2024 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Energy Science and Informatics
Mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Energy Science and Informatics
- Instructor(s)
- Hideaki Fujita
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue / 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ESI.L401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course presents electric power generators which converts various forms of mechanical energy to electric energy. The first half deals with principles and characteristics of direct current generators, synchronous generators, and induction generators, and their grid connection operating performance. The other half focuses power generation systems combined with power converters including generators and converters for variable speed operation, control methods, and their applications to hydro and wind turbine power generators.
Generators have widely been used for various electric power generation not only for direct energy conversion from wind power and hydro power but also for indirect conversion from various thermal energy sources such as ｆossil-fuels, nuclear, solar heat, geothermal, biomass, and so on. In case of the indirect conversion, gas or steam turbines first converts the thermal energy to mechanical energy, and then, electric generator converts it to electricity again. Therefore, all the electricity is produced by electric generators, except for solar and fuel cells. From this point of view, it is strongly recommended that not only students who belong to electric and mechanical courses but also students having interests in sustainable and/or alternative energｙ applications would take this course.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) explain the structure and operating principles of various electric generator.
2) calculate operating characteristics of generators based on electromagnetism and/or electric circuit theory.
3) calculate operating characteristics of the system consisting of generators and power converters.
4) calculate operating characteristics and requirements in the system consisting of generators and power converters.
5) select a suitable system consisting of generators and power converters according to the capacity and property of energy resources.
Keywords
Electrical generators, power converters, energy, power systems.
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The instructor will first present some principles, control schemes, and analysis/control methods. Students will have discussions and give presentations on the assigned topics in the class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Electric generators and mechanical to electrical energy conversion Introduction, variation of electric generators, applications of generators. | Discussion on power generation and power consumption. |
| Class 2 | Electromagnetic induction and electromagnetic force Electromagnetic induction and electromotive force, Electromagnetic force and torque. | Review of electromagnetism, electric circuit theory, electric machinery. |
| Class 3 | Fundamental of mechanical to electrical energy conversion DC generators, torque, electromotive force, mechanical to electrical energy conversion. | Discussion on required ability to electrical energy conversion, |
| Class 4 | Fundamental of ac electric generators Rotating magnetic field, principle of torque generation, electromotive force. | Comparison of the estimated characteristics in the three principles of mechanical to electrical energy conversion. |
| Class 5 | Synchronous generators Structure, principle, operating principle, operating characteristics. | Calculaｔion of the fundamental characteristics of synchronous generators. |
| Class 6 | Characteristics of synchronous generators connected to a utility grid Grid connection, operating principle, fundamental characteristics. | Calculaｔion of the fundamental characteristics of synchronous generators connected to a utility grid. |
| Class 7 | Stability of synchronous generators Synchronized force, stability analysis, power swing. | Evaluation of stability of synchronous generators. |
| Class 8 | Variable speed electric generators System configurations, fundamental principles, fundamental characteristics | Calculation of the characteristics of variable speed operation. |
| Class 9 | Power converters for variable speed operation Rectifiers, inverters, cycloconverters, and their combination. | Discussion on the required performance to the power converters for variable speed operation. |
| Class 10 | Variable speed operation of synchronous generators System configurations, fundamental principles, fundamental characteristics. | Discussion on characteristics of variable speed operation of synchronous generators, |
| Class 11 | Variable speed operation of induction generators System configurations, fundamental principles, fundamental characteristics. | Discussion on characteristics of variable speed operation of induction generators. |
| Class 12 | Doubly-fed induction generators System configurations, fundamental principles, fundamental characteristics. | Performance comparison of doubly-fed and conventional induction generators. |
| Class 13 | Applications to hydro power generation Conventional hydro generators, pumped hydro systems, variable speed operation. | Discussion on the required operation and applicable configuration. |
| Class 14 | Applications to wind power generation Induction generators, doubly-fed induction generators, permanent magnet synchronous generators. | Discussion on the required operation and applicable configuration. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Lecture slides will be delivered through OCW/i.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Additional documents will be introduced in the class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grading depends on reports on the discussions in the classes (100%).
Related courses
- EEE.C201 ： Electric Circuits I
- EEE.C202 ： Electric Circuits II
- EEE.E201 ： Electricity and Magnetism I
- EEE.E202 ： Electricity and Magnetism II
- EEE.P301 ： Electric Machinery
- EEE.P321 ： Electric Power Engineering I
- EEE.P322 ： Electric Power Engineering II
- EEE.P311 ： Power Electronics
Prerequisites
This course is based on the knowledge of "Electricity and Magnetism" studied in physics and basic "Circuit theory."