✨ PhD Application Opportunity ✨
We are currently seeking PhD applicants. Partial funding opportunities may be available.
To apply, please email Shireen Sabodien at [shireen.sabodien@uct.ac.za], including:
📌 Your research area of interest
📌 A copy of your CV
📌 Your academic transcripts

Description

The Advanced Machines & Energy Systems group current researches monitoring and fault diagnosis of machines, permanent magnet (PM) machine design, induction motor efficiency estimation, fuel cell emulators and converters, wind turbine emulation and control, grid-tied inverters for RE applications, and load balancing converters. Their research has developed significant knowledge and expertise in design, management and control of inverter-based VRE and e-mobility systems, and established collaborations with various academic, industrial and government entities. The research can be broadly categorized into four themes: electrical machines, power electronics and converters, RE and energy storage technologies, and e-mobility as listed below.

 

Electrical Machines

  • Design of Permanent Magnet (PM) and non-PM machines
  • Machine design focused on e-mobility and RE applications
  • High-speed generator design for gas turbine applications
  • Motor efficiency analysis and estimation
  • Non-Intrusive efficiency estimation and fault detection techniques

Power Electronics and Converters

  • Grid integration and control of inverter-based VRE systems
  • Design and analysis of converters RE generator grid connection
  • Impact of converters on motor design
  • Development of passive filter topologies to improve power quality injected to the grid

RE and Energy Storage Technologies

  • Photovoltaic (PV) systems and impedance spectroscopy
  • PV cell characterization
  • PV system optimisation
  • Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS)
    • Generator fault detection
    • efficiency and performance optimisation
  • Fuel cells and hydrogen energy
    • Emulation and control
    • Performance degradation and condition monitoring

E-mobility

  • Wireless power transfer technology to EVs, drones, and e-scooters in Africa
  • Development of technologies to support shift towards EV transportation
  • Electromagnetic robotics for RE infrastructure maintenance
Contact Details

Administrative Assistant: Ms Shireen Sabodien

Room 5.22.2, Menzies Building, Tel.no. 021 650 5253