STRA - Postgraduate Certificate in Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power

Through a Graduation Project students have the opportunity to study a specific problem in the various fields of knowledge which have been covered throughout the program trying wherever possible to solve a problem in their company. Participants develop a project applying methodologies and modern concepts in a specific area. This project will contribute to professionally strengthening students and improving the level of competitiveness in the sector.

Concepts of probability and statistics, dependability, stochastic processes and statistics will be presented with their applications to electrical engineering, without following the mathematical rigor common to this science and exhibiting in various ways and with specific examples, the transition between real problems and probabilistic models. An engineer participating in this course may apply those concepts in the solution of real problems and their observation. In sum, the course contains the following topics: basic concepts on probability theory, random variables, probability density and distribution functions, random variable functions, calculation and use of statistical parameters, statistical models, sampling theory, statistical estimates and hypothesis testing, variance analysis, Montecarlo processes, Markov chains. Simple and complex coherent structure dependability concepts, fault trees, system dependability. Basic concepts on Decision Theory, introduction to other uncertainty analysis methods (diffuse sets, possibility theory, etc.).

Objectives: Learn the concepts and basic tools of corporate finance which allow understanding the structuring and financing of investment projects related to the energy sector, especially as regards transmission and distribution. Contents: General aspects of Financial Administration (Corporate Finance): - Value of money over time. - Cash flow concept, construction and handling. - Net Present Value NPR. - Internal rate of return (IRR). - Equivalent annual cost. - Cost-benefit ratio. - Capital cost and structure. - Valuation. - Project Finance. - Money and capital markets.

Course objectives: become familiar with the theory and handling of modern tools applied on the design of transmission systems, including the topics of: calculating matricial parameters of transmission lines, modeling and simulation of transitory phenomena, Probabilistic isolation design, probabilistic electromechanical design of transmission lines. Become familiar with the theory and handling of modern tools applied on the design of transmission systems, including the topics of: calculating matricial parameters of transmission lines, modeling and simulation of transitory phenomena, Probabilistic isolation design, probabilistic electromechanical design of transmission lines.

Objectives of the course: study the modern techniques on management of distribution systems, dealing with the problems of its application at a national and regional levels. The course includes the following topics: Recovery No technical Losses (Classic and Probabilistic Methods), Projection of demand, Reconfiguration of distribution networks, optimization techniques, and Automation of Distribution Systems.

This course will deal in the basic concepts of engineering projects, project phases, basic quality assurance concepts, interpretation of regulations for an engineering project case. Documentation of quality systems and quality plans for projects. Auditing project quality systems and quality plans. Regulation interpretation workshop for participants’ engineering projects. Documentation workshop for selected project aspects. Auditing workshop for a specific quality plan or process. The process of a project, use of the ISO 10006 norm for project quality management: Phases, organization, project management and project quality management. Basic quality concepts and their relation with quality assurance. Significance, objective and methods of quality assurance. ISO 9000/2000 norms.

Course objective: To study the application of the probability theory to the evaluation of the reliability of power systems: generation, transmission and distribution systems. To present and introduce participants to the concepts and methods for the evaluation of the reliability of electrical power distribution systems. The course includes: a review of the probability concepts of reliability, adjustment concepts, security, integration, maintenance, network structure analysis, failure data analysis, life distribution models, determining and probabilistic criteria and methodologies for reliability analysis, safety and failure risk, engineering designs based upon reliability, software reliability. Analysis techniques include analytic methods, failure trees, FMCA analysis and Monte Carlo simulations. There are also fundamental concepts of maintenance based on reliability (RCM) and some advanced topics such as reliability and risk with the diffused logic analysis introduced.

Provide students with the tools for the analysis and design of distribution systems of mid and low tension related to the reliable, safe, and economical functioning of power supply projects in both sides of the measurement, with the purpose of evaluating both the perspective of the power supply company, as well as the one of the final user. Power supply problems present in electrical systems are more frequent these days, and have a high repercussion in the indicators of productivity, performance, and safety of the personnel and the equipment. These series of problems turn out to generate economic losses due to: Long periods of NO invoicing, erroneous management of inventories and/or big data bases, equipment damaged, fires, and risks affecting the personnel of the company, apart from high administrative costs. It is indispensable the participation of electrical engineers for the correct application of the basic standard NTC 2050 (National Electric Code), the recommendations IEEE, FPUB, as well as other computer-based (EMTP, HARMFLO, PSCAD) and measurement (FLUKE, AR5) tools, guaranteeing the understanding by network designers and planners, equipment manufacturers and users. this course includes the study of phenomena, harmonic elements analysis, and temporary phenomena, as well as the study of grounding, voltage fluctuation analysis, and benchmarking applied to PQ, It also focuses in the study of solutions for the PQ phenomena: active filters, FACTS, among others.