Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

One of the major causes of global warming and climate change is the production of green house gas associated with thermal power generation. Over 60% of generated electric power is consumed by motors. For many years, the applicant has been developing high efficiency interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor technology, which could help in the fight to counteract global warming. Over the previous 5-year grant period, the applicant focused on solving the basic design issues of standard line start IPM motors. This resulted in 4 PhD and 5 M.Eng graduates, 5 post-doctoral fellows, 33 Journal and 45 conference papers, 2 patents, 3 monograms. These published results have aroused considerable industrial interests and international collaborations. For his efforts, the applicant has received four major IEEE Awards, which indicates that his work is considered very significant by his peers and by industry. However, the demand of fast and precision control of speed is spearheading the development of advanced new electric motor drive systems. Thus, the objectives of the proposed research for the coming 5 years are: a) Development of interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors having high performances at super speeds, (b) Design and build high speed bearingless motor drive using intelligent controllers, c) Test innovative new technology for power inverters utilizing new wavelet modulation techniques. These objectives will be achieved in both software and hardware developments. Laboratory prototypes will be built and tested. These will be realized with the help of 4 undergraduate, 5 M.Eng and 4 PhD students and 5 post doctoral fellows in 2008-2013. The scientific approaches will involve detailed analysis and development of system models of the bearingless motors and associated power electronics including control interfaces. High performance and efficient motion control technology will dominate the specific applications market worldwide including Canada. The topics of the proposed research on advanced electric machines and power electronics system in the next 5 years are significant for economic exploitations in Canada. A five-year grant of $70,000 per year is requested to achieve the objectives of the propsed research.