Computer Tools in Power Systems Courses in the Philippines

At the deregulation of electric power industry, technical and value-based studies for planning and operations of power systems as outlined in electricity regulatory codes should be integrated in electrical engineering programs and promote the present scenario by undertaking power systems applications and incorporate computer simulations to stimulate students’ interest and increase their insights with the on-going deregulation of the industry.

The restructuring of the Philippine electricity industry gives a new facet not only to the industry itself but to the education and training of the present and future electrical engineers. With codes and economics governing the operation of electric power systems in the country, challenges in academic instruction to prepare students get ready for work after graduation or board exams remains a daunting task. Technical and value-based planning and operations of these power systems as outlined in should be integrated in the electrical engineering curriculum and elevate the present scenario by undertaking power systems applications and incorporate computer simulations to stimulate students’ interest and increase their insights with the on-going deregulation of the industry. Further, many power system analysis applications that are straightforwardly undertaken using computer programs are required for operations, planning and interconnections.

Recent regulatory filings included the utilization of power system simulations thru suggested software or computer programs. Given this, power industry restructuring education must be started as early as possible to equipped young engineers-to-be by integrating computer simulations into power systems courses taught in the universities. Moreover, the electrical engineering faculty must also take serious measures to keep in-step of the industry changes and challenges in order to prepare students in practical applications by using computer tools.

Acquiring power system software nowadays is not a difficulty experienced in introducing computer simulations in power system courses since some commercial type programs are free with student or demo versions provided for educational and research purposes or even incorporated in power system textbooks. It should be noted that these educational versions are for use only as teaching and research tools and not for commercial purposes. Experiences of classroom utilization of power system simulations are not new and were practically appreciated. It is not the purpose of computer simulations to replace manual computations but to enhance and nourish student learning insights.

Recognizing to resolve the issues discussed above, the integration of the use of computer tools, specifically, PowerWorld, PSCAD/EMTDC and Radial Distribution Analysis Program (RDAP) in power system courses at undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering programs at Holy Angel University (HAU) in Angeles City, Philippines is recently conducted. PowerWorld (http://www.powerworld.com/DemoSoftware/GloverSarmaSimdwnldv13.asp) software is utilized for bulk transmission system planning and operations specifically power flow, short circuit, economic dispatch and contingency analysis. PSCAD/EMTDC (http://pscad.com/download-download.php) is an electromagnetic transients program but was used for power system control lectures while Radial Distribution Analysis Program (RDAP) (http://www.zianet.com/whpower/whpc3.html) is a three phase load flow and short circuit DOS program utilized for electric power distribution systems lectures and projects. The utilization of these power system computer programs is incidental since student or educational versions are provided for free thus it is not the aim to endorse the said specific power system softwares.