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Talk on “High Power Density Electrical Machines for Electrified Aircraft”

Talk on “High Power Density Electrical Machines for Electrified Aircraft”

Date: 21st of December 2023

The talk session on “High Power Density Electrical Machines for Electrified Aircraft,” organised by the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter, in collaboration with IESL Vadakkin Chapter of the University of Jaffna, took place on 21st of December 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Held both in person and via Zoom, the event featured Prof. Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, U.S. who joined in person as a speaker.

Prof. Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, renowned for his work on advanced electrical machines, provided a comprehensive exploration of the advancements in electric machine power density, focusing on hybrid electric aircraft applications. The session, attended by 50 participants, highlighted technological approaches, integration challenges, and the importance of these developments in achieving emission reduction goals in aviation. An engaging Q&A session allowed for discussion, enriching attendees’ understanding of the dynamic field of electrical machine engineering.



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Talk on “Smart Power Flow Controllers – A Necessity for the Future Power Grid”

Talk on “Smart Power Flow Controllers - A Necessity for the Future Power Grid”

Date: 20th of November 2023

The IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter, in collaboration with Electrical and Electronic Engineering Society (EEES), of the University of Jaffna, conducted a hybrid mode, technical talk on “Smart Power Flow Controllers - A Necessity for the Future Power Grid” on the 20th of November 2023, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The session featured, Dr. Kalyan K. Sen, President & CTO of Sen Engineering Solutions, Inc., and an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer, who delved into the challenges of traditional power grids, the evolution to smart grids, and the role of intelligent power flow controllers in optimising grid performance.

With 50 engineering undergraduates in attendance, the talk covered managing renewable energy integration and showcased realworld applications and advancements.

Webinar on “Smart Grid and Renewable Integration”

Webinar on “Smart Grid and Renewable Integration”

Date: 26th of October 2023

Held on the 26th of October 2023 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM via Zoom, provided a platform for discussing the pressing challenges and opportunities within the realm of renewable energy. With 145 participants, the session featured Prof. Janaka Bandara Ekanayake, Chair Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Peradeniya, who shared insights on sustainable energy, barriers, solutions for achieving renewable targets, and system-level solutions like smart grids and virtual power plants.

The event fostered a deeper understanding of renewable energy integration, inspiring participants to contribute to a sustainable energy future.



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Launch of IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ Official Website

Launch of IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ Official Website

Date: 13th of October 2023

The IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ successfully launched its official website, www.eng.jfn.ac.lk/ieee-pes, on 13th of October 2023, from 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM at the Seminar Building, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. The event was attended by 12 participants. The launch commenced with a warm introduction, followed by a welcoming speech from Mr. Charaka, the Chairperson of the IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ.

Dr. K. Pirapaharan, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna, shared valuable insights and officially launched the website, emphasising its significance and features. Prof. Athputharaja, the advisor of the IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ delivered an inspiring speech on the role of technology in education and research. Mr. Akitha Anupriya Nawarathna, the Treasurer of the IEEE-PESSBC-UoJ, expressed gratitude in his thank you speech. The event, which showcased the website’s user-friendly design and functionalities, concluded successfully, marking a significant milestone for the chapter’s online presence. Special thanks were given to Mr. Krishikaran Raveendran from the ICT department for his invaluable assistance.



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Talk on “Introduction to IEEE PES SB Chapter”

Talk on “Introduction to IEEE PES SB Chapter”

Date: 3rd of October 2023

The “Introduction to IEEE PES SB Chapter” event took place on 3rd of October 2023, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. With 70 participants in attendance, the session aimed to welcome new members, provide an overview of student branch chapter activities, and foster community. Mr. Akitha Anupriya Nawarathna, Treasurer of IEEE-PES-SBC-UoJ 2023/2024 and a final-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student at the University of Jaffna, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the significance of IEEE PES, it’s mission, and upcoming opportunities.

The event featured a networking session and an interactive Q&A, successfully engaging new members and sparking their interest in future chapter activities and initiatives in the IEEE PES Student Branch chapter level.



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Day 4 of the IEEE Summer School on Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies

Day 4 of the IEEE Summer School on Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies

Date: 25th of July 2023

The fourth day of the IEEE Summer School on Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies, organized by the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter in collaboration with the IEEE EDS/NTC Student Branch Chapter of the University of Jaffna, took place on 25th of July 2023, from 8 AM to 4 PM, at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. Around 90 students participated in the event, which included a field visit to the Renewable Energy Hub at the Kilinochchi Campus of the University of Jaffna. The hub houses Sri Lanka’s first floating solar panel, providing participants with a real-world application of photovoltaic (PV) technology. Attendees learned about the design, construction, and operation of the floating solar panel and had the opportunity to meet the engineers and researchers responsible for developing the hub.

The day featured two keynote sessions. Eng. Ranjith Sepala, Chairperson of the Sustainable Energy Authority, Sri Lanka, delivered an illuminating address on the imperative shift towards sustainable energy solutions, highlighting the need to combat climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel resources. Eng. Selvarajah Prabaharan, Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Northern Province, Sri Lanka, shared insights into the dynamic world of energy, focusing on challenges and innovative solutions in the sector.

The event also included practical demonstrations on solar fitting, site visits to renewable energy projects such as a rooftop solar PV pilot project, a grid-connected wind turbine, a solar measuring centre, a solar floating pilot plant, a biogas pilot project, and the Palai Wind Farm. These activities emphasised hands-on learning and showcased the potential of renewable energy technologies in transforming the energy landscape.



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Hands-on session on “Solar Panel Skill Development”

Hands-on session on “Solar Panel Skill Development”

Date: 25th of June 2023

A hands-on session on Solar Panel Skill Development was organised on 25th of June 2023, from 8:30 AM at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. The workshop, facilitated by Mr. Padmadewa Samaranayake, Project Coordinator Officer at the Sri Lankan Sustainable Energy Authority, saw the participation of around 50 individuals.

The comprehensive agenda covered topics such as site assessment, measurement of PV module parameters, installation techniques, testing and commissioning procedures, and practical training in handling tools and testing equipment with a focus on best practices, safety measures, and operations and maintenance checks. This event significantly enhanced the technical expertise of attendees in solar panel systems, contributing to the development of skilled professionals in renewable energy technologies.



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Workshop on “PSCAD”

Workshop on “PSCAD”

Date: 26th of May 2023

The IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter of the University of Jaffna conducted a successful PSCAD Workshop, on 26th of May 2023, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the Simulation Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. The workshop, attended by 25 participants, mainly from 3rd year and final year, was led by Prof. A. Atputharajah, a Senior Professor in the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, UoJ.

The session aimed to provide preliminary knowledge on using PSCAD, a powerful tool for power systems analysis. Participants were given hands-on experience with PSCAD-installed PCs, modelling a simple power system under Prof. Atputharajah’s guidance. The interactive session also covered features of PSCAD, with examples on synchronous machines, HVDC, and active series filters.



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Popular talk of NASA scientist Dr. P. Balakumar at Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Dr. Ponnampalam Balakumar (Research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center) delivered a popular talk about “stability-transition-turbulence” on 10th of January, 2018 at Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. This talk was jointly organized by Mechanical Engineering Society (MES), Faculty of Engineering and Vadakkin Chapter of Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL). This talk was mainly focus on his work done in NASA Langley Research Center. He discussed elaborately about the stability and transition of hypersonic boundary layers and laminar-transition region in supersonic and hypersonic flows.

Dr. Ponnampalam Balakumar graduated from University of Peradeniya in 1977 from Department of Civil Engineering. He obtained his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Missouri, Rolla, USA in 1981 and obtained his PhD in Aeronautics from MIT in 1986 specializing in Fluid Dynamics. He did his post-doctorate research in stability and transition of hypersonic boundary layers at Arizona State University, USA. Then, he worked as an Associate Professor at Old Dominion University until 2000. Since then he is working as a Research Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center. His area of research is stability, transition, and turbulence of supersonic and hypersonic boundary layers.

Abstract: Drag reduction is an important part in design of aerodynamic vehicles. Skin friction drag contributes more than 50% of the total drag on an aircraft. Skin friction drag reduction could be achieved by extending the laminar region on an airfoil and/or by reducing the turbulent skin friction. In this talk, a summary of predicting the laminar-transition region in supersonic and hypersonic flows will be discussed.

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Faculty Staff and students Members participated to the Civil Engineering Research Symposium at University of Ruhuna

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Society of the University of Ruhuna, hosted Undergraduate Research Symposium on the 3rd of January 2018. Total of 10 Civil and Environmental Engineering Society of University of Jaffna together with two staff members, Dr. N. Sathiparan and Dr. D.N. Subramaniam (who were in the evaluation panel, and one of them Chaired a technical presentation session), attended the sessions. The research symposium highlighted the undergraduate student research projects, which were part of their curriculum, with oral and poster presentations. Several members from different Universities, industrial engineers, policy makers and professionals attended the sessions.

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