Sacramento State/Steve McKaySacramento State is the only university in California, and one of only two on the West Coast, that supports its power engineering program with a protection relay-testing and real-time simulation lab.
“It’s a world-class laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment,” says Lorenzo Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The University's new showcase lab is tucked away in Santa Clara Hall, beyond the sign that reads, “Producing career-ready graduates destined for a lifetime of achievement.”
“It’s a dream come true,” says Mohammad Vaziri, an assistant professor and researcher in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. “I have desired this for our students for a very long time. The hands-on experience they gain in the relay-testing section will enhance their preparation and marketability for power-system protection jobs with such utility companies as SMUD, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and CAISO.”
Power engineering students now can perform testing experiments to verify the proper operation of protective relays, which detect and protect power system elements against the abnormal conditions that can cause power outages and damaged equipment.
“The lab’s real-time simulation allows students to investigate more advanced theoretical concepts and to study the complexities of power system behavior during transient conditions,” says Vaziri.
The lab’s price tag of more than $280,000 for the testing and simulation equipment was covered by an external grant. In addition, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratory donated the microprocessor-based relays, valued at more than $80,000, and Power Pros donated more than $25,000 in labor and materials to build the central console, and to buy furniture.
“We built the console so students can learn with modern technology,” says Power Pros owner Jimmy Burmeister. “When Dr. Vaziri laid out his vision of what he wanted to do to improve the quality of the power program, particularly in the specialized field of system protection, I said, ‘I would like to be a part of that.’ ”
Sacramento State will make its lab available to professional relay technicians and field engineers for refresher training.
“It will be similar to the program offered at Washington State University, the only other university on the West Coast with a protection relay-testing lab,” says Vaziri. “However, Washington State’s facility is much older and lacks the real-time simulation equipment.” – Dixie Reid