Professor Jose M. Aller and Slobodan N. Vukosavic will join us as Invited Papers

  Jose M. Aller  was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1958. He received the B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela, in 1980, M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, in 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, in 1993. He has been a Lecturer for 42 years at the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela. During 2001-2005, he was the General Secretary of the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela. He was a visiting professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA, in years 2000 and 2007. He is currently a full time professor of electrical machines and electromagnetism in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Universidad Politecnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Ecuador during the last six years. Dr. Aller has published more than 120 papers in the field of power electronics, electrical machines, machine monitoring and alternative energy power systems. His research interests include space-vector applications, electrical machine control, power electronics, WECS, photo-voltaics systems and monitoring of electrical machines.

Title: Wind Energy Conversion System using a Squirrel Cage Induction Generator Coupled to the Electrric Grid with a Predictive DPC

This keynote presents the application of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) using a self-excited induction generator (SEIG) coupled to the grid with a Predictive Direct Power Controller (PDPC), applying an optimal space vector selection technique in the inverter bridge. The self-excitation of the induction generator is obtained with a Direct Torque Controller (DTC) which allows controlling the machine’s space vector flux and electric torque. On the other hand, the power system coupling is with a Direct Power Controller (DPC), that selects the voltage space vectors required to minimize the active and reactive power errors to a given reference. The advantage of the optimum DPC scheme proposed in this work is the fast adjustment of the active and reactive powers to the power references. This is achieved without using the classic PLL. This WECS system has been modeled and experimentally proved in an emulator developed in the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana-Cuenca. The tutorial explains and demonstrates the operation and programming of the DPC for grid connection of WECS or PV systems and of the DTC to control the induction generator without self-excitation

 Slobodan N. Vukosavic graduated with honours at the Electrical Engineering Department, University of Belgrade. He got his diploma in Power engineering in 1985, and his diploma in Electronics in 1986. He defended the magisterial thesis entitled "Control algorithms for the voltage source inverters" in 1987. The doctoral dissertation "Adaptive digital control of induction motors" is defended 1989. with the same University.
Since 1985, he worked as an R/D engineer with "Nikola Tesla" Institute in Belgrade, engaged with research, development and design of static power converters, electrical drives and digital control systems for industrial and military applications. Relevant projects were closely related with his magisterial thesis, PhD thesis, and his first papers. In 1988, he joined Electronic Speed Control Division of Emerson-Electric in St. Louis, where he developed and patented sensorless controller for brushless permanent magnet motors in HVAC applications. He also developed asymmetrical switched reluctance machines and original power converter topology for SRM supply. Invited by Vickers-Electric, manufacturer of hydraulic actuators, he joined their new R/D team, developing electric actuators for industrial robots. Leading the R/D with Vickers Electric, and later on with MOOG-Electric, he developed motion control products for the car manufacturers and automotive industry in Europe.
S. N. Vukosavic is an associate member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. He is also a member of Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia and Senior member of the IEEE and member of Atiner institute for education and research.
He is associate editor of IET Electric Power Applications, of IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, member of editorial board and guest editor of international journal Electronics, member of editorial board of international journal Facta Universitatis: Electronics and Energetics.
S. N. Vukosavic is member of program boards of International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (INDEL) and International Symposium on Power Electronics. He is also member of the Advisory Editorial Board of International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems.

Title: Computer-assisted design of electrical machines and electronic power converters

The construction of electromechanical and electronic energy converters engages large quantities of mineral resources. For the construction of a modern power system, for decarbonization of industry and electrification of transport, the exploitation of mineral resources over the next decades would  increase from four to six times, with a twenty-fold increase in the consumption of cobalt, nickel and lithium. Replacement of conventional cars with electric ones would lead to a fivefold higher consumption of raw materials, while the construction of solar power plants and wind power plants requires four to eight times more mineral raw materials than the construction of thermal power plants. Green agenda has the potential of reducing carbon emissions that accompany the use of fossil fuels. However, the construction of energy converters, battery storages, renewable sources and electric cars will lead to a significant increase in environmental pollution and the emission of harmful gases that accompany the mining and processing of metallic and other mineral raw materials. Therefore, it is of uttermost importance to improve design of electromechanical and electronic power converters in order to improve their power-to-mass ratio and reduce consumption of critical minerals. Over the time, design of elements and systems becomes ever more complex, while the growing shortage of professionals and their very short retention time in design teams makes the design process overstressing and less efficient. Over the past 20 years, there was an ever growing need to automate parts of design process. Initial automation of instance-generation-and-evaluation grew into a computer-assisted system that  organizes and uses the past experience, explores new and untested options, and finds the solutions that otherwise could not have been found by human designer. While the core element of the process is differential evolution, certain elements of this approach could have a more general value, and represent  contribution to the art of using computer for the purposes of extending our mind power and overcoming human limitations. This talk would outline the state of the art and outline experiences of the speaker.