SPARK Laboratory

Books

Renewable Energy Devices and Systems with Simulations in MATLAB and ANSYS

Dr. Dan M. Ionel, ECE Professor and L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power, has co-authored and co-edited the book “Renewable Energy Devices and Systems with Simulations in MATLAB® and ANSYS®” published by CRC Press in 2017. The book is reflective of UK’s very strong PEIK and SPARK programs in power and energy, which have teaching, research and outreach activities supported by US government agencies, utilities and industry, and of the growing international collaborations with premier research groups, including the one from Aalborg University in Denmark, led by Dr. Frede Blaabjerg. 

This book covers main topics of renewables that are playing an important role in modern technology with a main emphasis on electric power engineering and power electronics. State-of-the-art solutions together with on-going developments are reviewed at an introductory level in the first chapter. Solar energy, including concentrated and PV systems, maximum power point techniques, single and three power electronic conveters, and associated design aspects of utility and residential systems, are covered in chapters 2 to 6. Wind turbine systems, including their electric machines, controls, power converters, and related design and implementation aspects are presented in chapters 7 to 10. The following two chapters, 11 and 12, are devoted to the topics of marine and hydrokinetic, and fuel cell technologies, respectively. The fast developing field of energy storage with batteries and ultra-capacitors is covered in chapter 13. The last chapter, 14, discusses very timely topics of architecture, controls, protection and application for microgrids.

Explanations and computer simulation models are provided for different renewable generation technologies, such as wind turbines and PV systems, in order to better prepare students and readers for real-life practical applications. Discussions on the state-of-the-art and possible technology developments within the next fifteen years are also included.  


Multiphysics Simulation by Design for Electrical Machines, Power Electronics and Drives

Dr. Dan M. Ionel, ECE Professor and L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power, and Dr. Vandana Rallabandi, Post-doctoral Researcher, with the PEIK Institute and the SPARK Laboratory, ECE Department, University of Kentucky, are co-authors to the book “Multiphysics Simulation by Design for Electrical Machines, Power Electronics, and Drives”, published by IEEE and Willey Press in 2018. The book is reflective of the close collaboration between SPARK and PEIK researchers and colleagues at ANSYS, Inc.

The book covers basics of electromagnetic designs and manufacturing tolerances, finite element analysis for electric machine design, magnetic material modeling, thermal problems in electric machines, automated optimization, and power electronics and drive systems. Combining the knowledge of experts from academia and the software industry, this text delivers the multi-physics know-how based on practical electric machine design methodologies. Case studies are included from industrial practice and research and development projects.

This book is mainly addressed to the design engineers, application engineers, technical professionals, and graduate engineering students with a string interest in electric machines and drives. The comprehensive design approach described in this book supports new applications required by technologies sustaining high efficiency drives.


Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineering - Electric Machine Sections: Generators, Motors and Drives

Dr. Dan M. Ionel, ECE Professor and L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power, Dr. Vandana Rallabandi, Post-doctoral Researcher, and Ms. Narges Taran, Ph.D. Candidate, with the PEIK Institute and the SPARK Laboratory, ECE Department, University of Kentucky are co-authors to the electric machine section from the” Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineering”, 17th edition, published by McGraw Hill in 2018 as an industry-standard resource that offers practical details on every aspect of electrical engineering. The contributions of the PEIK Institute and SPARK Lab researchers are included in Section 14: “Electric Machines: Generators”, pp 867-918, and in Section 15: “Electric Machines: Motors and Drives”, pp 919-960.

The main topics covered in Section 14 include: prime movers, steam and gas turbines, direct-current generators principles, commutation, cooling and ventilation, testing, alternating-current generators including their operation, two-reaction theory, machine size and utilization, capability diagram, saturation curve, mechanical construction, dynamic models, and special ac generators. The main topics covered in Section 15 include: direct-current motors, classification, starting, and speed control methods, induction and synchronous machines theory, testing, characteristics, variable speed drives, and other special motors.