WHAT IS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING?

Dr. Bahawodin BahaUniversity of Brighton, UK

July 2007

DelPHE

OUTLINE

• What is DelPHE? • A brief summary of the progress so far.• An overview of typical electrical engineering department• Subdivisions of electrical and electronic engineering

– Power systems, control systems– Electronics– Communication– Electromagnetics– Computer systems– Signal processing

• Reasons for studying electrical engineering• Different categories of subjects within EE• Running a professional EE department

Development Partnerships in Higher Education programme (DelPHE)

• The UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID) through the British Council is supporting a new Development Partnerships in Higher Education programme (DelPHE).

• The objective of this programme is to address the Millennium Development Goals through the partnerships between Higher Education Institutions in the UK (HEIs) and 25 bilateral focus countries.

Progress so far

• 1st set of activities: Started the project, December 2006

• 2nd set of activities: March – April 2007

• Training for lecturers and computer science students in digital electronics

• Further information published at the following website:

• http://www.uobkupartnership.talktalk.net

OVERVIEW

• Electrical Engineers design systems that have two main objectives:

1.To generate, distribute, store and convert energy between various forms

2.To gather, store, process, transport and present information

Subdivisions of Electrical

Engineering 1. Power Systems

These systems convert energy to and from electrical form and transmit energy over long distances, distribute energy to dwellings' and industrial complexes.

These systems are composed of generators, transformers, distribution lines, motors and other elements.

2. Control Systems

These systems gather information with sensors and use electrical energy to control physical process.

3. ElectronicsElectronics is the study and application of materials, devices, and

circuits used in amplifying and switching electrical signals.

• The most important electronic devices are transistors of various kinds.

• In 1947, Transistor was invented in Bell labs in the USA.• It was as tall as the face of wristwatch.• In November 2001, another Bell lab team has built a transistor

from a single Molecule - small enough to fit about 10 million transistors on the head of a pin.

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering (cont.)

• Overview of Electronics– Analogue electronics– Digital Electronics– Power electronics– Physical electronics

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering (cont.)

• History of Electronic Devices• Information on different generation of electronic

devices which were presented on page 9 -14 on can be found the following link in this website.

• http://www.uobkupartnership.talktalk.net/page13.htm

• Because of the limit on memory pages 9 -14 have eliminated from this version of presentation.

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering (cont.)

4. Communication SystemsTransport information in electrical form. Cellular

telephones, radio, satellite television and the internet are examples of communication systems.

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering(cont.)

5. Computer Systems

Process and store information in digital form. Computer is an essential electronic equipment in the lives of people at the developed world.

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering(cont.)

6. Electromagnetics

Electromagnetics is the study and application of electrical and magnetic fields. Cellular telephones and television antenna and magnetron (a device in the oven) are examples of electromagnetic devices.

Subdivisions of Electrical Engineering(cont.)

7. Signal Processing

Is concerned with information-bearing electrical signal. Often, the objective is to extract useful information from electrical signals derived from sensors. Application are machine vision and robotics.

Reasons for studying electrical engineering

• To have a broad enough knowledge base so that one can design project in their fields.

• To be able to operate and maintain electrical systems

• To be able to communicate with electrical engineering consultants

• To become an electrical engineer.

Subjects within EE

• Fundamentals• Math, Science

• Core subjects• Circuit analysis, analogue and digital electronics,

Signals and systems, Control, microprocessors, Communication, computer programming

• Specialty• Specific subjects in different areas

Steps to design electrical and electronic circuits

• Analyses

• Computer Simulation

• Building proto-type

• Testing proto-type

• Creating PCB layout

• Produce final product

Running the department

• Strong leadership is required• Subject leaders are required• Update curriculum by integrating

advances in technologies• Research and consultancies• Close collaboration with other

universities and colleges• Offer courses, which are shared with local

colleges.

PROJECTS

• An essential part of any engineering course.

• The students must complete some small project in earlier years and a major project during the final year

• Students will also learn how to apply project management in their projects.

Main Points

• Objectives of Electrical Engineering• Sub-divisions of electrical engineering

– Power systems, control systems– Electronics– Communication– Electromagnetics– Computer systems– Signal processing

• Reasons for studying electrical engineering• Subjects within Electrical Engineering• Steps to deign electrical and electronic circuits• Projects• Running the department

Acknowledgement

• DelPHE program, especially the director of British Council in Afghanistan, Mr. Malcolm Jardine.

• The University of Brighton

• Colleagues at KU, KPU and ICTI, MoHE, MoC.

THE END

• Thanks for your attention http://www.uobkupartnership.talktalk.net

A piece of History

(Re-printed from Afghanistan Studies Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2)