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The National University of Singapore: Electricity Distribution

This course is designed like a field trip. Let’s travel together around the world, visiting solar farms, substations, and transformer rooms! Learn how to identify major components in electrical substations, learn about 3-phase electricity, and all about the ins and outs of electrical grids. We cover generation, transmission, and distribution. Welcome!

7 weeks
1–2 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available
Electricity Distribution

About this course

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In this class, learners will learn all about electricity infrastructure, including electricity generation, transmission, use and safety. The focus is on actual installations, so students can learn about electrical substations, 3-phase power distribution, typical power plant voltages, large transformers, as well as single-phase, split-phase, and 3-phase circuit breaker boxes and wiring setups found around the world. Learners will understand the importance of AC in an electricity grid, as well as grounding/earthing, pole transformer setups, as well as residual current/ground fault interrupt and safety setups and lightning protection.

At a glance

  • Institution: NUS
  • Subject: Engineering
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:

    The student should be familiar with the basics of electricity. For instance, the student should understand Ohm’s Law and the use of phasors in AC. Our previous courses Circuits for Beginners and AC & Switching Circuits may be helpful for learners who aren’t familiar with these concepts.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills: Single-Phase Electric Power, Power Distribution, Voltage, Electrical Power Transmission And Distribution, Electric Power Distribution, Transformers (Electrical), Three-Phase, Circuit Breakers, Electricity, Electrical Wiring

What you'll learn

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At the end of this MOOC, the learner will be able to discuss:

  • Wire gauge
  • Why AC is generally used for transmission instead of DC
  • Why three phase is used and how to calculate line and phase voltages
  • Circuit breakers, metering, fuses, lightning rods, residual current/GFCI devices, and grounding rods
  • Star and delta transformers and electrical substation layout
  • The electricity grid, and how it is generally designed
  • Split phase, single phase, 2-phase, and 3-phase consumer units/breaker boxes
  • How power is injected into the grid
  • Typical grid voltages and power plant capacities
  • Grid challenges with renewables, power output from solar farms

Syllabus

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Week 1: Introduction (4 videos)

Week 2: Circuit Breakers and Residual Current Devices (7 videos)

Week 3: Polyphase power (6 videos)

Week 4: 3-phase transformers (3 videos)

Week 5: Split-phase power (3 videos)

Week 6: Electricity generation (5 videos)

Week 7: Electricity distribution (6 videos)

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Verified Track

Audit Track

Price

$139 USD

Free

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Nov 20

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Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

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