Program Overview
Villanova University's Electric Power Systems Certificate provides advanced training for engineers in the power industry. The program covers a wide range of topics, including static and dynamic behavior of electric power systems, theory of operation and practical considerations of power apparatus, and control systems engineering. Graduates are prepared for careers as power system engineers, power plant engineers, electrical engineers, renewable energy engineers, and energy consultants.
Program Outline
Outline:
The Electric Power Systems Certificate at Villanova University provides advanced training for engineers in the electric power industry. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of topics in power systems engineering, including:
- Static and dynamic behavior of electric power systems
- Theory of operation and practical considerations of power apparatus The certificate consists of 5 courses: 3 required courses and 2 elective courses.
Required Courses:
ECE 7805 - Electric Machinery:
Principles of operation, performance calculations, and industrial considerations of transformers and induction, synchronous, and dc machines. (3 credits)
ECE 7810 - Power System Modeling:
Static behavior of the electric power system. Topics include balanced, three-phase systems, steady-state operation of transmission lines, transformer modeling, per-unit normalization, power flow analysis, symmetrical components, and balanced faulty analyses. (3 credits)
EGR 8301 - Control Systems Engineering:
Review of dynamic process modeling, linearization, transfer function, and state-space models. Stability and dynamics of open-loop and closed-loop systems. Feedback control system design and analysis in the frequency and time domain. Topics include: Bode, Nyquist, and Root locus design; multivariable control; feedforward control. (3 credits)
Elective Courses:
(Choose two from the following list)
ECE 7000 - Renewable Energy Policy:
An introduction to renewable energy policy from inception to the current state of the industry. Deals with the evolution of policy from monopolistic to competitive marketplace. Study will include the various factors affecting this process. (3 credits)
ECE 7580 - Intro to Power Electronics:
Idealized power switching diodes and transistors; DC-DC converters; AC-DC rectifiers; DC-AC inverters; Magnetic circuits and elements (including inductors and transformers); soft-switching of power devices. Practical design of switch-mode DC power supplies, DC and AC motor drives. (3 credits)
ECE 7800 - Renewable Energy Systems:
The design of renewable energy systems. Topics include: Solar Thermal Energy, Photovoltaics, Bioenergy, Hydroelectricity, Tidal Power, Wind Power, and Geothermal Energy. (3 credits) to Electric Drives: Introduction to space vectors, scalar speed and torque control of induction motors, space vector representation of ac motors, dynamic dq modeling of ac motors, introduction to vector control of ac drives. Pre-req. ECE 7805 or permission of instructor. (3 credits)
ECE 7831 - Design & Model of Electric Vehicles:
Graduate standing or consent of instructor. (3 credits)
ECE 8580 - Power Electronics:
Application of semiconductor power devices (e.g., power FET's SCR's, TRIAC's) with emphasis on high-reliability applications. Device characteristics; linear and switch-mode power supplies; voltage regulators; power amplifiers; high-current switching applications. Prerequisites:ECE 7580 (min. grade: C) (3 credits)
ECE 8815 - Smart Energy Systems:
The modern electric power infrastructure; manifestations of the smart-grid; two-way, smart revenue metering for system operating efficiencies, maximal utilization of renewable resources, improved power quality, and automated management of service disruptions; and evolving technologies offering security, reliability, and environmental sustainability of the electric infrastructure. Prerequisites:ECE 7810 (3 credits)
ECE 8820 - Power System Dynamics:
The focus of the course is the dynamic behavior of the electric power system. The topics include transient performance of ac machines, load-frequency and voltage control systems, economic operation, transient behavior of transmission lines, and transient stability. Prerequisites: ECE 7805 and ECE 7810 or approval from instructor. (3 credits)
EGR 7850 - Electrochemical Power Sources:
Principles of the design & application of electrochemical power sources, including batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, & hydrogen electrolysis. Applications include automotive, industrial, medical, telecommunications, & utilities. Prereq=CHM 1151 or equivalent. (3 credits)
EGR 8302 - Digital Control:
Introduction to digital control analysis & design techniques applied to discrete-time & sampled continuous-time systems. Sampling, difference equations, the Z-transform & modified Z-transform, discrete transfer function & state-space models, discrete-time regulator & observer design, stability of discrete-time systems, discrete linear quadratic regulator & linear quadratic Gaussian formulation. Prerequisite: EGR 8301 or equivalent with permission of the instructor. (3 credits)
Teaching:
The program is taught by experienced faculty members in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Villanova University. The faculty use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, problem-solving exercises, and laboratory experiments. The program also incorporates hands-on experience through industry internships and research projects.
Careers:
Graduates of the Electric Power Systems Certificate program will be prepared for careers in the electric power industry. Potential career paths include:
- Power system engineer
- Power plant engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Renewable energy engineer
- Energy consultant