Professor Guang-Jin Li

PhD, MSc, BEng

Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Professor in Electrical Machines

Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group

Headshot of Guang -Jin Li
Profile picture of Headshot of Guang -Jin Li
g.li@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5132
Sir Frederick Mappin Building

Full contact details

Professor Guang-Jin Li
Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

I graduated from Wuhan University (China) with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Automation in July 2007.

Then I received my Master degree in Electric Power Systems from the Université de Paris XI, Supélec and École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (ENS Cachan), France, in July 2008.

I was subsequently awarded a PhD degree from ENS Cachan, France, in July 2011. After almost a further year working as a post-doctoral researcher in SATIE laboratory, ENS Cachan, France, I joined the EMD group at the University of Sheffield as a research associate, in June 2012.

I was appointed as a Lecturer in Electrical Machines and Drives in September 2013, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in January 2018 and Professor in January 2022, all at The University of Sheffield.

My main research interests focus on the design aspect of electrical machines. I am particularly interested in renewable energy and EV/HEV applications.

I work closely with Siemens-Gamesa designing novel permanent magnet machines and high temperature superconducting machines for offshore wind power direct drive (DD) generators.

I also explore thermal management and fault diagnostics of various PM machines such as the switched flux and also hybrid excited switched flux PM machines.

These are important areas of research for safety-critical applications such as more electrical aircraft. The fault I am particularly interested is the inter-turn short-circuit, which could cause local overheating and also magnet irreversible demagnetization.

I am also interested in developing magnet free machines, e.g. synchronous reluctance and switched reluctance machines, for applications such as EV/HEV and low cost domestic appliances.

These machines can be supplied with both square wave and sinewave currents. The latter can lead to reduced converter cost.

Moreover, their torque/power density can be significantly increased while the torque ripple can be reduced, so do the vibrations and acoustic noise levels.

Qualifications
  • PhD, ENS de Cachan 2011
  • MSc, University of Paris Sud 2008
  • BEng, Wuhan University 2007
Research interests
  • Novel permanent magnet machines including single and hybrid excited switched flux permanent magnet machines
  • Design of novel switched reluctance machines and their drives including direct torque control and hybrid current control
  • Fault tolerance, fault modelling and diagnostics (inter-turn and phase short-circuit) of permanent magnet machines
  • Thermal management (forced air cooling, liquid cooling and ferrofluid cooling) of electrical machines
  • Renewable energy and low emission transportation including wind power, electrical/hybrid vehicles, more electrical aircraft
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

Grants

  • September 2020 - August 2022

    • Sponsor: EPSRC
    • Title: Advanced Thermomagnetic Cooling for Ultrahigh Power Density Electrical Machines
    • PI

  • January 2019 - December 2023

    • Sponsor: Offshore Renewable Catapult
    • Title: Powertrain Research Hub
    • Co-I

  • April 2019 - September 2027

    • Sponsor: EPSRC
    • Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment (AURA CDT)
    • EEE lead

  • July 2017 - June 2019 

    • Sponsor: Innovate UK
    • Title: Inverter integrated machine for low carbon vehicles
    • Co-I

  • July 2017 - June 2019 

    • Sponsor: Innovate UK
    • Title: Development of novel power tool motors - KTP
    • PI

  • Oct 2017 - Sept 2022

    • Sponsor: EPSRC 
    • Title: Siemens Wind Power: Prosperity Partnerships 
    • Co-I

  • Oct 2014 - Oct 2016 

    • Sponsor: Innovate UK 
    • Title: KTP - Cobham CTS Ltd
    • Co-I

  • Dec 2015 - Feb 2016

    • Sponsor: Siemens-Gamesa      
    • Title: Investigation of HTS generator for 10-20 MW wind turns and PhD funding
    • Co-I

  • Sep 2016 - Aug 2017

    • Sponsor: CSR ZHUZHOU INSTITUTE CO LTD     
    • Title: CRRC Research Centre (Phase III)
    • Co-I
Teaching activities
  • Module Leader of EEE 305 "Machine Design"
  • Module Leader of EEE6204 "Permanent Magnet Machines and Actuators"
Professional activities and memberships
  • AMPERE MSc Administrator
  • Departmental Exam Officer
Research students
Student Degree Status Primary/Secondary
Ma X PhD Graduated Primary
Ren B PhD Graduated Primary
Taras P PhD Graduated Primary
Zhang K PhD Graduated Primary
Zhou R PhD Graduated Primary
Kana Padinharu D PhD Graduated Primary

Links

Electrical Machines and Drives