Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template



Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
Prof. W.G. Hurley
School:
Engineering and Informatics
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
yes
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Power Electronics Research Centre (PERC)
Research group / centre website:
http://perc.nuigalway.ie
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.eee.nuigalway.ie/Staff/ghurley.html
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
The aim of the Centre is to foster links with industry by transferring technology from a strong
research base in the University to the wider community. The Centre is now involved in a number
of new areas of research activities: smart-grid, automotive electronics; sensor technology; battery
management, and power harvesting. Collaborations have been established with the Automotive
Consortium at the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology; the Czech Technical University of
Prague, Harbin University, China, the City University of Hong Kong and the Tyndall Institute, Cork
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
The smart-grid uses information technology (IT) to optimize the production, distribution,
consumption of electricity and to improve the link between the supply and demand between
producers and consumers of electricity. The integration of these technologies on the networks
ensures a supply of electricity that is more efficient, economically viable and safer.
The electrical system will be flexibly piloted to manage constraints such as the intermittency of
renewable energy and the development of new uses such as electric vehicles. These constraints
will also serve to evolve the current system, where the balance is provided in real time by
adjusting production to consumption, to a system where the adjustment will be more by demand.
It makes the consumer a real participant.
PERC wishes to recruit students in the area of Power Systems and Power Electronics, with special
interest in magnetics for renewable energy systems, harmonic analysis for microgrids and
resonant converter technology for power conversion.
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
NUI Galway projects should emphasise features that are not typically available in Brazil – specific equipment,
multi-disciplinarity, aspects of structured programme, links with industry, placements, links with other research
groups etc.
The Power Electronics Research Centre has a world-class reputation for magnetics and power
quality, two topics of major interest in renewable energy systems. It has built up strong links with
other research groups in the U.S.A., Europe and China.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Electrical Engineering
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
x
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): ___Y__
Suitable for either/Don’t know: __Y___