Description
This unit builds on the preliminary techniques and skills introduced in Unit 19: Electrical, Electronic and Unit 20: Digital Principles.
The emphasis in this unit will be in developing a structured approach to the analysis of AC single-phase and three-phase powered circuitry. This will help students to arrive at the solution in the most efficient way, with the greatest probability of it being correct. In addition, students will be introduced to the expanding use of computers, using specialised software to solve electrical, electronic and digital circuits. This will allow students to develop the necessary confidence and competence in the four key areas of mathematical techniques, circuit analysis, circuit simulation and laboratory practice.
Successful completion of this unit will enable students to cope with increasingly complex problems and prepare them for the challenge of Level 6 academic programmes.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Use appropriate mathematical techniques to solve a range of electrical and electronic problems.
Formal steady state circuit analysis:
Determinants, mesh analysis and nodal analysis (and their comparison)
Analysis using ideal sources, superposition theorem
AC circuit analysis:
Complex notation, polar and Cartesian coordinates, RLC circuits
Advanced use of phasor diagrams
Power: instantaneous power, power factor, apparent power, the power triangle
2. Apply appropriate circuit theorems to solve problems in electrical networks.
Three-phase theory:
Application of trigonometric methods to solution of phasor diagrams
Application of complex numbers to represent quantities in AC circuits
Single-phase representation
Solution of balanced three-phase circuits
Complex notation applied to three-phase, unbalanced loads, unconnected neutral point
Power, reactive power and power factor correction for three-phase systems
3. Use appropriate laboratory and computer simulation techniques to investigate both analogue and digital circuits and interpret the results.
ECAD:
Use of computer modelling and simulation techniques to analyse and solve electronic, electrical and digital circuits, such as filters and amplifiers using operational amplifiers and discrete devices; digital logic circuit elements; and simple combination and sequential circuits
4. Explain the characteristics of non-linear circuits to predict their behaviour under a variety of conditions.
Non-linear circuits:
Characteristics of linear and non-linear circuits, mathematical modelling of a number of semiconductor devices, including diodes, bipolar and Field Effect Transistors and how this can be used to predict their ‘real’ behaviour in practice
Mathematically modelling the behaviour of semiconductor diodes, bipolar transistors and Field Effect Transistors