University and Ampcontrol power up for export business

Researchers from Newcastle University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are collaborating with electrical and electronic equipment manufacturer Ampcontrol on a three year research project that could form the basis for an Australian industry that would not only replace imports but also generate possible exports.

Chief investigator, Associate Professor Bob Betz from the Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment says they are researching the development of power electronic converters, which are becoming the standard in the industrial, commercial and consumer environment.

"Variable speed AC drives are the preferred drive for most industrial applications, inverters are used in air conditioners and microwave ovens, and virtually every item of consumer electronics now has a power electronic-based switchmode power supply," he said. "In the past seven or eight years there has been increased interest in the development of power electronic systems that will operate at higher voltages from 1.1 up to 11 or even 33 kV."

These power converter systems could be used to control large electrical machines or even to control the power flow on the national electrical grid.

While the field is dominated by multi-national companies, they have largely ignored certain niche areas requiring specialist knowledge or strict approval processes, such as underground mining. It is here that the university and its industry partner, Ampcontrol will make their initial move into the high power converter area, while at the same time developing the basic technology to support broader applications.

The university project has been funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant and Ampcontrol to a total of $887,000 and will take place over the next three years.