Electrical Power and Power Electronics Research Group

The Electrical Power and Power Electronics Research Group has expertise in electrical insulation and dielectric phenomena, renewable energy generation, power electronics and electrical machines. Work ranges from fundamental research to industrial consultancy.

Described below are the principle research areas, the facilities and the staff in the research group.

Research Areas

: 400 kV supply

Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena

Research in the "High Voltage Lab" at Leicester is on electrical insulation and dielectrics - materials that respond (either in a useful or detrimental way) to electric fields. The main applications are in high voltage or high field systems, such as cables and bushings, capacitors and printed circuit boards.

: Pulsed Synchronous Reluctance Motor

Power Electronics, Electrical Machines & Power Systems

Research in the Power Electronics, Electrical machines and Power Systems Labs is related to many aspects of the generation and utilisation of electrical power. A common factor in the research is the increasing use of power electronics and micro-controllers for the efficient conversion of electrical power. Extensive facilities are available for simulation, design, prototyping and experimental verification of new circuits, machines and systems.

Facilities

The Group is proud to be accommodated in a large laboratory suite (comprising three dedicated laboratories) that has recently seen a £1M refurbishment. There are a wide range of laboratory resources and specialist equipment including:

High voltage testing equipment
Broadband dielectric spectroscopy
Space charge measurement using pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) techniques
High sensitivty electrical treeing and electroluminescence equipment with application in electrical treeing detection
Equipment for the development of electronically controlled drives and generators
50 kVAp PV array
Equipment for the development embedded generation systems, including: photovoltaic, wind power and variable speed generation and a large scale wind turbine simulator
Electrostatic and magnetostatic modelling facilities
Large and small electrical machines and drives test facility with a 200kVA 3 phase supply
3000 amp pulsed power generator
large battery charge/discharge unit designed for fork-lift truck and submarine batteries
magnetic and electrostatic modelling and CAD facilities

The group has access to a wide range of other facilities around the University including those of the Advanced Microscopy Centre.