The Electric Energy Systems concentration in the Electrical Engineering graduate program offers a wide range of courses in the areas of renewable energy, power systems, electric machines, and power electronics. Recent focus on clean energy and energy efficiency has led to a renewed interest in power and energy systems as well as energy conversion systems. Our faculty conducts research in the areas of solar cell development, battery testing, modeling and simulation of microgrids, power train electronics for electric vehicles, and application of wide-band gap devices in power electronic converters.
Updated 10/30/2023
Degree Requirements
Ten courses (30 credits) are required to complete a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Electric Energy Systems (EES).
Static behavior of the electric power system. The topics include balanced, three-phase systems, steady-state operation of transmission lines, transformer modeling, per-unit normalization, power flow analysis, symmetrical components, and balanced faulty analyses.
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Spring 2025, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019
Review of dynamic process modeling, linearization, transfer function and state-space models. Stability and dynamics of open-loop and closed-loop systems. Feedback control system design and analysis in the frequency and time domain. Topics include: Bode, Nyquist, and Root locus design; multivariable control; feedforward control. Prerequisite: Undergraduate background in systems and control.
An introduction to renewable energy policy from inception to current state of the industry. Deals with the evolution of policy from monopolistic to competitive marketplace. Study will include the various factors affecting this process.
Solid state electronics concepts including semiconductor device physics, microelectronic fabrication, and SPICE modeling. Topics include quantum well structures, semiconductor physics, pn junctions, bipolar and field effect transistors, photolithography, oxidation, diffusion, and computer simulation of semiconductor devices.
Idealized power switching diodes and transistors; DC-DC converters; AC-DC rectifiers; DC-AC inverters; Magnetic circuits and elements (including inductors and transformers); soft-switching of power devices. Practical design of switch-mode DC power supplies, DC and AC motor drives.
The design of renewable energy systems. Topics include: Solar Thermal Energy, Photovoltaics, Bioenergy, Hydroelectricity, Tidal Power, Wind Power and Geothermal Energy.
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Introduction to space vectors, scalar speed and torque control of induction motors, space vector representation of ac motors, dynamic dq modeling of ac motors, introduction to vector control of ac drives. Pre-req. ECE 7805 or permission of instructor.
Principles of the design & application of electrochemical power sources, including batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, & hydrogen electrolysis. Applications include automotive, industrial, medical, telecommunications, & utilities. Prereq=CHM 1151 or equivalent.
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2020, Spring 2018
Introduction to digital control analysis & design techniques applied to discrete-time & sampled continuous-time systems. Sampling, difference equations, the Z-transform & modified Z-transform, discrete transfer function & state-space models, discrete-time regulator & observer design, stability of discrete-time systems, discrete linear quadratic regulator & linear quadratic Gaussian formulation. Prerequisite: EGR 8301 or equivalent with permission of the instructor.
Application of semiconductor power devices (e.g., power FET's SCR's, TRIAC's) with emphasis on high-reliability applications. Device characteristics; linear and switch-mode power supplies; voltage regulators; power amplifiers; high-current switching applications.
Prerequisites:
ECE 7580 (min. grade: C)
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2019, Spring 2017
The modern electric power infrastructure; manifestations of the smart-grid; two-way, smart revenue metering for system operating efficiencies, maximal utilization of renewable resources, improved power quality, and automated management of service disruptions; and evolving technologies offering security, reliability, and environmental sustainability of the electric infrastructure.
The focus of the course is the dynamic behavior of the electric power system. The topics include transient performance of ac machines, load-frequency and voltage control systems, economic operation, transient behavior of transmission lines, and transient stability. Prerequisites: ECE 7805 and ECE 7810 or approval from instructor.
Focus on the design and computer simulation of electric motors and variable speed drives. Topics to be covered include the design of synchronous, induction and permanent magnet motors; Park's transformation and D-Q modeling; CSI, VSI, 6-step, and PWM drive topologies. Modeling of various control strategies (including vector control) and stability of control loops will be covered. Design examples for high power (>1MW) applications will be provided.
Prerequisites:
ECE 8580 (min. grade: C) and ECE 8800 (min. grade: C)
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Spring 2009, Spring 2007, Spring 2006, Spring 2004
CRSE Attributes:
NONE
Courses also included in Alternate & Renewable Energy track in Sustainable Engineering are: ECE 7000, 7580, 7805, 7810, 8580, 8815, 8820 and EGR 7850.
Practical methods for the conversion and measurement of physical quantities by the use of transducers and electronic circuits are discussed. The underlying technology of the typical electronic measurement system is studied. The role of analog interfaces, modifiers, A/D conversion, busses and digital interfaces in designing instrumentation is discussed.
Fundamentals of solar radiation, heat and fluid transport in active and passive solar collectors, solar ponds, solar cooling, and photovoltaic energy conversion. Analysis and design of active and passive solar systems. Needs undergrad material equivalent of ME 3100 and ME 3600.
Theory and practice of computer communications security, including cryptography, authentication, and secure electronic mail. Topics include secret and public key cryptography; message digests; password-based, address- based, and cryptographic authentication; privacy and authentication in email; PEM, PGP, and S/MIME. Use of various algorithms.
Credit Hours:
3
Last Offered:
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2022
CRSE Attributes:
NONE
Additional courses should be selected to complement those above and to support your professional interests.
Degree plans must be submitted before registering for your first semester. The degree plan must meet general departmental requirements for graduation, and the specific EES concentration requirements detailed above. The deadline for the submission of your degree plan for an EES-Concentration MS Degree is:
For full and part-time students: before registering for your first semester.
For 5-year BS/MS students: before registering for fall semester of your senior year.
Academic Advisor
Each student who selects the EES concentration must work with his/her academic advisor (for research assistants, this would be his/her research advisor) to prepare and submit an approved degree plan. The academic advisor must be a full-time faculty member who teaches courses in the EES area. Dr. Pritpal Singh is the Academic Advisor assigned to the EES concentration. Any student interested in the EES concentration is encouraged to meet with Dr. Singh until he/she has established a permanent academic advisor.
The full-time ECE faculty who regularly serves as academic advisor for the EES concentration is Dr. Pritpal Singh, Professor, 610-519-7378.
Related Research Facilities
Sustainable Energy Research Laboratory The Sustainable Energy Research Laboratory is well equipped with digital oscilloscopes, function generators, multimeters, electrometers, and electronic loads. A 5 kW fuel cell stack, 10 kW diesel generator, and a 5 kW Lithium ion battery pack are available for medium-power applications. Two Solartron 1280B Electrochemical Measurement units and two Tenney Jr. thermal chambers are available for testing and measurements of batteries. In addition to the standard instrumentation, the power electronic test benches at the laboratory are also equipped with a network analyzer, high-current probes and amplifiers, differential probes, and a high voltage power supply. Four programmable power electronic converters (~10kW) – may be configured as AC/DC rectifier, DC/AC inverter, and electric drives are also available. Electric machines and drives apparatus as well as power system simulator available is lab may be used for teaching and research. ECE department also have licenses to various simulation software such as PSpice, Labview, and Multisim.
“Villanova offers a strong research-oriented graduate school program. It has extremely qualified faculty willing to help students excel in their areas of interest.”
“The professors in Electrical Engineering are very easy to work with and the program itself is tailorable. I appreciated how I was able to select classes that matched my professional interests.”
Mark Schaff, Systems Engineering Lead, The Boeing Company
