OVERVIEW

The teching unit addresses the basic aspects related to electrical circuits and their analysis. In addition, an intruduction to  electric machines and power electronic will be provided.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The first part of the course provides the theoretical knowledge and tools for the study and the analysis of electric circuits in direct current and alternating current; the second part is aimed at providing a basic knowledge of electric machines, power electronic devices, electrical drives and power systems.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attending lessons and exercises, the students will be able to:

• have knowledge relative to theoretical bases and application instruments for the analysis of electric circuits in steady-state and sinusoidal regime (single phase and three-phase systems);
• have superficial knowledge of the mathematical instruments for the analysis of electric circuits in time-domain;
• have knowledge of the main physics phenomena who subtend to the operation of the electrical machines (transformers, synchronous and induction machines)
• have knowledge of the main aspects relevant to power electronics and static converters;

PREREQUISITES

Basics knowledge of Calculus and Physics.

TEACHING METHODS

The course mainly develops through frontal lessons. The students who attend the course must sign up on the AulaWeb site of the course, enrolling to the course. In such a way they will have access to the didactic material of the course, they will receive via email communications of the teacher and will have access to the results of the written tests.

Students with a certified learning disability (DSA), a disability, or other special educational needs are invited to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to discuss teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account and provide appropriate accommodations.
Please also note that requests for exam accommodations or exemptions must be submitted using the form available at this link  https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back , to the course professor, the DIME contact person (federico.scarpa@unige.it), and the relevant office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it) at least seven working days before the examination, in accordance with the guidelines available at this link  https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Introduction – Electrical power transmission -  Electrical generators, electrical users, Electrical lines.
2. Electromagnetic phenomena: General approach to the solution of the electromagnetic problems - Electric charge - Electrical current - Conductors - Continuity Law - Measure of the electrical current: ammeter - Electric field – Electric Voltage - Measure of the electric voltage: voltmeter.
3. Electrical Conduction:  Ohm’s  and Joule’s Laws  - Electrical resistivity and conductivity - Conductors of generic form - Bipolar resistor - Characterization of a bipolar resistor.
4. Electrical  Generators: Introduction – Behaviors of generators in open circuit - Behavior of generators with loads - Energy balance of generators – Electrical generators types.
5. Bipolar devices and energy balance: Introduction – Equations of bipolar devices – Special bipolar devices  (short circuit and open circuit) – Power  - Measure of the electrical power: wattmeter.
6. Electrical network Properties: Introduction - Regime of operation (stationary, variable, transitory) - Analysis of the electrical networks - Topology of the networks - Kirchhoff’s  Laws – Network analysis methods.
7. Steady state analysis: Introduction – Bipolar devices connected in series – Series connection of an ideal voltage generator  and a resistor - Resistors in series: equivalent resistance – Bipolar devices connected in parallel - Parallel connection of an ideal current generator and a resistor - Resistors in parallel: equivalent conductance - Network of resistors: equivalence concept - Star-delta transform – Steady-state analysis Methods  - Superposition method – Maxwell’s method  - Network reduction - Substitution Theorem – Thevenin’s transform – Norton’s transform – Millmann’s  Formula – Power matching - Maximum power transfer.
8. Dielectric phenomena – Capacitor : Introduction – Gauss’s Law - Capacitor – Parallel-plate capacitor- Bipolar  capacitor – Capacitor  in steady-state regime  - Capacitor  in transient regime - electrostatic Energy - Series and parallel of capacitors - Displacement current.
9. Magnetic phenomena - Inductor: Introduction - Magnetic materials - Ferromagnetic materials - magnetic Induction - Faraday-Neumann’s Law - Inductors – Inductor coils - Mutual inductors – Bipolar inductors  and two port inductors - Inductors in steady-state regime - Inductors in transient regime - Magnetic energy - Series and parallel of inductors.
10. Sinusoidal steady-state networks: Introduction – Sinusoidal quantities: Phasors and sinusoids – Phasors graphical operations - generalized Ohm’s Law  - Impedance – Sinusoidal steady-state network analysis – Thevenin’s and Norton’s  transforms - Power balance in steady-state sinusoidal regime (average power, reactive power, complex power) - Measuring instruments in a.c.
11. Three-phase network analysis: Introduction - symmetrical three-phase  voltages - Phase and line voltages – Three-phase balanced load – Currents in three-phase networks – Balanced load analysis – Single-phase equivalent - Powers in balanced three-phase systems.
12. Magnetic circuits: Introduction - Reluctance – Ferromagnetic materials - Air gap - Magnetic  circuit’s Laws - Network analysis of magnetic circuits.
13. Electrical machines and drivers: basic aspects.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Written support are available on-line on AulaWb site. Specifically, in the folder "appunti del corso" are available for download pdf copies of teaching slides.

It is also useful consulting of following books available from school CBA:

M. Guarnieri, A. Stella: “Principi ed applicazioni di Elettrotecnica (volume primo)”, Edizioni Libreria Progetto Padova.

C. K. Alexander, M.N.O. Sadiku: “Circuiti elettrici”, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 88 386 0853-9.

C. A. Desoer, S. Kuh: “Fondamenti di teoria dei circuiti”, Franco Angeli Editore, Collana di Ingegneria Elettrica.

M. Repetto, S. Leva: "Elettrotecnica - Elementi di teoria ed esercizi", CittàStudi Edizioni, Torino.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11881/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final assessment consists of a mandatory written examination and an optional oral examination, both to be taken within the same examination session. During these assessments, students will be required to solve rpoblems and aswer questions about theory.

The written examination, which must be successfully completed in order to gain access to the optional oral examination, carries a maximum score of 27 points. A minimum grade of 18/30 is required to pass the written examination. Students wishing to take the examination must register at least five days before the examination date through the UNIGE Online Services portal, under the section “Students – Exam Registration”.

Access to the oral examination, which is optional, is granted exclusively to students who have passed the written examination. The oral examination may result in either an increase or a decrease of the score obtained in the written examination, by a maximum of four points. Students who choose not to take the oral examination will be assigned a score of zero for this component, and their final grade will coincide with the score achieved in the written examination.

The oral examination will take place within the same examination session as the written examination, according to the schedule published on the UNIGE Online Services portal. Exceptional circumstances preventing a student from attending the oral examination during the scheduled session, provided that they are adequately justified and documented, will be considered individually by the Examination Committee.

The final grade is determined by the sum of the scores obtained in the two assessment components. Should the score awarded for the oral examination be negative, or should the overall final grade be lower than 18/30, the examination will be considered failed and the entire assessment process will be annulled. In such cases, students will be required to retake the written examination during a subsequent examination session.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The evaluation of students’ learning outcomes is based on continuous monitoring of participation and interaction during teaching activities, on performance in practical exercises involving the solution of elementary electrical circuits, and on the overall verification conducted during the oral examination.

Detailed information regarding examination preparation and the relative importance of individual topics for assessment purposes will be provided during lectures and exercise sessions.

The written examination is designed to assess the acquisition of fundamental knowledge, with particular emphasis on the practical skills required for the analysis and solution of electrical circuits. Students are expected to answer the proposed questions correctly and with rigorous justification, presenting clear, orderly, and coherent solutions in which all quantities employed are properly defined. Assessment will take into account both the correctness of the solution methodology and the accuracy of the obtained results.

The optional oral examination will focus primarily on the theoretical and practical topics covered during lectures and exercise sessions. Its purpose is not only to evaluate the student's level of knowledge and understanding, but also to assess the ability to critically analyze and independently discuss the topics proposed during the interview. Students may be required to state, prove, and apply the principal theorems presented throughout the course.

Additional assessment criteria include precision of exposition, clarity of argumentation, the ability to critically elaborate and integrate the acquired knowledge, and the use of appropriate and rigorous technical terminology in the presentation of the required concepts.