37348 - Electricity Production and Conversion Systems T

Academic Year 2017/2018

Learning outcomes

The course deals with the electricity generation from various (also renewable) energy sources and introduces the main topics relevant to the operation and control of electric power generation systems in competitive electricity markets. Moreover, the course provides general knowledge on electric machines and outlines of static conversion.

Course contents

The Course 37348 - SISTEMI DI PRODUZIONE E CONVERSIONE DELL'ENERGIA ELETTRICA T (9 credits) for the first cycle Degree in Energy Engineering is composed by two modules:

  • the first module (6 credits) is devoted to the electrical power generation
  • the second module (3 credits) is devoted to the electrical power conversion.

The first module is a standalone course for the students of the first cycle Degree in Electrical Engineering named "31407 - PRODUZIONE DELL'ENERGIA ELETTRICA T".

Course contents of module 1 (6 credits)

  • for the students of the third year of the 1st Cycle Degree in Energy Engineering
  • for the students of the third year of the 1st Cycle Degree in Electrical Energy Engineering


The course covers the production of electricity from the various primary sources of energy, also renewable, and provides basic knowledge on the operation and control of production in a liberalized electricity market. The main topics of the course are:

- Technical features of the electric energy system engineering and capability limits of synchronous generators;

- Electricity market;

- Production constraints due to the characteristics of the transmission network;

- Adjustment of the balance between production and load with exchanges between interconnected networks;

- Production of electricity from wind and photovoltaic sources

Course contents of module 2 (3 credits)

  • for the students of the third year of the 1st Cycle Degree in Energy Engineering

Configuration of power systems. Medium voltage and low voltage distribution systems.Protective and switching equipment. The TT system. The Fortesque theorem. The transformer: operating principle, vector diagrams and equivalent circuit. The alternator: operating principle. Stability of the alternator connected to an infinite power network. Static stability and transient stability. Operating principle of the synchronous motor. The equation of motion and the equal areas criterion. Asynchronous machines. Main construction features. The equivalent circuit. The torque curve. Zones and stable operating conditions. Elements of power electronics and converters. Diodes, thyristors and IGBTs. Work points. Rectifiers with diodes, single-phase and three-phase bridge. DC-DC converters, chopper or step down converter. DC-AC converters. Single-phase inverter, single-branch configuration, PWM modulation (pulse width modulation). Full bridge inverter. Three-phase inverter. Overview of generators for wind turbines. Introduction to direct current machines.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes are available at https://campus.unibo.it/.

Teaching methods

Course work will include lectures, tutorials and lab work.

Assessment methods

Oral final exam (exam schedules are available at https://almaesami.unibo.it)

The examination at the end of the course aims at assessing the achievement of learning objectives

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Napolitano

See the website of Carlo Alberto Nucci