Electrical Energy And Power

Overview

Energy Research Grouping/Theme

 

The Group’s activities encompass many aspects of electrical energy systems. It has internationally recognised research in electric drives and actuators, control of renewable energy devices, high voltage power systems, condition monitoring and reliability studies. It pushes the boundaries of innovation in cost effective and robust systems applicable to many industrial sectors which include power generation, automotive and aerospace applications. It takes a leading role in the Energy Joint Research Institute, a partnership of Scottish universities with the vision to be world-leading in Marine and Renewable Energy research.

 

The current research activities of the Group include:-

 

Control of Electric Drives and Renewable Energy Devices

Dr. M.W. Dunnigan, m.w.dunnigan@hw.ac.uk

 

Control Engineering is a fundamentally important area that is concerned with improving the behaviour of dynamic systems. As the underpinning mathematical theory is generic, this allows the application of these techniques to a wide variety of engineering systems. Our research has concentrated on the development and application of adaptive, state-space, neural and nonlinear control methods applied to electric drives/actuators and the improvement of Renewable Energy devices using feedback control systems. The latter area is currently being pursued through involvement in the Scottish Hub in Advanced Power Engineering, funded by SFC and ERDF, with four other Universities. In excess of twenty renewable energy companies are involved in this venture.

Example projects include:

• Sensorless position and speed control of a vector controlled induction machine.
• New methods of rotor resistance estimation for vector controlled induction machines.
• Off-line parameter estimation of single and three-phase induction machines using parameter swarm optimisation techniques.
• Energy efficient control of induction machines using AI techniques.
• Random vibration and shock control of an electrodynamic shaker and torque pulsation minimisation in switched reluctance machines using self-learning techniques.
• Control of wave energy converters in irregular seas using direct drive linear generators. This includes on-line hydrodynamic parameter identification, novel sub-optimal control strategies, incorporation of mooring effects and improved generator current control tracking.

High Voltage Power Systems

 

The group has a purpose built high voltage laboratory that is one of two left in Scotland.  The research and development work undertaken covers a wide range of traditional electrical engineering.

Example of projects includes:

• The electrical interconnection of offshore electrical power systems
• The operation of synchronous machines as diesel driven embedded generators
• Increased transformer core losses due to distorted supply voltages
• Switching transients on high voltage transmission lines
• Rotating machine insulation deterioration due to non-linear voltage distributions

Energy Conversion

Dr Jonathan Swingler, j.swingler@hw.ac.uk

 

Energy conversion using rotary machines, such as synchronous and induction generators, is an area of active research particularly in wind and tidal turbine applications. The main focus of the Group is concerning reliability prediction of such systems and associated electronics operating in harsh environments. Moreover, the Group is increasing research effort on novel mechanisms for energy conversion such as piezoelectric behaviour of materials. The micro-systems fabrication facilities within the School are being extended to build a suite of macro-systems manufacturing tools for fundamental research of these novel materials – the GreenGlean Research Facility. The focus is on their integration into working devices with long-term reliability for real applications. The Group is also developing a 3D X-ray computer tomography facility to aid this for defect analysis to better understand the physics of failure of converter devices. The links with industry and other partners include NPL and Diameter Ltd.  

     

Example projects include:

• The reliability and efficiency analyses of WTG drive train and generation.
• Energy systems component analysis using 3D X-ray CT for reliability prediction
• Reliability of piezoelectric energy conversion devices
• Investigation of printed energy converter machines

Vehicular Electrical Systems

Dr Jonathan Swingler, j.swingler@hw.ac.uk

 

The development and widespread deployment of “Green Cars” is considered a high priority across Europe. 73% of all oil consumed in Europe is used in transport and it is estimated that there will be a doubling of passenger cars within the next 20 years. The European Union has a series of measures to boost research and innovation aiming at facilitating the deployment of a new generation of passenger cars, trucks and buses to address these concerns. The Energy Group is actively involved in this with a focus on the electrical systems of electric vehicles. It is working closely with industry to developing a high current test facility to enable the needed research and innovation. The links with industry include: Daimler, Tyco Electronics, Leoni, Wieland-Ulm, Barnbrook Systems Ltd.

 

Example projects include:

• Contact spot visualisation using 3D computer tomography
• High current connectors for robust electric vehicles
• The all aluminium electric vehicle electrical wiring system
• Fault detection in the electric vehicle power bus

 

Condition Monitoring

Dr David Flynn, d.flynn@hw.ac.uk

Condition monitoring of electrical energy systems is critical for optimal and reliable performance. In recent years this research area has grown insignificantly in the breadth of application areas from power distribution in aircraft to power generation of wind turbines. Equally the advances in micro-engineered monitoring (sensing and processing) technologies have broken many boundaries in their functionality. The Energy Group is further pushing these boundaries in this now crucial area in energy systems.  

 

Fault Diagnostics of Complex Electrical Systems

Dr Keith Brown, k.e.brown@hw.ac.uk

 

The development of wind generation both for onshore and offshore installations has created a whole new set of requirements for maintenance and fault detection. There is very limited historical data on how these power generation systems will perform over time. The group is investigating approaches to modelling these systems, both the physical systems and their supporting information systems using ontology based approach. These models may then be used to identify faults that have occurred in the system and as a prognostic system for condition-based maintenance to prevent faults actually occurring. These types of model will be core to the future maintenance regimes for these new systems. The work is also being applied to the electrical systems for trains and rail infrastructure.

 

Example projects include:

• Condition based maintenance of wind turbine networks
• Prognostics  for train systems both rolling stock and infrastructure

 

Other Active Members of the Group

Also there is participation within the group by Prof David Lane & Prof Marc Desmulliez.