Introduction to Electrical Engineering (Online Learning)

This series is focused on educating electrical engineers on the essential principles of electrical safety, system design, and maintenance. The series focuses on foundational concepts rather than regional codes and standard requirements. Still, it does cover common international (IEC, EN, BS, etc.) and North American (NEC, IEEE) standards related to design and safe operation.

Candidates can take the following self-paced eLearning courses individually or as a 27-hour online series. A certificate with Continued Education Units (CEU) is issued upon completion of each eLearning course.

Target Audience

Facilities personnel who interface with facility electrical power systems, including project engineers, operation leads, instrumentation, controls personnel, and electrical engineers who are new to electrical power systems within industrial facilities.

You Will Learn

Basics of Electrical Safety and Design Standards (U.S. Based Standards)

This eLearning course is designed to give learners a jump-start in navigating and applying U.S. based electrical safety, and design codes/standards such as the National Electrical Code (NEC, NFPA 70), and many others, in industrial installations which may include explosive (hazardous) atmospheres.

You will learn how to: 

• Describe the need for codes and regulations in the electrical industry
• Explain the basic hazards of electricity, common risk reduction methods used, and codes and standards that apply to various aspects of electrical safety
• Describe the role of OSHA and enforcement mechanisms for common industry-recognized codes and standards including the role of NRTL’s
• Identify codes and standards used for sizing, specification, and installation of electrical equipment and infrastructure for industrial facilities
• Identify codes and standards used for determining the degree and extent of hazardous (explosive) areas in industrial facilities
• Describe some of the common mistakes individuals make in learning, interpreting and applying common codes and standards
• Describe the purpose and scope of the NEC, its layout, and how to navigate it
• Apply the basic requirements of the NEC including conductor sizing, grounding,
• Describe the role of circuit breakers, fuses, and overload relays and the code sections that reference their sizing
• Describe the scope, purpose, and key articles of NPFA 70B, NFPA 70E, NESC C2, NFPA 780, API RP 2003
• Describe the articles and basic requirements for installations in explosive (hazardous) atmospheres and the use of NFPA 497 and API RP 500 in the classification of hazardous areas
• Describe the basic process of hazardous area classification per API RP 500, terms used, and considerations used to determine risk level
• Describe the importance of well-designed lighting systems and the application of industry standards such as IES RP-7-17

Principles of Power Systems in Industrial Facilities

Principles of Power Systems in Industrial Facilities (Part 1) - This series of eLearning courses is intended for those with little or no background in electrical theory or the practical application of those principles to power systems in typical industrial facilities, including hazardous locations. We strongly encourage taking both eLearning courses.

You will learn how to: 

• Describe electricity and its role in energy
• Explain the general structure of a power system
• Describe the roles and materials used for conductors, insulators, and semiconductors
• Describe how magnetic fields and electric fields are related
• Define the common electrical properties of voltage, current, resistance, and power
• Describe how these properties impact electrical equipment design, such as conductors, transformers, motors, and generators
• Describe a basic AC and DC electrical circuit and its components
• Use Ohm’s Watt’s and Kirchhoff’s Laws to solve basic electrical problems
• Describe how basic series and parallel circuits behave and how they are wired
• Describe how static electricity is generated and the hazards associated

Principles of Power Systems in Industrial Facilities (Part 2) - The eLearning course avoids the typical academic approach and instead focuses on explaining complex concepts using easy-to-understand analogies. These analogies are then immediately extended to describe how the concepts are used to design industrial power systems.

You will learn how to: 

• Describe 3-phase power systems, their characteristics, applications, and advantages
• List the basic equations used for DC, AC single-phase, and 3-phase power systems
• Describe harmonics, their sources, and impact on power systems
• Explain the basics of conductor construction, selection, and sizing
• Summarize the relationship between conductor current carrying capacity, cross-sectional area, insulation design, ambient conditions, and installation methods

Electric Motors and Motor Control in Industrial Facilities

This eLearning course explains electric motor drivers, including electric power generation fundamentals, basic AC motor types used in oil and gas, selection criteria, efficiency and performance standards, mechanical and electrical design aspects, typical accessories, motor starting techniques, and typical maintenance, inspection, and commissioning activities.

You will learn how to: 

• Describe a motor driver and its key operational aspects
• Describe differences in operation between induction and synchronous motors and how to select between them
• Identify key design and operating parameters of electric motors
• Identify electric motor de-rating factors
• Describe the relationship between motor torque and speed
• List available motor accessories and their functions
• Describe the typical data shown on the motor nameplate
• Describe the methods of motor starting and their pros/cons
• Describe the operation of variable speed drives and their effects on electrical equipment
• Describe items generally covered in optional Factory Acceptance Testing
• Describe common steps in commissioning motors
• List typical motor maintenance activities and typical failure modes

Principles and Concepts for Installing Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Atmospheres

This three-part series of eLearning courses introduces the principles and concepts for installing electrical equipment in hazardous (explosive) atmospheres.

Hazardous Area Classification in Oil and Gas Facilities - discusses the process of Hazardous Area Classification, where we determine the risk of ignitable atmospheres being present. This eLearning course is relevant to North American (NFPA, NEC, CEC) and International Standards (IEC).

You will learn how to: 

• Describe the conditions required for an explosion
• Explain the risk that electrical equipment represents in the presence of ignitable atmospheres
• Describe the four elements of safely installing electrical equipment in hazardous areas
• Describe the risk factors we encounter in hazardous locations and protective layers applied
• List the industry standards related to area classification
• Describe the various hazardous substances commonly encountered and their key properties related to hazardous location installations
• Describe the roles and responsibilities for various disciplines related to hazardous area classification, installation, and operations
• Define the terms used in hazard area classifications
• List the considerations that lead to determining area classification
• Describe how area classifications are documented and how to interpret these documents

Hazardous Area Equipment Selection and Installation in Division-based Facilities - covers equipment selection and installation practices for the Division method, which is used primarily in North America.

Hazardous Area Equipment Selection and Installation in Zone-based Facilities - covers equipment selection and installation practices for the Zone method, which is used internationally (including North America).

You will learn how to: 

• Describe how electrical engineers and designers use electrical area classification drawings to specify electrical equipment and installation practices in hazardous locations
• List the standards related to electrical installations in hazardous locations
• Define the common terms used in area classification, including:
  • Division-based: Class, Division, Group, and T-Code
  • Zone-based: Zone, Group, and T-Code
• Describe the impact of Division/Zone, Group, and T-Code designations on equipment specification
• List the four aspects of hazardous location installations
• Describe the role of:
  • Division-based: NRTLs as they apply to hazardous area-rated equipment
  • Zone-based: Certified and Notified Bodies as they apply to hazardous area-rated equipment
• Explain the principles, pros, and cons of various protection methods commonly used in hazardous area-rated electrical equipment
• Describe the basic installation requirements for equipment in hazardous locations
• Compare Division and Zone rated equipment

Electrical Safety in Design for Industrial Facilities

• Describe how design, installation, operation, and maintenance work together to achieve safety results
• Identify electrical hazards in the workplace and how to avoid them
• Describer the Hierarchy of Risk Control
• Explain the role of design and engineering in electrical safety
• Describe the causes and effects of shock on the human body
• List techniques used to protect people from electric shock
• Explain the causes and effects of Arc Flash/Blast and the factors that impact Arc Flash Incident Energy
• List methods that operations and engineering can use to reduce arc flash risk
• Describe the potential trade-offs between achieving electrical safety and reliability and methods to achieve both
• Explain the importance of working on electrical equipment in a “De-energized” or “Dead” state
• List the limited situations that could justify “Energized Work”
• Describe the design elements that impact electrical safety with the goal of an inherently safe operation
• Describe the operational considerations for electrical work, including:
  • Temporary power equipment
  • Risks of working around overhead power lines
  • Preventative and predictive maintenance strategies
  • Safety impact of unlabeled or mislabeled equipment

Course Content

• Basics of Electrical Safety and Design Standards (U.S. Based Standards)
• Principles of Power Systems in Industrial Facilities (Part 1)
• Principles of Power Systems in Industrial Facilities (Part 2)
• Electric Motors and Motor Control in Industrial Facilities
• Hazardous Area Classification and Installation in Industrial Facilities
• Hazardous Area Equipment Selection and Installation in Division-based Facilities
• Hazardous Area Equipment Selection and Installation in Zone-based Facilities
• Electrical Safety in Design for Industrial Facilities

Product Details