Hassan Nouri

Research Leader of Power Group

University of the West of England (UWE)

Faculty of CEMS

Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane

Bristol, Avon

UK

BS16 1QY

Telephone: 0044 117 328 82631

Fax: 0044 117 328 83800

 

Email address: hassan.Nouri@uwe.ac.uk  

URL:  http://www.uwe.ac.uk/cems/research/peesg.shtml


Key words:

Fault analysis, Distribution automation, Artificial Intelligence, Power system operation, Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

Unlisted key words: Switchgears, Electric Arc Modelling

Research description:

Intelligent Multi-agent approach to Fault Location and Diagnosis on Power Distribution Networks:
The information available to help control engineers detect locate and diagnose faults in Power distribution networks is very limited. The project aims to identify measurement techniques to pinpoint and diagnose faults. Intelligent multi-agent based software will be developed to assist the control room engineers to take appropriate action to maintain supply to customers This research programme involves staff from the Intelligent Autonomous Systems (IAS) laboratory and the Power Systems and Electronics Research Group (PSERG) in providing supervision and technical support for two bursary funded students.

Developments in Switchgear:
This programme involves a number of projects aimed at improving the performance reliability and durability of electro-mechanical switches. A mathematical model of the arc which exists between electrodes when switches operate is being developed. The amount of arc energy received by an electrode has been measured from the electrode's surface temperature and, most recently, using the ANSYS Finite Element computer package. The distribution of the arc energy as heat to each electrode has been estimated through simulation for a condition where the arc power is distributed equally between the two electrodes. Other projects in this area have involved investigations to determine the optimum switching point's opening and closing for minimising contact erosion.

Application of FACTS to Maintenance of Power System Integrity:
In an electrical power system consumer demand must always be met by generator supply. With the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in the early 1990's maintenance of system integrity has become significantly more complex. Transmission and distribution companies must devise methods for dealing with the effects of short term mismatch between supply and demand. This programme seeks to identify situations in which power system oscillation and/or voltage collapse could potentially occur and offer remedies using Flexible Alternating Current Transmissions Systems (FACTS) devices.

Other projects in which the Group has been or is involved include:

DC regeneration onto the AC grid by forced commutated inversion.

Power quality of wind turbine generating systems integrated with the grid.

Supercapacitors as energy storage devices in hybrid electric vehicles, in collaboration with BP Research, Sunbury-on-Thames, UK. This research led to the development of a brake energy recovery scheme for an electric vehicle (in association with Chloride Electric Vehicles, Redditch, UK) and an energy storage system for windpower generation plant (in association with ABB, Helsinki, Finland).

Laboratory facilities:

Facilities available to the group:
The Power Systems & Electronics Research Group laboratory houses a number of electric motor/generator machine sets with industry standard variable speed drive, obtained from previous research projects, simulation of electric vehicles, power distribution systems and wind-turbines.

Computer-aided design tools include EMTP and PSCAD/EMTDC for electrical transient simulation, ERACS for power systems modelling, ANSYS for Finite Element Analysis, MATLAB for control system modelling and design, and VISSIM for traffic flow simulation. These packages allow modelling of complex electro-mechanical and transport systems and investigation of system control strategies.

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