Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Power

Climate change effects and the resulting demand for clean energy have led to significant technological advancements in the areas of power systems, control, power electronics, and semiconductor devices. Integrated together, these disparate topics of varying levels of abstraction can lead to substantial improvements in the efficacy of renewable energy systems, the smart grid, transportation electrification systems, and electronic devices. Consequently, specific areas of interest for this focus group include:

Research topics

  • Power converter design and operation
  • Semiconductor device modeling and characterization
  • Utilization of energy storage devices for grid-related harmonic mitigation
  • Stability analysis of the smart grid
  • Cybersecurity of the smart grid
  • Advanced strategies for renewable energy integration

Recent externally funded research projects have been sponsored by the US Department of Defense, US Department of Energy, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with objectives related to power electronic device modeling, converter design, and improved integration of solar technology. Even more recently, a research grant has been allocated from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory related to analysis of cybersecurity threats to the smart grid.

students specializing in power take classes such as

required core courses

Power System Management

Power Electronics 1

Advanced Power Electronics

recommended courses

Feedback Control Systems

Power System Operation

Control System Design

Electro-Optics

Microwave Electronics

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

Nonlinear Control Systems

Optimal Control Theory

Compound Semiconductors and Devices

Plasma in Engineering and Science

 

faculty members

Dr. Raghav Khanna (Power Leader)

Dr. Raghav Khanna’s research is in the areas of modeling and characterization of wide bandgap semiconductors for improved performance of next generation power electronic circuits, and in renewable energy integration.

Dr. Richard Molyet

Dr. Richard Molyet’s research is in the area of optimal and feedback control, as well as the use of energy storage devices for grid-related harmonic mitigation.

Last Updated: 6/27/22