Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons)

This module is designed to provide you with two key concepts in Mathematics: Laplace Transforms and periodic functions. You will learn their use in solving ordinary differential equations arising from real world physical problems, and their use in describing the behaviour of simple control systems. The concept of the harmonic components of a periodic waveform will be introduced to you and be shown how this is useful in matching general solutions of partial differential equations to particular boundary or initial conditions. The solution of systems of linear ordinary differential equations using matrix methods will also be considered.


Outline Syllabus
Laplace Transforms: Definition, simple transforms, linearity. First shift theorem. Inverse transforms, linearity, use of the first shift theorem and partial fractions. Transforms of derivatives. Transforms of an integral. The Heaviside Unit Step function. The second shift theorem. Solution of linear ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients, including systems of such equations. The Delta function and the Impulse Response function; transfer function. Initial and final-value theorems. Convolution and the convolution theorem. Poles of the transfer function and stability. Steady-state response. (50%)

Periodic functions and Fourier series: Full-range and half-range series, even and odd functions and coefficients in complex form. Application to the solution of partial differential equations by the method of separation of variables. (25%)

Matrices, eigenvalues and eigenvectors: Algebraic evaluation of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix, application to the solution of a system of linear ordinary differential equations. (25%)

The module will be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars. Assessment is by formal examination.

You will learn on module key technical content around two themes that of analogue electronics and instrumentation. These are important topics for electrical engineering covering the key basics of analogue design and the use of analogue signals used in instrumentation. Amplifiers and signal conditioning devices will be covered that convert the sensor output into usable signals for typical process control platforms. Operational amplifiers will be used extensively in the module, leading up to an understanding of discrete electronic transistor design.

Operational Amplifiers - Operational amplifier applications applied to instrumentation signals, active filter circuits, and instrumentation amplifiers. Filter considerations including magnitude and phase bode diagrams, and compensation methods.

Sensors - Temperature, strain and light sensor systems looking into devices and signals. Additional sensors considered may also include slot encoders, accelerometers and hall-effect devices.

Instrumentation - Amplifiers and signal conditioning demonstrates the ability for signal conversion and used in real world environments. Operational amplifiers will be expanded upon with the design of the instrumentation amplifier to highlight the performance improvements. Noise analysis will be introduced to show how instrumentation techniques reduce this phenomenon.

Discrete Electronics - Operational amplifiers are made from discrete elements; these building blocks will be explained include the Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) and the Field Effect Transistor (FET). Transistor applications may include current sources, current sinks, and differential input stages.

This module aims to further develop your capabilities in the areas of digital systems, building on the hardware and software design and development techniques covered in previous related module(s).

In the Hardware Description Language (HDL) section, you learn about technology and architecture. The concept of HDL as a tool to simulate, design and document digital systems is introduced and you will learn how to design, specify, and apply digital combinational and sequential building blocks in isolation, and as part of a larger system. Then the module introduces an industry standard HDL known as Verilog, and shows how it can be used to describe, at the gate and logic expression level, digital building blocks such as decoders, multiplexers, encoders, shift registers and counters. During the course, you are given the opportunity to explore designs by means of simulation using industry standard design tools from raw Verilog code to the simulation state. You will learn how the HDL code is used for actual low-level hardware design implementation and they will also cover other practical aspects of digital hardware design, such as logic hazards, propagation delays and interfacing with other digital modules.
You will also cover techniques and tools that help you with developing your Verilog code including:
1- K-map simplification
2- Timing analysis
3- Synthesizable vs non-synthesizable code
4- Finite state machine (FSM) and state diagram
5- Writing testbench for verification
6- Code reuse and IP blocks
This part of the module comes with a set of workshops specifically arranged to teach you how to use designated tools for simulation and programming a FPGA device.

In the Programming Language section, you will learn about the architecture of microcontrollers and concept of embedded systems. ARM-based microcontroller as well as various ARM-compatible operating systems will be introduced. You will learn about different types of compilers and toolchain, and they will use the C++ language to program an ARM platform to program hardware to perform high-level tasks such as IO port access, serial connection, memory management, FSM, and string manipulation. An overview of C++ language will be given to you and advanced topics such as pointer and classes in C++ are taught. Controlling peripherals such as analogue to digital converter (ADC), ad digital to analogue converter (DAC), is introduced as well as data communication protocols such as I2C, and SPI. you will learn how to communicate with a PC application through a serial wired connection. The IoT technology and cloud services for microcontroller platforms are also introduced.
This part of the module comes with a set of workshops specifically arranged to teach you how to use designated tools for simulation and programming an ARM platform.

In this module you will learn about electronic communications. You will learn fundamental techniques that are used in communication systems for sending information between two devices. You will learn a number of techniques that are used in modern day communication systems to transfer information both via a physical connection such as a cable and also via a wireless connection.

Two of the key themes of electronic communications that you will study are Analogue communication and Digital communication. In both themes you will learn a number of key engineering processes that are fundamental to communications. In analogue communications you will learn the key physical and electronic processes necessary to transfer information in an analogue form. You will also explore current technologies and techniques in radio and satellite communications. In the digital communications topic, the knowledge that you learn in analogue communications will be expanded to a higher level to allow you to understand the key requirements for digital communication. We will examine how communication techniques have evolved over the years to allow users to transfer vast amounts of information at ever increasing speeds.

Three key areas within these two topics are identified:

ANALOGUE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Amplitude Modulation; comparison of various forms of AM, demodulation, frequency and phase insertion errors, examples and applications. Frequency modulation; NBFM, WBFM, spectra and bandwidth, examples and applications. Transmission and reception circuits. Attenuation in radio systems. Modern systems and standards.


DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Spectra of rectangular waveforms, bit rates, baud rates and relationship to bandwidth. line codes and shaping. ASK, FSK, PSK, generation and demodulation, spectrum and bandwidth. Comparison of bandwidth and power. Quadrature carrier systems. OSI reference model. Asynchronous and synchronous communications. The serial data link. Protocols. FDM and TDM multiplexing. Parity and CRC principles and implementation. Networks. IP addressing

OPTICAL SYSTEMS
Optical sources; structure, performance and frequency response. Detectors. Fibres; modes, dispersion, optimum wavelength, coupling and splicing.

This module aims to introduce you to the principles of operation of power systems, and enhance your knowledge of electrical machinery, power electronics and renewable energy. It will also allow you to consider the interaction between these system components.

A power network typically integrates power generators, distribution grid, transformers, transmission lines, and loads. This module provides you with an introduction to power system structure, and the principles of electrical machines. Moreover, low-carbon energy sources have increasingly contributed to the current power network, and power electronics play a key role in energy conversion. Therefore, the module also provides you with an introduction to renewable energy, and power electronics. Specifically, you will learn the following from this module:

POWER SYSTEMS (30%):
Principles and construction of single-phase transformers, equivalent circuits, efficiency and regulation, open and short circuit tests, connections of 3-phase transformers, and vector groups. Basics of powers, and power flow. Per unit systems and fundamentals of balanced fault level calculations.

ELECTRIC MACHINES (30%):
Principles and construction of DC machines, equivalent circuit, starting and speed control. Principles and construction of induction machines, expressions for speed of rotating field and slip, rotor power balance, torque-slip curve, and modern control techniques.

POWER ELECTRONICS (20%):
Fundamentals of power electronics and converters (AC-DC, DC-DC, and AC-AC etc.), and PWM control.

RENEWABLE ENERGY (20%):
Application of the knowledge of power systems, power electronics and power machines to a variety of renewable systems, such as hydro, photovoltaics, wind, combined heat and power, fuel cells, tidal and marine power plants, and illustration of their operating principles, types, characteristics and comparisons. Overview of electricity generation technologies from new and renewable energy, current contributions and future prospects. fored heat and power, fuel cells, tidal and marine power plants.

This module provides you with the knowledge and skills required to research, design, implement and manage the development of an electrical/electronic product. Specifically, you will learn:
• Systems level approach to product design and development.
• The use of online databases to search for patents and research current market trends.
• Project management and the use of Gantt charts.
• Project specification development, project design, electronic/electrical and mechanical design.
• Use of simulation tools, PCB design and rapid prototyping.
• Design analysis and selection, design for manufacturing, product life cycle and product costing.
• Standards and legal issues: market and technical risk assessment, intellectual property, product end of life considerations.
• Ethical aspects, social aspects, and environmental aspects of electrical/electronic engineering product development.
• Communication skills: Pitching technical ideas to general and technical audience.
• Engineering report writing, style, citation tools and content.
• Tracking and managing your professional skill development.

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.