Graphics Processing Unit Solutions for Power Systems Computer Aided Design: Advanced Development with the University of Winnipeg

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are usually employed to quickly render images on everyday computer screens, and do so quickly and efficiently for relatively little cost compared to the use of Central Processing Units (CPUs) that make up the “brain” of the computer. Modern GPUs are able to do hundreds or thousands of simultaneous calculations; rewriting conventional computer problems in the language of GPUs offers the po-tential to dramatically decrease the computation time for complex problems such as Electromagnetic Trans-mission (EMT) simulations. EMTs are used to model large electrical systems — such as city power grids — and are fundamental to power engineering software. This project will focus on how to integrate the power of GPUs into established software for EMTs, with the aim of providing power engineers around the globe with a cutting-edge tool to help design ever greater electrical systems.

Faculty Supervisor:

Christopher Bidinosti;Christopher Henry

Student:

Brad Cownden

Partner:

Manitoba Hydro International Ltd

Discipline:

Physics / Astronomy

Sector:

University:

University of Winnipeg

Program: