ECON2 · Electrical Energy Conversion and Condition

Final Activity Report Summary - ECON2 (Electrical Energy Conversion and Condition)

The Marie Curie ECON2 project has proved to be a very successful experience both for the high quality scientific research performed and result achieved, and for its management. It included 5 University from 5 different EU countries (Nottingham UK, Cork IE, Malta, Bari IT and Zilina SK) with top quality and complementary skills in Electrical Energy conversion and conditioning, world renown scientists, high standard laboratories and equipment and offering a vast choice of technical and complementary training courses. 360 man/months were appointed for a total of 26 fellows coming from different parts of the EU and outside, trained for periods ranging from 6 months to 3 years. All available fellowships have been allocated according to the initial project plans. The training area has received a high number of applicants, positive feedback at the end of single fellowships and a good number of female participation with a percentage of 22% of man/months appointed (very high for an electrical engineering subject), value that increase up to 52% when considering only the fellows at the University of Nottingham. Fellows have received practical laboratory training together with technical theoretical training in the relevant subjects. They had access to the most advanced hardware and software tools together with constant help and supervision from experienced researchers and academic staff. They had the possibility of working in established research centres in international environments. They had free access to many technical and non technical courses at graduate and postgraduate level; visits to industries have been organised on a regular basis and many fellows have been involved in industry related project. They have presented papers to local and international conferences and workshops and they have participated to scientific meetings organised with external scientists by heir own institution. In particular all active fellows participated to the EPE conferences (2005, 2006 and 2007) where technical session dedicated to the ECON2 Marie Curie students has been organised, made open to the public and advertised on the conference program. Two summer schools have been organised in Nottingham in which all active fellows took part. During the school Fellows attended technical sessions in mini-conferences where scientists from the University of Nottingham have presented the most advanced research achievements in relevant subjects. They also attended postgraduate non-technical courses tailored for them from the University of Nottingham Postgraduate centre. From the activity of the fellows more research collaborations among the partner institutions have been initiated; research and training links have also been established with the home institutions of some of the fellows. At the end of their fellowships all of the researchers trained in the ECON2 area are carrying on research either in academic or in industrial environments. In particular 4 Nottingham fellows, at the end of their fellowships, have been employed in the PEMC group and they are currently members of the research staff. The fellows work within the partnership has produced very high quality research which has been published in international conferences and Journals. In particular outstanding advances have been made in the field of direct AC to AC matrix converters both for aerospace applications and sensorless control of electrical drives. In this last subject innovative estimation and control methods have been studied and implemented. Research in active power filters has lead to the realisation of 4 prototypes for both 50Hz power systems and for aircrafts power networks at variable supply frequency. Novel control systems have been developed and a multilevel structure has been also tested for high frequency networks. Excellent results have been also achieved in DC-DC converters and battery technology for automotive applications and power conversion for solar energy interface.

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