A facility to test the ability of non-synchronous power plants to maintain continuous uninterrupted operation when a power system is subjected to a voltage disturbance. This is a fundamental requirement to maintain system security and prevent wider frequency collapse.
Real-time digital simulation of power and energy systems with sufficient resolution (2-50μs) allows for monitoring, operation, control, testing, optimisation, validation and maintenance of large and complex electricity and energy networks.
Real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing expedites innovative solutions for interconnecting electricity grids over long distances, the integration of large-scale remote renewables, addressing intermittency and the formation of super grids.
Extensive expertise in both conventional and non-conventional power generation and provider of a wide range of power system engineering consultancy services to clients in generation, energy storage, transmission and distribution. These services include commercial and technical advice, assistance and strategic guidance for grid connection.
Specialists in design and control of permanent magnet (PM) type electric machines. Strong capabilities in design optimisation and control of various PM machine geometries for low-speed, high torque applications such as direct-drive wind energy conversion.
Linear electrical machines are used in an ever-increasing number of applications. Recent areas that we have developed linear machine solutions for include down-hole pump applications and electrical launch systems. UNSW has also recently developed a new type of permanent magnet rotor that has its starting performance improved by including a conducting ladder-slot arrangement. This new type of rotor allows the machine to rapidly accelerate under the action of induction principles to the synchronous speed where the permanent magnet flux can then be used to increase the force. Development of linear machine solutions to support what is a rapidly growing market.
Both a permanent-magnet mover and a line-start linear electrical machine drive system have been designed for linear machine drive systems. Together, they optimise periodic motion and also enhance the line-start capability of the permanent-magnet linear synchronous machine.
Developing new planar structures and verifying simplified models for both high- and low-power applications, and exploring new, flexible matrices of magnetic components that can be reconfigured online. As the power electronics industry continues to grow and develop ever-smaller power supplies across a range of scales, from consumer electronics through to large electric vehicles, there is increasing demand to miniaturise. Planar magnetics is a space-efficient technology that allows magnetic components to be tightly integrated with their circuit.
Switched reluctance machines offer many advantages in high speed rotating applications, particularly low phase number and low pole number machines, for example the 4/2 machine.
Development of a new type of synchronous reluctance machine that has a skewed, axially-laminated rotor, which solves the problem of torque ripple normally associated with traditional rotors.
The development and assessment of ground-breaking and innovative axial machines. Axial flux machines have a form factor that suits in-hub motors for electric vehicles. They have been used for many years as the motor of choice for the world record-breaking Sunswift team, and are a popular choice of electrical generators for small- and large-scale wind turbines.
Producing multi-level output voltage from just two fast-switching semiconductors by using a coupled inductor. This frees the inverter from dead-time and greatly reduces low-order harmonics.