ATP-EMTP-Based Approach to Teaching Insulation Coordination in the Electrical Engineering Curriculum

Abstract

The paper presents a simulation model of the three fi nal spans and one 110/35/10 kV/kV/ kV distribution transformer substation (TS) bay. In order to demonstrate the insulation coordination procedure to students, we used this model to provide simulations of backfl ash and propagation of travelling waves to substation components. For this purpose, we used ATP-EMTP (Alternative Transients Program) software, which, owing to its user-friendly graphical user interface, can be effectively used for both scientifi c and educational purposes. Aiming for the modernisation of the Insulation Coordination curriculum, we are proposing modifi ed problem-based learning which combines a classical approach with true problem-based learning (PBL). The pedagogical method and ATP-EMTP simulation model presented in this paper are primarily focused on undergraduate students (the fouryear programme), but can also be appropriate at higher levels of education.Teaching insulation coordination to students of electrical power engineering is a serious task as the phenomena studied are complex and models describing them are very computationally demanding. 1 Earlier insulation coordination curricula relied primarily on the analytical approach to phenomena (Bergeron's method, transmission and refl ection of waves, Bewley's diagram) and also involved high requirements in respect of knowledge of mathematics. Hence students primarily focused on this aspect, whereas the nature of the phenomena mostly remained obscured. Computers were not used as a teaching aid in those days, and phenomena were studied separately, without aiming at their unifi cation into an overall insulation coordination procedure. The modifi ed method of problem-oriented learning in the Insulation Coordination courseBearing in mind the above-mentioned shortcomings referring to education in the fi eld of electrical power engineering, and the Insulation Coordination course in particular, the authors decided to modernize the course. As part of this approach the ATP-EMTP software tool has been introduced into our teaching. Globally, generalpurpose EMTP software tools are the most commonly used software tools employed for the analysis of transient processes in power system networks. 2,3 The user-friendly graphical interface ATPDraw enabled application of the ATP software tool not only in the research fi eld but also in education.At the Technical Faculty in Čačak, Republic of Serbia, the Insulation Coordination course is studied in the third year of the four-year BEng power engineering programme, this being the only course in this scientifi c fi eld. Students are not expected to acquire theoretical background in one course and to learn how to solve practical examples in another course. A 'Collection of Problems' were published. 4 In Ref. 4, all examples are of the so-called closed type. Such a closed problem is solved by using the linear-solving technique. 5 There is a unique solution for the given parameters. Two such illustrative examples are available at www.tfc.kg.ac.rs/ download/sto...

Educational simulation model for studying the impact of distributed generation on distribution networks using ATP-EMTP software

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Specialized software for estimating transmission line and substation lightning performance

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