During the MSc programme in Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering (EPSH), you will study future power supply sources and the structure of future power supply systems.
The programme combines power systems analysis with network planning, simulation models for analysis of steady-state and transient phenomena, compensation systems, application of advanced control and surveillance strategies, stability, reliability, voltage quality, and relay protection.
The teaching of the programme is carried out in an innovative, dynamic and challenging environment, through a combination of research-based courses, team-based project work, and a high degree of interaction with industrial partners and energy supply companies.
The companies take an active part in providing project proposals for the problem-oriented project work, guest lectures and visits to the companies.
The teaching is carried out in English, because many international students are enrolled in the study programme.
1st semester
This semester is common for the three electrical specialisations in Energy Engineering: Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering (EPSH), Power Electronics and Drives (PED) and Wind Power Systems (WPS). For students with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from Aalborg University, the credit of the project work is 15 ECTS, whereas it is 10 ECTS (INTRO project) for students with a BSc degree from another university.The projects' technical topics are the same, but students from another university have one extra course, which includes the theory of Problem Based Learning (PBL). This method is the primary teaching method used at Aalborg University, and it is applied in all projects. The documentation of the project work is also different: Students with a BSc degree from Aalborg University should:
Document the project work by a paper, a poster and a presentation at an internal conference (CES) together with an appendix report, all in English.
Students with a BSc degree from another university should:
Document the project work by a project report written in English.
Click for details of projects and courses on Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering (EPSH).
1st Semester Project for Students with a BSc Degree from Aalborg University: Dynamics in Electrical Energy Engineering
On this semester, focus is to analyse the dynamics of an electrical energy system or electrical apparatus. The problem to analyse could e.g. be in the subject area of electrical power systems, electrical drive systems, wind power systems or a combination of these. In such systems, short circuits, starting procedures, control issues, etc., demand that the dynamic performance of the systems must be studied. The chosen system must be analysed and modelled. Finally, some experimental verification of the system, a model of the system, or parts of the system, is to be documented in the laboratory.Project examples:
Use of the induction machine as a drive on an electric vehicle
Non-linear model of 3-phase distribution transformer
Model of grid connected wind turbine generator
1st Semester INTRO Project for Students with a BSc Degree form Another University than Aalborg University: Problem-based Project-organised Learning in Dynamics in Electrical Energy Engineering
The purpose of this semester is to give the students a comprehension of the Problem Based Learning method (PBL) applied at Aalborg University. The main focus is to give the students experience in carrying out project work in connection with problems in the subject area of electrical energy engineering. The students will write a project report documenting their project work. Knowledge will be given to students in subject areas related to their chosen specialisation.
The technical problem is the dynamics of an electrical energy system or electrical apparatus. This problem may e.g. be in the subject area of electrical power systems, electrical drive systems, wind power systems or a combination of these. In such systems, short circuits, starting procedures, control issues, etc., demand that the dynamic performance of the systems is to be studied. The chosen system is to be analysed and modelled. Finally, experimental verification of the system, a model of the system, or parts of the system, should be carried out in the laboratory.
The assessment of the INTRO semester project is a stop-test. It is a precondition that this project is passed to be able to continue on to the 2nd semester of the MSc study.
Project examples:
Characterisation of photovoltaic panels
Improvements to the domestic energy supply wind energy, solar energy, or UPS apparatus
Electric bicycle for indoors use
2nd Semester: Control and Surveillance in Electrical Power Systems
2nd semester projects will study a component, an application or a process involving control or surveillance of electrical power systems (digital SRO-systems). The actual system is to be described, and specifications for the control or supervision system are to be made. The system should be modelled and implemented in a simulation program. Different control and/or surveillance methods are to be simulated, analysed and evaluated with the purpose of selecting a solution. The complete system (or parts thereof) or models should be designed and implemented as a real-time system in the laboratory, or real-time data should be achieved from an existing system. The implemented system and the designed control and/or surveillance strategies should be tested, verified and evaluated based on the set-up in the laboratory or by real-life data. A variety of advanced courses covering power converters, high voltage technology, EMC/EMI and optimisation theory and stochastic processes are offered. These courses will provide the background knowledge and support the projects.
Project examples:
A new proposal for the grid connection of large offshore wind turbine parks
Frequency control of wind farms
Earth fault test equipment installed on a trailer when measuring at the Kyndby power plant test area
Stability analysis of synchronous generator with rotating diodes controlled by various different voltage regulators
DSP-based differential protection algorithm, applying a Kalman filter, for the protection of an auxiliary transformer at a combined cycle plant
3rd Semester: Optimisation, Diagnosis and Control of Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Systems
The project work on this semester will be based upon an electrical power system or a high voltage system. An optimisation, control or diagnostic system is to be set up and the system is to be modelled. Different system identification methods can be applied to determine the parameters of the system. The system model is verified by simulations and data time series from either a real system or a laboratory set-up. Based on the model, the optimisation, control or diagnostic system is set up to improve the performance of the system with regard to power output, energy efficiency, life time extraction, fault detections, etc. The system is to be implemented and verified experimentally.
To practice scientific communication skills, the project result, or parts of it, must be published in an article written in English. This article is to be presented at an internal seminar (CES).
Courses are offered of which 10 ECTS are to be chosen at this semester. The courses may vary from year to year, depending on the number of students on the different specialisations, the on-going projects and research performed at the Department of Energy Technology. Courses from other universities might be used as elective courses. However, the following two courses are always available:
Neural network and Fuzzy logic - 5 ECTS
System identification and diagnosis - 5 ECTS
Project examples:
Flexible AC power systems
Load flow analysis of the ENV 60kV grid studying changes in reactive power flow when overhead lines are replaced with cables
The effects of connection of wind power systems to the network grid
Measurement of the distortion in the no-load current of a 20/60 kV power transformer at the HEF utility
4th Semester: Masters thesis in Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering
The Master's thesis may study new subjects or be an extension of the project work of previous semesters. It will normally be carried out in collaboration with an industrial partner, an energy supply company or a transmission system operator, assuming the character of industrial research or development work. Alternatively, it may support one or more research projects at the Department of Energy Technology, or another research facility assuming the character of research. Often, students write scientific papers reporting the work of their Master's Theses. As courses are not normally offered on this semester, the entire semester is dedicated to the thesis work.
Examples of Master's theses:
Probabilistic network planning at the transmission level
Power grid studies for the Karahnjúkar hydro-electric power plant and Fjardaál Aluminium Smelter
Analysis and modelling of the dynamic behaviour of the 400 kV line from Thrige to Ferslev
Performance analysis of 60 kV distance relays for the HEF net
Optimisation of power flow
Overvoltage protection of large power transformers
Distance protection on a 150 kV combined OH and cable connection
Lightning protection of transmission lines
Wireless current transducer
Dynamic simulations of switching transients in a compensated 60 kV cable grid
Energy laboratories
At the Department of Energy Technology, you will find a lot of well-equipped and modern test laboratories enabling you to carry out exciting laboratory experiments. These tests will verify the theoretical analysis, which you apply during the project work. The laboratories make it possible to perform realistic tests within the area of power systems and high voltage engineering, and they include advanced computer-based measurement and control facilities.
Furthermore, the majority of the project work is carried out in cooperation with the industry, giving you the possibility to do some of the project work in a company. The companies will come up with project proposals and provide equipment or data for the project work.
