ECE 431

Electric Machinery

 

Course Goals

 

This course is a senior or beginning-graduate level elective for electrical and computer engineering majors.  The goals are to impart an understanding of electromechanics from theoretical and experimental bases.  The successful student will be able to explain how various electromechanical devices work, and justify the explanation mathematically.  Further, the student should be able to conceive a device that is capable of meeting performance criteria, though detailed design is not part of the course.

 

 

Instructional Objectives

The letter (a)-(k) refer to ABET Criterion 3

 

A.  After the first three weeks, the students should be able to:

 

  1. Describe the impact of electric machines on modern society. (h)
  2. Explain, understand, and follow the safety precautions for performing experiments in an electric machinery lab.  (f)
  3. Perform laboratory measurements on 3-phase power circuits and transformers.  (b, k)

  

B.  After the first five weeks, the student should be able to:

 

  1. Have a demonstrated understanding of devices that work on principle of changing inductance or capacitance (reluctance devices).  (a, e)
  2. Make measurements and predictions of the performance of stepper motors.  (b, k)

  

C.  After the first eight weeks, the student should be able to

 

  1. Develop electrical models for electromechanical devices that work on the principle of induction (charge or current induction).  (a, e)
  2. Use the steady-state versions of the electrical models to predict performance of induction machines.  (a, e, k)
  3. Make measurements on induction motors to determine steady-state model parameters.  (b)
  4. Use measured induction motor parameters to predict performance and verify the prediction in the lab.  (b, k)

 

 

D.  After the first eleven weeks, the student should be able to

 

  1. Develop electrical models for machines that have both reluctance and induction properties, and may include permanent magnets (synchronous machines).  (a, e, k)
  2. Build a dynamic computer simulation of a synchronous machine. (k)
  3. Make laboratory measurements on synchronous machines to determine steady-state characteristics involving voltage, power, current, power factor, and torque.  (b)

  

E.  After the first thirteen weeks, the student should be able to

 

  1. Design simple control loops for torque, speed, and position control.  (a, e)
  2. Program an electric drive, through a high-level interface, in a lab setting to track a given torque, speed, or position command.  (b)

  

F.  After the full 15 weeks, the student should be able

 

  1. Understand the basic design and operation of direct-current (dc) machines. (a)
  2. Write a broad explanation for some advanced topic in electric machinery, such as electric drives, hybrid gas-electric vehicles, or microelectromechanical machines.  (g, h, j)
  3. Write a team report on a field trip to a plant or lab associated with modern electric machinery.  (g, j)