ECE 557 - Fall 2025

Fault Tolerant Power Systems


Course Description

ECE 557, Fault Tolerant Power Systems, will take a close look at power system security and the planning/operating techniques for making power systems fault-tolerant. The first half of the course will cover the classical static security analysis tools including DC power flow based distribution factors and Fast-Decoupled AC power flow based 1P1Q screening. In addition, students will learn about some of the computational techniques that have enabled online processing of contingencies, e.g., sparse vector methods.

The second half of the course will cover optimal power flow, including security-constrained optimal power flow. The final project will be a full implementation of the AC power flow based SCOPF. The lecture material will be augmented with hands-on experience in power system security via simulation. The computations will be explained via MATLAB routines. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of MATLAB, as presented in the MathWorks tutorials online (see link on ECE 557 home page). The computing assignments will be easiest to implement in MATLAB, although other computing environments may be used.

Course Administrivia

Instructor
Dr. Alexander J. Flueck, SH 224 and IT 16C5-1 (south hall), 312-567-3625, flueck@iit.edu
Time/Place
Tuesday/Thursday 1:50 pm - 3:05 pm, 16E4-1 Galvin Tower
Office Hours
Tue/Thu 3:05 - 4:05 pm, by appointment, IT 16E4-1
Prerequisite
ECE 419 or permission of instructor
References
W. D. Stevenson, Jr., Elements of Power System Analysis, 4th edition, 1982
A. R. Bergen, Power Systems Analysis, 1986
H. Saadat, Power System Analysis, 1999
A. J. Wood, B. F. Wollenberg, Power Generation, Operation, and Control, 2nd edition, 1996
Projects
Computing projects can be done in the environment of your choice, but MATLAB is highly recommended.
Presentation
Each student will present a paper in fault-tolerant power systems.
The presentations will be peer-review graded.
Midterm
Administered in-class on Main Campus; closed-book; allowed one 8 1/2 x 11 handwritten sheet of notes.
Final Project
Due by Final Exam Date: ?:?? AM on ?day, Dec ?, 2025.
Grading
Project work (40%), presentation (10%), midterm (20%), final project (30%)


Updated 19 Aug 2025