Functional Integration of Power Electronics and Electric Machines to Advance Energy Conversion

Abstract:
Emerging applications in renewable energy generation, transportation electrification, and robotics are posing new challenges in making energy conversion systems power-dense, efficient, and reliable over a wide range of operating patterns. We approach these challenges through functional integration of power electronics, electromechanics, and control. This talk will illustrate that functional integration of these domains leads to the creation of energy conversion architectures uniquely tailored for specific applications. As examples, I will be using two disparate applications: Offshore wind energy conversion system and bio-inspired robotic actuators. These solutions are necessary to meet the demands of a resource-constrained future, providing conversion systems that are physically small, efficient, reliable, inexpensive, and electric-grid friendly.

Biography:

Arijit Banerjee is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include analysis, design, control, and diagnostics of electric power and energy conversion systems. He teaches power electronics, electromechanics, and motor drives at UIUC and has been among the teachers ranked excellent since joining. Recently, he was awarded ECE Ronald W. Pratt Outstanding Teaching Award. He received his B.E. degree from Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology, Shibpur, M.Tech. degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and Ph.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining MIT, he was with the Power Conversion Systems Group, General Electric (GE) Global Research Centre, Bangalore. He holds sixteen issued patents.