Introduction, review of electric circuits

Abstract

Power systems are undergoing significant changes in terms of how they are operated, how electricity is generated and transferred to the users, and how the consumers interact and participate with the power systems. The main focus of this book is to provide the engineers, students, or interested readers with the essential knowledge of the power and energy systems, as well as main energy technologies including how they work and operate, and how they are evaluated and selected for specific applications. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the engineers, students, or interested readers to the contemporary energy system issues and challenges, and brief the historical perspective of the power system evolution. The sections of this chapter are giving a quite comprehensive description of electric circuit theorems and solutions methods, direct current (DC) and alternative current (AC) circuits, power in AC circuits, and other important issues, terms, and definitions. The last section of the chapter gives a brief summary of the unit system and measurements. Several examples are included in sections to help in better understanding of the chapter. The reader must be fully aware that good understanding of DC and AC circuit theorems and solving methods, power in AC circuits, and the measurements and units are vital for the understanding of power and energy systems, analysis, design, operation, and management of these systems. These are the chapter objectives, goals, and aims. The chapter may be useful and recommended even for the readers who are fully familiar with the topics of the chapter.