Course info

Power systems are constantly subjected to disturbances and switching actions. These actions can go from a normal connection/disconnection of a load or line, to the opening of a faulted line after a short circuit or the incidence of lightning strokes, among others. These events are known as electromagnetic transients and have a short duration in the range of microseconds/milliseconds, typically. 

Even being short duration phenomena, electromagnetic transients are of fundamental importance, as the system is subjected to high currents, voltages and frequencies during those micro/milliseconds, which may damage the electrical equipment and put them out-of-service. As a result, extensive investigations are made when installing new high voltage equipment as transformers or new lines, in order to assure that the equipment is not subjected to high stresses. 

The participants in the course will learn how to analyse electromagnetic transients and different transient phenomena will be explored using examples and real-life cases. When relevant, the respective countermeasures will be explained and examples given on how to do the respective choice.  

The course will also focus in the use of software tools for the simulation of the transients, more specifically EMTDC/PSCAD, which will be introduced and explained during the course. The importance of having a proper modelling of the equipment (e.g., overhead lines, underground cables, transformers, …) in function of the phenomena will be demonstrated and guidelines will be provided on how to define the modelling requirements for different transient phenomena.