The objective of the course is to provide students with the knowledge of the fundamental laws governing electrical circuits and systems, and with the basic methods of analysis needed to understand and predict their behavior, both in transient and in steady state conditions. Additionally, by analyzing selected key technologies in the field of industrial agriculture, the course aims at providing a broad overview of the role played by electrical components in modern systems design.

-Knowledge of the fundamental laws governing electrical circuits. -Ability to compute and explain the responses of basic electrical networks, including dynamic elements, in common operating conditions. -Qualitatively understand the role and the characteristics of individual electrical components at the system level.

Basic knowledge of electromagnetic phoenomena, linear algebra, complex arithmetics, and ordinary differential equations.

Fundamentals. Maxwell’s equations and lumped circuit approximation. Two-terminal elements. Voltage, current, power. Passive and active sign reference. Kirchhoff laws. Power conservation. Resistive networks. Resistors, ideal sources. Solving resistive circuits by means of the Kirchhoff laws. Series and parallel connections. Equivalent resistance. Star-delta transformations. Voltage and current division. Millman’s Theorem. Thevenin and Norton equivalents. Superposition principle. Controlled sources. Dynamic networks. Inductors and capacitors. Electrical and magnetic energy. Coupled inductors and equivalent circuits. Ideal transformer. First-order circuits. Time constants, charge and discharge processes. Transients. Qualitative description of second order circuits response. AC analysis. Sinusoidal voltage and current sources. Steady state operation. Phasors. Impedance and admittance. AC circuit analysis. Frequency response. Bode diagrams. AC Power. Maximum power transfer. Three-Phase systems. Fundamentals of three-phase systems. Star- and delta-connected generators and loads. Analysis of balanced and unbalanced three phase systems. Three-phase power. Selected applications for agricolture technologies. Power in electrical and mechanical domains. Principles of electromechanical energy conversion. Overview of transducers, generators and motors. Classification of electrical motors, torque-speed relations. Solar cells: basic description, operation, efficiency.

The course is organized into lectures and practical classes. Practical classes (approximately 30% of each credit) are aimed at applying the circuit analysis methods presented during the lectures. During the teaching period, students will be asked to periodically perform online self-evaluation tests. At the end of the course, a total score of maximum 6 points will be assigned to each student, based on the results of these tests.

Reference textbook: Clayton R. Paul, Fundamentals of Electric Circuit Analysis, Wiley 2001. Charles K Alexander and Matthew Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 6Th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education. Allan R. Hambley, “Electrical Engineering, Principles and Applications”, 7th edition, Pearson College Besides the above references, all learning material, including an exercise book, are available for download from the course web page.

Slides; Libro di esercitazione;

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;

... Written test (18/30 points). The written test is divided in two parts. 1) Elementary questions about the course fundamental topics (6/18 points): students are asked to analyze simple electrical circuits (without providing numerical derivations) or to answer theoretical questions. Students that performed all the periodical self-evaluation tests, and reached a minimum score of 4/6, are allowed to skip this first part of the written exam. 2) Numerical solution of an electrical network (12/18 points): students are asked to solve numerically more involved electrical networks. For this second part, students must provide the full derivations that lead to the circuit solution. Oral test (12/30 points). The oral test starts by discussing the results of the written tests. Then, the student will be asked to answer questions about the topics covered during the course lectures.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.