NG1S850 - Electrical Principles 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG1S850
Module Title: Electrical Principles
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Information and Electronics
Faculty Sub Group: Electronics
Module Leader: Eurfyl Davies, Hammad Nazir
Module Team: Alexandre Oleon, John Williams, Mostafa Darwish
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100163 - electrical and electronic engineering
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

• Introduce the fundamental theorems and analysis techniques for problem-solving in electrical circuit theory.

• Provide students with the knowledge and intellectual skills necessary to model and analyse electrical and electronic systems using circuit theory.

• Introduction of Battery technology, electric drives, power inverters, Solar PV and Smart Grid at a basic level.

Content Summary

• D.C. resistive circuits - Effective value of resistances in series/parallel. Calculations on circuits using Ohm's law, Kirchhoff’s laws, voltage division and current division rules, Thevenin’s theorem, Norton’s theorem, maximum power transfer theorem, mesh-current and node-voltage analyses, and the superposition principle.

• Capacitance - Capacitor theory and capacitance. Effective value of capacitances in series/parallel. Capacitor charging and discharging characteristics in the series RC circuit (d.c.) and the RC time constant.

• Inductance - Inductor theory and inductance. Effective value of inductances in series/parallel. Current-time transients in the series RL circuit (d.c.) and the RL time constant.

• Sinusoidal voltages/currents – Waveform terminology and equations. R.M.S. value. Phasor representation, complex quantities.

• Single-phase circuits – Reactance, impedance, current and voltage calculations for series RL, RC and RLC circuits; calculations for parallel circuits. Complex power. Power factor improvement.

• Tuned circuits – Analysis of series RLC and parallel RLC circuits to include calculations for resonant frequency, Q-factor and bandwidth.

• Electromagnetics - Fundamental electromagnetic and magnetic circuit theory, and calculations. Transformer principles.

• Three-phase circuits – Electromagnetic generation of 3-phase voltages. Line and phase voltages for star and delta connections; star-delta/delta-star transformations. Calculations for basic three- and four-wire systems with balanced and unbalanced loads. Measurement of three-phase active power.

• D.C. motors and generators – Basic construction. Derivation of e.m.f. and torque equations. Basic operating characteristics of series, shunt and separately excited machines and equivalent circuit calculations. Calculations for speed and torque. Permanent magnet motors.

• Battery technology, electric drives, power inverters, Solar PV and Smart Grid at a basic level.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 48
Practical classes and workshops 26
Independent Study 86
Directed Study 40
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and theory for electrical circuits.
LO2 Demonstrate an ability to solve basic electrical circuit problems using appropriate principles, theory and mathematical methods. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of battery technology, electrical drives, renewable energy sources and smart grids.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Practical Coursework (Onsite) 1 A practical simulation exercise and written assignment report 30 N/A 40 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 1 Written examination 120 N/A 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Coursework (Onsite) 1
Onsite Open Book Examination 1

Reading List

Hambey, A. (2013) Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications; International Edition. 6th Ed. Pearson Education. (ISBN 13:9780273793250, ISBN10:027379325X).

Hughes, E., Hiley, J., Brown, K. and McKenzie-Smith, I. (2012) Electrical and Electronic Technology.
11th Ed. Pearson Education. (ISBN13:9780273755104, ISBN10: 0273755102).

Bird, J. (2013) Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology. 5th Ed. Routledge. (ISBN13:9780415662864; ISBN10:0415662869).