This Green Tech Skillnet Micro Credential is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union www.eufunds.ie.
Note: Grant funding comes from Skillnet Ireland through the Irish National Training fund, and, as a result, is ONLY available to residents of the Republic of Ireland who work as a sole trader, or for a private or semi-state commercial company registered in ROI. If you are not eligible for the discount, you will still have the option to enrol by paying the full course fee. Please read Eligibility Criteria.
Applications are open now. Enquire for the application link.
This module explores power system operation with a particular focus on the components of both transmission and distribution grids relating to secure network operation and protection. The module also covers the classification and analysis of power system transients across various timescales, including long term voltage stability, angle and frequency stability, and surge phenomena like lightning and switching transients. A portion will be dedicated to short-circuit calculations under symmetric and asymmetric conditions, adhering to the IEC 60909 standard.
Furthermore, the module examines the principles, components, and coordination of power system protection systems, along with an analysis of voltage, frequency and transient stability of basic power systems. The model also provides an in-depth discussion of the causes of and remedial action that followed real-world power system blackouts. Each section will incorporate interactive elements and assessments to enhance understanding and retention. The module will make use of analytical approaches and commercial power system analysis tools to explore example problems in power systems transients and protection.
On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:
- Understand the concepts underlying the occurrence of transients in power systems over a range of timescales.
- Be able to describe the main functions, requirements, and elements of power system protection mechanisms.
- Be able to identify and analyse power engineering problems involving three-phase ac system short-circuit calculations according to the IEC 60909 standard.
- Be able to analyse and design solutions to power system protection coordination problems.
- Describe system security constraints, including the (N-1) precautionary principle.
- Articulate the range of technical constraints that can limit the accommodation of renewable generation at various voltage levels and connection points within the grid.
- Be able to analyse basic power systems for transient, voltage and frequency stability.
- Articulate the range of remedial actions that can be implemented to prevent the occurrence of blackouts.
This module is designed to give learners an understanding of the basics of power system design and security assessment, including short-circuit analysis, protection design, transient stability analysis and analysis and prevention of power system blackouts.
The module is of particular relevance to professionals working in the areas related to generation, transmission or use of electricity who which to gain an understanding of how grids are protected.
The module is eligible to engineers with basic knowledge of ac circuits, electrical machines and power systems.
Dr Georgios Tzounas
Lecturer/Assistant Professor at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland
Dr Georgios Tzounas is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland. His research is primarily focused on the mathematical modelling, stability analysis, and automatic control of electric power systems.
Dr Tzounas received the Diploma (ME) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in 2017, and the PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from UCD, in 2021. In Jan.-Apr. 2020, he was a visiting researcher at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. From 2021 to 2023, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher with UCD (2021-22) and ETH Zürich, Switzerland (2022-23). He joined UCD as faculty in Apr. 2023.
He’s co-authored more than 50 scientific publications, including more than 30 articles in academic journals, as well as papers in international conference proceedings, technical reports, book chapters, and the book “Eigenvalue Problems in Power Systems” with CRC Press. Dr Tzounas is the Technical Committee Program Chair of the Power System Dynamic Performance Committee of IEEE Power and Energy Society.
