• Power Electronics

Power Electronics research is mainly focused on analyzing, designing, and developing novel power converter topologies and innovative modulation techniques for the given applications. Ongoing research mainly focusses on modern and emerging applications such as microgrid, nano-satellite, marine, renewable energy, energy storage, transportation, data centers, UPS, LED lighting, active filtering, etc. It is also focused on advanced nonlinear control techniques to address the fundamental problems in the area of motor drives, power electronic converters, active filters, intelligent power semiconductor devices, and lightning protective devices.

• Power Systems

Power Systems research is focused on advancing the state-of-the-art in the areas of analysis, intelligent control, reliability, and monitoring of power systems. Developing optimization techniques, intelligent computation tools, and reliability analysis, renewable energy integration, renewable power output forecasting, electricity price forecasting, electric vehicle integration, energy storage systems integration are ongoing research topics.

• Machines and Drives

Electrical Machines and Drives research is mainly focused on fault diagnosis and condition monitoring of electrical equipment, i.e., transformer, motor, generator, converter, etc. Advanced control of medium voltage high power industrial AC drives and advanced nonlinear control techniques to address fundamental problems in the area of motor drives is another focus of current research. It is also focused on control of high power AC drives, torque ripple minimization of AC Drives such as Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) and Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) Drives, high-performance control of electric drives, building and industrial processes energy efficiency enhancement, biomimetic fish propulsion and central pattern generation mechanisms etc.

• Condition Monitoring

Electricity generation in a power plant is a synergy of various equipment in operation, viz., generators, turbines, boilers, transformers, switchgears and motors. A sustained electricity generation mandates continuous operation of these equipment and therefore, maintaining the critical equipment in a healthy state is paramount. Time based maintenance (TBM) has traditionally been used to that end, and it is still being pursued by utilities to a large extent. TBM however reveals little about the current status since it is essentially an offline exercise and performed only during scheduled outages, typically once in two/three years. Condition based maintenance (CBM), also known as predictive maintenance, is the emerging maintenance strategy where sensors are installed to monitor the status of the equipment continuously; and therefore provides information on equipment’s current health. This allows to schedule maintenance based on requirement and therefore significantly reduces operating cost, unscheduled outages, and downtime. Presently, condition monitoring techniques are being developed based on electrical parameters, e.g., voltage, current, and magnetic flux. Some of these proposed parameters can be tapped in from the existing protection sensors, which makes the condition monitoring using electrical signatures even more desirable. Synchronous generators, transformers, motors, switchgears, and pumps are the equipment that are presently being studied as they are the most critical equipment in power plants.