SPARK Lab Presents Record Number of Papers and Receive Awards at the IEEE ECCE Congress

SPARK Lab researchers within the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK) and the  Electrical and Computer Engineering Department presented a record number of 11 papers at this year’s edition of the IEEE Energy Conversion Conference and Expo (ECCE) Congress. Their paper on model predictive controls for electric aircraft propulsion drives received a best paper award from the IEEE Power Electronics Society. An experimental demonstration of special axial coreless PM machines with PCB windings, and power electronics drives also received an award.  

The IEEE ECCE is a premier conference for the exchange of cutting-edge research and developments in the field of energy conversion and power electronics. The annual event brings researchers, engineers, scientists, and industry professionals together in the US from around the world to share their latest work in areas such as power electronic systems and devices, motor drives, electric machines, electrification, transportation, and renewable energy systems. With a typical attendance of approximately 2,000 people, ECCE is the largest annual joint technical event of the IEEE Industry Applications and Power Electronics Societies.

The papers presented by the SPARK Lab are based on projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, DOE, and directly by industry and utilities. The SPARK Lab was one of the largest faculty-led groups participating at ECCE. This is reflective of the growth and strength of the graduate program with research on advanced electric power components and systems topics within the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. Papers with SPARK authors and co-authors presented at ECCE 2024: 

• Alden, R., McCulloch, M., and Ionel, D. M., "Solar PV and EV Controls for Reactive Power Support on Large Distribution Systems Modeled with Experimental and Synthetic Loads” pdf
• Badewa, O. A., and Ionel, D. M., "Analysis and Design of Synchronous Machines with Reluctance Rotor and PM Stator Combined Excitation” pdf
• Badewa, O. A., Mohammadi, A., Lewis, D. D., and Ionel, D. M., "Optimal Design and Comparison of Synchronous Machines with Inner and Outer Reluctance Rotors and PM or DC Stator Combined Excitation” pdf
• Lewis, D. D., Stewart, D. R., Vatani, M., Badewa, O. A., Mohammadi, A., and Ionel, D. M., “Fault-Tolerant Topologies with Halbach Array and PM-Free Multi-Stage Multi-Module Electric Machines for Electric Aircraft Propulsion” pdf
• Lewis, D. D., Gastineau, L., Onar, O., McCulloch, M., Eastham, J. F., and Ionel, D. M., “Design of High-Power Polyphase PCB Systems for Wireless Power Transfer” pdf
• Mohammadi, A., Badewa, O. A., Chulaee, Y., and Ionel, D. M., "Two-level Design Optimization of AC Machines with DC Stator Excitation and Minimal Torque Ripple using Reluctance Rotor Profile Shaping" pdf
• Notash, F. Y., Vatani, M., He, J., and Ionel, D. M., "Model Predictive Control of 5L-ANPC Inverter Fed Coreless AFPM Motor with Mitigated CMV in Electric Aircraft Propulsion pdf
• Poore, S. B., Alden, R. E., Rooney, T., and Ionel, D. M., "New Loads and Service Factors for Distribution Transformers Following the Transition to High-Efficiency Heat Pumps, Solar PV, and EV Charging” pdf
• Vatani, M., Chulaee, Y., Eastham, J.F., and Ionel, D. M., "Analytical and FE Modeling for the Design of Coreless Axial Flux Machines with Halbach Array and Surface PM Rotors" pdf
• Vatani, M., Eastham, J.F., and Ionel, D. M., " Multi-Disk Coreless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors with Surface PM and Halbach Array Rotors for Electric Aircraft Propulsion" pdf
• Vatani, M., Chulaee, Y., Eastham, J.F., Pei, X., and Ionel, D. M., "Multi-Wound Axial Flux Generators with Halbach Array Rotors” pdf

Author’s manuscript versions may be directly accessed through the above links and will also be available from the UKnowledge online repository