PhD in Electronic Engineering
Current position: Professor at Aalborg University, Denmark
Research focus: reliable and sustainable power electronics for efficient appliances and renewable energy applications
In Huai's PhD thesis he focused on energy-efficient power electronics converters, for use in electric public transport methods (metros, high-speed trains, trams, and buses) in Hong Kong.
He participated in research stays at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America, and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), Switzerland. He has received several academic awards.
2016 Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award
2011-2014 Filed four patents on innovative capacitive DC-link solutions
CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2014):
Aalborg University, Denmark
Research focus: reliable and sustainable power electronics for efficient appliances and renewable energy applications
Making power electronics more reliable and efficient are key factors to lowering the cost associated with electricity from renewable energy sources. Assistant Professor Huai Wang is conducting research in this field at the Centre for Reliable Power Electronics at Aalborg University.
As an enabling technology, power electronics play a crucial role in facilitating the societal change from reliance on fossil fuels to a sustainable energy system. They are currently used to process more than 70% of all electricity. During his PhD research project, Huai focused his work on energy-efficient power electronics converters for use in electric public transport methods, such as metros, high-speed trains, trams and buses, in his home city of Hong Kong. His work resulted in two new power electronics conversion systems, achieving an efficiency rate of more than 90% during the power conversion process from high supply voltage (to power the vehicle), to low voltages for various on-board applications like lighting. This was a huge step forward in terms of efficiency and created a potential energy saving equivalent to 9.8 million kWh in electric power across the transit railway system in Hong Kong.
Now an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark, Huai’s research focus is on “the efficient and reliable power electronics systems in Photovoltaic and wind turbine applications”. One of the factors holding back renewable energy sources such as Photovoltaic and wind turbines is the comparatively high cost of the electricity they generate. Researchers such as Huai are therefore addressing a pressing problem, as the higher efficiency of conversion systems will maximise the electricity yielded. “Higher reliability ensures a reduced system shut down time (i.e. increased availability of energy production) and reduces maintenance costs”, says Huai. “The outcome will therefore contribute to both environmentally and economically sustainable solutions for our next generation energy solutions.” In his research, Huai relies on interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise in power electronics and reliability engineering.
The jury applauded Huai’s track record of successful research and his combination of practical knowledge and innovative thinking in his current project. They believe that participation in the Green Talents Forum will give him fresh ideas and new momentum for the research challenges ahead.
