“Contemporary Challenges of the Transient Analysis and Electromagnetic Design of Power Grid Components and Systems”
Thursday, Sept. 23 at Noon
Via Zoom
Email communications@ece.ufl.edu for Zoom info

Abstract

Power electronic converters are essential components of modern power grids. Some of their numerous applications include the integration of renewable energy resources, battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging stations, as well as the regulation of motor speed and torque for industrial purposes. The smart functionalities of modern power electronic converters can greatly increase the efficiency and reliability of power systems under different operating conditions. However, they also introduce harmonics, overvoltages, oscillations, and other phenomena that can result in severe issues such as grid instability, premature deterioration or failure of power apparatus, and a decrease in overall system performance. This presentation will cover some of the computational tools developed at the Power Equipment Simulation and Design Laboratory of Western Michigan University (WMU Power Lab) to analyze the conditions generated by the widespread use of power electronic converters, and to design components that are better equipped to withstand such conditions.

Biography

Dr. Pablo Gomez is an associate professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Western Michigan University (WMU) since 2015, and Director of the WMU Power Equipment Simulation and Design Laboratory.

He received the B.S. degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering (with major in Power Systems) from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV) in Guadalajara, Mexico. From 2005 to 2014, he was a Full-Time Professor with the Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) in Mexico City, Mexico. From 2008 to 2010 he took a leave of absence to pursue postdoctoral research at New York University working on the development of modeling tools for insulation design of transformers.

His current research interests include power system transients, high voltage engineering, electromagnetic design optimization of power components, transmission line fault location, and grid integration of renewable energy.

Dr. Gomez is the Chair of the Task Force on Frequency Domain Methods for Electromagnetic Transient Studies of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, and Secretary of the Working Group on Modeling and Analysis of System Transients Using Digital Programs of the IEEE-PES. He serves as Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery and IEEE Latin America Transactions.