School of Engineering

J. Keith Nelson
Professor
http://www.rpi.edu/~nelsoj/

Department Affiliation:

Department of Electrical, Computer, & Systems Engineering

Education:

Background:

Dr. Nelson is currently the Philip Sporn Professor of Electric Power Engineering at Rensselaer. Previously he had been Manager of High Field Technology Programs at the General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center in Schenectady, NY, after serving as a faculty member at the University of London in the UK. His early career and training had been in the utility industry. He holds degrees from the University of London and is a Fellow both of the IEEE and the IEE. Keith Nelson has been very active in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and is past President of the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society. He has acted extensively as an industrial consultant to numerous organizations. Dr. Nelson has been the recipient of many awards from professional organizations such as the Institution of Electrical Engineers (UK), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (US), the Edison Electric Institute, the Royal Society, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. A full Curriculum Vitae and a pictorial profile are available.

Read More: http://www.rpi.edu/~nelsoj/

Research Interests:

The primary area of interest involves the physical phenomena of power system equipment. This embraces dielectric phenomena and high voltage technology, physical electronics, gas physics, and, more recently, the application of superconductivity to power apparatus. As an experimentalist, Dr. Nelson is particularly interested in the development of computer-based diagnostic instrumentation for power plant (currently transformers and generators). Acoustic and optical methods; as well as artificial intelligence are often invoked in this arena. Computer numerical modeling of the physical processes involved is often an important element in this work. The involvement in high-voltage and transient phenomena also includes a strong interest in electrostatics. Interest has centered both on the understanding and mitigation of unwanted electrostatic effects and also on the utilization of electrostatics for such things as precipitators.