This page contains descriptions of the 8 undergraduate courses supported by the Electric Circuits and Renewable Energy Sources Laboratory of the Technical University of Crete.
ACE 201 : Basic Circuit Theory
Description : Lumped electric elements and circuits, fundamental circuit elements (resistors, capacitors, inductors, independent voltage and current sources), ideal elements, approximations, parasitic effects, equivalent circuits, associated reference direction, passive and active elements, linearity, variables - parameters - instantaneous values, characteristic curves, power and energy. Simple circuits, Kirchhoff’s laws, Tellegen’s theorem, connections of electric elements, resistor bridge, ladder network, sensitivity to small changes, basic signal waveforms, small-signal analysis, introduction to linear time-invariant circuits, analysis of first order, second order and higher order circuits (differential equations, zero-input response, zero-state response, complete response, transient and steady-state response, step response, impulse response), basic principles of the node and mesh analysis methods for linear circuits analysis, state equations, Laplace transform (definition, theoretical analysis, fundamental properties, solution of differential equations, indicative applications), transfer functions (Bode diagrams, poles-zeros, natural frequencies, application to oscillator and filter design).
ACE 203 : Electric Circuits Analysis
Description : Sinusoidal Steady State (SSS): Sinusoidal signal, Phasors, Superposition in SSS, Impedance, Admittance, Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s laws in SSS, Elements connections, Node and Mesh analysis, Resonant circuits. Power in SSS: Instantaneous power, Complex power, Effective or RMS values, Periodic waveforms, Tellegen’s theorem, Maximum Power Transfer, Quality coefficient Q. Coupled inductors and Transformers: Linear and time invariant coupled inductors, Mutual inductance, branch coupling, Transformers, Transformer power, Coupling coefficient, multiwinding transformers, Ideal transformers. Dependent or Controlled Sources: Current and Voltage Dependent Sources, Independent and Dependent sources comparison, branch coupling, dependent source power. Circuit Analysis Methods: Transfer or Network function, decibel, Frequency filters, Node analysis in SSS, Superposition theorem, Thevenin – Norton theorem, Miller’s theorem and its dual, Graphic representation of functions, Bode diagrams, Functions with two independent variables. Two ports: Definitions, Representations, Linear time-invariant two ports, Open-circuit or Impedance or Z parameters, Short-circuit or Admittance or Y, Hybrid H parameters, Hybrid G parameters, Transmission or ABCD and inverse parameters, Terminated two ports. Circuits with non-linear elements: Operating point determination, Graphic method, Small signal analysis. Introduction to three phase systems: Symmetric 3-phase systems, Phase voltages, Polar voltages, 3-phase loads and transformers, Star or Y connection, Triangle or Δ connection, Power in symmetric 3-phase systems, Complete 3-phase system.
ACE 413 : Electric Measurements and Sensors
Description : Measurements, Sensors and Measurement Systems, Metrology, the international units system SI, elementary Electromagnetism, general concepts of sensors and measurements, Sensor-Transducer-Detector, Sensors’ characteristics, Measurement system structure, Analog measurement systems, Digital measurement systems, Micro-Electro-Mechanical systems - MEMS, Temperature measurement, Optical radiation measurement, Magnetic field measurement, Position-displacement-distance-dimension-rotation measurement, Level and Tilt measurement, Object detection, Speed and Acceleration measurement, Force and Torque measurement, Pressure measurement, Flow measurement, Chemical sensors, Voltage and Current measurement, other sensors, Signal conditioners, Instrumentation Amplifiers, Multiplexing and Sampling, A/D and D/A converters, Data Acquisition Systems (DAQ), Measurement systems interface and Sensor Networks, Smart sensors, Electrical and Magnetic disturbances on measurement systems.
ACE 418 : Power Electronics
Description : Introduction, thyristors, triacs, power transistors, power MOSFETs, GTO thyristors, IGBT transistors. Rectifiers (single-phase, three-phase, controlled, etc). DC-DC converters, DC-AC inverters, cycloconverters, battery chargers. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT), high-frequency link, snubbers, special inductors and transformers. Power supply units (linear, switching, uninterruptible, power regulation). Heat radiation, harmonics, electromagnetic compatibility, protection. Applications to electric drive systems.
ENE 511 : Renewable Energy Sources
Description : Introduction. Categories of renewable energy sources. Wind-generators (principles of operation, wind-rotor types, types of generators, interconnection to the power grid, autonomous operation, power maximization). Photovoltaic arrays (principles of operation, types of solar cells, interconnection to the power grid, autonomous operation, power maximization). Energy storage (batteries, pump-storage, fuel-cells, etc). Applications. Legislation. Environmental impact.
ACE 513 : Electronic Energy Management Systems
Description : Design of DC-DC and DC-AC power converters. Battery structures for electric energy storage. Electronic systems for maximizing power production (Maximum Power Point Tracking – MPPT). Smart meters. Special sensors, actuators and controllers for energy management and energy saving in Smart Homes/Buildings. Electronic energy management systems for Renewable Energy Sources, Smart Grids, Microgrids and electric vehicles. Electronic systems for wireless power transmission and energy harvesting.
ACE 520 : Computer Aided Circuit Analysis
Description : Graph theory, circuit topology, the node analysis method, the mesh analysis method, simulation algorithms, DC response, AC response, transient response, Monte-Carlo analysis, sensitivity analysis, spectrum analysis, Fourier and FFT analysis. Simulation of actual electronic components. Circuits study using the SPICE program.
