High Voltage Microelectronics

Group Leader: Dr Florin Udrea

http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/hvm/

Research Interests: High voltage power semiconductor devices, Numerical simulations and m odelling of semiconductor devices, Smart sensors and MEMS Power Integrated Circuits, Silicon-on-Insulat or (SOI) devices, Silicon based micro-sensors

Superconductivity

Group Leader: Dr Tim Coombs

http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~tac1000/

Applications of superconductivity has been an ongoing activity in the Engineering Departm ent and the interdisciplinary Research Center in Superconductivity within the University of Cambridge. Recently research relating to the applications of superconductivity in power have come under the activi ties of the EPEC group. These include the development of energy storage elements based on electric mach ines acting as fly wheels, non-contact electromagnetic bearings, fault current limits for power systems and rotating machines.

Renewables Group

Group Leader: Dr Richard McMahon

http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/empg/

The group, led by Dr Richard McMahon, is primarily focused on the electrical machines and power conversion electronics needed for the generation of electrical power from wind and waves. The group has installed the first wind turbine using a brushless doubly fed induction generator (BDFIG) at the University’s West Cambridge site rated at 20 kW and has recently completed the largest BDFIG built to date (250 kW). The group also works in related areas such as electronics for hybrid and electric vehicles. The following areas are of current interest:

  • Brushless Doubly Fed Induction Generators (BDFIGs) for wind turbines and other applications.
  • Generators and control systems for small wind systems.
  • Linear generators for wave power.
  • Computational Electromagnetics for electrical machines.
  • Efficiency studies of induction motors.
  • Silicon carbide based power electronics for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications.
  • High performance electronics for automotive electrical systems.
  • Novel concepts for mechanical blood flow assist devices.

More details about the group, including current opportunities for graduate study, can be found here