International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Education

Electroheat is a multi-disciplinary subject comprising a number of seemingly diverse techniques. A unified approach has been put forward which links the fundamental electromagnetic principles of some parts of electroheat, such as direct resistance, induction, radio frequency and microwave heating.

Details are given of a series of short courses on electrical utilisation which have been developed by the Electroheat Group at Loughborough University over the last decade. Information is also given on typical projects carried out during the courses which illustrate the inter-relationship between industrial electric heating processes and the design of the projects.

The conventional wrap-around induction heating technique and the travelling wave induction heating technique have been compared as a means of heating mild steel vessels. Two small-scale units have been designed and constructed which may be useful as demonstration units for lecturers teaching electrical engineering principles to non-electrical engineers.

The sensitivity values of the critical clearing angle of a generator connected to an infinite bus through a double circuit transmission line, with respect to the system parameters, are evaluated, and the limiting values of the parameters within which the system can remain stable are identified.

APL is a mathematical notation which is suitable for blackboard and textbook use, and also for programming a computer; the paper provides a view of its attractive properties and some examples of its use, in the context of teaching the principles of electronic circuit analysis.

The paper describes an integrated C.A.D. system kernal designed to provide optimum performance during 3.D. interactive sessions. The hardware is based on proprietary L.S.I. devices. The resident software provides an elementary C.A.D. Language, which is based on threaded interpreted code. Analysis of the performance of the system is presented.

A consultancy assignment is presented in which students are placed in the position of Junior Engineers in a fictitious consultancy company. They are required to investigate and report on deficiencies in a circuit designed by a client company. The reactions of the students to this form of tuition are discussed.

The role of books in Electrical Engineering higher education is appraised by considering their use in courses, their selection and their procurement. Particular emphasis is placed on peer reviews and class assessments of popular teaching texts. The importance of libraries and co-operation with campus bookshops is also discussed.