Department of Electrical Engineering, University of British Columbia

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This presentation will discuss the life and ideas of Nikola Tesla from my point of view, that of an engineer. Nikola Tesla was one of the most talented engineers of the late nineteenth and mid twentieth centuries. He had the mind of a true engineer. He would visualize how to make an idea work and would not let go until concept became reality. As we engineers know, the process of bringing an idea to reality brings in more ideas, more possible realities. His ideas were endless, touching on all aspects of what can be done with electricity, from electric power, to wireless communications, to x-rays, to beam rays, to robotics, to the concept of the Internet. He was very aware of his talents and he made the decision, since very young, to embrace his destiny without hesitation, without second thoughts. Even though he strongly rejected his father's wish that he should become a priest, he fully devoted himself to the service of humanity, doing what he knew how to do best, harvesting the potential of electricity. He fulfilled his destiny.

* Video recordings for this presentation are not available.

Dr. Marti's Research Group is a world leader in the development of models and solution techniques for fast transient circuit solutions of large systems, particularly in connection with the Electromagnetic Transients Program EMTP. A student version of the Microtran-EMTP program can be downloaded here.

The group has extended the basic EMTP solution techniques to very fast Real-Time simulation. Our Power System Simulator OVNI uses a matched software (MATE) and hardware architecture (PC-Cluster) to achieve very fast performance for systems of unlimited size using off-the-shelf Pentium-class personal computers. OVNI is aimed at simulating in real-time the operation and control of large power system networks.

The Group's system simulation work proceeds in three fronts: a) Accurate and efficient system component models (transmission lines, transformers, machines, power electronic devices, and controllers), b) Efficient algorithmic solution techniques (network partitioning techniques, multirate solutions for latency exploitation and hybrid phasor/time-domain solutions), and c) PC-cluster architectures.

The group is also developing advanced signal processing techniques for in-service intelligent diagnostic systems. A current project involves the signature characterization of power transformers from their high-frequency response. This signature is then used for the detection of incipient faults and aging defects while the transformer is in service.

An important area of current interest in the group is the simulation of distributed energy systems. Together with other members of the Power Systems Group and the Power Electronics Group, we are studying the coordinated operation and control of local distributed generation resources (LDR's), including microturbines, fuel cells, solar, and wind generators, sharing resources with each other and with the existing power grid.