Incorporating Electric Drives Into The Electrical Machines Course: A Systems Level Approach

Over the last 35 years, the advent of power electronics has extensively impacted almost every aspect of Electromechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC). The effective integration of power electronics, electric drives, and system issues into the EMEC curriculum demands a significant redesign of both the course and laboratory exercises. One such redesign, currently being supported under the Adaptation and Implementation track of the NSF’s CCLI program, is the subject of this paper. An existing undergraduate “electric machines” course has been converted into an “EMEC systems” course in which power generation, power processing, and end-use equipment are integrated. A "just-in-time" strategy has been adapted and implemented into the EMEC course. Of particular interest is the need to provide students with end-to-end instruction on the analysis and design steps followed in the development of an electric drive system.