Integrated design of electrical energy conversion systems

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The proposed program will research the integrated design of electrical energy conversion systems. The research scope will include the integration of power electronics with electrical machines, design of electrical machines with consideration of electrical system requirements and interfacing of renewable energy technologies with the grid. A key aim of the program is to investigate overall gains that may be achieved when considering an integrated design, rather focus on the individual components. While overall system design may be common in e.g. automotive electrical systems, there is still a tendency to design systems as the sum of discrete components. For example, electric motors are manufactured and deployed with relatively low power factor and large inrush currents; end users then try to mitigate these effects with other equipment such as reactive power compensators or soft starters. A better approach may be to consider how to build machine that can mitigate these issues through design. The research program has three focal areas: (1) novel electric machines (2) power electronic integration in variable speed drives (3) fundamental research on modeling and understanding the efficiency implications when power electronic circuits are integrated with power magnetics. Benefit to industry will be felt through knowledge and personnel. The program will train research and undergraduate students in areas of critical importance. The shortage of skilled engineers in the electrical industry is well publicized through the electricity council. Working on theory and hardware implementation, trainees from the group have a skill set that is highly valued by industry. In an industrially focused research area, many of the benefits to industry also positively impact researchers in the field. Research of new integrated power electronic and machine combinations provides stimulus to alternative thinking about better ways to achieve the common goals of better performance at lower cost. The research will develop new machine-drive topologies, further the integration of power electronics with machines and enhance the understanding of the impacts of power electronics on magnetic devices. Integrated modular design, combining modularity of power electronics with modular machine construction will offers the possibility for significant cost savings in the manufacturing process.