Software Based Approach for Classroom Teaching of Electrical Engineering Courses: A Case Study

Electrical engineering concepts are abstract in nature and difficult to explain using conventional teaching tools. The use of software in teaching holds the potential in providing better learning support as these tools can provide visual representations of complex circuits operation and waveforms for enhanced concept and procedural learning in power electronics. The software packages available for simulation of power electronic circuits include MATLAB, PSPICE and PSIM. In this study the author takes an example of an AC voltage controller to explain the software based teaching approach. The author used two software based simulation tools to explain the AC voltage controller concept and compare the software based approach with the blackboard and power point presentation based technique. Results of different approaches are compared in the last session of this paper, so it is helpful for the faculty of electrical engineering to find the various applications of MATLAB, SIMULINK and PSIM in teaching. Overall students find the simulation approach is helpful for their learning

Role of Simulation Tool in Enhancing Teaching and Learning of Information and Communication Technology: A Case Study

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Simulation and implementation of power electronics for educational purposes: with SEPIC converter for MPPT

Dissertação de mestrado em Industrial Electronics and Computer EngineeringNowadays, the importance and investments in electricity and renewable energy sources is significantly growing, so that the development and prosperity level of nations are measured accordingly with the strength and the efficiency of the power sector in the country. Every day, the importance of renewable energy sources in the world is increasing to compensate the growing demand of energy in the future, especially with the global rise in oil prices and the environmental pollution. Therefore, renewable energy sources, such as wind, sun, biomass, waves and tides, will be the energy providers for our planet in the future. Renewable energy sources are closely linked with power electronics, so that it is not possible to obtain the required electrical power without using semiconductor electronic elements, which have the capability to convert electrical power (for example, rectifiers can convert electrical power from AC to DC and the inverters do exactly the opposite). These elements give sufficient flexibility to control and convert the voltages according to our application, and in function of the load needs. All of the above indicates the importance of power electronics area in the present time. Therefore, as a part of this project, a tutorial document on power electronics has been written for students and non-specialists who want to learn power electronics and know the basics of this area of Electrical Engineering. This document has an organizing strategy and arrangement in order to facilitate and give motivation for students to study power electronics, trying to provide, as much as possible, simple explanations and figures. Every circuit in this document was simulated by using the programs PSIM and MATLAB, which gives the possibility for students to change the circuit parameters, then monitoring the new results (with this document is made available a CD with the simulations models of the circuits). In addition, it contains worked examples with the most important ideas that must be known for every example. All figures and results of circuits are drawn to facilitate and clarify the figures as much as possible, using a plotting program named KST. As a practical part of this Master thesis work, which also aims to merge renewable energy sources and power electronics applications, a battery charging system with MPPT circuit was implemented, to be used with a micro wind turbine, which can be employed in a boat in the future. This work used a micro wind turbine with a permanent magnet synchronous generator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. The generator produces AC three-phase voltages that are rectified with an uncontrolled rectifier, PD3, which is then connected to a DC-DC converter (coupled inductor SEPIC converter), used here to increase or decrease the DC voltage value. In the output of the rectifier is used a capacitor to filter the DC voltage. The implemented control method uses a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), with perturbation and observation algorithm. This algorithm is ideal to use with intermittent wind energy resources. To operate at the optimal power point, the algorithm has to change the duty cycle of the SEPIC. This control was implemented in a microcontroller ARDUINO ATMEGA UNO 328P. All the developed system for energy production was simulated using PSIM program. This allowed to observe the behavior of the system when was used a passive load (resistive load) and an active load (battery). Finally, with this work I hope to create benefits to my homeland Syria and to my second country, Portugal.Hoje em dia, a importância e o investimento na energia elétrica e em fontes de energia renováveis tem uma grande preponderância nas nossas vidas. O grau de prosperidade e o desenvolvimento das nações pode ser aferido através do grau de importância do setor energético no país. A cada dia que passa, a importância das fontes de energia renováveis aumenta, uma vez que existe uma procura cada vez maior de energia, isto tendo em conta o aumento mundial dos preços de combustível e a poluição ambiental. Tendo em conta isto, as fontes de energia renováveis, tais como o vento, o sol, a biomassa, as ondas e as marés, serão os fornecedores de energia para o nosso planeta num futuro próximo. As fontes de energia renováveis estão intimamente ligadas com a eletrónica de potência, e não é possível obter a energia elétrica desejada sem usar elementos eletrónicos semicondutores, os quais têm a capacidade de realizar conversões (por exemplo os retificados podem converter tensão CA para CC, e os inversores o oposto). Estes elementos dão flexibilidade suficiente para controlar e converter as tensões de acordo com a nossa aplicação, e conforme a carga. Tudo o que é referido acima indica a importância da eletrónica de potência nos tempos atuais. Desta forma, como parte deste trabalho de Dissertação de Mestrado, foi escrito um tutorial de eletrónica de potência destinado aos estudantes e aos não-especialistas que querem aprender eletrónica de potência e perceber as bases desta área da Engenharia Eletrotécnica. Este documento apresenta uma certa estratégia e organização facilitadoras e motivadoras para que os alunos venham a estudar eletrónica de potência, contendo, dentro do possível, explicações e figuras simples. Cada circuito apresentado neste documento foi simulado usando os softwares PSIM e MATLAB, sendo oferecida a possibilidade aos estudantes para alterar os parâmetros dos circuitos e observarem os resultados (o documento é acompanhado de um CD com os modelos de simulação). Além disto, o documento contém exemplos trabalhados mostrando os conceitos mais importantes de cada circuito. Todas as figuras e resultados dos circuitos foram desenhados de forma a facilitar a sua compreensão, utilizando um programa designado KST. Como parte prática deste trabalho, e envolvendo a fusão entre a eletrónica de potência e as aplicações de energias renováveis, foi implementado um circuito carregador de baterias com circuito MPPT, a ser usado com uma turbina micro-eólica, e que poderá ser empregado em barcos, no futuro. Neste projeto foi usada uma micro-turbina com um gerador síncrono de ímanes permanentes que converte a energia mecânica do vento em energia elétrica. O gerador produz tensões CA que necessitam de ser retificadas, e para isso é usado um retificador não controlado, PD3, ligado a um conversor DC-DC (conversor SEPIC com indutância de acoplamento mútuo). O conversor serve para aumentar ou diminuir a tensão de saída. Além disto, o retificador tem na sua saída um condensador de forma a filtrar a tensão. O método de controlo implementado foi um seguidor do ponto de máxima potência (Maximum Power Point Tracker - MPPT). O algoritmo do MPPT usado foi o da perturbação-observação. Este algoritmo é o ideal para utilizar com as fontes de energia intermitentes, como é o caso do vento. Para operar no ponto de máxima potência, o algoritmo tem que mudar constantemente o duty-cycle do conversor SEPIC. Este controlo foi implementado numa placa de desenvolvimento ARDUINO ATMEGA UNO 328P. O sistema para produção de energia desenvolvido foi todo simulado usando o software PSIM. Isto permitiu observar o comportamento desse sistema quando foi colocada na sua saída uma carga passiva (carga resistiva) e uma carga ativa (bateria). Finalmente, com este trabalho, espero poder trazer benefícios ao meu país natal, a Síria, e ao meu segundo país, Portugal

Analisis Rangkaian Pembagi Tegangan dan Perbandingan Hasil Simulasinya Menggunakan Simulator Offline

This paper reveals the voltage divider circuit to better understand the fundamental working principles in detail. The approach was simulated using popular offline simulators (i.e., Pr, CW circuit, and virtual mode, EWB, Mu, P, Ye, TS, QUCS, LTS, SI, and PhET). Two scenarios were carried out: measuring the output voltage (Vout) with known R1, R2, and DC source (Battery) as a voltage input (Vin), then looking for R1 and R2 using four different calculation methods to obtain Vout as expected. Afterward, the value of R1 and R2 were inserted into the simulation circuit to guarantee if the current Vout value matched the initial Vout. Finally, the simulation results were compared with the calculation results. All simulators provide an attractive GUI, capable of simulating voltage measurements with 100% accuracy in terms of DC analyses, which is DC voltage (except the CW software, which is only 98%), and can be entered in any resistor value (except Ye and PhET software). Surprisingly, the results of this study can provide insight for beginners to understand essential topics in electrical engineering studies, e.g., the circuit topology, fundamental theory, and working principle of a voltage divider circuit. Besides, the student will understand an offline electronic-based simulator suitable for measuring voltage parameters. Furthermore, they are expected to apply this circuit to various electronic circuit cases

Virtual Power Electronics Labs for Online Teaching

A textbook and traditional classroom only approach in teaching power electronics can mean that design of power electronic circuits could be isolated and will be difficult to absorb by students. If we add to this, the sudden switch to virtual delivery of lectures then the challenge to engage the students in the learning process of power electronics could be even more complicated. In this paper, a virtual way of teaching power electronic circuits without much compromise with real practical environment is presented. A boost and flyback converter circuits are presented as a case study where all practical parameters are considered in the 'virtual' practical circuit

Road map of power electronics knowledge and skills for enhancing engineering graduates' employability

Undoubtedly, the power electronics industry covers a breadth of application areas and markets that many other industries can match. It is essential for the efficient conversion and conditioning of energy in a wide range of applications, for example, but not limited to smart grids and electric vehicles. Accordingly, the power electronics industry strives for more knowledgeable and skilled graduates. Hence, The electrical engineering curriculum should be supported by market-oriented knowledge and industry skills based on the industry employers' vision and recruiting plans. This paper explores the needed power electronics knowledge and skills from the perspective of industry employers. The study is based on a survey targeting 38 academics and 18 industry representatives regarding the gaps in the Power Electronics and Machine Drives (PEMD) curriculum. The survey leads to the presented road map of power electronics knowledge and skills. This road map addresses the curriculum framework and the required employability skills in the power electronics industry

Performance Analysis Of Hybrid Ai-Based Technique For Maximum Power Point Tracking In Solar Energy System Applications

Demand is increasing for a system based on renewable energy sources that can be employed to both fulfill rising electricity needs and mitigate climate change. Solar energy is the most prominent renewable energy option. However, only 30%-40% of the solar irradiance or sunlight intensity is converted into electrical energy by the solar panel system, which is low compared to other sources. This is because the solar power system\u27s output curve for power versus voltage has just one Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP) and several local Maximum Power Points (MPPs). For a long time, substantial research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been undertaken to build algorithms that can track the MPP more efficiently to acquire the most output from a Photovoltaic (PV) panel system because traditional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques such as Incremental Conductance (INC) and Perturb and Observe (P&Q) are unable to track the GMPP under varying weather conditions. Literature (K. Y. Yap et al., 2020) has shown that most AIbased MPPT algorithms have a faster convergence time, reduced steady-state oscillation, and higher efficiency but need a lot of processing and are expensive to implement. However, hybrid MPPT has been shown to have a good performance-to-complexity ratio. It incorporates the benefits of traditional and AI-based MPPT methodologies but choosing the appropriate hybrid MPPT techniques is still a challenge since each has advantages and disadvantages. In this research work, we proposed a suitable hybrid AI-based MPPT technique that exhibited the right balance between performance and complexity when utilizing AI in MPPT for solar power system optimization. To achieve this, we looked at the basic concept of maximum power point tracking and compared some AI-based MPPT algorithms for GMPP estimation. After evaluating and comparing these approaches, the most practical and effective ones were chosen, modeled, and simulated in MATLAB Simulink to demonstrate the method\u27s correctness and dependability in estimating GMPP under various solar irradiation and PV cell temperature values. The AI-based MPPT techniques evaluated include Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) trained Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and PSO trained Neural Network (NN) MPPT. We compared these methods with Genetic Algorithm (GA)-trained ANFIS method. Simulation results demonstrated that the investigated technique could track the GMPP of the PV system and has a faster convergence time and more excellent stability. Lastly, we investigated the suitability of Buck, Boost, and Buck-Boost converter topologies for hybrid AI-based MPPT in solar energy systems under varying solar irradiance and temperature conditions. The simulation results provided valuable insights into the efficiency and performance of the different converter topologies in solar energy systems employing hybrid AI-based MPPT techniques. The Boost converter was identified as the optimal topology based on the results, surpassing the Buck and Buck-Boost converters in terms of efficiency and performance. Keywords—Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Genetic Algorithm, Adaptive Neural-Fuzzy Interference System (ANFIS), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO

Integrated Li-Ion Ultracapacitor with Lead Acid Battery for Vehicular Start-Stop

Advancements in automobile manufacturing aim at improving the driving experience at every level possible. One improvement aspect is increasing gas efficiency via hybridization, which can be achieved by introducing a feature called start-stop. This feature automatically switches the internal combustion engine off when it idles and switches it back on when it is time to resume driving. This application has been proven to reduce the amount of gas consumption and emission of greenhouse effect gases in the atmosphere. However, the repeated cranking of the engine puts a large amount of stress on the lead acid battery required to perform the cranking, which effectively reduces its life span. This dissertation presents a hybrid energy storage system assembled from a lead acid battery and an ultracapacitor module connected in parallel. The Li-ion ultracapacitor was tested and modeled to predict its behavior when connected in a system requiring pulsed power such as the one proposed. Both test and simulation results show that the proposed hybrid design significantly reduces the cranking loading and stress on the battery. The ultracapacitor module can take the majority of the cranking current, effectively reducing the stress on the battery. The amount of cranking current provided by the ultracapacitor can be easily controlled via controlling the resistance of the cable connected directly between the ultracapacitor module and the car circuitry

Addressing Instability Issues in Microgrids Caused By Constant Power Loads Using Energy Storage Systems

Renewable energy sources, the most reasonable fuel-shift taken over the naturally limited conventional fuels, necessarily deal with the self-functional microgrid system rather than the traditional grid distribution system. The study shows that the microgrid system, a comparatively low-powered system, experiences the challenge of instability due to the constant power load (CPL) from many electronic devices such as inverter-based systems. In this dissertation, as a methodical approach to mitigate the instability complication, AC microgrid stability is thoroughly investigated for each and every considerable parameter of the system. Furthermore, a specific loading limit is depicted by evaluating the stability margin from the small signal analysis of the microgrid scheme. After demonstrating all cases regarding the instability problem, the storage-based virtual impedance power compensation method is introduced to restore the system stability and literally extend the loading limit of the microgrid system. Here, a PID controller is implemented to maintain the constant terminal voltage of CPL via current injection method from storage. Since the system is highly nonlinear by nature, advanced nonlinear control techniques, such as Sliding Mode Control and Lyapunov Redesign Control technique, are implemented to control the entire nonlinear system. Robustness, noise rejection, and frequency variation are scrutinized rigorously in a virtual platform such as Matlab/Simulink with appreciable aftermaths. After that, a comparative analysis is presented between SMC and LRC controller robustness by varying CPL power. From this analysis, it is evident that Lyapunov redesign controller performs better than the previous one in retaining microgrid stability for dense CPL-loaded conditions. Finally, to ensure a robust storage system, Hybrid Energy Storage System is introduced and its advantages are discussed as extended research work