RESEARCH LINES 

• Industrial Electronics – This line of research focuses on industrial electronic apparatus, including power electronics and drives, power converters and power switches. 
• Power Systems – This line of research focuses on studies related to power systems, transmission and distribution related problems from the industry and electricity utilities. High voltage applications and materials, outdoor insulation, and grounding and protection, are some of the focused areas. 

Both research lines can also permeate Artificial Intelligence techniques to automate processes, solve problems and improve efficiency. 

REQUIRED COURSES - MASTER'S DEGREE

Basic Core Subjects

Signal Processing (LPs I and II) – 45 hours/class

Syllabus: Signals and digital signal processing; Operations with sequences; Signal classification; Some basic sequences; Discrete time systems; Linear time-invariant systems (LIT); Frequency response; TFTD Properties; Response in the frequency domain of LIT systems; Sampled continuous time signals; Sampling theorem; TFD: Discrete Fourier Transform; ; Z transform; Important properties of the Z transform; Z Transform Inversion; FIR Digital Filters Project; Approximation of IIR Filters by analog-digital transformation. 

Fundamentals for Artificial Neural Networks (LPs I and II) - 45 hours/class

Syllabus: Programming with Python, Introduction to Artificial Neural Networks, Vector spaces, linear operators, Matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, decomposition into singular values, Probability, random variables, mean, standard deviation, variance, probability distribution, Bayesian statistics and Theory of Information. 

Artificial Intelligence applied to Electric Power Systems (LPs I and II) - 45 hours/class

Syllabus: Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence. Search. Machine Learning. Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Electrical Power Systems. 

Specific Core Disciplines

Electronic Processing of Electrical Energy (LP I) – 60 hours/class

Syllabus: Static Converter Topologies; Power Electronics Applications; Static Converter Modulation Techniques; Components and their Technologies Applied in Static Converters. 

Static Converters Project (LP I) - 60 hours/class

Syllabus: Review of rectifiers and input filters; Isolated DC-DC Converters at High Frequencies; Switching assistance circuits; Switch sizing; Control circuits; Auxiliary circuits; Closed loop control; Electromagnetic interference (EMI); Physical design of magnetic elements for high frequency. 

Modeling and Control of Static Converters (LP I) - 45 hours/class

Syllabus: Modeling of static power converters aiming at control; Considerations and objectives in the design of controllers for converters; Analog control of static converters; Digital control of static converters. 

Dielectric Materials (LP II) - 45 hours/class

Syllabus: Gaseous dielectrics: theory of electrical discharges in gases, Townsend's “avalanche” discharge model, Paschen's Law, discharge in non-uniform electric fields, partial discharges and corona. Time x voltage characteristic curve. Liquid dielectrics: Types of insulating liquids, charge transport, discharge mechanisms, effect of impurities, electrohydrodynamics, electrostatic charging in power transformers. Solid dielectrics: sources of conductive charges, surface discharge, discharge due to thermal, electrochemical and electromechanical effects, arborescence, tracking and erosion. 

High Voltage Techniques (LP II) - 60 hours/class

Syllabus: Origin of high-voltage techniques: Transmission lines - operation in DC regime - calculation of electromagnetic fields and electric potential; Corona effect and twinning (bundle); AC operation – calculation of longitudinal voltage and current profiles in alternating regime; transitory regime – Incident lightning strikes and propagation and travelling waves; switching and maneuvering impulse generation; High-voltage tests: Atmospheric impulse, maneuvering impulse, applied voltage and induced voltage. The performance and testing of laboratory tests. 

Electrical Grounding Techniques and SPDA (LP II) - 60 hours/class

Syllabus: Fundamentals of Electrical Grounding: principle, purpose, basic requirements; Grounding resistance and impedance; Soil resistivity; Specification of materials, corrosion, low voltage grounding schemes and standards; Measurement techniques: standards, equipment and methods for measuring grounding resistance and soil resistivity; Dimensioning and design of grounding grids for substations: IEEE and numerical modeling methods; Grounding of electrical installations - case studies: Transmission lines, overhead distribution networks, wind and photovoltaic plants; Principles of impulsive electrical grounding: Atmospheric discharges, current surge models, transient grounding impedance and surge impedance; Introduction to the concept of SPDA with its three subsystems – Electrical Uptake, Descent and Grounding; NBR 5419: the national standard for SPDA – An overview - Parts 1 to 4; SPDA project calculation – From demand to execution. 

Investigative Center Disciplines 

Research Methodology (LPs I and II) - 30 hours/class

Syllabus: Science: common sense and science, types of knowledge, scientific method, science and scientific spirit, planning scientific research. Guidance for producing and presenting research work.  

Final Paper Seminars (LPs I and II) – 30 hours/class

Syllabus: Characterization of the topic. Bibliographical research. Premises, objectives and hypotheses of the topic. Critical analysis of techno-scientific texts. Final Work Planning.