Inam Nutkani

Dr. Inam Nutkani

Senior Lecturer

Details

  • College: School of Engineering
  • Department: School of Engineering
  • Campus: City Campus Australia
  • inam.nutkani@rmit.edu.au

Open to

  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision

About

Dr Inam Nutkani is a Senior Lecturer of Electrical Power Systems and Power Electronics at RMIT. He has ample industry and research experience in various domains of Power Systems.

Dr Inam has diversified experience and expertise in different domains of Power Systems. He has successfully secured and completed several infrastructure and research projects in collaboration with different entities. He has published more than 20 papers in top-tier transactions and international conferences as a first author.

His professional expertise and research interest is in following three main areas:

Renewable, Distributed Generation and Microgrids
Power Electronics/Control
Next Generation Electricity Grids


Grant-call projects
Successful grant-call project with role as a Lead PI or Co-PI:

Ramp Rate Power Injection Demonstrator (RAPID), NRF/EMA Singapore, S$1.7M, Lead PI, 2015-2018
Successful grant-call project with role as a Collaborator:
These projects were funded under A*STAR Thematic Research Program(TRP) – Intelligent Energy Distribution System (IEDS):

Power converter and grid architectural design for future intelligent energy distribution Networks, NTU Singapore, S$0.96M, 2008-2011
Microgrid energy management system, NTU Singapore, S$1.3M, 2008-2011
Intelligent trading/metering/billing system for future smart distribution system, NTU Singapore, S$0.48M, 2008-2011



Internal and industry funded projects
Completed internal and collaborative research projects with industry, utilities companies and Goverment agencies:

Low Frequency Oscillation (LFO) impact on wind turbine generators, Collaborator: Industry, Co-PI, 2011
Modelling and analysis the FCLs applications for network and DERs, Collaborator: Electric Utility/Industry, Lead PI, 2011-12
Micro-power grid design evaluation for renewable power supply in Sabang, Puerto Princesa, The Philippines, Collaborator: Industry, Lead PI, 2013
Diesel generator behaviour characterization under various operating conditions, Collaborator: Industry, Lead PI, 2013
Distribution network design evaluation for Sabang power generation project, Collaborator: Industry, Lead PI, 2014-15
Impact of high penetration of solar PV on zonal electrical network – nominated for MTI Borderless Awards 2014, Collaborator: Govt. agency, Co-PI/Team Member, 2012-13
Design evaluation of Pulao-Ubin microgrid project, Collaborator: Govt. agency, Team Member, 2014
Development of auxiliary control system for hybrid operation of commercial drive for marine application, Collaborator: Industry, Team Member, 2016


Infrastructure and development projects
Completed infrastructure projects:

3 MW decentralized power generation plan at NESCOM, Islamabad, Pakistan, Project Lead, 2004-2006
1 MW experimental (microgrid) grid for testing and validation of DGs and Microgrid technologies, EPGC, A*STAR, Singapore, Team Member, 2008-2011
Planning, design and procurement for equipment for Power Electronics laboratory at EPGC, Singapore, Team Member, 2008-2011
Motor control centre for multi-functional machines test-bed at EPGC, Singapore, EPGC Internal Project, Project Lead, 2014-15
Technology agnostic platform (design) for testing and validation of different energy storage technologies, NRF/EMA Grant Project, Project Lead, 2015-2016
Microgrid Central Controller (MGCC) + and integration of new DERs, EPGC Internal Project, Team Member, 2014-15
Installation and commissioning of 90kW motor-generator and 200kW drive set, EPGC Internal Project, Team Member, 2014
Design and development of Load Bank controllers, EPGC Internal Project, Project Lead, 2014-15


Recognition/Achievements
Certificate of appreciation for invaluable contribution as a Mentor to the Energy Innovation Challenge 2015, by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore, 2015
Project “Investigation of the Impact of High Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Penetration on the Singapore Power Grid” nominated for MTI Borderless Awards, Singapore, 2014
Service recognition award from Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC), A*STAR, 2013
Accelerated 4 stage promotion starting from Research Officer in 2008 to Scientist II in 2016 due to outstanding contribution and achievements, EPGC, A*STAR, 2008-16


External websites
Researchgate
Google Scholar
Linkedin



Employment history
Dr Inam has more than 12 years of work experience with power utilities, industry, consultancy firms and research organizations as briefly summarized below:

Various possitions held at Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC), Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), Singapore
While working at EPGC – A*STAR, Dr Inam has undertaken and completed several research and infrastructure related projects in different domains of Electrical Power Systems (distribution systems, renewable, power electronics, electrical drives, grid storage system, fault current limiters, distributed generation and microgirds) in collaboration with industry and other partner agencies. In capacity of either as a project lead or core-team member, he gains invaluable experience and skills of proposal writing, budgeting, project management and execution of projects technical/research tasks.

In addition to the research projects, he planned, designed and prepared specifications for new and existing infrastructure upgrade projects related to power distribution networks. Subsequently he procured, approved the detailed design submissions and supervised the work to ensure compliance with the requirements and relevant local codes and international standards. At EPGC, He led the team of researchers for the operation and maintenance of experimental facility/grid and trained several batches of researchers on the safe switching operation of facility and equipment – distribution switchgears and storage systems, emulators and microgrid central controller.

Newcastle Energy Centre, CSIRO, Australia
2009, Visiting Researcher to carry out joint experimentation on their microgrid together with the CSIRO’s scientists.

Electrical Engineer at West Energy (Asia Pacific), Singapore
At West Energy, he designed the Electrical Systems for the implementation of West Energy’s newly patented run-of-the-river type Hydro and Wind turbines technology. His work scope was to plan, design and prepare the specifications for the balance of the system for wind/hydro turbine technologies which includes the review and selection of generators, power converters, and control and management system for the standalone and grid-connected systems.

Senior Electrical Engineer at J M Pang and Seah Pte Ltd., Singapore
At JM Peng Seah, Dr Inam worked with a team of Professional Engineers (PEs) and Licenced Electrical Workers (LEWs) as a senior design support engineer for various power systems projects (66kV and 22kV) to carry out power system design studies for compliance and authority’s submission – balance, un-balance, optimal load flow, transient stability analysis, harmonic analysis and filter designing, short circuit analysis, cable sizing, relay coordination etc. In addition, he conducted several training sessions/workshops on ETAP and SKM software modules for the engineers/staff.

Assistant Manager Electrical at National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), Islamabad, Pakistan
At NESCOM, he led the Electrical department of Work & Services (W&S) Directorate of NESCOM. The most interesting and challenging project he worked on was a three megawatt (3 MW) distributed generation/ standalone microgrid which was built to meet the power demand of 11 new Center of Excellence (COE) buildings/offices/labs. He worked with the team of engineers for the preparation of design specifications and tendering. After the project award, he led the project for the installation, testing and commissioning of the complete system. The project was completed in a record time of less than 2 years and currently operating successfully.

Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical) at Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC or K-Electric), Karachi, Pakistan
After tertiary education, Dr Inam started his career with one of the biggest electric utility firm of Pakistan – KESC (K-Electric) that is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of power to the Karachi City. He worked in Substation and Under-ground Cables Maintenance Dept. and was responsible for the routine and emergency maintenance of substations (11kV/230V transformers and switchgears etc.) and cables (11kV and 230V) to ensure the continuous power supply covering one third of the Karachi city. He supervised in-house and on-site the maintenance and repairing work of 11kV/230V transformers, 11kV switchgears and feeder protections devices. During his appointment in underground cable department, he supervised the teams of sub-engineers and technicians for on-site fault location using High-voltage surge generator and time domain reflectometer (TDR) and subsequent cable jointing work.

In addition to the routine maintenance, he planned, designed and prepared the feasibility proposals, and subsequently supervised the new commercial and existing substation up-gradation projects.

Supervisor projects

  • Adaptive Protection for AC/DC Microgrids and Power System
  • 14 Mar 2024
  • Design and Development of Next-Generation Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) subtitle: Design of multiport converters
  • 1 Jun 2022
  • Combined Voltage and Frequency Support Ancillary Services Support via Virtual Power Plants
  • 26 Nov 2021
  • Influence of Synchrophasor Algorithms on Power System Stability Monitoring & Control
  • 1 Oct 2021
  • Integrated Drive Using Motor Windings for Electric Vehicle Application
  • 28 May 2021
  • Synchronous Reluctance Motor Modelling and Analysis
  • 7 May 2019
  • Analytical Controller Synthesis Techniques for Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) Cascaded Dual Loop Voltage Regulators
  • 10 Sep 2018
  • Autonomous Power Management of Series-Cascaded and Hybrid Microgrids
  • 4 Sep 2017

Teaching interests

Renewable, DGs and Microgirds, AC, DC, standalone or/and interlinked, Energy Storage Systems, Distributed and Centralized Optimization, Power Electronics Converters, Distributed/Droop Control, Next Generation Electricity Grids


Prior teaching and training activities
Post-graduate Course EE6503: Modern Electrical Drives, Jan 2016 Semester at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Training and workshops in different areas of Electrical Power Systems (Ground-grid Design, Cable Sizing, Optimal Capacitor Placement, Short Circuit Analysis, Load Flow, Motor Starting) and Software (DigSILENT PowerFactory) at the consultancy firm - JM Peng Seah, Singapore and research organization – EPGC, A*STAR, Singapore


Teaching responsibilities
Semester 2, 2016: EEET2224 Power Electronic Converters
Research and supervision

Research interests

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Areas of research interest
Renewable, distributed generation and microgrids
AC and DC microgrid design, control and management
Interlinked or hybrid ac-dc grids, electrical and thermal microgrids, building-to-grid systems
Renewable system design and interconnection with microgrid and utility grid.
Energy storage systems for microgrid and grid application
Distributed and centralized optimization of microgrids

Power electronics/control
Power electronic converters design and control for renewable and future grid applications such as D-FACTS, electronic transformers, fault current limiters
Distributed/autonomous/droop control

Next generation electricity grids
Renewable and storage system application and impact analysis on grid resilience and reliability
Reconfigurable future distribution systems, adaptive protection (Power + Protection + IT Network)
DC microgrids and distribution systems
Power system analysis of future grids – steady state and dynamic system studies
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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.