Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
|
|
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
|
|
Dr. Mayer's research and teaching interests are in the related areas of power electronics, electric machinery, and power system dynamics. His research in these areas has been supported through grants from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Naval Surfaces Warfare Center (NSWC), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). On-going projects center on the derivation of analytical techniques and implementation of computational tools to support the design of power electronic converters, quiet electric motor drives, and converter-based distribution systems. The analytical methods are intended to transform nonlinear dynamic models into an algebraic form that is of higher-order but amenable to solution using established nonlinear optimization techniques. The computational tools are built around a set of highly optimized C++ classes for representing networks and component models ranging from individual circuit elements up to and beyond alternator/rectifier systems. A recently completed project involved the design and implementation of four three-phase, 10-kW inverter/motor drives based on the Auxiliary Resonant Commutated Pole (ARCP) converter. These converters serve as the key elements in a PEBB Network Simulator developed at NSWC and the Naval Post-Graduate School.
In concert with his research, Dr. Mayer has focused on modernizing related junior-, senior-, and graduate-level courses. Changes include an increased emphasis on modeling and simulating the dynamic characteristics of machines, converters, and large-scale systems. In addition, a multi-purpose Electric Machinery and Drives Laboratory is currently being established under a grant from NSF and assistance from industrial partners, Control Techniques and Tektronix . Dr. Mayer has also participated in two projects that are part of the NSF-sponsored Engineering Coalition of Schools for Excellence in Education and Leadership (ECSEL). These include the introduction of a junior-level course on the application of microcontrollers in electronic and electromechanical systems and a joint project with the University of Washington to develop a fuel-cell powered locomotive.
Dr. Mayer joined the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1991. He is presently an Associate Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Laboratories. In addition, he is affiliated with Fluid Dynamics Department of the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State (ARL). Dr. Mayer earned B.S.E.E., M.S.E.E., Ph.D. degrees from the School of Electrical Engineering at Purdue University in 1987, 1988,and 1991, respectively.
Available Research Assistantships
