Electrical Energy Management
The Electrical Energy Management Group researches, designs, builds and tests advanced energy conversion systems containing renewable energy, power electronic and electro-mechanical conversion systems and energy storage elements, in order to optimise efficiency or power/energy density.
New electrical energy management and control techniques are developed, and demonstrated on systems subjected to realistic load regimes and environmental conditions. Where possible, testing is carried out using fully representative, ‘real-world’ operating scenarios; therefore test methods such as ‘hardware-in-the-loop’ and ‘sub-structuring’ are developed in order to avoid the need for constituent system elements to be physically present in a single laboratory. This enables complex system interactions to be understood, leading to the evaluation of optimal control methods and development of new energy conversion technologies.
An emerging strand of activity addresses the design synthesis and system-level modelling of vibration energy-harvesting devices, and power electronic circuits for the managing of energy at levels of microwatts for miniature energy harvesters, and at kilowatts for small renewable sources. The development of full-scale prototype demonstrators working closely with industrial partners is an essential and highly rewarding aspect of these activities.
Efficient management of both electrical energy and systems.
The Electrical Energy Management group has specialist areas in ultra-high efficiency power converters, wide-bandgap power device operation, multi-level inverters, integrated magnetics, and high-efficiency and high fidelity amplifier design.
Further information:
Contacts and further information
- Prof. Phil Mellor
Head of Group
P.H.Mellor@bristol.ac.uk - Mrs Jemma Cosentino
Research Group Co-ordinator
jemma.cosentino@bristol.ac.uk - Electrical Energy Management Research Group website