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found below and on the CPTM website.

The Power Electronics Group is involved in the theoretical development and practical application of power electronic converters, PWM theory, grid connected inverter systems, and unusual converter systems for custom applications. The group has substantial links with industry and provides a custom design and development service for innovative commercial applications.

Research projects are carried out in:

  • Power electronic drives for d.c. and a.c. machines 
  • Transients in power systems, transformers etc.
  • Harmonics in power systems and equipment
  • Power electronic converters
  • Partial discharges and aging of insulation in high voltage equipment   Partial Discharge Test Set
  • Dynamic stability analysis of power systems
  • Reliability evaluation of electrical power systems
  • Industrial control and monitoring systems
  • Consumer and appliance electronic controls
  • Load demand modelling
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Economics of power electronics design
  • Electric traction.

Facilities

Machines Laboratories

The machines laboratory is equipped with a comprehensive range of rotating machines, transformers, power circuit elements and various specialised equipment constructed as part of a number of research and development programmes. There is a wide range of electronic power measuring instruments, oscilloscopes, recording apparatus and photographic equipment. The laboratory has been equipped to support both a wide range of basic undergraduate experiments, and to provide modern facilities for use in special projects and postgraduate research activities.

The major machine sets in the laboratory comprise seven 3kW induction-motor/dc-motor machine sets, each of which is equipped with an AC and a DC variable speed drive converter system and associated electronic measuring equipment. There are also three dc-motor/synchronous-motor machine sets of similar rating, together with a number of more specialised machine sets for specific applications. The laboratory also has a range of PLC's, power electronic converters and test sets for use in undergraduate experiments and research work.

Power Electronics and Drives Laboratory

The power electronics laboratory supports research work for the development of power electronic converters and their associated controls. There is a particular emphasis given to the use of direct digitally controlled switching for the converters that are developed.

Facilities are available to design and develop both converters and digital control electronics from simulation level to a fully commercial system. There are a number of hardswitched converters available in generic form, including a bi-directional 3-phase thyristor bridge, 3-phase IGBT-based Voltage Source Inverters and a 9-switch IGBT-based AC-AC matrix converter. Digital controllers (together with associated development systems) are currently available based on TMS320F240 DSP's and 80C196 and Z80 microprocessors. Simulation facilities are supported by a network of PC computers and a Sun workstation.

High Voltage Laboratory

The Jack Wilson High Voltage Laboratory houses a 300 kV, 20 kVA transformer, a 300 kV, 1.5 kJ impulse generator, a 1600 kV, 22 kJ impulse generator and a d.c. source of 400 kV. This equipment is controlled from a separate control room which also houses specialised instrumentation including a new computer-based partial discharge detector and an RIV measuring instrument.

A new section in the laboratory has recently been established for research into the ageing of insulation of power plant equipment.

Centre for Power Transformer Monitoring, Diagnostics and Life Management

General Information

The Centre for Power Transformer Monitoring, Diagnostics and Life Management (CPTM) has been established under the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) initiative of the Government of Victoria.  The Centre is funded by the State Government and a consortium that initially consisted of Monash University and 12 power industry companies.  The duration of the STI Program is three years; the commencement date is 1 July 2005.  The initial total cost of the STI Program was $3.61m, in which the funding from the STI was $1,59m.  Since then, the total cost of the STI Program has increased to $4.4m, thanks to additional contributions from the existing participants and new Sponsorships – currently there are 15 industrial companies in the consortium.
 
The primary objectives of the Centre are to develop new technologies, computer algorithms and equipment for monitoring, diagnostics and life management of power transformers.  Other activities of the Centre include studies into vegetable oil for power transformers, winding looseness detection, thermal and moisture modelling of transformers, and providing training and consulting services to the industry.

CPTM Facilities

 The Centre comprises the two existing laboratories: EPRI Research Laboratory and Power Transformer Monitoring & Diagnostics Research Laboratory, and the new Transformer Testing Facility (currently under construction), fully integrated.

 EPRI Research Laboratory

 The EPRI Research Laboratory supports research investigations into the effects of moisture and gas dynamics on the performance of oil-paper insulation systems of large power transformers.  Sophisticated test rigs are available to precisely simulate conditions existing in real transformers, so that new means to monitor these conditions in the field can then be developed.

 Power Transformer Monitoring & Diagnostics Research Laboratory

 The Power Transformer Monitoring & Diagnostics Research Laboratory facilitates research and development of new monitoring and diagnostics techniques for on-line and off-line applications, experimental studies into aging mechanisms of power transformer insulation systems, and physical and chemical analytical tests of oil and insulation samples.  These samples are obtained from the Monash test rigs, received from old and new transformers operating in the power utilities of North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia, and also received from new transformers manufactured at the local factory.

 Transformer Testing Facility

 The new Transformer Testing Facility will be opened on 6 October 2006.  The facility will feature a special test transformer with a dedicated control and monitoring system, means for testing and assessment of industrial on-line an off-line monitoring and diagnostic techniques, and means for testing and assessment of industrial on-line transformer oil and insulation processing technologies.

Staff Research Interests

Assoc. Prof. Grahame Holmes

Smart electrical engineering and electronics, industrial electronics, industrial computer systems, power electronic drives and systems, variable speed motor drives, electrical converters, wind energy systems, manages PEG.

Dr Tadeusz Czaszejko

High voltage engineering, power systems analysis
Dr. Brendan P. McGrathPower electronics, inverters, converters, motor control

Professor Peter Wallace

Power systems analysis, system dynamics

Dr. Valery Davydov
 Power Transformer Monitoring and Diagnostics. See  CPTM for more details

Current and proposed projects

Current research projects may be found on the web sites for the CPTM and the Power Electronics Group(PEG).