PhD Project Proposals: Electrical and Systems

Staff Name: Ling Keck Voon

Email: ekvling@ntu.edu.sg
Distributed Control and Optimization of Smart Grids
Proposed Research Project (1):
This is collaboration with Energy Research Institute @NTU
Description: (http://erian.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/Home.aspx) to develop and
test advanced state estimation, control and optimization
strategies for smart grid. In particular, we will be looking at
scalable and distributed optimization algorithms. The
potential candidate should have an interest in power system
engineering, and mathematically inclined. Programming
skills will be an added advantage.

Staff Name: Ling Keck Voon

Email: ekvling@ntu.edu.sg
Model Predictive Control on a Chip
Proposed Research Project (2):
The project aims to accelerate computation of model
Description: predictive control algorithms (a form of constrained
optimization to be carried out online and in real-time) on
special purpose hardware, such as a Field-Programmable
Gate Array (FPGA), or a Graphics Processor Unit (GPU).
Experience in digital circuit and system design and MATLAB
would be useful.
 PhD Project Proposals: Electrical and Systems

Staff Name: Tang Yi

Email: yitang@ntu.edu.sg

Proposed Research Project : Hierarchical control strategies of distributed energy storage

systems for intermittency management
In order to reduce carbon footprint and combat global
climate change, renewable energy sources (RESs) such as
Description:
photovoltaic and wind power are increasingly penetrated into
modern power grids. However, the intermittent nature of
RESs may cause highly variable and pulsed output power
that can greatly threaten the stability and security of power
grids. Implementing grid-scale distributed energy storage
systems (DESSs) could be an effective way to manage the
intermittency of RESs and minimize their impact to the
power grid. In this PhD project, hierarchical control strategies
will be studied to optimize the performances of DESSs in
terms of efficiency, reliability, and cost and meanwhile
ensuring power grid resilience. The hierarchical control
should include a distributed controller implemented in each
DESS for fast response power control as well as a higher
level centralized controller for grid-wide aggregation of
multiple DESSs. RES and DESS models will be built in
simulations along with the developed control algorithms. The
proposed hierarchical control will also be verified in a
laboratory micro grid test rig equipped with state-of-the-art
power electronics facilities.

Staff Name: (Steve) Cuong Dang

Email: hcdang@ntu.edu.sg
Controlling Light through Strongly Scattering Media
Proposed Research Project :
(Electronics and Electrical & Systems)
The project will utilize the spatial light modulator (SLM) to
control light through strongly scattering media. By adjusting
Description:
both phase and amplitude of light field at very high spatial
resolution, we can control light on the other side of strongly
scattering media such as frosted glass or biological tissue.
One can create a light focused point inside the biological
tissue with some feedback mechanism. The project will
required strong background in control with some knowledge
in optics.
 PhD Project Proposals: Electrical and Systems

Staff Name: Xu Yan

Email: xuyan@ntu.edu.sg

Proposed Research Project (1) :

Data analytics for smart grid stability assessment and
control
This project aims to develop advanced and innovative data
analytics technique to utilize the smart grid data (such as
Description:
PMU measurement, power-quality measurement, smart
meter data, etc.). The objectives are 1) better understanding
of the emerging instability mechanism, 2) fast stability
assessment tools, and 3) rule-based stability control tools.

Staff Name: Xu Yan

Email: xuyan@ntu.edu.sg

Proposed Research Project (2) :

Coordinated operation and control of networked-microgrids

This project aims to develop innovative methodologies for

coordinating the cyber-physically connected microgrids (i.e.,
Description:
networked-microgrids) to improve the operational resilience of
the power networks and the utilization efficiency of the
renewable energy resources.

Staff Name: Xu Yan

Email: xuyan@ntu.edu.sg

Proposed Research Project (3) :

Optimal operation of combined cooling heating power
(CCHP) systems
This project aims to develop optimization-based
methodologies for CCHP system operation and control. The
Description:
tasks include 1) detailed operational modelling of CCHP
components, and their interaction relationship, 2)
optimization modelling of the CCHP operation and control
process, 3) development of fast solution algorithm.