Restructuring Power Engineering Education to Meet New Challenges

公用事业运营结构的变化，在放松管制的环境中竞争加剧，稳定的低利润和有限的扩张计划都是指向未来发展的趋势，应该为整个行业的工程师提供充足的挑战。另一方面，电力电子，计算机科学和微处理器技术的进步为电力工程师打开了大门，为问题提供实用的解决方案。在未来，输配电系统的扩大自动化将是充分利用公用事业资源的重要关键。用于高电压、大电流应用的半导体器件的发展，即所谓的第二次硅革命，已经给工业设备和公用事业网络带来了根本性的变化。拟议项目的目的是引导电力工程课程来应对这些新的挑战。整体目标是建立业界人士和学术人员的联盟，研究电力工程学科的长期教育需求。该计划将包括(1)课程改革，以结合行业的变化趋势；(2)新的教育工具，如模拟器和用于计算和可视化的创新软件；(3)计算机辅助实验室练习；(4)计算机增强的课堂讲座；(5)通过引入边做边学的概念创造积极的学习环境；(6)让社区大学参与远程课程；(7)让高中生参与暑期课程。我们坚信，有必要教授更广泛的主题，并将电力工程的主题扩展到核心电力课程之外的一些课程中。如果将特定概念的应用与电气工程的子学科联系在一起，则可以增强学习。我们需要行业代表的合作，他们可以指导我们实施实际和有用的方案。这个项目的可交付成果将包括适合学生在实验室和课堂上使用的软件；研究FACTS器件性能的仿真器设计；以及课程重组过程的方法论。

ECS-9619306 Chowdhury Changes in the utility operating structure, increased competition in a deregulated environment, lower margins of stability and constrained expansion plans are all trends that point to future developments that should provide ample challenge for engineers throughout the industry, On the other hand, advances in power electronics, computer science and microprocessor technology are opening doors for power engineers to provide practical solutions to problems. Expanded automation of transmission and distribution systems will be an important key to making the best use of utility resources in the future. The development of semiconductor devices for high voltage, high current applications, the so-called second silicon revolution, is already bringing about fundamental changes in industrial equipment and utility networks, The intent of the proposed project is to steer the power engineering curriculum to meet these new challenges. The overall objectives are to form a coalition of industry practitioners and academic personnel to examine long-term educational needs in the power engineering discipline. The plans will include (1) curriculum changes to incorporate changing trends in the industry, (2) new educational tools, such as simulators and innovative software for computation and visualization, (3) computer-aided laboratory exercises, (4) computer-enhanced classroom lectures, (5) creating active learning environment by introducing concepts of learning-by-doing, (6) involving the community colleges in distance courses, and (7) involving high schools students in summer programs. We firmly believe that there is a need to teach more breadth of topics and spread the topics in power engineering over a number of courses outside of the core power courses. Learning can be enhanced if the application of a specific concept ties sub-disciplines of electrical engineering together. We need the cooperation of industry representatives who can guide us to implement progra ms that are practical and useful. The deliverables in this project will include software that are appropriate for student use in labs and classroom; the design of a simulator for studying the performance of FACTS devices; and the methodology of the course restructuring process.