Teaching Electrical Power Systems Using Computer Simulations

A computer program has been developed at the Manukau Institute of Technology that can be used for teaching and researching short, medium and long overhead power lines. The program makes use of interconnected icons rather than differential equations written in computer code (text). By using programs consisting of graphical icons it is far easier for students to visualise the power line that they are studying and in addition it makes it simple for them to modify and update the program. Until recently it has been difficult to teach overhead power lines in a meaningful way because the equations modelling the transient behaviour of lines are systems of differential equations and the equations modelling the steady-state behaviour are a set of hyperbolic (or exponential) equations. Both these sets of equations are difficult for students to visualise and interpret. Furthermore, overhead line laboratory exercises that produce realistic results for students are very difficult to arrange in most university laboratories. The program developed at Manukau Institute of Technology overcomes these problems.