Newcastle University
The School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering at Newcastle University aims to provide a research environment in which ambitious new and original ideas can flourish and in which every individual member of staff can be research active.
The School was awarded a 5A for research in the RAE 2001. Research has increased dramatically since the RAE 2001 and we have exceeded our targets for the RAE08 . The School is Ranked amongst the top 5 in the UK.
Liang Cheng received his BSc degree in Electronics from Peking University in 2007 and MSc degree in Communications and Signal Processing from Imperial College London in 2008. He began his PhD in failure models and life cycle assessment of wind turbine systems in May 2009. He is developing simulation models and an experimental system using microwave induced heating for defect detection in wind turbine blades. Liang Cheng can be contacted at: liang.cheng@ncl.ac.uk.
Simon Lambert received his MEng (Hons) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Newcastle University in 2008. He began his PhD project on an improved design for active voltage equalisation in series connected supercapacitor/Li-ion capacitor cells in 2008. As a member of the Future Reliable Renewable Energy Conversion Systems & Networks (FRENS) consortium with good links to China, Simon spent several months in 2009 working alongside the FRENS partners at Zhe Jiang University in Hangzhou. The collaborative efforts have yielded five publications of joint authorship between Newcastle University and Zhe Jiang University since 2009. Simon’s work on supercapacitor/Li-ion capacitor – power electronic interface is ongoing. He can be contacted at simon.lambert@ncl.ac.uk
Professor Gui Yun Tian is Professor of Sensor Technologies in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (EECE), Newcastle University, leads a team of 4 research associates, 6 PhD students and 3 visiting scholars in the group of Nano Materials & Electronics (NME). The School has a strong reputation for interdisciplinary research, well supported by EPSRC, the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, DTI and Industries, including Chinese organisations. EECE at Newcastle has risen to 5th place in the research quality table this year. He is a SMIEEE, elected Fellow of the BINDT, Fellow of IET and a regular reviewer for journals, EPSRC and conferences. He has published more than 150 papers and book chapters. He has led and co-ordinated an UK-China science network since 2001, international visits, research exchanges, and organised several international seminars, workshops and symposiums. In addition to expansion of current UK-China research link, his unique work of sensors ad NDT&E applied for welds, aerospace engineering and pipelines will be extended for reliable renewable energy conversion systems. The school is actively involved in Newcastle’s new and renewable research program. The Sir Joseph Swan Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute within Newcastle University. It provides the focus for energy related research across the University and incorporates researchers specialising in natural science, social science and engineering from 11 academic schools including EECE.
Dr. Volker Pickert is Senior Lecturer, with 4 years experience in the EECE School Newcastle University, he has built up a research team of 12 PhD students, Engineering Doctorate students and Research Associates funded by EPSRC, DTI or directly from industry. EECE, was awarded a Grade 5A in RAE2001. He works within the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives Group (PEDM) which is working extensively within the area of renewable energy with a large range of industrial companies and institutions. The activities have been recognized by regional government through One North East by the funding of a new Advanced Drives Research Centre (1M). The PEDM Group has also secured SRIF money allowing the installation of two new test beds operating at 500kW/20.000 rpm. His main research area is power electronics and he is an expert on energy management, fault tolerant power converters, thermal management and on the design of low-cost power converters. Prior his academic career he worked many years in industry for different companies. As team leader and project manger he developed power electronics systems, drives and storage systems. He is an MIET and MIEEE. He will extend his five ongoing projects to energy storage research in the consortium.