Digital twins of power converters connected to Network Rail’s AC traction power supply

This PhD project will be undertaken in association with Network Rail. The number of power converters connected to the rail traction power network is expected to increase significantly over the next few years to integrated renewable power sources, storage devices, and electric vehicle charging stations. However, time-domain models developed by manufacturers use a number of parameters and data that are normally not publicly available but are essential to understand the response of the converter when included in the rail traction system.

This PhD programme aims at developing generic simulation approaches and mathematical techniques for the incorporation of black-box power system converters in traction power systems. The research will look at the minimum data needed from manufacturers to enable a satisfactory representation of the power converter, and work towards standards of data transfer that have been developed theoretically and tested in practice. The work will generate generic methods which could be provided to any software developer, without the need of using proprietary code and a single piece of software. The successful applicant will identify methods which can then be used to design and control effectively the converter and, then, will be expected to report results to Network Rail.

Candidates should hold, or expect to achieve by September 2022, at least a 2:1 Bachelors degree or a Masters degree in a relevant technical subject. The successful candidate will be expected to start by the 1st of October 2022.

Initial enquiries to: Dr Pietro Tricoli (Tel: 0121 414 3518, email: [Email Address Removed])