1. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 Multimedia Programmes to Teach Practical and Industrial Experience during the Education Tom Sels, Pieter Vermeyen, Michel Machiels, Daniel Van Dommelen, Ronnie Belmans Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - Belgium Dept. Electrical Engineering ESAT/ELECTA Electrical Energy & Computer Architecture

2. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 2 Overview Introduction Target groups of Maxwell Maxwell: Who or What ? Structure of Maxwell  Interactive training module Conclusions - Final remarks  Some examples  Feedback from the students

3. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 3 Introduction In practice, engineers must do a diversification of tasks:  Selecting & Implementing electrical systems  Integrate them in the industrial environment They need theoretical, technical and practical experience Ex-cathedra coursesLaboratory sessions & computer based simulations Advantage : Well established routes BUT : the system is no longer more compatible with the needs of the today’s society  Modern energy application are operated using aspects of different skills and need engineers with a widespread practical experience and knowledge

4. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 4 Introduction Drawbacks of the classical laboratory sessions:  Impossible to combine aspects of several courses Requires a lot of expensive equipment a lot place Practical limitations for laboratory sessions (small groups of students) Need a lot of man power and time for supervising the sessions  Students: restricted in the hands-on experiments Are not able to repeat the experiments Are not able to explore the final limits of the systems Need for a powerful software environment - the students can repeat an execute the experiments at any time and any place Maxwell:  Computer-supported laboratory  A joint working project of 1 univ. & 3 polytechnicals

5. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 5 Maxwell: Who or What ? Maxwell: Software environment to simulate laboratory experiments in an interactive way, on your own level, speed and in a familiar place  Using Maxwell it is possible to: Repeat individual laboratory experiments Combine several aspects of different courses Prepare the real hands-on experiments Prepare the final examination  Similar approach as in industry Using prototyping as less as possible First simulate, then prototyping and finaly implementation  This individual learning method will improve: Self-confidence of all-round engineers of the future Enhance the understanding of complex problems and the link between different courses

6. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 6 Target groups of Maxwell The main target groups are:  Bachelor and master students  Students from universities and polytechnicals Because there are differences in basic needs:  Theoretical knowledge at the universities  More practical knowledge at the polytechnicals Maxwell can by-pass the differences in basic knowledge  Not only restricted to electrical engineers, but Maxwell covers also the other engineering departments Creates opportunities for master students  They can integrate their final master thesis into Maxwell Usable in adult education due to its open structure

7. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 7 Structure: Main opening screen Until now - 6 related topics from different courses:  Physical Principles  Energy  Sensors  Controllers  Electronics  Composed Systems  All topics have the same structure throughout the prg Example: Energy systems

8. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 8 Structure: Main screen Energy Topic concerning ENERGY  Measurement devices  List of measurement devices  Transformers  DC-machines  Induction machines  Servo drives  Electroheating Example: Transformers

9. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 9 Structure: Main screen Transformers Subtopic concerning TRANSFORMERS  Principles  Formulae  Simulations  Technology  Expert  Questions  Principles  Formulae  Simulations  Technology  Expert  Questions Simulations:  Like in real practice  User: select testobject and measurement devices  Slide bars - Buttons  Interactive Fields  Auto parameter variation Example: Load test of Transformers

10. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 10 Structure: Example - Transformer Simulation of the load test of a single phase transformer  User can select: Transformer Measurements Loads  Simulation results Listed in a table Saved in a.txt Can be manipulated Generally:  Hot buttons to Navigate throught the program Jump to other screens Interactive participation of user

11. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 11 Feedback from the students Maxwell supports us while repeating the theory after attending the labs (to prepare the examinations) 31% is not convinced 69% are satisfied

12. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 12 Feedback from the students Using Maxwell to prepare the lab sessions reduces the danger & risks, and improves the safelty 63% is not convinced 37% are satisfied

13. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 13 Conclusions - Final remarks An educational computer program is developed  Interactive environment covering several topics of EE  Can be used by bachelor and master students  Helpfull to prepare and repeat practical laboratory sessions  Can be used to become familiar with analyzing complex systems covering several related technical courses A survey among the students points that:  The students are pleased with Maxwell  > 60% - It is a support during studying the theorie and preparing the final examination  BUT: does not provide a higher safety level during the labs BUT: Real laboratory experiments are still necessary Need for the real physical contact & Create a feeling for real dimenions

14. Tom Sels Belgium Academic Village Barcelona 12-15 May 2003 14 Contact information T. Sels, P. Vermeyen D. Van Dommelen, R. Belmans K.U.Leuven - Belgium tom.sels@esat.kuleuven.ac.be M. Machiels U.I.E. - France michel.machiels@electrabel.com Play with Maxwell on-line: http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/… …electa/teaching/maxwell