2006, 328 pages

Recognizing the economic and environmental implications of electric energy production and public concern over disruptions of service, this book exposes the challenges of producing and delivering electricity to help inform public policy decisions. Its discussions of complex concepts such as reactive power balance, load flow, and stability analysis, for example, offer deep insight into the complexity of electric grid operation and demonstrate how and why physics constrains economics and politics.

Content:

1. The Physics of Electricity.
1.1 Basic Quantities.
1.2 Ohm's law.
1.3 Circuit Fundamentals.
1.4 Resistive Heating.
1.5 Electric and Magnetic Fields.

2. Basic Circuit Analysis.
2.1 Modeling Circuits.
2.2 Series and Parallel Circuits.
2.3 Kirchhoff's Laws.
2.4 Magnetic Circuits.

3. AC Power.
3.1 Alternating Current and Voltage.
3.2 Reactance.
3.3 Power.
3.4 Phasor Notation.

4. Generators.
4.1 The Simple Generator.
4.2 The Synchronous Generator.
4.3 Operational Control of Synchronous Generators.
4.4 Operating Limits.
4.5 The Induction Generator.
4.6 Inverters.

5. Loads.
5.1 Resistive Loads.
5.2 Motors.
5.3 Electronic Devices.
5.4 Load from the System Perspective.
5.5 Single- and Multiphase Connections.

6. Transmission and Distribution.
6.1 System Structure.
6.2 Three-Phase Transmission.
6.3 Transformers.
6.4 Characteristics of Power Lines.
6.5 Loading.
6.6 Voltage Control.
6.7 Protection.

7. Power Flow Analysis.
7.1 Introduction.
7.2 The Power Flow Problem.
7.3 Example with Interpretation of Results.
7.4 Power Flow Equations and Solution Methods.
7.5 Applications and Optimal Power Flow.

8. System Performance.
8.1 Reliability.
8.2 Security.
8.3 Stability.
8.4 Power Quality.

9. System Operation, Management, and New Technology.
9.1 Operation and Control on Different Time Scales.
9.2 New Technology.
9.3 Human Factors.
9.4 Implications for Restructuring.