Undergraduate electric machines laboratory innovation at the United States Military Academy

Abstract

New laboratory hardware supporting undergraduate electric machine and power systems instruction has been developed and installed at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the United States Military Academy. The new equipment integrates the transformers, machines, power supplies, loads, and meters necessary to support electric power engineering laboratory instruction into an electric power workstation; the workstation is designed to be a self-contained unit for students to perform laboratory exercises in their entirety. The workstation is built around induction, DC, and synchronous machines sharing a common shaft and three single-phase, tapped transformers. Variable speed drives are available to power each machine. Electrical connections between components are made on external console panels-designed for easy access and to reinforce student understanding. GPIB capable digital instruments measure AC, DC, and mechanical performance. Laboratory exercises that model, analyze, and verify performance can be performed in significantly less time. Examples are given.