical work and write a dissertation on this work.
Control Systems Design
This module enables students to design both analogue and digital controllers for linear single-input single-output systems. Students have access to CAD control design packages for evaluating control design. This module covers:
  • design of analogue controllers using Root Locus Method
  • closed loop performance and frequency response
  • microprocessor implementation
  • practical problems in digital control
  • design of digital controllers using z-plane techniques
  • practice with CAD package.
Energy Conversion for Motor and Generator Drives
This module provides an understanding of how electrical machines and controlled power converters combine to form variable-speed drive systems meeting the need of motive power applications. This module includes:
  • review of ac and dc machines
  • power electronic control of machines
  • control techniques and system performance
  • drive comparison and applications
  • performance, reliability and cost.
  • analysis of typical load systems and specifications
Renewable Energy Technology 1
This module will examine the various sources of renewable energy suitable for use in buildings. It will concentrate on wind, water, waste heat, solar, geothermal and bio-mass as potential sources of energy and investigate the contribution they can make to a building's energy requirement, the technology used to harness them and limitations associated with their use.
Power Electronic Design
This module provides students with an understanding of the operational principles of power electronic converters and their associated systems. This module covers:
  • 3-phase naturally commutated ac-dc/dc-ac converters
  • capacitive and inductive smoothing - device ratings
  • dc-ac PWM inverters and modulation strategies
  • resonant converters
  • high power factor utility interface circuits
  • thermal management of power devices including transient thermal effects.
  • simulation of Power converters using a suitable CAD package
Power Networks with Laboratory
This module provides students with an understanding of power system apparatus and their behaviour under normal and fault conditions. It also provides an opportunity to apply CAD techniques to power system problems. This module covers:
  • concept and analysis of load flow
  • voltage/current symmetrical components
  • computation of fault currents
  • economic optimisation
  • power-system control and stability
  • power system protection.
  • Power Quality
Technologies for the Hydrogen Economy
This module considers:
  • Future of fossil fuel supplies and alternative fuels
  • Sustainable sources of Hydrogen
  • Fuel cell technologies
  • Hydrogen storage and distribution
  • Applications and feasibility assessment
FACTS and Distributed Generation
This module provides students with an understanding of power systems which include renewable energy generators. It investigates the operation of renewable energy generators at a systems level, including analysis of distributed generation systems. The module covers:
  • analysis of load flow in distributed generation systems
  • operation and control of microgrids
  • economic optimisation of renewable generators within a power system
  • distributed power system control and stability
  • Introduction to protection methods
  • Use of STATCOM devices
  • Flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS)
Technologies for Wind Generation
This module provides students with an understanding of the technologies used in wind power systems. It investigates the operation of wind generators and of wind farms and the current developments in electrical engineering for wind power. The module covers:
  • overall design of wind turbines
  • analysis of doubly-fed induction generators
  • analysis of permanent magnet generators
  • vector control of generators
  • operation and control of wind farms
  • economic optimisation of wind generators within a power system
  • AC-DC transmission links for offshore wind farms
Advanced AC Drives with Project
The course will cover AC drives including vector controlled induction motor drives and Permanent Magnet Motor Drives. It will cover the following aspects and will incorporate the most recent technical developments where appropriate:
  • Review of Induction machines and Induction Motor Drives
  • Concept of Space vectors
  • Dq representation of 3-phase machines
  • Dynamic Equations of induction machines
  • Direct and indirect flux orientation
  • Implementation of Indirect Vector Control
  • Speed, Torque and Flux control
  • Effect of incorrect paramaters
  • Introduction to Permanent Magnet Motor Drives
  • Brushless DC Drives
  • Salient and non-salient PMAC machines
  • Maximum Torque per Amp control strategies
  • Field weakening control of PMAC machines.
Renewable Energy Technology 2
This module will examine aspects of performance analysis and system design/sizing of renewable energy systems for building integration. The course provides opportunities to gain experience in issues of technology selection, system design, installation and performance analysis of a range of renewable energy systems. The module will emphasize on solar energy technologies (photovoltaic and solar thermal systrems) and small scale wind turbines.

The course will cover aspects of weather data resource/collection, system performance analysis, system design parameters, design/simulation tools and field evaluation of these technologies.
Combined Heat and Power Systems
The objective of this module is to examine Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology including large, mini and small-scale systems. The module will include topics on prime movers technology used in different types of CHP schemes (steam, gas, CCGT, IC, Stirling engine, and Fuel cells) and associated electric generators/alternators, and control devices. Operation and performance of each CHP scheme (large scale CHP, District heating, mini-CHP for large buildings, and micro-CHP for single dwellings) will also be covered. Assessment of economical feasibility and sizing of a mini-CHP and/or micro-CHP system will be demonstrated in the form of a mini-project to assess economical viability of such schemes.

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Engineering and Science Learning Centre (ESLC)The University of Nottingham
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