Prof. M. Rezwan Khan completed his B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the leading technical university in Bangladesh, in 1980. He then obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from University College London in 1982 and 1986 respectively. Prof. Khan started his career as a faculty member in the Department of EEE, BUET in 1980 and became a professor in 1996. He served BUET till 2004 and then joined United International University (UIU), Bangladesh as the Dean of School of Science and Engineering. He became the Vice Chancellor of UIU in 2005 and is still serving the post.
Prof. Khan has research interest in diverse fields like thin film nano-devices, power electronics, DSP, renewable energy and energy systems. He has been serving as the Chairman of the Technical Standard Committee of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), the largest microfinance organization in Bangladesh in Renewable energy sector, since the inception of the micro financing program of Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Bangladesh. Under his technical guidance IDCOL has so far financed 3.5 million solar home systems in Bangladesh, the largest solar home system program in the world. In recognition of his contribution for popularizing SHS in Bangladesh, he received the Prime Minister’s Award in 2005. United International University organizes the International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy (ICDRET) on a bi-yearly basis and Prof. Khan is its Organizing Chair. He received the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Gold Medal in 2005 for his outstanding contribution in the field of science and technology in Bangladesh. Prof. Khan is a Senior Member of IEEE and Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
Throughout his academic career, Prof. Khan had been vigorously involved in research and development. He is a great proponent of DC systems and has presented a number of talks in different national and international forums on this topic.
Contact information :
United International University
80 Dhanmondi, Road 8A, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Phone: +088 01716 048 946
Email:
Lecture topics
1. Solar PV based stand alone grid systems for developing countries: Advantages of DC systems
This presentation gives a description of a small sized PV based stand alone system, its main components and its mode of operation with specific reference to a developing country like Bangladesh. Such grids are aimed at serving the off-grid rural areas where access to electricity is very limited. This presentation points out the facts that, starting from generation to the end users, a DC system instead of an AC one can be made more cost effective and efficient in relation to the needs of the consumers.
2. AC vs. DC: Resurrection of Westinghouse and Edison debate
The debate between AC and DC power supply started at a time when development era of electronics has not dawned. So, it is quite obvious that Westinghouse and Edison debate on AC and DC in late 19th century was an uneven one and winning of AC over DC was well justified. However, the development of new electronic devices, technologies and control systems have changed the scenario significantly compared to the one that prevailed in the later part of 19th century. This presentation is an attempt to resurrect the debate with justifications for such a ‘paradigm shift’.
3. Development of power electronics and enhanced DC applications
There has been a tremendous development in the field of power electronics and its impact is felt almost everywhere in the power system. Today power electronic applications, even if driven from AC, effectively require DC internally. The DC in many situations is generated by rectifying AC and this conversion to DC from AC has its own drawback of generating harmonic distortions due to large capacitors used to suppress the ripples after rectification. In case of stepping up or stepping down of voltages (both in AC and DC), power electronic techniques are available where smaller sized ferrite core transformers/inductors can be used to achieve higher efficiency and better control of the output. All these facts indicate that usual low frequency AC system (50/60 Hz) is gradually losing its advantages over the DC systems.
4. Future of power system: A comparison between DC and AC
Development of power electronics definitely raises questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of AC or DC systems in modern days. However, the possible impact if a DC transmission and distribution system replacing the existing AC system will need to address a number of issues including the impact on the existing gadgets. This presentation makes an attempt to identify the issues and address the problems and prospects in this respect.