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"Advances in High Efficiency Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) Motor Drives"

Dr. M.A. Rahman
University Research Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada


IEEE IAS Distinguished Lecture, Presentation in Toronto, March 3, 2005

Abstract: This lecture presents a successful design, development and application of high efficiency and high performance interior permanent magnet (IPM ) motor using Neodymium Boron Iron (NdBFe) Magnets.   It is intended to operate at both line and variable frequencies.   Line start with high inertia load is a special consideration.   Its efficiency power factor product is at least 50% better than the conventional induction motors of identical ratings.   Recent trends of control and analysis of these high performance IPM motor drives for sensorless and bearingless operation will be briefly outlined.   Impacts of high efficiency for heavy duty cycle loads are significant in the electrical energy hungry world.

Speaker's Biography: M Azizur Rahman was born in Santahar, Bangladesh on January 09, 1941.   He received his early education at the Santahar B.P. High School with Matriculation in 1956, and got his Intermediate in Science from Rajshahi College in 1958.   He received the B.Sc. Eng. degree from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka in 1962.   He obtained the M.A.Sc. degree from the University of Toronto, and the PhD degree from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, in 1965 and 1968, respectively on Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship.   In 1962, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering, BUET, as a lecturer.   He was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1969, Associate Professor in 1972, and Professor in 1975.   He was a Visiting Research Fellow at Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven, Netherlands in 1973 and 1975, a Nuffield Fellow at Imperial College, London, England from 1974 to 1975, and a Visiting Fellow at University of Toronto in 1975 and 1984-1985, a Leung Wai Sun Fellow at University of Hong Kong in 1998.   From 1975 to 1976, he was with Teshmont Consultants Ltd., Winnipeg and at University of Manitoba.

In September 1976, he joined the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. Johns, Canada, where he currently holds the rank of Professor of Engineering and University Research Professor.   Dr. Rahman has worked as resident consultants to many companies like General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY and Peterborough, Ontario, Iron Ore Company of Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.   He has 43 years of teaching and research experiences at universities including 10 years of full-time concurrent industrial/utility/consulting experiences.   He has held Visiting Professorships at the Nanyang Technological University (1991-1992, 1999-2000), Tokyo Institute of Technology (1992) and Tokyo Science University (1999).   He has so far published over 518 articles including some 128 IEEE Transactions/Journal papers, 1 book, 5 book chapters and holds 11 patents.   He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and Newfoundland, a member of IEE Japan, a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of IEE (UK), a Life Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Dr. Aziz Rahman has received numerous IEEE and other professional awards including 18th Khwarizmi International Award in 2005, IEEE William E. Newell Award from the IEEE Power Electronics Society in 2004, CIC Engineers Award in 2004, the IEEE Cyril Veinott Electromechanical Energy Conversion Award of IEEE Power Engineering Society in 2003, IEEE Third Millennium Medal in 2000, IEEE Canada Outstanding Educators Medal 1996, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland Merit Award 1994, Outstanding Achievement Award for North American of Bangladesh Origin in 2003, IEEE Industry Applications Societys Outstanding Achievement Award in 1992, IEEE Notable Service Award to Engineering Profession 1987, IEEE Outstanding Students Counselors Award 1980 and the General Electric Co. Centennial Award for Invention Disclosures 1978.

He is active in the IEEE Industry Applications, Power Electronics, Power Engineering, Industrial Electronics, Magnetics, Communications and Computational Science Societies.


Presentation: This presentation is in the form of a Windows Media File combining the PowerPoint display and the presenter's voice.   You can experience this presentation using Windows Media Player (version 9 or higher).   If you need to download this software, visit the Windows Media Web Site.

  • Left click here to view/listen to this presentation live using the IEEE Video Streaming Service.
  • Right click here to download and project locally.   File size: 72 Mb
  • Photographs from the presentation: Dr. Rahman and some of the attendees.   click on any photo to view larger size
Photo Photo


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(Created: March 3, 2005)
Last update / 2005-03-12 / la dernière mise à jour