Dr Xiao Chen

PhD, MSc, BEng

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Electrical Machines

Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group

Dr Xiao Chen standing outside the Sir Frederick Mappin building
Profile picture of Dr Xiao Chen standing outside the Sir Frederick Mappin building
xiao.chen@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5827

Full contact details

Dr Xiao Chen
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Profile

I received my BEng and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, in 2009 and 2011, respectively, and PhD degree in electrical machines from University of Sheffield, in 2015. My PhD research was mainly concerned with multiple three-phase machines for electric vehicles. From Jan 2016 to May 2018, I was a research associate at University of Sheffield, working on thermal modelling of direct-cooled electrical machines with hollow conductors and electro-thermally coupled models for electric vehicle powertrain. From July 2018 to Sep 2019, I was an advanced motor drives engineer in Dyson Technology Limited.

In Sep 2019, I came back to University of Sheffield as a lecturer in electrical machines and was promoted to senior lecturer in Jan 2024. I received an EPSRC New Investigator Award to address the challenges in bearing currents caused by high frequency switching in power converters, particularly for the applications in which insulated bearings or shafting grounding is not viable. Meanwhile, I am leading a work package in EPSRC Future Electrical Machine Manufacturing Hub to investigate the manufacturing effects on core losses in electrical machines, including the edge damage effects caused by laser cut and the mechanical stress effects due to shrink fit.

I have also led or co-led various industry funded projects, including investigations on Litz wire AC losses in electrical machines, high frequency behaviours in electrical machines, advanced SiC inverter driven permanent magnet synchronous machine systems for electric vehicles, and flux switching machines in power tool applications.

I am actively involved in the investigations of neural network-based methods for high-fidelity and computationally efficient machine modelling, fault diagnosis, and condition monitoring of electrical machines.

I am also interested in high-speed electrical machines for traction and fuel cell applications, and development of rare-earth free electrical machines for electric vehicles.

Qualifications
  • PhD, The University of Sheffield, 2015
  • MSc, Harbin Institute of Technology, China, 2011
  • BEng, Harbin Institute of Technology, China, 2009
Research interests
  • Bearing currents in electrical machines
  • High frequency effects in electrical machines
  • Manufacturing effects on core losses in electrical machines
  • Neural network-based methods for high-fidelity and computationally efficient machine modelling, fault diagnosis, and condition monitoring of electrical machines
  • High-speed electrical machines for traction and fuel cell
  • Rare-earth free electrical machines for electric vehicles
  • Multi-phase fault tolerant electrical machines for more electric aircraft
  • Digital twin of electrical machines and drives
Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Research group

Electrical Machines

Teaching activities
  • EEE301 - Power Systems Engineering
  • EEE338 - Power Engineering
  • EEE341 - Electrical Power Systems
Professional activities and memberships
  • Senior Member, IEEE
Other responsibilities
  • Processes and Policies Lead
  • Counsellor of IEEE Student Branch at University of Sheffield

Links

Electrical Machines and Drives Group