Vacant academic positions : Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader in Electrical Power & Energy Engineering ( University of Bath - UK)

A Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader post is available immediately in the Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at The University of Bath. The department is rated in the UK top 10 in its Unit of Assessment in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 and number 4 in the UK National Student Survey 2009.

The research focus of the post can be in any area of electrical power and energy engineering. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing interdisciplinary power and energy research within the Faculty of Engineering and Design and the wider university. The appointee will contribute to the department’s growing collaborations with Chinese universities in research and teaching.

Opportunities for research funding are excellent and the area has been identified as a priority by government, industry, the UK research councils and the EU. Teaching will include both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Applicants for Senior Lecturer/Reader, should have a strong track record of publications at an international level and a proven ability to attract research funding.

Vacant academic positions :Lecturer in Power Electronics (University of Aberdeen - UK)

Job Summary: The School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen is seeking to appoint a Lecturer who will contribute to research and teaching in the Power Electronics area. The appointee will be a dynamic individual with clear ability for leading highest-quality research in his/her field. He/she will have excellent communication skills and the desire and ability to excel in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The successful applicant will strengthen an established power systems group with internationally recognised excellence in power electronics applications to transmission/distribution systems. There is an opportunity to contribute to the existing research on DC Transmission grids and to develop new research areas.

The new Lecturer will join a research-intensive General Engineering unit, which had 83% of its research output ranked as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008).

Salary will be at the appropriate point on the Grade 7 scale (£36,862 - £44,016 per annum), with placement according to qualifications and experience.

Technical Papers: How to Save Energy in Buildings ?

Irrespective of the building to be built or managed, there is a need for solutions to control energy consumption. This holds true throughout the world for all types of buildings, in the industrial, residential or service sectors.

Before designing or upgrading a building, and in particular its electrical installations, it is essential: to study its energy needs and the available energy sources; to find the best balance between management systems, distribution networks and consumer equipment; to take account of operational requirements.

This technical paper presents a methodology for effective preliminary study work. The author therefore explores all of the elements which contribute to energy savings and which, depending on the installation, may or may not be selected.

Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Players

1.2 Needs

2 Itemizing energy consumption and available energy sources

2.1 Energy consumption

2.2 Energy sources

3 Reducing energy costs

3.1 Analyzing energy bills

3.2 Using the existing contract

3.3 Renegotiating the contract

4 Reducing energy consumption

4.1 Savings in the HVAC system

4.2 Savings on domestic hot water

4.3 Savings on lighting

4.4 Reducing electrical energy losses

4.5 Other savings

4.6 Advantages of correct maintenance

4.7 Importance of metering

4.8 The energy audit approach

Online Video Courses: Electric Drives (NPTEL-INDIA)

Detailed Syllabus :

1. Introduction      (4 hours)

a.     Classification of Electric Drives

b.     Requirements of Electric Drives

c.      Some Applications 

2. Converters and control     (6 hours)

a.     Phase controlled converters

b.     Four quadrant operation 

c.      Choppers

d.     AC to DC converters

3. DC motor drives     (4 hours)

a.     Speed-torque characteristics DC shunt,  

b.     PMDC and series motors

c.      Dynamic model

d.     Speed and position control methods

4. Inverters and PWM techniques    (8 hours)

a.     voltage source inverters (1h)

b.     current source inverters (1h)

c.      PWM techniques

i. sine-triangle comparison (1h)

ii. harmonic elimination (1h)

iii. hysteresis current controllers (1h)

iv. space vector pwm  (3h)

5. AC motor drives     (10 hours)

a.              d-q model of induction motor (2 h)

b.              constant flux speed control structure (2h)

c.               vector control model (3h)

d.              vector control structure (3h

Description: Lectures by Prof. K Gopakumar Centre for Electronics Design and Technology IISC Bangalore

Online Video Courses: Industrial Instrumentation and Process Control (NPTEL-INDIA)

Introduction: The evolution of instrumentation and process control has undergone several industrial revolutions leading to the complexities of modern day microprocessor-controlled processing. Today’s technological evolution has made it possible to measure parameters deemed impossible only a few years ago. Improvements in accuracy, tighter control, and waste reduction have also been achieved. Instrumentation and process control involve a wide range of technologies and sciences, and they are used in an unprecedented number of applications. Examples range from the control of heating, cooling, and hot water systems in homes and offices to chemical and automotive instrumentation and process control.

Description: Lecture Series on Industrial Instrumentation by Prof.Alok Barua, Department of Electrical Engineering,IIT Kharagpur.

SENIOR LECTURER/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR POSITION IN POWER ELECTRONICS, ELECTRICAL DRIVES OR ELECTRICAL MACHINES (Sweden)

Job description

Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)  is looking for a person with a Ph.D and preferably also a Docent degree in Electric Power Engineering, preferably in the area of Power Electronics, Electrical Drives or Electrical Machines. The position offers a permanent appointment and combines teaching courses at M.Sc. level in Electrical Drives, Electrical Machines and Power Electronics, performing own research and participating in administrative work of the division. The teaching is to be conducted in English, although teaching of general courses within Electric Power Engineering, where Swedish is used as the instruction language, may also be included. Own research on a PostDoc level will be accompanied by supervision of M.Sc students and Ph.D. students.

The post is a full time tenure appointment which includes teaching at all levels, from undergraduate to postgraduate. It also includes supervision of PhD students and conducting research. Administrative and management duties are also normally included.

The applicant should be able to collaborate with industrial, academic and governmental partners and also be capable of successfully applying for external grants for the research. Your own research and the PhD students are financed primarily with external grants.

Fully funded International PhD Scholarships in Transportation Engineering or Power Electronics (UK)

Applications are invited for two fully-funded PhD scholarships (fees and living costs) to undertake research in the areas of Transportation Engineering or Power Electronics at the University of Nottingham (UK) with approximately one year of their research program studying at Virginia Tech (USA). Competition for these scholarships is expected to be very strong because each brings the opportunity for students to study with world-leading research groups in both countries. 

Areas in which applications are invited:

Transportation

• Sustainability assessment of the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure: This might include research questions concerning the application of environmental life cycle assessment or multicriteria decision making to infrastructure systems.
• Asset management of transport infrastructure: Data handling, deterioration modelling, integration of environmental criteria including carbon footprint.
• Condition monitoring of transport infrastructure: Challenges include repeatable location referencing, data quality, and use of private vehicle data.
• Road surface condition and safety: Understanding the combined role of road geometry and condition in crash studies and prevention, impact on driver behavior.
• Low-carbon, environmentally-friendly construction materials. Laboratory synthesis or manufacture and characterisation of materials derived from renewable, waste or recycled feedstocks.

Power Electronics

25th january Egyptian People's Revolution

Dear my friends, I apologize to you about being cut off from blogging in the previous period due to the interruption of the internet services completely all over Egypt for 5 days and I hope that you will understand my feelings to stop blogging in the meantime because of the current circumstances in my country.

Ask you all to pray for Egypt

Muhammad

اصدقائى الاعزاء اعتذر اليكم عن انقطاعى عن التدوين فى الفترة السابقة بسبب انقطاع خدمة الانترنت فى جميع انحاء مصر لمدة 5 ايام 

كاملة وارجو ان تتفهموا توقفى على التدوين مؤقتا فى الوقت الحالى نظرا للظروف الراهنة التى تمر بها بلدى.

اسالكم جميعا ان تصلوا من اجل مصر

محمد

PhD Scholarship: Optimization of electricity market with wind power and DG units for good economics and grid security

University: Aalborg University (AAU) - Denmark

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Energy Technology a PhD stipend is available within the general study programme Energy Technology. The stipend is open for appointment from March 1, 2011". Job description Optimization of electricity market with wind power and DG units for good economics and grid security The research project, Development of a Secure, Economic and Environmentally-friendly Modern Power System, is mainly funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research with focus on some key issues of the future power system. The project will develop new concepts and technologies for creating a secure and economic power grid which is an important part of the environmental friendly sustainable energy system. A number of Working Tasks will be conducted; this PhD project, being funded by the Research Council and Aalborg University, is to deal with the electricity market optimization for good economics and grid security in power systems with wind power and DG units." You may obtain further information from Professor Zhe Chen , Department of Energy Technology , phone: +4599409255 , email: zch@et.aau.dk concerning the technical aspects of the stipend.

PhD Scholarship: An interactive energy system with grid, heating and transportation system

University: Aalborg University (AAU) - Denmark At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Energy Technology a PhD stipend is available within the general study programme “Energy Technology”. The stipend is open for appointment from March 1, 2011. Job description An interactive energy system with grid, heating and transportation system The research project, Development of a Secure, Economic and Environmentally-friendly Modern Power System, is mainly funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research with focus on some key issues of the future power system. The project will develop new concepts and technologies for creating a secure and economic power grid which is an important part of the environmental friendly sustainable energy system. A number of Working Tasks will be conducted; this PhD project, being funded by the Council and Aalborg University, is to deal with an energy system with interactions of electrical grid, heating and transportation systems.

PhD Scholarship: Intelligent automation and control of generation units at distribution systems

University: Aalborg University (AAU) - Denmark At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of "Energy Technology" a PhD stipend is available within the general study programme “Energy Technology”. The stipend is open for appointment from "January 1, 2011". Job description Intelligent automation and control of generation units at distribution systems The research project, Development of a Secure, Economic and Environmentally-friendly Modern Power System is mainly funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research with focus on some key issues of the future power system. The project will develop new concepts and technologies for creating a secure and economic power grid which is an important part of the environmental friendly sustainable energy system. A number of Working Tasks will be conducted; this PhD project, being funded by the Council and Aalborg University, is to deal with the operation and control of distributed generation units in power distribution systems.

The ABCs of HVDC Transmission Technologies

Monopolar HVDC converter station.

HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT (HVDC) TECHNOLOGY has characteristics that make it especially attractive for certain transmission applications. HVDC transmission is widely recognized as being advantageous for long-distance bulk-power delivery, asynchronous interconnections, and long submarine cable crossings. The number of HVDC projects committed or under consideration globally has increased in recent years reflecting a renewed interest in this mature technology. New converter designs have broadened the potential range of HVDC transmission to include applications for underground, offshore, economic replacement of reliability-must-run generation, and voltage stabilization. This broader range of applications has contributed to the recent growth of HVDC transmission. There are approximately ten new HVDC projects under construction or active consideration in North America along with many more projects underway globally.

Power Engineering Guide Transmission and Distribution (5)

Surge Arresters

The main task of an arrester is to protect equipment from the effects of overvoltages. During normal operation, it should have no negative effect on the power system. Moreover, the arrester must be able to withstand typical surges without incurring any damage. Nonlinear resistors with the following properties fulfill these requirements:

_ Low resistance during surges so that overvoltages are limited

_ High resistance during normal operation, so as to avoid negative effects on the power system and

_ Sufficient energy absorption capability for stable operation with this kind of nonlinear resistor, there is only a small flow of current when continuous operating voltage is being applied.

Power Engineering Guide Transmission and Distribution (4)

Live-Tank Circuit-Breakers for 72 kV up to 800 kV

live tank C.B

The construction

All live-tank circuit-breakers are of the same general design, as shown in the illustrations.

They consist of the following main components:

1) Interrupter unit

2) Closing resistor (if applicable)

3) Operating mechanism

4) Insulator column (AIS)

5) Operating rod

6) Breaker base

7) Control unit

The uncomplicated design of the breakers and the use of many similar components, such as interrupter units, operating rods and control cabinets, ensure high reliability because the experience of many breakers in service has been applied in improvement of the design. The twin nozzle interrupter unit for example has proven its reliability in more than 60,000 units all over the world.

Power Engineering Guide Transmission and Distribution (3)

Design of Air-Insulated Outdoor Substations

outdoor substations

Air-insulated outdoor substations of open design must not be touched. Therefore, air-insulated switchgear (AIS) is always set up in the form of a fenced-in electrical operating area, to which only authorized persons have access. Relevant IEC 60060 specifications apply to outdoor switchgear equipment. Insulation coordination, including minimum phase -to-phase and phase-to-ground clearances, is effected in accordance with IEC 60071.

Outdoor switchgear is directly exposed to the effects of the environment such as the weather. Therefore it has to be designed based on not only electrical but also environmental specifications.

Power Engineering Guide Transmission and Distribution (2)

Power Transmission Systems

The supply of power means more than just the combination of individual components. Particularly in countries where demand for power is growing at an above-average rate, there are large-scale projects under way, e.g. transmission systems or industrial complexes. Setting up such large-scale projects calls for an expert partner, capable of diligently analysing demand and of planning the project integrally, taking all marginal conditions into account. This means a competent partner who produces top-quality components both for power transmission and for system management tasks. Such a partner must also ensure that the systems will be properly installed.

Experienced project management – the way to the successful project

With all key technologies in house, Siemens can provide turnkey solutions for individual demands in the field of power transmission and distribution.

The scope of supply includes all components from the generator terminals, via AC or DC transmission and the high-voltage grid to the HV, MV and LV distribution system going down to the individual customers. The benefits of turnkey projects are:

_ All project coordination is in one hand and

_ The interfaces between customer and supplier are minimized

_ The turnkey responsibility of Siemens reduces the project risk for the customer. In close cooperation with the customer, the task definition for the scheduled project is drawn up, and all marginal conditions clarified.

16 PhD Scholarships- Graduate Teaching Assistantships at the University of Salford (UK)

Applications are invited for the Graduate Teaching Assistantships at the University of Salford. There are 16 scholarships available for PhD students, starting in September 2011.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships offer a valuable opportunity to study for a PhD while teaching in subjects broadly related to your PhD research.

Graduate Teaching Assistants work with academic staff in a range of teaching, learning and assessment activities to support undergraduate student learning for 180 hours per academic year.

The Graduate Teaching Assistantship covers full tuition fees and the scholarship for three years, based on successful PhD progression. The scholarships are worth £13,590 per year (based on 2010-2011 levels).

The research areas in which Graduate Teaching Assistantships are offered this year are:

PhD studentship in Investigating electric power system design concepts for the all-electric aircraft (UK)

Supported by Rolls-Royce and Cranfield University, a studentship up to £17,000 p.a. for 3 years plus fees* is available

Cranfield University have a collaborative research opportunity with Rolls-Royce, which aims to investigate future possibilities and concepts of an electric power system for all-electric, low emission aircrafts.

Given the predicted growth in air traffic, the demand to reduce the effect the aerospace industry has on the environment (emissions and noise), the increasing cost of kerosene and the technical maturity of present solutions, the aerospace industry is increasingly looking to more radical solutions with the aim of reducing emissions, fuel burn and noise. Examples of more radical propulsion options which generally require advanced electrical technologies include: lightweight energy storage, lightweight power electronics (cryo cooled), and lightweight electrical machines (super conducting).

Working as part of a wider future aircraft concept research team, this research will build on a previous project, which developed a functional assessment for the electric power system design of the all-electric aircraft (AEA). This research focuses on the future concepts of the electric power system for the AEA. The overall project objectives are to:

EPSRC PhD Studentships in Power Electronics Machines and Drives (Newcastle University-UK)

Power Electronics, Machines and Drives Research Group

Newcastle University

Subjects: Computing and Computer Science | Electrical/Electronic Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Supervisors: Professor B. Mecrow, Dr. M. Armstrong, Dr. D. Atkinson, Dr. W. Cao, Dr. D. Giaouris, Dr. V. Pickert, Dr. B. Zahawi
Duration of the award: 3 years

Project descriptions
The Power Electronics, Machines and Drives research group is offering funded PhD positions in a range of topics within the field of power electronics, machines and drives to start in September 2011. Example projects include:

Electric and Hybrid vehicles
Electric vehicles are expected to become mainstream within the next few years and are likely to eclipse the internal combustion engine within 30 years. There are many challenges facing their development, including performance, efficiency and cost. Through our close links with the automotive industry, we are able to offer topics in leading edge research, ranging from charging systems using inductive power transfer, through power electronic converters and their thermal management to traction motors.

Renewable Energy/Electrical Engineering PhD Studentship ( University of Exeter - UK)

Power electronics converter for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles Ref: 652

About the award

Primary supervisor: Dr Mohammad Abusara
Secondary supervisor: Professor George Smith

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) shares the characteristics of the traditional hybrid electric vehicle in that it has an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator, and a battery. In addition, the PHEV has a plug to connect to the grid during parking. The battery can be charged during off peak periods when the demand on the grid electrical power is low. During peak loads, the parked vehicle can act as a battery powered distributed generator that helps balancing the grid load demand by delivering electrical power into the grid. The vehicle communicates with utility grid operator, via a radio signal for example, to determine charging/discharging mode and rate. An important component of a PHEV is the power electronics converter that performs the battery charging and discharging tasks.