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Phillip Lugg-Widger   BEng, PhD

Dr Phillip Lugg-Widger

(he/him)

BEng, PhD

Lecturer

School of Engineering

Email
WidgerP@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 75125
Campuses
Queen's Buildings, Room Room C/4.03, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

Pronouns: He/Him/His.

I am a lecturer and EEE & IEN Year 1 Tutor at Cardiff university. My current taught modules focus on network analysis of circuits, digital electronics and engineering applied design & practice.

My research focuses on multidisciplinary applied projects including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry and physics. I conduct research development in the application and characterisation of novel materials for electrical energy systems, magnetic materials and the effects of lightning within the Energy Systems Research Institute.

I have a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and a doctorate in high voltage electrical engineering. I have research experience in high voltage engineering, magnetics and studying lightning phenomena working with industrial project partners such as National Grid, Rolls Royce, Western Power Distribution, UK Power Networks and Scottish and Southern Electric.

My Research

My Research activity is associated with the Advanced High Voltage Engineering Research Centre, Lightning laboratory and the Magnetics Materials and Applications Research Group. I have experience of large-scale laboratory developments, designing and conducting experimental pilot projects. I am interested in future materials that will help reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact to meet net zero targets and improve efficiency of the electrical power generation, transmission and distribution networks. Previously I was a member of the International Cigre Standards working group for alternative insulation gases for high voltage energy networks. Currently my research has generated over 20 journal publications, conference papers and research articles.

My past and ongoing research activities and interests include:

  • High voltage and high current generation, testing and monitoring
  • Magnetic material characterisation and annealing
  • Atmospheric effects and phenomena of lightning physics
  • The effect of extreme natural events including lightning strikes on critical electrical network assets.
  • The interaction of novel materials and chemical analysis
  • Future environmentally friendly gaseous insulation of high voltage power equipment
  • Future electrical transmission and distribution technologies including switchgear, power lines, transformers, motors and generators.
  • Electrical network infrastructure and resilience
  • High voltage partial discharge of electrical power equipment
  • Effect and measurement of electromagnetic emissions of electrical power lines
  • Acoustic emissions of high voltage equipment and magnetic transformer cores
  • Advanced optical, high speed, schlieren and spectrographic techniques to observe lightning or electrical arcing

STEM

I am actively engaged in public outreach events and workshops in the local community including leading Engineering Animations for primary schools as part of Cardiff Universities Innovation for All public engagement and a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Public Engagement Award.

I am passionate about inclusivity, equality and diversity, especially in STEM.

Magnetic Animations Public Engagement Project

 

Publication

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Articles

Conferences

Thesis

Research

Funded Projects

Title People Sponsor Value Duration
Environmental Lightning Creative Sanctuary Engagement (Elevate)

P. Lugg-Widger, D. Mitchard, D. Syrop, C. Williams and V. Cowper

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

£8960

29/05/2023 - 26/02/2024

Engineering Animations Engagement (Engage)

P. Lugg-Widger, D. Syrop, D. Carr, C. Harrison, D. Zabek and D. Mitchard.

Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Ingenious Award

£20837

01/09/2023 - 31/07/2024

Vacuum pump and liquid nitrogen heat exchanger 

D. Mitchard and P. Lugg-Widger

Cardiff University Engineering Research Boost fund £6360

01/03/2023 - 31/07/2023

Magnetic Animations Public Engagement Internship (CIDS)

P. Lugg-Widger, D. Syrop, C. Harrison, J. Liu and D. Zabek.

Innovation for All Programme & Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) 3500

20/06/2022 - 12/08/2022

Magnations - Magnetic Animations (Public Engagement Proof-of-Concept Fund)

P. Lugg-Widger, K. Jones, D. Syrop, C. Harrison, J. Liu and D. Zabek.

Innovation for All Programme & Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) 7500

01/09/2021 - 31/08/2022

Limiting SF6 leakage and full-scale validation test facility

Haddad M, Reid A, Featherston C, Lugg-Widger P.

National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc 335870

01/04/2019 - 30/09/2021

Alternatives to SF6 as an Insulation Medium for Distribution Equipment

Widger P, Haddad M,

Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) via Strathclyde University 27000

01/02/2017 - 31/10/2017

By-Product Analysis of CF3I Gas Mixtures as an Alternative Interrupting Meidum

Haddad M, Widger P

Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) via Strathclyde University 50000

01/07/2015 - 31/03/2016

Internships

Title Student Funder Value Duration
Replicating Stratospheric Lightning Laboratory Internship Xinxin Dong

CU Research Internship (CUROP)

2000 03/07/2023 – 25/08/2023
Magnetic Engineering Public Outreach Internship Helen Aries CU Innovation & Impact Internship 2000 19/06/2023 – 11/08/2023
Magnetic Animations Public Engagement Internship (CIDS) Nadine Aziz CU Innovation for All Internship Programme & Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) 3500 20/06/2022 - 12/08/2022

Supervised Students

Title Student Status Degree
Surface discharge properties in gas mixtures Michail Michelarakis Graduate PhD

Teaching

2023/2024

EN1215/EN1216 Fundamentals of Integrated / Electrical & Electronic Engineering - Network Analysis (Year 1 Lecturer) - Network elements, theory and circuit analysis.

EN1217 EEE/IEN Applied Design and Practice (Year 1 Lecturer) - Conceptual design by individual and teamwork tasks to develop practical, qualitative and quantitative approaches to implementing project and client briefs implementing environmental sustainability, security and inclusive design.

EN2083 Electrical and Electronic Engineering 4 (Year 2 Lecturer) - The digital component of this module covers practical problems associated with hazards in Boolean logic circuits, asynchronous sequential state machines and introduces students to programmable logic design techniques.

EN3820 Introduction to Magnetic Materials (Year 3 Lecturer) - Joint laboratory lecturer characterising unknown magnetic materials, coursework reviewer and assessment.

EN3024 Engineering Project Management (Year 3) - Project lead supervisor / co-supervisor and performance reviews, viva and dissertation examiner.

EN3400 Individual Project (Year 3) - Project lead supervisor / co-supervisor and performance reviews, viva and dissertation examiner.

 

Previous Years

EN0017 Introduction to Algebra (Foundation Lecturer) - An introduction to mathematical Algebra with components relevant to the engineering programmes undertaken in the School of Engineering.

EN0021 Engineering Applications (Foundation Lecturer) - The development of practical laboratory skills with electrical and electronic experiments relevant to the engineering programmes undertaken within the School of Engineering.

EN1072 Laboratory (Year 1 Lecturer) - Develop practical laboratory skills relevant to the Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Integrated Engineering programmes through experiments and design activities.

EN2710 Group Design Project (Year 2) - Group supervisor and Solidworks tutorial lecturer.

EN2709 Power Systems Analysis (Year 2) - Power systems laboratory demonstrator

 

Biography

Academic positions

2023-Present: Lecturer - Electrical and Electronic, School of Engineering, Cardiff University.

2023-2023: Research Associate - Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) project: Replicating stratospheric lightning phenomena (Jets) within the laboratory.

2020-2023: Research Associate & Laboratory Development Manager WEFO - Welsh European Funding Office (Welsh Government) MAGMA Project: Magnetic Materials and Applications. Establishing a leading research capability in the processing, characterisation, manufacturing and recycling of specialist magnetic materials.

2016-2020: Research Associate WEFO – Welsh European Funding Office (Welsh Government) Flexis Project: WP16 Environmentally-Friendly Electrical Power Plant and Insulation to build international research facilities in wales.

2017-2017: Research Associate IET Power Networks Research Academy funded project entitled: 'Alternatives to SF6 as an Insulation Medium for Distribution Equipment' in the advanced high voltage engineering research centre (HIVES).

2015-2016: Research Associate IET Power Networks Research Academy funded project entitled: ‘By-Product Analysis of CF3I Gas Mixtures as an alternative Interrupting Medium’

2014-2015: Research Associate EPSRC Funded Top & Tail Demonstrator Project Entitled: ‘Design, Construction and Characterisation of a CF3I Gas Insulated Line Demonstrator’ EP/I031707/1

2010 –2014: PhD ‘Investigation into CF3I-CO2 Gas Mixtures for Insulation of Gas-Insulated Distribution Equipment’ - EP/F037686/1 School of Engineering, Cardiff University.

My Studies

2014: PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Cardiff University, UK.

2010: BENG Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Cardiff University, UK

Honours and awards

Outstanding Teaching and Student Support Award – Silver Award on the Trevithick Teaching Stars Scheme, Cardiff University, School of Engineering, 2020.

Outstanding Contribution Award (OCAS) - Exceptional contribution to Teaching and Public Engagement - Cardiff University, School of Engineering, 2022.

Best Engineering Applications Presentation - Cardiff Engineering Research Conference, 2023.

Professional memberships

STEM Ambassador for additional outreach programs such as the IET Schools Faraday Challenge, Subatomic Circus and Cardiff University Museum After Dark

Committees and reviewing

Journal reviewer for MDPI journals: Energies, Processes, Sensors, Applied sciences and IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation. 

Supervisions

I am available to supervise PhD, MPhil students, project students (undergraduate and postgraduate), interns and visiting students on the following topics:

  • Future electrical transmission & distribution technologies
  • High voltage insulation, measurement & testing techniques
  • Atmospheric lightning physics & impact
  • Acoustic emission and optical measurement techniques
  • Magnetic materials characterisation, analysis & application
  • Novel materials & liquid / gaseous chemical analysis
  • Engineering Public Engagement

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Acoustics
  • Electrical energy transmission, networks and systems
  • Electrical engineering
  • Plasma physics; fusion plasmas; electrical discharges
  • Lightning