Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

This unit aims to:

• Introduce the principles of electromechanical energy conversion. This will include introducing the student to the construction, operation and applications of magnetic circuits, the transformer, the induction motor and DC machines.
• Introduce the student to sensors typically used in robotics projects including torque, force, acceleration, velocity, displacement, fluid-flow, and temperature.

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (42 hours), Tutorials (12 hours) and Laboratory work (12 hours)

Assessment:

Assignments (10%), Examinations (70%), Labs (20%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development
• Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development.
• Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them
• Expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so

Content:

• Magnetic Circuits and Ampere's Law
• Concepts of magnetic flux, flux density, magnetic field intensity, reluctance, permeability and permeance
• Study of series and parallel magnetic circuits and electrical analogies
• Permanent magnets, magnetic materials and B-H characteristics
• Self and mutual inductance
• Energy density in a magnetic field
• Magnetic force relationship
• Force on a conductor carrying a current in a magnetic field
  

Transformer

• Construction of a single phase transformer
• Ideal transformer equations: emf equation & ratio, mmf balance, phasor diagram
• Practical transformers: iron & winding losses, leakage reactance
• Equivalent circuit, efficiency, voltage regulation
• Introduction to the high frequency transformer and the pulse transformer
• Introduction to instrument transformers (CT's and VT's)

Induction Motor

• Three phase motor construction
• Approximate equivalent circuit
• Equivalent circuit with Thevenin's equivalent
• Torque - speed characteristic, slip for maximum torque
• Losses, efficiency

• Motor and generator modes of operation
• Equivalent circuits
• Connections of field windings
• Voltage control and regulation
• Speed control and regulation

• Introduction to some power electronic semi-conductor devices
• SIngle phase half-wave and Single phase full-wave converters
• Three-phase full wave converters
• Applications of converters

• Linear and rotational sensors
• Measurement of time and frequency
• Force torque acceleration sensors
• FLow, temlperature, distance sensors
• Light image and vision systems

Textbooks:

References: