Lakshitha Naranpanawe

1. Northern Territory ‘Power and Water Network data analytics trial (Role - Project leader) • Lead a team of two postdoctoral researchers • Analysed smart meter data from Northern Territory • Conducted a feasibility study to identify possible applications of existing smart meter data • Proposed solutions to existing issues in the Northern territory power distribution system and to make it more observable 2. Implementation of customer phase identification algorithm in Redback technology’s Luceo platform (Role - Project leader) • Lead a team of two data science research fellows • Completed a field testing of an algorithm developed to detect residential customer’s electrical phase using smart meter data • Implemented the algorithm in Redback Technology’s Luceo platform 3. Project SHEILD (Role – Team member, Electrical Engineering consultant) • Working on developing software that aggregates data from a range of sources to improve the visibility of low voltage distribution networks. • Provide consultation to data scientists and data visualisation experts to understand electrical engineering concepts. • Evaluate the accuracy of a commercial power system state estimator when used with datasets comprises of data from various sources. 4. Improving post-cyclone energy resilience of regional communities using energy monitoring (Role – Team member, Electrical Engineering consultant) • Working on proposing a “microgrid” for remote Queensland community “Millaa Millaa” to improve post-cyclone energy resilience • Sizing of PV and Battery storage system, exploring the possibility of including arbitrage, peak demand lopping, energy price risk hedging, and frequency control ancillary services (FCAS).

Worked on several research projects in the fields of power electronics and pulsed power engineering, individually and as a group to address real-world Electrical Engineering problems. • Utilised my knowledge in Finite Element Modelling to solve a wide range of engineering problems in electrical machines, mechanical systems (bearings etc.) and biological systems. • Worked with leading international industry partners such as Mitsubishi heavy industries, Japan. • Successfully managed time to fulfil duties and responsibilities of a Research Assistant while doing a full-time PhD

Understanding the effect of moisture, temperature and ageing on progressive loss of transformer winding clamping pressure (Oct. 2014-June 2018) • Conducted a comprehensive investigation of the influence of moisture, temperature and ageing on through-thickness mechanical properties of pressboard. • Conducted a comprehensive investigation of the influence of moisture, temperature and ageing on winding clamping pressure of a transformer under typical operating conditions. • Developed a Material Model capable of simulating the through-thickness compression behaviour of transformer oil-paper systems in commercial FEM tools (ANSYS) • Developed a comprehensive Finite Element Model of an oil-immersed power transformer to conduct coupled structural/electromagnetic simulations of the clamping system of an operating power transformer using ANSYS Workbench/Maxwell.

Thesis title : Understanding the Moisture Temperature and Ageing Dependency of Power Transformer Winding Clamping Pressure Abstract : This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis based on controlled experiments and finite element modelling to identify factors that alter the transformer winding clamping pressure. The controlled experiments established an empirical model to estimate the through-thickness compressibility of pressboard, which is eventually incorporated with a Finite Element model to simulate the winding clamping system of a transformer. This work confirmed that transformer clamping pressure increases with temperature and moisture content in pressboard whereas it decreases with pressboard ageing. Finally, numerical modelling and field measurements reveal that clamping conditions can be detected through transformer tank vibration measurements when pressboard condition is known.