MODULE DETAILS

Smart Grids and Distributed Generation: Planning, Design and Management DERSGM618

NOMINAL DURATION IN HOURS

100 hours total time commitment

This time commitment includes the structured activities, preparation reading, attendance at each webinar, completing exercises, practical assessments and proctored assessments.

It is also expected that students spend additional time on readings, personal study, independent research and learning, practicing on remote labs and required software and working on any projects and assignments.

This module covers the design considerations of smart grids, the economic and power quality considerations of embedded generation systems, system protection and reliability.

MODULE PURPOSE

The purpose of the module is for participants to develop specific knowledge required for effective contribution to planning, design, and management of smart grid and distributed generation systems.

MODIFICATION HISTORY

Nil

PREREQUISITE AND/OR CO‑REQUISITE MODULES

Modules that must be delivered and assessed before this module:

§  Overview of Distributed Renewable Generation DERDEG616

§  Distributed Renewable Generation Sources DERDES617

Modules that must be delivered concurrently with this module:

§  N/A

SUMMARY OF LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1.     Identify and outline fundamental features of smart grids

2.     Evaluate economic costs and benefits of embedded generation

3.     Determine and explain power flows in embedded generation systems

4.     Determine and explain system faults in embedded generation

5.     Explain the concept and application of design for stability

6.     Determine and explain power quality factors in embedded generation systems

7.     Recommend and justify tools used to protect embedded generation systems

8.     Explain reliability concepts and assessment

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Learning outcomes specify what students will be able to do as a result of the learning.

Assessment criteria provide the criteria by which achievement of the learning outcomes will be judged.

1

Identify and outline fundamental features of smart grids

1.1

Identify and outline core features of components in smart grids.

1.2

Determine and outline design considerations for smart grids.

1.3

Compare the fundamental features of bottom-up to top-down smart grid designs.

1.4

Outline tools for communication in smart grids.

1.5

Identify and explain security issues in smart grids.

2

Evaluate economic costs and benefits of embedded generation

2.1

Compare costs of distributed to centralised energy generation systems.

2.2

Compare connection costs and charges of distributed to centralised energy generation.

2.3

Explain the distribution of system charges and the allocation of losses in distribution networks with embedded generation.

2.4

Determine the financial viability of individual distributed generation systems.

3

Determine and explain power flows in embedded generation systems

3.1

Compare the power flow features of the two-bus system to larger systems.

3.2

Explain the relationship between flows and voltages.

3.3

Determine power flow using equations.

4

Determine and explain system faults in embedded generation

4.1

Identify and explain types of faults in embedded generation.

4.2

Determine applications for balanced and unbalanced fault calculations.

4.3

Explain the concept of fault level.

4.4

Outline fault level considerations.

4.5

Determine and summarise industry or national standards for fault calculations.

5

Explain the concept and application of design for stability

5.1

Outline the fundamentals of the dynamic model of the mechanical subsystem.

5.2

Outline the process of power transfer in the two-bus system.

5.3

Identify and assess electro-mechanical transients following a fault.

5.4

Explain the equal area criterion.

5.5

Compare the features of steady-state operation of synchronous to induction generators.

5.6

Compare the features, during network disturbances, of the operation of synchronous to induction generators.

6

Determine and explain power quality factors in embedded generation systems

6.1

Outline the basic features of operation of power electronic converters and voltage source converters.

6.2

Compare the impact and control of power quality issues including:

·       Voltage flicker

·       Harmonics

·       Voltage unbalance

7

Recommend and justify tools used to protect embedded generation systems

7.1

Compare the features of protection schemes for isolated generator to embedded generators.

7.2

Explain methods of overcurrent protection.

7.3

Explain methods of earth fault overcurrent protection.

7.4

Explain methods of differential protection.

7.5

Explain:

a)    under/over voltage protection

b)    under/over frequency protection.

7.6

Recommend and justify protection methods of embedded generators in the following situations:

·       Loss of excitation

·       Overexcitation

·       Unbalanced loading

·       Loss of mains

·       Vector shift

8

Explain reliability concepts and assessment

8.1

Outline basic reliability assessment techniques.

8.2

Summarise historical approaches of reliability assessment.

8.3

Determine implications for embedded generation when associated with network expansion.

8.4

Explain generation reliability modelling, including assumptions and considerations.

8.5

Compare types of generation reliability models.

8.6

Determine reliability and production indices.

8.7

Explain the concept of capacity credit and basic implications created by distributed generation.

DELIVERY MODE

Online and/or face-to-face

SPECIALISED RESOURCES

N/A

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, structured assessments, samples and questioning. This will include short answer questions on the knowledge content, the use of remote and virtual labs, and writing tasks to apply the learning to academic tasks.

CONDITIONS OF ASSESSMENT

Model answers must be provided for all knowledge-based assessments to ensure reliability of assessment judgements when marking is undertaken by different assessors.