OVERVIEW

Electric Circuit Analysis (Resistive-only DC, Transient, Steady State AC and Three-phase analyses).

Contents will also take into consideration STCW Section A-III/6 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of electro-technical officers.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

"The aim of the teaching unit gives the essential elements for understanding of analysis and exploitation of the electromagnetic phenomena. In the first part of the teaching unit the instruments analysis of DC circuits are introduced. The second part of the teaching unit will focus on the AC circuit analysis (single and three phase electrical circuits). The principal application aspects of exploitation of power electric phenomena are also introduced. At the end of the teaching, the Student will have the knowledge to read and to understand the diagram of an electrical circuit and to determine the main quantities related to it."

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this teaching-unit is to describe to the Students the basic knowledge necessary to study and solve simple Circuital Models, with particular attention to power aspects.

At the end of the teaching-unit the Students will be able 

• To use the basic methods for Linear, Time Independent and Lumped Parameter Circuit Analysis for solving electrical circuits.
• To solve circuits both in time-domain (Resistive-Only DC, Transient Analysis), as well as in  frequency domain (Steady State AC).
• To solve three-phase systems balanced and not, by using the power method as well as the symbolic one.

The teachin-unit provides the theoretical tools for the achievement of the skills required by the individual functions envisaged by the STCW Convention. Theoretical knowledge is provided to develop the skills required by Functions 1,2,3 of Table A-III/6 of the Agreement  STCW (electrotechnical officer). Theoretical knowledge is provided to develop the skills required by Functions 1,2,3,4 of the  Table A-III/1 and A-III/2 of the STCW Convention (marine engineer). Teaching contributes to the enhancement of soft skills, in particular literacy-functional competence.

PREREQUISITES

The teaching-unit does not require particular prerequisites. In the same time, Students should know the basis of algebric computation with real and complex numbers and the meaning of linear differential equation of firsrt and second order with constant coefficients.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching is delivered primarily through traditional lecture-based instruction (frontal-mode). Team-working activities will also be incorporated, providing students with opportunities to further develop their functional literacy and communication competencies.

Theoretical lectures are complemented by conceptual exercises, as well as practical and numerical problem-solving activities designed to consolidate students’ understanding of the subject matter.

Students attending the course are required to register on the University’s online learning platform, AulaWeb, by enrolling in the course. Through this platform, they will gain access to teaching materials, receive official communications from the instructors via email, and be able to consult the results of written assessments.

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 DITEN contact person (silvana.dellepiane@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

The Circuit Model: basic concepts and lows

Current and Voltage. Potential Difference. The Electric Circuit: Electrical circuits: modeling assumptions and validity limits.  Circuit elements: terminals and ports, one-port and multi-port networks, boundary surfaces. Lumped-parameter circuit models. Voltage and current reference directions.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL). Linearly independent Kirchhoff equations and elementary equation-selection techniques.

Element constitutive relations and voltage-current characteristics. Basic one-port elements: resistor, open circuit, short circuit, ideal independent voltage sources, and ideal independent current sources. Representation of element characteristics in the voltage-current plane.

Instantaneous electrical power. Power associated with a one-port element. Generator and passive sign conventions. Power dissipation in resistive elements. Joule heating effect. Tellegen’s theorem. Power balance and conservation.

Resistive Circuits

Definitions and modeling assumptions. Resistive elements: linear time-invariant (LTI) resistors, constitutive equations, resistance and conductance.

Series and parallel interconnections. Voltage-divider and current-divider circuits.

Network equivalence. Equivalent resistance of series and parallel resistor networks. Circuit reduction techniques. Delta-to-star and star-to-delta transformations.

Network theorems for resistive circuits: Thévenin’s theorem, Norton’s theorem, and determination of equivalent networks. Maximum power transfer theorem. Practical (non-ideal) voltage and current sources. Millman’s theorem. Superposition theorem and representative applications.

Introduction to general circuit-analysis techniques.

Capacitors and Inductors

Ideal capacitors and inductors. Fundamental properties and constitutive equations.

Stored energy. Initial conditions and state variables.

Series and parallel interconnections of capacitors and inductors and computation of equivalent parameters.

Modeling of real capacitive and inductive components.

Dynamic Circuit and Their Solution

Review of linear differential equations with constant coefficients. Solution of homogeneous differential equations through characteristic polynomials. Determination of particular solutions. Initial-condition analysis.

Steady-state behavior of capacitors and inductors.

Analysis and solution of first-order RC and RL circuits.

Transient response and forced response of linear dynamic circuits.

Sinusoidal Steady-State Circuit Analysis

Steady-state response of linear time-invariant circuits under sinusoidal excitation.

Complex representation of sinusoidal quantities. Phasor analysis.

Definition of impedance and admittance. Impedance and admittance models of linear circuit elements.

Extension of network theorems to sinusoidal steady-state conditions.

Voltage drops and power-factor correction.

Analysis and solution of representative linear AC circuits.

Power in sinusoidal steady state: instantaneous power, active power, reactive power, and apparent power. Complex power representation.

Tellegen’s theorem for AC networks. Active and reactive power balance.

Series and parallel resonance. Anti-resonance phenomena.

Practical circuit-analysis techniques: impedance-based methods and power-based methods.

Three-Phase Systems

Introduction to three-phase systems and engineering motivations for their adoption.

Three-wire and four-wire three-phase networks.

Phase and line voltages. Symmetrical and balanced three-phase systems.

Positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence sets.

Phase quantities and line quantities. Power calculations in three-phase systems.

Per-phase analysis of balanced three-phase circuits.

Unbalanced three-phase systems.

Analysis and solution of balanced and unbalanced three-phase circuits of engineering interest.

The teaching-unit contributes to the achievement of one or more of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda:

Goal 4. Provide inclusive and equitable quality education and learning opportunities for all
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

The teaching-unit contributes to the enhancement of soft skills, in particular literacy-functional competence.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Besides the books in Bibliography, available in Department Library, on AulaWeb are available copies slides and notes.

Reference (for OPTIONAL study deepening on specific subjects)

• M. Repetto, S. Leva: “Elettrotecnica – Elementi di Teoria ed Esercizi”, 2^ edn, Città Studi Edizioni, Torino, 2018
• L. Verolino: “Elementi di Reti Elettriche”, 1^ edn, EdiSES, Napoli, 2019
• C. K. Alexander, M.N.O. Sadiku: “Circuiti elettrici” III edn., McGraw Hill Italia, 2008.
• C. K. Alexander, M.N.O. Sadiku: “Foudamentals of Electric Circuits" Circuiti elettrici” V ed. McGraw Hill,  2013
• G. Rizzoni: “Elettrotecnica – Principi e applicazioni”, II edn., McGraw Hill Libri Italia, 2008

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/10948/studenti-calendario

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 analyze and solve electrical circuits operating under steady-state, dynamic, and sinusoidal conditions, in both single-phase and three-phase systems, as well as to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical topics covered throughout the teaching.

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 session as the written part. 

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 operating under steady-state, dynamic, and sinusoidal conditions, in both single-phase and three-phase systems. 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 numerical results obtained.

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 teaching.

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.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.