Professional Certificate of Competency in Electrical Power System Fundamentals for Non Electrical Engineers

Overview

The focus of this course is on the building blocks of electrical engineering, the fundamentals of electrical design and integrating electrical engineering know-how into the other disciplines within a corporation. Unnecessary theory is kept to a minimum and you will focus on best practice over the duration of the online course. The course will commence by reviewing basic electrical circuits and electrical laws. You will then be exposed to the basic principles of electrical generation, transmission and distribution. Electrical distribution will then be covered in considerably more detail. The interesting area of electrical measurements as applied to single phase and three phase systems will then be reviewed. You will be exposed to earthing (or grounding) with a strong focus on safety issues. Transformers will then be examined with an emphasis on power transformers as used in the electrical distribution industry. The first day will be concluded with coverage of power system components in terms of isolators, fuses and circuit breakers.

The course examines AC and DC motors and reviews electrical lighting and illumination concepts. The power hungry topic of electrical heating in industry is also examined. The impact, especially in the modern world of power electronics, is discussed with a demonstration of the possible unpleasant harmonics arising from using this powerful technology. This then smoothly leads into the topic of dealing with power quality. Three major topics are electrical power system protection, electrical safety and customer installations. The penultimate topic of great interest to executive management in a company (and indeed municipalities and governments) is load forecasting. The online course is concluded with modern developments such as substation automation, the smart grid, industrial data communications and the still controversial topic of carbon trading. An online course such as this is certainly not going to make you a professional electrical engineer - although many experienced electrical engineers have commented on how useful this course has been in broadening their perspective in other areas of the electrical world. Nonetheless, you will gain a valuable toolbox of skills in electrical engineering, thus becoming far more productive and safer in your career and in working with electrical engineers, technicians, and managers.

COURSE OUTLINE

MODULE 1: BASIC CONCEPTS

• Basic theory of charges and current flow
• Electrical parameters – voltage, current, resistance, inductance, capacitance, power, energy and frequency
• OHMS law and electric circuits
• Single phase and three phase systems

MODULE 2: ELECTRICAL GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

• Various forms of energy and energy conversion
• Conventional power sources – coal fired, hydro and nuclear power plants
• Renewable power sources – solar, wind, biomass
• Transmission and distribution of electricity

MODULE 3: ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION

• Electrical distribution systems
• Substations and step down transformers
• Distribution substations
• Distribution feeder supply configurations – radial, ring and mesh networks
• Switchgear construction and components

MODULE 4: ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS FOR SWITCHGEAR

• Measurement of electrical parameters
• Basics of smart metering
• Instrument transformers for switchgear metering and protection

MODULE 5: TRANSFORMERS AND EARTHING CONSIDERATIONS

• Fundamentals of transformers
• Construction of transformer
• Transformer types
• Transformer accessories
• Need for earthing, direct and indirect shocks, touch and step potential
• Transformer earthing considerations
• Earthing system components
• Measurement of earth resistance
• Lightning protection

MODULE 6: FAULTS, FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

• Electrical faults
• Fuses
• Isolation, switching and tripping
• Medium voltage circuit breakers

MODULE 7: ELECTRICAL ROTATING MACHINES – AC & DC

• Basic theory of rotating machines
• DC machines
• Single phase and 3-phase AC machines
• Synchronous machines

MODULE 8: ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL HEATING IN INDUSTRIES

• Luminaire concepts
• Types of lamps used in industries
• Types of heating
• Welding and electric arc furnaces

MODULE 9: POWER ELECTRONICS BASICS AND POWER QUALITY

• Semiconductor devices, rectifiers and inverters
• AC Motor control, soft starters and variable speed drives
• Power quality problems – Voltage and frequency variations, interruptions, lighting, surges and harmonics
• Power quality improvement and harmonic mitigation

MODULE 10: POWER SYSTEMS PROTECTION AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY

• Protection system basics including relays
• Arc flash hazards and arc flash mitigation
• Safety through better design, installation and training
• Compliance with company policy and safety legislation

MODULE 11: CUSTOMER INSTALLATIONS AND CONTRACTUAL ASPECTS

• Customer connections, metering and tariff structures
• Specification and procurement of equipment
• Equipment installation, commissioning and defect identification
• Contractual matters
• Certificate of compliance

MODULE 12: LOAD FORECASTING, PLANNING AND PROJECT EVALUATION

• Load forecasting and forward planning
• Supply and demand side management
• The smart grid
• Substation automation
• Carbon credit

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• N/A

Hardware

• N/A