• Professor (Systems Power and Energy)

telephone: 01413304253
email: Andrew.Knox@glasgow.ac.uk

Biography

Andrew R. Knox (FRSE, FIEE, FIMechE, SMIEEE, M.Inst.P, C.Eng, C.Phys, B.Sc. (Hons) & Ph.D. Glasgow University) is Professor of Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems at the University of Glasgow. His is also a Director of the Energy Technology Partnership and a Member of National Physical Laboratory Advisory Board. Previously he held senior world-wide managerial and technical positions in IBM Manufacturing, Research & Development for over 22 years, working on high resolution display systems, advanced graphics subsystems and symmetric multiprocessing architectures. He has published over 40 technical papers, co-authored a book, contributed to a number of International Standards and holds over 50 issued patents in the fields of display technology, electronic security, PC architecture and high speed digital interfaces.

Research Interests

His recent applied research interests are in :
a)    Application of power electronics and other technologies in addressing the intermittency and systems integration challenges posed by Renewable and Sustainable Energy devices;
b)    Optimising the efficiency of thermoelectrical systems (e.g. Peltier heat pumps; Seebeck power generation devices; switched mode and analogue MPPT systems);
c)    Other energy storage & scavenging systems and system-level technology integration.
d)    "Near-grid", "off-grid" and "smart grid" systems and topologies.

I am particularly keen to hear from industrial and commercial organisations who would be interested in collaborative "real-world" engineering projects and/or PhD studentships.

Expertise

I am active in several fields including analogue electronic design, visual display systems, renewable and sustainable energy systems and electronic maximum power point conversion systems.

Current Projects

2011: EPSRC KTA, Application of heat pumps to the Rankine Cycle (£55k)

2011: European Thermodynamics Ltd, Maximum Power Point Conversion for Thermoelectric Arrays. (4 projects)

2011: Scottish Energy Research Academy / Robin Kerr Watson Trust, Power Generation from Thermoelectric Devices. (£50K)

2011: European Thermodynamics Ltd, Industry funded Ph.D. project. (£30K)

2011: SERA, Thermoelectric Materials. (£2K)

2010: Doosan Power Systems / Scottish Energy Research Academy, Industry funded Ph.D. project  (£140K)

2009: Robin Kerr Watson Trust, 2x Ph.D. projects - Stirling Engines, (£65K)

2009: Kelvin Smith Ph.D. project “Templated Nanostructured Materials for Thermoelectric Renewable Energy Generation”

2009: Stephen Forrest Trust, Electronic implants for nerve repair, (£200k.)

Past projects

2008: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (£10K)

Liam MacIsaac

Graham Morton

Jamie Gallacher

Christopher Martin

Jeremiah Matthey

Craig Clanachan

Jonathan Siviter

Andrea Montecucco

Lena Hiltrop

Application Software EE1

Power Electronics 2

Individual Project 4 (B.Eng.)

Design Project 5 (M.Eng.; Product Design Engineering)

Design Special Project 5

Industrial Project EE5

Business Plan EE5

Degree Programme Leader, M.Sc. in Renewable Energy.