University of RWTH Aachen

December 15, 2016

Respected Sir/Madam,
I am applying for the Master in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer
Engineering with Specialization in Electrical Power Engineering program at your university for
the winter 2016 term. Through this program, I aim to advance my understanding of power
system networks and progress in research.
Throughout high school, my interest in the sciences, especially in electrostatics, current
electricity and semiconductor applications grew. Combining this interest with a strong base in
mathematical concepts like calculus and vector algebra helped me emerge among the top 1
percentile of candidates across India in my high school examination. I pursued my scientific
passion through an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. Owing to the research-
friendly environment that prevailed in my college, I developed an appetite for research and
began working on projects in power electronics and special electrical machines.
Guided by my power electronics professor, my project team was awarded complete funding by
my college to do a project titled Design and Implementation of an Isolated DC-DC Converter for
Data Center Power Supply during my third year. Through this first research endeavor, I was able
to learn several technicalities- starting from soldering the circuit to simulation study and
parameter analysis of the converter.We initially proposed a two stage converter to avoid the
shortcomings of using a duty cycle based converter. Our first task was to simulate the converter
to analyze the parameters and the converter’s feasibility. This helped me learn the PSim
software. Once the simulation results were obtained we were able to make a comparative
studywith the conventional converter. The simulation results that were obtained through PSim
software were published in the Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems (PEARES)
2015- a national conference. Several concepts, which were only theoretical until then, came into
practical application. The hardware results were matched with the simulation results and a study
on the surge voltage due to the switching frequency and the transformer leakage inductance was
made. We published the hardware results in the Global Journal of Advanced Engineering
Technologies (Vol.4, Issue.3, pp-259-262).
After completing my first project, I wished to venture into machine design- a field which
incorporated power electronics to create machine drives and with prominent applications in
power systems. Under the guidance of my head of department, my team worked on the design
and optimization of ferrite assisted synchronous reluctance (FA-Syncrel) motors. While working
on the FA-Syncrel we studied the general methods of thermal analysis of Switched Reluctance
motors and presented this study as a paper in the Electric Drives and Production Conference
(EDPC) (978-1-4673-7512-2) held at Germany. I could appreciate the intricacies of this domain
when I saw that even small changes in a single parameter like ‘barrier width’ significantly
affected motor torque.We worked on a 3 barrier rotor arrangement and were able to match the
standard results. We made a complete electrical and mechanical analysis of the machine through
hardware prototyping and software simulation. For the simulation, I got the opportunity to learn
software such as Ansys, Maxwell, MagNET, ThermNET and MotorSolve. Our paper on the
design and optimization techniques is presently being reviewed for publication in Compel. We
are working on Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization to get the best parameters
for a given set of average torque, torque ripple range and power factor range requirements.
My understanding of power electronic converters and their applications deepened through an
internship at Larsen & Toubro’s Transmission and Distribution department at Chennai, where I
was exposed to the application of these converters in power systems and power stations. I studied
the design of overvoltage protection devices for substations and was on-site of a Gas Insulated
Substation under construction. It was my first experience of applying technical skills in a
corporate ambience and showed me the scale at which electrical engineering was implemented in
industry. A year later, I interned at Siemens in the Drives and Automation department, learning
the fundamentals of design, implementation, maintenance and control of industrial drives,
software such as Step5 and Step7 for PLC programming and vector control of electric motors.
This internship had a prominent influence on my project on machine design: I could proceed
with the analysis and research keeping industrial applicability in mind.
Apart from academics both my school and college provided the best platform for me to showcase
my co-curricular and extra-curricular skills. My college helped bolster my leadership qualities,
entrusting me with the roles of campus placement in-charge and overall event coordinator for the
national technical symposia conducted by my department. I also volunteer with Bhumi- an
organization that aims to impart education to children from marginalized sections. I was assigned
the task of educating a group of primary-school students about computers and technology. The
experience opened my eyes to the pleasures of teaching and contributing to society through
education.
Standing at the brink of pursuing graduate studies, I relate to the white light incident on a prism-
a jumble of academic, social and technical roles. I opine that graduate studies will be the prism
that defines and enhances my skills as an electrical engineer, researcher and social contributor-
akin to a prism dispersing white light into rainbow colours. The engineering standards of the
Germans along with the research in your institute with respect to power system networks are vast
and intriguing. I believe that the research skills I have obtained from my previous projects will
help me make a positive contribution while working under eminent professors. Upon completion
of my degree, I wish to delve deeper into research and development which will help me carve my
own niche as a researcher. I am confident that your university will give me ample research
exposure and entrepreneurship skills to achieve my goal of starting my own technological firm in
India through which I hope to provide solutions for various issues relating to my field. I am
confident that my perseverance and teachability will stand me in good stead in graduate studies.
Thank you for considering my application. I eagerly look forward to your acceptance.
Yours Sincerely,
Srivignesh Sankarraman