Restructuring Power Engineering Education to Meet New Challenges

ECS-9619306 Chowdhury公用事业运营结构的变化、放松监管环境下的竞争加剧、稳定性边际降低和扩展计划受限都是未来发展的趋势，应该会给整个行业的工程师带来巨大的挑战，另一方面，电力电子、计算机科学和微处理器技术的进步正在为电力工程师提供实用的问题解决方案打开大门。扩大输电和配电系统的自动化将是未来充分利用公用事业资源的重要关键。用于高压、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，拟议的项目的目的是引导电力工程课程来应对这些新的挑战。总体目标是组成一个由行业从业者和学术人员组成的联盟，审查电力工程学科的长期教育需求。这些计划将包括(1)课程改革以适应行业不断变化的趋势，(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)让社区学院参与远程课程，以及(7)让高中生参与暑期项目。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许多课程中。如果一个特定概念的应用将电气工程的子学科联系在一起，学习可以得到加强。我们需要行业代表的合作，他们可以指导我们实施实用和有用的程序。这个项目的成果将包括适合学生在实验室和课堂上使用的软件；用于研究FACTS设备性能的模拟器的设计；以及课程重组过程的方法。

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.