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Control and Power Portfolio Partnership
The Control and Power Portfolio Partnership - Background
Complex control systems underpin many technological advances. These systems are ubiquitous and occur for example in modern transport systems and motor vehicles, electrical generating systems, medicine, chemical plant, economic systems and nuclear power. Control systems usually reside in on-line computers and are fundamental to the proper functioning of these complex systems.In the current era of de-regulated power generation, the UK is faced with formidable problems concerning the integration of diverse energy sources such as gas, coal, nuclear and renewables (wind, tidal, sun) into large, integrated electrical networks. Control strategies must be implemented that allow the suppliers and customers as many choices as possible. At the same time, it is important to minimize the risk of supply degradation and damage to the environment.
The Control and Power Portfolio Partnership brings together a team of leading researchers with expertise in the principles of control systems design, dynamic modelling and the control and optimisation of power systems. The Partnership will develop new methods of designing control systems and apply them to a range of engineering design problems, including:
Control of complex electrical power networks and the efficient exploitation of renewable energy sources;
Prevention of instabilities in complex mechanical systems such as novel aircraft, motorcycles and nuclear fusion reactors;
The design and exploitation of micro-electronic devices, such as micro-
generators to power an array of medical monitoring and drug administration
systems.