Skip to main content

Module

EEE8154 : Control of Electric Drives

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Shafiq Odhano
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

The module introduces students to these aspects of electric drive systems: structure, configuration, motor and load types, high performance control, and industrial applications. It aims to enhance the students’ understanding of electric drive systems and to show the relationship between the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.

Outline Of Syllabus

Basic drive configurations and load characteristics; two and four quadrant drives; dynamic braking and regeneration; constant torque and field weakening strategies; examples for high bandwidth torque requirement

DC Drives: dc motor modelling; state space models; use of H-bridge for variable supply voltage; current ripple; electrical and mechanical system transfer functions; armature current and rotor speed control; cascade control structures; digital control basics; position measuring devices; step-by-step tuning method for proportional-integral controllers for drives; additive disturbance rejection and steady-state error

AC Drives: configurations of three-phase power electronic converter; induction motor drive basics and open-loop V/F control; space vector theory; three-phase to two-phase transformation; PM machine dynamic equations; torque control of brushless dc motor; reference frame transformation; vector control of permanent magnet synchronous motor; dynamic model of induction motor; rotor flux-oriented vector control of induction motor drives; decoupled flux and torque control; torque control at high dynamics; indirect and direct rotor flux-oriented vector control of induction machines; voltage space vector generation through a three-phase power electronic converter; mathematical basis for space vector modulation; centre-aligned PWM modulation strategy; phase duty cycle calculations

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, phase and 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 completion13:003:00Final 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 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 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 or synchronous online if public h
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 study183:4083:40Reviewing lecture notes; practising with computer simulation models; general reading
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures, synchronous and non-synchronous online sessions provide core material 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. Alternatives will be offered to students unable to be present-in-person due to the prevailing Covid-19 circumstances. Students should consult their individual timetable for up-to-date delivery information

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 exercise1M25Coursework - 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
Description Semester When Set Comment
Aural Examination1MNUMBAS mid-term assessment
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their understanding of the course material. The problem-solving aspects of the assessment enable the student to demonstrate their ability to apply this understanding and their analysis and synthesis skills to novel situations.

Reading Lists

Timetable