Good day, Dr. Basanta Kumar Panigrahi. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Good evening, Sir. I'm Doctor Vasant Kumar Panigai.

I work as an associate professor in the department of Electrical engineering, so university currently, and in total actually I'm having around, uh, 20 years of experience.

Please start

And basically my background is in power system engineering and for the last.

13 years actually I'm in the research field. Apart from teaching, I worked uh in power system engineering and the renewable energy integration with grid. I have actually tried to classify 3 different types of problem. One problem is the detection of fault and the second one is the location of fault and another one is classification of fault. Basically the motto is actually to connect. The distributed generator.

Then actually how the system can identify the fault that one part actually have worked and apart from that actually I have also worked in the application of material science in different fields such as the tribulatory nano generator. So here actually all these things I have what I have done but in future actually I have tried to set up a lab.

Related to the DG integration with the grid and in addition to that, actually I want to collaborate. I have some few collaboration actually with uh, few professors in uh, South Korea and Australia, Umm, but in addition to that, actually I just want to move ahead in my life and I just want to uh, add some more research value in my work actually, which can be implemented in real time systems. So for that actually.

I want to set up some lab and also some real time problems.

In the next few years. And also I want to contribute in the teaching part by studying actually in different different new curriculum actually which can be integrated with the existing system. And I want to currently actually I have already 2 scholarship got their PhD degree under me and I want to guide some more students which can actually contribute to the real time problems which they have actually.

Impact and actually, uh, in the real, real science and that is my target actually, which you want to do in the next few years.

Thank you for sharing your vision and ambitions. Let's start by further understanding your technical expertise and teaching approach, as well as your research contributions and plans. To begin, could you explain your expertise and the key concepts you consider most important in the domain of Power Electronics, Power Systems, or Control Systems? Additionally, how do you approach explaining these concepts to students in a way that makes them clear and engaging?

See actually power system whole network actually is very complicated structure.

If we go to the existing system, there are three systems are there, one is actually generation, 1 is transmission, 1 is distribution. When we are telling about distribution means we are telling about the end consumer. The main goal is actually about the generation, how to generate electrical energy and then the transmission how to transmit that power. Actually what we have generate from one part and it can be transmitted to the end part and the consumer actually.

Is present in the distribution part. So what happens? Actually we can generate the electrical power in different ways. Actually different types of power plants are there. It may be a thermal power plant and maybe nuclear power plant, It may be hydropower plant. But every power plant has its own limitation and its own problems. For example, if we will tell about about the nuclear power plant, nuclear power plant, the problem is actually disposal of waste and if you tell about the hyd.

Plant the hydropower plant, the problem is about the actually the water availability throughout the year. And if you go for thermal power plant, pollution is a big issue actually currently and but still actually in today also we are getting maximum power from the thermal power plant. But the as per the new structure and edge actually green economy and as you are trying to India is a developing country, we try to reduce the thermal power.

And it can be increased by integrating the renormalization system to meet the increased load demand. Because we know for a developing country the low demand must increase every time. Actually every year the low demand is increasing because peoples are using new devices, new things and new industry setups are there. So as many new things are coming to picture and as many things are coming to the real time world. So to meet that increased. Demand instead of going for the existing normal power plant expansion, we can go for the renewable energy integration. So earlier actually once we are doing the conventional power plant, then we are going for the primary transmission, secondary transmission and actually voltage rating. The transmission is categorized, transmission is classified into different parts. Suppose actually if you are generally the generation value is always 11 KV and it can be.

Expanded to high voltage 132 KV or 220 KV because when the voltage increases the current reduces and once the current will reduce then the net loss will reduce. So that is the objective of increasing the voltage and when you are telling actually the primary transmission it is 11 to 132 KV. And when you are actually telling to the, uh, 11 to 220 Q, again, it is primary transmission, but there is another grid which is actually converting that 132 to 33 or two 2233. That is actually the secondary transmission. And then another line is there actually, which is from actually 33 to 11 and one is from 11 to 440 Volt. Actually the distribution starts from the point actually where the 11 KV is there. And when we are coming from the distribution side, it is.

Only three parts are there. One is feeder, 1 is distributor, 1 is servicemen. Each part has its own actually designed part is there. Suppose when you are telling about the feeder, we are actually thinking about the current carrying capacity. When you're telling about the distributor, we are telling about the design parameter is the voltage drop. When we are telling about the servicements, the serviceman is the wide that is connecting from the point of the end consumer to the nearest poll. OK, so earlier the.

How much working the generation, transmission and distribution is working in this? I'm telling here in a simple manner. Still more, many more things are there because when you are telling about the generation part, actually we can go about the control. When we are actually when you are telling about the transmission part, we can tell about the parallelness part or using affect devices because we know that in transmission and distribution loss is playing a major role and also the of the protection part when you are telling about the protection. Part we are actually using generally the conventional system. Conventional system means what we are using the circuit breaker, we are using the relay and all these things are actually the mechanical devices. And generally we know that when we are using a mechanical device to operate that will take some time, that will take some time to work. So instead of the mechanical device it will go for the. Fat devices where actually parallelness plays a major role. They are actually the operation.

Time is much much quicker, so which can actually pull to reduce the time and which can whenever actually if you are taking a circuit breaker circuit breaker, there is actually a time to trip. If the time duration of tripping time is less than it is actually much more beneficial, which is actually playing a vital role in saving so much up so much up investment and so much of it can give so much of.

And to the whole system, if you use the SIM, if you replace the same system with a advanced network such as same thing. Actually if you will go for instead of the generation agency means generation agency which can convert 11 KB to 132 KV, then that can be transmitted. So instead of actually the normal system, if you go for a inverter, I mean high voltage HVDC system, then in that case, what we'll do, we'll convert that AC into DC.

Where actually the inverter and converter arrangement is are there and once you are telling about the inverter and converter arrangement we are going, we are telling about the we are telling about the actually the for a lookness part and parallelness plays a major role here also the power telling then power quality is also coming when are telling about the generation part and the transmission part, the control part is there and we can actually all this thing can be played. A small role, not small role actually.

It can play huge role in actually coordinating all the thing which can effectively transmit the electrical power from generating side to the end consumer without decreasing the efficiency. As an engineer there are few targets are there. The continuous supply can be maintained with high accuracy with good amount of performance. The power quality should be maintained and all these things can be achieved by using the.

Are you looking the power system and the control Power system control part? Because when we are telling about the power system control part, there is a control actually load frequency control. Because if you control if you will take a very simple system, let's take suppose the loading increase. What will happen if a load increase, the current drawn from the system will increase because the load is increasing. Once the current drawn from the system is increasing, then the net drop, IRA drop.

Increasing once the drop will increase then what will happen? The net voltage because EB is proportional to EB is back here map EB is proportional to V minus IR divided by π means as the net drop is decreasing as the net drop is decreasing, increasing. So north the speed will be decreased because N is proportional to V minus IRA, V minus IR is a whole term. So when speed will decrease with.

What will happen? The north is equal to 125 means because speed and frequency both are directly related, which is discussed in the alternator part also so as the.

Speed will decrease, frequency will decrease. So here the load frequency concept is there. We have discussed about how the load increase the frequency decreasing. So what we will do, we will change the govern setting.

So that more steam can be in given as the input. Once more steam will be applied then what will happen? It will increase the speed means the turbine input will increase. Once the speed will increase then actually the north is equal to 125 frequency will increase. Our target is to maintain the frequency at a constant value. Because the frequency general standard rating in India is 50 Hertz but it is never 50 Hertz constant. It will be actually vary between a certain range.

It will 49.8, it will be 50.01, it will be 49.7. So it will actually oscillate between a certain value. Our target is to maintain that 50 Hertz value to maintain that in the distribution side, to maintain that 220 Volt so that all they can be operate in the steady state or will always target to maintain the value in a steady state range. So this one actually I have tried to expand simply in a simple manner, how? The power system can operate by taking.

All the things into account, the power electronics, power system and also the power system control.

Thank you, Professor, for that comprehensive and detailed explanation of power systems and the interconnected roles of generation, transmission, distribution, and control. Your ability to break down a highly complex system and emphasize concepts like load frequency control, power quality, and the shift toward renewable energy integration demonstrates both your expertise and a capacity to simplify these ideas. To delve a little deeper, could you describe how you ensure these concepts resonate with students who may not have a strong foundational understanding of the intricacies of power systems? Additionally, when teaching laboratory courses, how do you structure experiments to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills effectively?

Very nice actually point see when actually we are discussing about this year, all these things are actually categorized into different different subjects. For example, as I have discussed about one subject actually about the distribution side or the transmission side. For example, one subject is there which is called as computer aided power system analysis.

Here what we are doing here actually you are trying to use this concept and you you were trying to simplify this one using computer different programming languages. So the students actually will start from the basic, the students will start from one subject that is actually called as the generation transmission distribution so that they can understand actually the whole thing in a simple manner. Now if we go to.

Details if you go to the details how the student can understand in one part, in one part of the in one part of that subject actually about the simple structure how the things are working. And after that we can go to the we can go to the second part main second part. Actually, let's take suppose as I've given the example, the load in increasing now will give more focus how the loading teaching.

What amount of load is increasing? Because our motto is to know about the real power flow and reactive power flow. Because there are four things which a power system engineer will actually it's more interested. One is real power, one is reactive power, one is voltage, 1 is phasing angle, and here we can use different methods to calculate.

This 4 quantity because generally out of this 4 quantity, 2 quantities are mentioned.

And out of remaining 2 quantities, he or she can calculate. And this can be done by using few other few programs such as actually the Newton Raphson load flow, Gaussian load flow or your fast decoupled load flow. And this things like Newton Raphson, Gauss, Seidel, this thing the students have already studied in the mathematics part. So prequitas is already there. So what you have to do?

So we have to do different actually laboratories for that. For example, when you're telling about the computer personal energies, the students will first study about the load flow analysis. And once the load flow analysis, the real power flow, reactive power flow can be discussed using different mathematical analysis which is already studied by the student in the mathematics part numerical methods.

So this can be actually able to calculate the real power flow, reactive power flow and also we can do the contingency analysis there. So a student who has studied the mathematics part, he can able to do the Newton Raphson load flow. And in addition to that, if you go to the laboratory part, we can do that same thing using MATLAB and Metalab is one of the laboratory for the students. And in addition to that we can go for the power system engineering lab.

And the student who have understood actually the basic operation of relay and circuit breaker can able to do different experiments based upon the relay. For example, he's doing a impedance relay experiment. Impedance relay is actually operated on the setting of the impedance value because Z is equal to V by I and whenever, whenever there is a current, whenever there is a short circuit, whenever there is a fault, definitely the current volume increase once the current volume increase, the net value of.

Call system engineering lab, we can do different experiments such as the determination of phase sequence impedance. In alternate we can go for any other experiment the different relays which can able to protect.

OK, So what you have done in the laboratory, the instrument which is present, actually there is a setting that if the Z value will be below that then it will be trip. So what the student will do first they will study the relay in the theoretical part then they will do the experiment and it is actually once the student able to understand how the relay will operate because relay it is nothing but a sensor that we have to tell to the student and relay is actually a sensor which can gives.

OK, after giving this brief introduction and in details about the mode of operation, how the things are working, all these things, then we can do the same experiment actually using different delay impedance relay more more relay than your distance relay over current relay. So like this actually many things are there so we can do an experiment one.

Trip.

Laboratory such as the MATLAB using power system.

We can use another lab, the Power System Engineering, Power System analysis and design El lab. We can also use the renewal as integration lab. So like this, actually we can go for a different laboratory with analysis of the theoretical part, what we have already studied in the conventional theory such as the power system engineering, power system analysis design. Yes, basic electrical machines are there. So after discussing all this.

Thing because these things are, uh, these things are if you go from the background, if you go from the starting, these things can be easily discussed to the students, but the, uh, concept is actually past the theoretical part can be discussed. Then that same thing, whatever the theoretical part is discussed in the class that can be implemented in the laboratory of different device, different things such as actually, as you have told, actually we can also go for the.

Parlaki Laboratory.

Yes.

Thank you, Professor, for explaining your structured and integrated approach. It’s clear that you emphasize a balance between theory and hands-on laboratory experience, ensuring students progress naturally from foundational concepts to practical applications. Now, let me ask about your guidance in student research. Can you share how you motivate and direct your students in projects or research initiatives, particularly those that aim to address real-world challenges or align with evolving trends like renewable energy integration?

Exactly. See, as I have told in the beginning that I have already, I have guided actually 2 PhD students and more than 10 Masters students.

So what you have to do, actually I'll suggest the students to do extensive literature survey means what other peoples are working in that particular problem. So first thing is actually choosing the problem.

For choosing any problem, the first thing is to do the literature survey.

The second thing is find out the literature related to that problem. Then the third thing is the missing link of that problem. Then the fourth thing is, is this problem he's having a impact on the real time system, impact on the actual?

Actual uh science then after that we will go for the hardware implementation or the software implementation in using real time system different tiers there like Opel RT or any other umm or any other real-time system which can be used. So first thing is actually to find out we have to read the related literature so that.

You can able to that is this practically feasible? Because choosing a problem is very easy, but finding out is this practically feasible problem and if yes, then the same thing can be documented and it can be challenged to do a patent that OK, this is a new concept and we are going to implement this in the near future. So let's go for a pattern. And in addition to that after putting the result whatever you will get.

And that result can be actually maintained in a structured way. Then abstract introduction of the things what we have done in the literature survey, the introduction part, what we understood after that the theory related to that one, then the result and then the conclusion. Then we can try also some good journals because whatever work we have done that should be, that should be validated by the other researcher also, which can be done by using the patent.

Research paper.

That’s an excellent framework, Professor. Your emphasis on a rigorous literature survey, identifying the missing links, and ensuring the feasibility of the selected problem reflects a strong academic and research ethos. Additionally, your commitment to tying research projects to practical impacts and encouraging outputs such as patents and journal publications demonstrates a clear focus on both academic contribution and real-world utility. Now, shifting slightly toward your collaborations: You mentioned earlier some ongoing collaborations with professors in South Korea and Australia. Could you elaborate on those partnerships and how they contribute to advancing your research goals or benefit your students' learning and growth?

Yes. I've actually collaborated with uh, earlier with Jeju Naslan University and Professor Yun. Actually, I have many publication with the professor of South Korea. Actually one of my past student who has done some work with me, he's actually done his research there. He has done his PhD and postdoc there. And so I have guided and, uh, we have actually collaborated and that can be presented actually in very good journals. I have published 3.

Nanoenergy papers, actually I have published more than 100 papers, journals actually Scopus and international conference papers. After that actually I have published 3 nanoenergy paper which is impact factor of 19 something which I have collaborated with Professor Yun of South Korea DGIST. He belongs to DGIST and. We have actually collaborated with many different points actually with the professor, so I can I can actually.

Extend that one and basically my work is actually using different concepts such as Ann artificial neural network because, uh, thought real-time system when you're telling the world the triboelectric nanogenerator, we are actually putting the system and we are trying to implement that in real time. So I have very good collaboration. I have more than UH-20 sci papers along with the, along with my collaborators from different.

Is across the world.

Especially in uh, Korea. And also I have some publication with some professors from Australia also.

That is impressive, Professor. Your extensive publication record and high-impact collaborations with international institutions like DGIST in South Korea and researchers in Australia demonstrate your global engagement and research excellence. It also highlights your ability to bridge advanced theoretical frameworks, like artificial neural networks, with real-time applications such as triboelectric nanogenerators, making your work highly relevant and impactful. I can see how these collaborations not only amplify your research but also provide your students valuable exposure to cutting-edge innovations and international academic networks. Let me now ask about one final area: With such a dynamic research and teaching portfolio, how do you balance your responsibilities as both a researcher and an educator? What strategies do you employ to excel in these dual roles?

Uh, thank you for asking this, uh, wonderful question. Actually, uh, see, I believe, uh, generally that, uh, as a teacher, we have some responsibility towards science because teacher is a very noble professor. And so I always prefer to distribute my work, uh, and different, uh, parts actually means everyday apart from actually, I scheduled that if I.

Teach uh, this part of ours to my students, then this part of our actually means let's take suppose 3 to 4 hour of uh academic work is there, then I can contribute 4 to 5 hour for my research every day. The reason actually why I have divided this one into two different categories because my first object past role is a teacher and uh, whatever knowledge I have gained, whatever work I have done if.

I cannot pass that to my students then that has actually no value added to the whole system. So my first objective is to read then understand then that thing can be passed to the student and that that I can able to do as a teacher. And after that as a teacher if I'm passing the knowledge to the students for that actually I have to upgrade myself. So as I upgrade to myself, So what I have to do, I have to do recent.

Studies I have to find out new problems and that's why actually I'm trying to do a fixed hour for this one it's whatever the institutional actually guideline are there according to that actually this much work I have to do but voluntarily I prefer to do research so that because if I'll do research if I'll. Do new studies then only I can.

Uh, contribute to science and I can also play a role in my students career, and also I can give them actually new directions about the, uh, science, about the research. So for that, actually, I have actually divided into 3 parts in every day, I have to work for some part, and I have to work work for research another hours.

But in addition to that, whenever I'm working, my focus is to whenever I'm in teaching, my focus is to have to complete the whole syllabus whatever the syllabus is there because the syllabus is designed by few eminent researchers, eminent professors and the whole thing should be concluded. After that. I I try to find out that is these things is applicable to my area of research. If the my area of research is there, then I will try.

To motivate to the students that in your free time you please come share your ideas, Let's discuss, let's dwell on it, let's do literature survey, let's work on that particular problem so that something new will come.

That's why actually you can see two of my PhD scholars both have two different problems, because once I work in that area, then I try to work that actually let's work on a new problem. My first students work on the study of fault disturbances in grid, and my second students discussed about the triboelectric nanogenerator operation of how different things can be like actually the medical waste.

Can able to convert into different set of voltage and current. So that's why actually I can make a balance between the both the things. So that actually few hours for research and few hours for teaching.

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