Dr Kalyan Sen of Sen Transformers

Power transformers are used to convert voltage from one level at the generation as step-up transformers to other levels at the end customers as step-down transformers. Power transformers are also used to change the phase angle of the voltage to control the flow of active power in the line. Changing voltage or phase angle cannot control active and reactive power flows independently. 

Sen Transformer (ST) marks the first breakthrough in bulk power system design in more than a century, hosting a range of benefits over traditional power flow solutions. The ST, which offers a plethora of power flow control features, such as independent active and reactive power flows, voltage, phase angle, impedance (XL or XC and R or –R, all independently variable), all in one unit, uses time‐tested components, such as transformer and load tap changers that are proven to be reliable, cost‐effective, and portable. While enhancing the active power flow to the line’s thermal limit, the reduction in reactive power flow leads to an efficient operation of the entire electrical grid.

A commercial-grade ST was designed to operate at 33 kV with a throughput rating of ±6.5 MVA. The unit was manufactured, tested and connected to the U.S. grid in Lenox, MA. The test results show that the bidirectional active and reactive power flows can be regulated independently, proving that the ST is a practical solution to meet utilities’ needs in terms of reliability, cost-effectiveness, component non-obsolescence, efficiency, portability and interoperability.

Biography:

Kalyan Sen is the President & Chief Technology Officer of Sen Engineering Solutions, Inc. (www.sentransformer.com) that specializes in developing SMART power flow controllers—a functional requirements-based and cost-effective solution. Kalyan was an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University during 1987-90 and spent the next 30 years in industry, starting at Westinghouse Science & Technology Center (STC) in 1990 and retiring from Fluor (formerly Westinghouse) in 2020. He was a key member of the Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) development team at the Westinghouse-STC for which he became a Westinghouse Fellow Engineer. He contributed to concept development, simulation, design, and commissioning of FACTS projects at Westinghouse. He conceived some of the basic concepts in power flow control technology for which he was elevated to the IEEE Fellow grade with the citation: for the development and application of power flow control technology. He is the Co-inventor of the Sen Transformer, which is commercially available to regulate ±6.5 MVA line power in a 33 kV line.

Kalyan holds BEE (1982), MSEE (1983), and PhD (1987) degrees, all in Electrical Engineering, from Jadavpur University, Tuskegee University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, respectively, and an MBA (2012) from Robert Morris University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania and New York. He has been serving as an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer since 2002. In that capacity, he has given presentations on power flow control technology more than 250 times in 20 countries. He serves IEEE SSIT Board of Governors as Education Committee Chair and President-Elect (2025-2026). He also serves IEEE Region 2 as its Professional Activities Chair. Kalyan has authored or coauthored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, 8 issued patents, 2 books, and 3 book chapters in the areas of power flow control and power electronics. He is the Coauthor of the book titled, Introduction to FACTS Controllers: Theory, Modeling, and Applications (978-0-470-47875-2), IEEE Press and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2009, which is also published in Chinese and Indian paperback editions. His second book is titled, Power Flow Control Solutions for a Modern Grid using SMART Power Flow Controllers (ISBN: 978-1-119-82435-0), IEEE Press and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2022. Kalyan served twice as a Fulbright Specialist (sponsored by the U.S. Government) and a GIAN Scholar (sponsored by the Government of India).

Email:

Address:United States