Background
The Power Electronics Group (PEG) was founded by Prof. Toit Mouton and Dr. Johan Beukes. Previously, Prof. Mouton and Dr. Beukes were part of the Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) research group.
The PEG’s research focus is on cutting-edge power electronic control schemes and topologies. Related fields, including model predictive control (MPC) and energy storage, often form part of ongoing research projects done within the group.
Staff
PEG supervisors and students are listed below.
Supervisors
Prof. Mouton has 20+ years of experience of cutting-edge research in the field of electrical engineering. His research at present focuses on power electronic control schemes and topologies.
Dr. Beukes has 20+ years of industry experience in the field of electrical engineering. His research currently focuses on applying recent advances in power electronic research to real-world applications.
Doctoral candidates
Tinus previously completed his M. Eng (Electrical) under supervision of Prof. Mouton, and is now pursuing a doctorate. Research focus: optimized pulse pattern-based control techniques for grid connected inverters.
Johan is a lecturer in electrical engineering at the Central University of Technology and is pursuing a doctorate under supervision of Prof. Mouton. Research focus: numerical solver analysis and development for application to finite control set MPC.
Master’s Degree students
Research focus: the application of optimal pulse patterns to inverter control strategies.
Research focus: development of a power electronic converter for battery energy storage applications.
Research focus: the combination of PWM and MPC to develop a three-phase inverter control scheme.
Research focus: single-phase solar photovoltaic inverter topology and control scheme design.
Past researchers
Research focus: the application of model predictive control to residential energy management.
Research focus: the development of a grid-tied power electronic converter for renewable energy applications.
Eyke visited during his PhD candidacy at the Technical University of Munich. Research focus: the application of MPC to neutral-point-clamped three-phase inverters.