Critical needs for multi-disciplinary approach to teaching electric energy systems

Abstract

This paper concerns the overall challenge and opportunities of introducing students to problems underlying the ongoing electric energy systems evolution. It is critical to teach both breadth and depth, but the overcrowded curricula does not allow for the huge number of courses. This calls for introducing principles of modeling, analyzing and designing future electric energy systems using concepts familiar to students from more general disciplines; of course, background in these disciplines is necessary. We give simple examples illustrating how such more general concepts at the same time help pose problems in the emerging smart grids.

A Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Course in Energy Engineering

“…However, this field of electrical engineering includes a number of new specialties such as digital systems, power plants, renewable energy, power electronics, energy storage, energy conservation, computer engineering, communication, networks, etc. With such a wide spread field, energy conversion turned into a topic for only students specializing in power [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. An energy engineering course with a wider view of the key aspects of electric energy, covering quite a few of the above areas seems to be useful and timely.…”

“…The overall objective of this course is to provide students with both the science and technology of different energy sources, alternative and renewable sources, power system operation, as well as the policies that heavily influence this industry. The course main goals involve student in-depth understanding of the energy sources, their characteristics and operation, types of the used fuels, energy system components, structure, configurations, types and characteristics of the common generation units, grid integration issues of the renewable energy and distributed generation units, major types of alternative energy sources, their characteristics and performances, assessment and analysis, the infrastructure of existing energy systems, economic and environmental issues of the current energy generation, transformation and uses [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Notice that during the first week, students must read the syllabus, acknowledge the fact that they read it and understood what is expected of them.…”

“…The smart grid initiative requires engineers to have deep understanding of operations, requirements, limitations and capabilities of the future power systems or distributed generation. There are great industry needs for cross-trained professionals to meet the modern energy infrastructure challenges [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Engineers of modern energy industries are required to have advanced scientific capabilities, deep understanding of the interdisciplinary connections, as well as to possess soft engineering skills such as project management, economics, self-learning abilities, communication and interpersonal competence.…”

Development and Implementation of an Undergraduate Course on Smart Grids

“…First one was ensuring electrical engineering and power systems students are exposed to basic techniques from computational intelligence, IT, communication techniques, and computer networking, and graduate students and professionals understood the modern power grid, power system components and its fundamentals [11][12][13][14] . The second consideration was ensuring the instructor have adequate expertise on the chosen topics.…”