To be considered for the project, candidates must:
· Possess an undergraduate MEng, first class BSc/BEng Honours or postgraduate MSc degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or similar.
· Have a demonstrable ability to investigate research problems in an effective manner.
· Possess a strong background in power cables, high voltage engineering and power system grids.
Tuition fees and stipend are only fully covered for UK/EU students.
Future power systems transmission and distribution networks will see a significant move from AC to DC grids. In future DC systems, extruded medium voltage DC (MVDC) cables will play a major role in the distribution of electrical power. Understanding the impact of cable aging, system transients and cable failures on cable lifetime and early cable fault detection remain key aspects of maintaining sustainable and reliable future MVDC network grids. This project will research MVDC cable aging mechanisms, cable condition diagnostic regimes and develop sets of power cable grid codes for future MVDC grids. Both experimental work and simulation modelling will be undertaken in the research.
Working closely with researchers in the HVT research group, other InstEE research groups and the technical University Graz University, the successful applicant will have access to state of the art facilities including Strathclyde’s high voltage laboratories, real-time simulators and hardware-in-the-loop experimental platforms.
These are further complemented by the extensive expertise across the entire InstEE team https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/subjects/electronicelectricalengineering/instituteforenergyenvironment/, and the MW-scale Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/powernetworksdemonstrationcentre/.
This PhD project will build on an existing portfolio of excellent research and industrial collaborations, affording the candidate opportunities to join this internationally leading effort combining the strengths of the two collaborating Universities. The HVT Research Group has an established track record of industrial and international collaborations, researching solid, liquid and gas insulation breakdown, insulation diagnostics methods, condition monitoring and HV/MV asset management. Recent successful grants have include EPSRC funding focussing on DC networks, power quality and plant reliability, cable lifetime extension through voltage reduction, and a number of industrially funded cable projects at Strathclyde’s Advanced Nuclear Research Centre (ANRC) and PNDC.
As part of the project, the successful candidate will also benefit from the training delivered as part of the University of Strathclyde’s Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development.
Funding is available for the successful candidate that will cover an annual tax free stipend and full tuition fees (if UK or eligible EU national) or part fees (others). The stipend starts at £15,285.
Your academic points of contact will be Professor Brian Stewart (Supervisor) of the HVT Research Group and Professor Graeme Burt of the Advanced Electrical Systems (AES) Research Group within the Institute for Energy & Environment. Details and expertise areas can be found at:
Professor Brian Stewart (brian.stewart.100@strath.ac.uk) or Professor Graeme Burt (graeme.burt@strath.ac.uk).
Candidates should email with reference “PhD-AICGC” a detailed CV with contact information for two academic referees, and a covering letter highlighting their suitability for the position, to Professor Brian Stewart (brian.stewart.100@strath.ac.uk) or Professor Graeme Burt (graeme.burt@strath.ac.uk). Following review of the application submissions, selected candidates will be invited for interview.
The application deadline is 22 February 2021.
The project is available for a start from June 2021.
If you wish to discuss any details of the projects informally, please email Professor Stewart or Professor Burt quoting reference “PhD-AICGC”.