Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

In order to be able to design electrical machines and drives it is necessary to first understand their principles of operation. An overview knowledge of the basic types of electrical machines and underlying physics is assumed. For our stage 4 UG students, this will be obtained by passing the core modules in stage 2 and stage 3. For MSc students, this is assumed to be covered by their first degree. Background material will be provided.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To give an appreciation of the importance of electric drives in the de-carbonisation of transport, generation and other sectors. The course gives a good grounding and experience in the physical design of electrical machines and a broad understanding of electrical drives selection criteria in a range of applications.

To gain the skills to produce outline designs of electrical machine drive systems to a given specification. Design decisions will be placed in an ethical, environmental and manufacturing context.

To be skilled in machine drive design for modern and emerging applications, including electric transport and renewable energy drives.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module covers the operation, modelling and design of AC and DC machines, with due consideration of the power electronics and control requirements. The focus is on permanent magnet machines developed for electric propulsion and renewable energy technology.

Electrical machines are placed in the context of net zero by discussing the impact of raw materials, use in new and emerging applications with due consideration to design for manufacture. Design methodology focuses around magnetic circuit analysis, thermal analysis and winding design. Students will be exposed to industrial developments with at least one external speaker. Students will gain experience in analytical design, working with data and constraints, communication and report writing as well as using commercially available design software.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The students will understand the operation and design principles of key electrical machines used in low carbon applications.

On completion of the module students will be able to:

1.       Describe the relevance of electric machines to the electrification and net zero agendas, e.g. identify propulsion drives for electric vehicles, describe renewables and efficiency targets.(M7. M8)
2.       Demonstrate an appreciation of the commercial and environmental impact of design choices, specifically rare earth material use and mining.(M4,M13)
3.       Compare limitations on power and torque density in electrical machines by understanding the concept of magnetic and electric loadings.(M1)
4.       Demonstrate the selection of winding layout to eliminate harmonics (M5)
5.       Describe the fundamentals of thermal design by explaining the major paths for heat removal. (M1, M3)
6.       Identify the fundamental design concepts behind large synchronous generators. (M1)
7.       Calculate the key dimensions for permanent magnet machine and switched reluctance machines for a given operational requirement. (M5, M2)
8.       Recognize permanent magnet ac drives and brushless DC drives. (M1)
9.       Understand the operation and development of emerging electrical machines, such as axial field and switch reluctance machines. (M1)

Intended Skill Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended skill outcome is indicated in each point. By the end of the module, it is expected students will be able to create analyse and evaluate electrical machine designs (M3) that meet a specification within a given set of technical constraints (M4), with due consideration of economic, manufacturing and sustainable constraints (M6,M7,M8). They will be able to present results and analysis in a professional report (M17).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide the core material as well as guidance for further reading. Additional pre -recorded material available for background and to reinforce pre requisites. Worked examples offer the opportunity for practice in analysis and synthesis and where necessary more direct tuition can be offered to smaller student groups. Some aspects of the course are further re-enforced through laboratory demonstrations.

The two design exercises test the students' core knowledge and understanding of machine design principles including making suitable assumptions, simplifications and mathematical analysis. The analytical coursework focuses on design from first principles. The software coursework involves the use of commercially available machine design software, which is introduced in the pre-requisite module and supplemented drop in sessions with a PG demonstrator. The coursework allows the students to demonstrate their ability to use the software, show some engineering creativity and further develop their communication skills. Laboratories are formative in nature, giving practical experience and understanding.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Design is a creative concept and so it is most appropriate to allow the students’ time to do this via projects which are then assessed by reports. Two projects are given: one focused upon the machine design using analytical methods presented in the course and the second upon electric drive design using software. The projects will allow the students to use state of the art design software to create designs against a specification of a named application. Their ability to understand, analyse, appraise and synthesis systems will be tested, covering almost all aspects of the knowledge and skills outcomes of the module.

General Notes

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