RESEARCH PROGRAMS

PERC I NTERNATIONAL T EAMWORK : T RANSFORMING T RANSFORMERS

Electrical Engineering Professor Bruce Mork and his research team at Michigan Tech represent five countries—Russia,
Mexico, Norway, Italy, and the United States. Together they are developing advanced computer simulation models as part
of a Transformer Performance Project funded by a large European research consortium, consisting of the Research Council
of Norway, ABB (Sweden), EDF (Elecricity de France, the French national power company) as well as several European cor-
porations, including Statnett, Statkraft, and Nynäs Naphtenics. The research is being carried out by the Norwegian Electric
Power Research Institute and Michigan Tech.
“Our research really benefits from such a disparate set of perspectives and backgrounds,” says Mork. “This can really
shake up a person’s thought process and lead to some breakthrough ideas. And it’s fun to work together. We never run out
of things to talk about, and jokes and experiences to share.”
Ideas Mork developed during his sabbatical to Trond-
heim, Norway in 2001 led to a three-year project funded by
the US Department of Energy. Initial stages of the research
were greatly aided by researcher Francisco Gonzalez Molina,
a Ph.D. student from the Polytechnic University of Catalunya
in Barcelona, Spain. Molina initially joined Mork in Trond-
heim and then received a two year postdoctoral fellowship
from the Spanish government to continue the research at
Michigan Tech. Dmtry Ishchenko, a post-doctoral researcher
from Russia joined in, and the project was completed in late
2004.
This set the stage for the present collaboration with
Norway. Francisco has since moved on with his career, but
 Bruce Mork, Nicola Chiesa, Dmtry Dmitry continues on, with new PhD students Nicola Chiesa
Ishchenko,Alejandro Avendaño Ceceña
(Italy), and Alejandro Avendaño Ceceña (Mexico) now play-
ing key roles as the research advances. This international team is developing improved computer modeling tools for high
voltage power transformers, an aging and vulnerable part of the power infrastructure.
“Transformers are the bottlenecks in the high-voltage grid. If one fails, the entire grid can go down,” notes Mork. “Large
transformers cost between $500K and $2M to replace, and can take 6-12 months to manufacture and install. They are
incredibly large and heavy, transportation is difficult. Most factories are overseas, as US factories no longer produce the
‘big ones.’
“Obviously, there is a huge need for simulation tools which correctly predict transformer behaviors. Our goal is to
extend their operational life, as well as delay or avoid unexpected failure.”

14 MICHIGAN TECH