Advanced Building Electrical System Design

Catalog description

Advanced Building Electrical System Design ( AE 467 ) offers an in-depth look at electrical power distribution system design for buildings. The course reviews electrical calculation fundamentals, power distribution layout and equipment selection, metering/monitoring concepts, simple power flow control concepts, the National Electrical Code, design analysis and construction documents for electrical systems, and utility coordination. Lecture material is reinforced with homework and a semester-long project completed by each student. By the end of the course, students will have mastered core concepts needed to complete assignments encountered in electrical design for buildings. Specifically, students will be able to: explain and apply the electrical design process for buildings; evaluate facility loads and select an appropriate electrical distribution system configuration for a facility that complies with owner requirements; layout basic normal and emergency power distribution systems; understand the concepts of power system redundancy; address coordination details for the utility serving a project and create a detail that explains the interface with the utility; understand power studies (fault, device coordination and arc flash energy) and how to apply the study information to project design; select normal and emergency power distribution equipment that meets owner and project requirements; design feeders, branch circuits, and motor circuits and select distribution equipment sizes based upon loads and NEC rules; know basic metering and monitoring concepts and how these are applied to project systems; understand control systems for power flow, lighting, and equipment in buildings, and how to apply simple control strategies using control switches, relays/contactors and time switches for lighting circuits and transfer switches, as well as contactors and electrically-controlled breakers for power distribution systems; evaluate and compare power distribution system options utilizing cost data as well as an evaluation model; understand the concepts and NEC rules for residential/living unit electrical design; read and apply the National Electrical Code to normal and emergency power distribution equipment, conductors, raceways, overcurrent protection and grounding; demonstrate mastery of basic electrical calculations needed for the design of single- and three-phase systems; and understand how electrical design is presented in project contract documents.