Research interests

• Numerical Modelling
• Electromagnetic Fields
• Power Cables

Current research

Much of his current work concerns modelling the electrical losses and cooling of power cables.  Recent efforts to decarbonize the UK economy have greatly increased the need for such work.  In addition to the need for new cables to connect offshore wind turbines to the national grid, there are rapid changes in the typical loading patterns on existing National Grid circuits; current projects arise from both of these changes.  The work for National Grid will explore various options for improving the cooling of cables in tunnels.  Although 3D finite-element models will be used in both projects, it is expected that other modelling techniques will be required.

I did a little teaching of electromagnetism some years ago, but have not done any teaching recently.  However, I have recently contributed to coursework development for my manager.

Through most of my career, my work has involved calculation, modelling or simulation to estimate the performance characteristics of various electromagnetic devices.  At times, my work has also involved the design and/or testing of such devices.  In earlier years, most of my work related to rotating electrical machines, whereas most of my recent work related to power cables and transformers.  Particular areas of expertise include finite element modelling using a number of commercial software suites and the development of bespoke codes using platforms such as Matlab.

Worked on checking the design of a proposed HVDC test supply for problems.  Mostly, this involved finite-element modelling with Comsol, either to estimate their circuit equivalent parameters, or to estimate the maximum field or temperature in each material.  Did some unofficial design work to make the preliminary arrangement drawings suitable for the modelling requested.

Worked on a project related to exploitation of the overload capability of transformers.  My work included finite-element modelling to understand the impact of loading on the flux densities in a transformer core.  Proposed a simple method of estimating the fair price for overloading a transformer, based on the marginal cost of accelerated ageing with respect to load.

Worked on the calculation of electrical losses in high voltage power cables of the type used to connect wind farms back to the onshore electricity transmission grid.  Although there are internationally standardised calculations for losses in power cables, there are fundamental flaws in the methods defined for this type of cable; this has a significant impact on the cable sizing calculations done for offshore wind farms.  My work involved the development of a series of new analytical and numerical models (in Excel and Matlab) capable of calculating losses in armoured AC cables; it is hoped that the improved models developed will reduce excessive conservatism in the sizing of such cables, and thus reduce their cost.

Other work concerned electrical stresses in the sheath voltage limiters used in high-voltage cable systems.  For this purpose, I produced object-oriented Matlab models to simulate transient voltage and current waveforms in the sheaths and conductors of high-voltage cable systems.  To determine the transient characteristics required in the Matlab models, I used 2D steady-state finite-element models together with additional Matlab code.