Alan Wong

Professor Alan Wong

Professor in High Voltage Engineering

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Profile photo of Professor Alan Wong. Alan is standing at an angle and smiling at camera in front of a grey wall.

Contact details

STEM | School of Engineering


Emailalan.wong@rmit.edu.au


Campus: Melbourne City


Programs

More information

Profile photo of Professor Alan Wong. Alan is standing at an angle and smiling at camera in front of a grey wall.

Contact details

STEM | School of Engineering


Emailalan.wong@rmit.edu.au


Campus: Melbourne City


Programs

More information

Prof. Alan Wong is recognised as a leading researcher in early fault detection technology for electrical infrastructure and as a successful technology start-up founder and CEO driving significant changes in the power industry.

Overview

Prof. Alan Wong has more than 15 years of experience in teaching, research and technology commercialisation. He is the leader of the RMIT High Voltage Research and Teaching Laboratory. He served as the program manager for Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (single & double degrees) and Master of Electrical Engineering degrees at RMIT University since 2001.

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Industry experience

Prof. Alan Wong has more than 15 years of experience working with the power industries in Australia, Asia and the US. He founded IND Technology in 2013 to commercialise the patented EFD technology. The EFD technology is currently used by some of the largest utilities in the US and Australia and has been recognised as one of the most advanced predictive maintenance products to prevent bushfires started by powerline faults.

 Alan Wong video thumbnail

Professor Alan Wong — Clunies Ross Award for Innovation — ATSE Awards 2021

Professor Alan Wong is an inventor and innovator whose new approach to identifying fire risks in power networks has spawned an international business. Professor Wong designed and developed Early Fault Detection technology which is able to detect and locate potential threats to power grids, allowing these threats to be addressed before the grid fails, protecting against potential catastrophic outcomes.

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Research

Prof. Alan Wong leads the high voltage research group at the University. He has a special research focus in nano-dielectric materials, partial discharge detection on outdoor insulation systems, development of intelligent sensors and networks using Internet-of-things (IoT) architecture, and machine learning algorithms.

Research keywords

High Voltage Engineering, Condition Monitoring, Partial Discharge, Early Fault Detection, Smart Sensor

Research output summary

48

Publications

$350,000+

Grants

3

Awards

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Supervisor interest areas

  • Partial discharge detection for outdoor insulation
  • Nano-dielectric materials
  • Early fault detection technology for powerline asset

Supervisor projects

  • Electric Stress Control in High Voltage Insulators using Multi-layered Functionally-graded Materials
  • Characterisation of conductor damages on power transmission and distribution networks

Feature publications

Wideband miniaturized half bowtie printed dipole antenna with integrated balun for wireless applications

IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 59 (1), 339-342.

W S Yeoh, K L Wong, W S T Rowe (2010).

Electromagnetic emission-based monitoring technique for polymer ZnO surge arresters

IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation 13 (1), 181-190.

K. L. Wong (2006).

Impact of electromagnetic radiation on cascaded failure in high voltage insulators

Applied Physics Letters 98 (5), 051504

A Bojovschi, K L Wong, WST Rowe (2011).

Key publications by year

  • Mingchen Gu, Lasantha Meegahapola, K L Wong, “Coordinated Voltage and Frequency Control in Hybrid AC/MT-HVDC Power Grids for Stability Improvement”, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 01 April 2020

  • Mingchen Gu, Lasantha Meegahapola, K L Wong, “Damping Performance Analysis and Control of Hybrid AC/Multi-Terminal DC Power Grids”, IEEE Access (Volume: 7), pp. 118712 – 118726, 2019

  • M Liang, K L Wong, “Improving the long-term performance of composite insulators use nanocomposite: A review”, Energy Procedia 110, 168-173, 2017
  • 5. A Al-Gheilani, W Rowe, Y Li, K L Wong, “Stress control methods on a high voltage insulator: A review”, Energy Procedia 110, 95-100, 2017

  • Haddad, G. Wong, K. and Petersen, P., 'Evaluation of the aging process of composite insulator based on surface characterisation techniques and electrical method', in IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, United States, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 311-318 ISSN: 1070-9878, 2016

  • Haddad, G. Wong, K. Gupta, R. and Pannirselvam, M., 'Prediction of the aging of HTV silicone rubber using chemical concentration and polynomial interpolation approach', in Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, David Publishing Co, United States, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 473-478 ISSN: 1934-8975 2015

  • G. Haddad, R. K. Gupta and K. L. Wong, “Visualization of multi-factor changes in HTV silicone rubber in response to environmental exposures,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 2190-2198, 2014.

  • S. C. Fernando, K. L. Wong and W. S. T. Rowe “Detection of corona and dry-band arc discharges on nano-composite epoxy insulators using RF sensing,” Progress In Electromagnetic Research, vol. 125, pp. 237-254, 2012.
  • S. C. Fernando, W. S. T. Rowe and K. L. Wong, “Long wire antenna-like behavior of uninsulated overhead distribution cables,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 1116 – 1123, 2012.
  • W. Yeoh, W. Rowe, and K. L. Wong, “Decoupled dual-dipole rectennas on a conducting surface at 2.4 GHz for wireless battery charging,” IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 238-244, 2012.

  • A. Bojovschi, K. L. Wong and W. S. T. Rowe, “Impact of electromagnetic radiation on cascaded failure in high voltage insulators,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 98, no. 5, pp. 051504- 051504-3, 2011.
  • A. Bojovschi, W. S. T. Rowe and K. L. Wong, “The influence of hanging droplets on the discharge activity application to high voltage insulators,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 98, no. 9, pp. 091504 - 091504-3, 2011.

  • A. Bojovschi, W. R. Rowe and K. L. Wong, “Electromagnetic field intensity generated by partial discharge in high voltage insulating materials,” Progress in Electromagnetic Research PIER, vol. 104, pp. 167-182, 2010.
  • K. L. Wong, M. F. Rahmat, “Study of leakage current distribution in wooden pole using ladder network model,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 995-1000, April 2010.
  • K.L.Wong, M.F.Rahmat,“Feasibility study of leakage current shunting method based on ladder network model,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 1133-1137, April 2010.
  • W. Yeoh, K. L. Wong and W. S. T. Rowe, “Wideband miniaturized half bowtie printed dipole antenna with integrated balun for wireless applications,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol.104, no. 99, pp. 339-342, 2010.

  • K.L.Wong, S.Pathak, X.Yu,“Aging effect on leakage current flow in wooden poles” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 133-138, February 2009.

  • K. L. Wong, “Electromagnetic emission-based monitoring technique for polymer ZnO surge arrestor,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 13, no. 1, pp.181-190, 2006.

  • K. L. Wong, “Application of Very High Frequency (VHF) method to ceramic insulators,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 1057-1064, 2004.
Web

Feature projects

EFD SWER Trial

Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning

2017

Detection of Physical Anomalies in Overhead 22kV Conductors for Power Distribution Networks

2015

Evaluation of the long-term performance of silicone coating on 33kV epoxy resin insulators

2015

Key projects by year

  • EFD SWER Trial, Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning, 2017

  • Detection of Physical Anomalies in Overhead 22kV Conductors for Power Distribution Networks, 2015
  • Evaluation of the long-term performance of silicone coating on 33kV epoxy resin insulators, 2015
  • Investigation on causes of surface discharge on EVA insulators under polluted conditions, 2015

  • Detection methodology of physical changes on overhead power lines, 2012

  • Calculation of electrical field distribution on polymer insulators using finite element method, 2011
  • HV ABC remote fault detector-extended trial, 2011

  • Thermal stability study of a fleet of Capacitive Voltage Transformers (CVTs), 2009
Web

Awards

Photo of a metal, circular medal. The medal is attached to a blue ribbon. The medal has the wording "Clunies Ross Award' written twice around the circumference - separated by two dots. In the centre is the profile of a man in a formal shirt and tie.

Clunies Ross Award for Innovation

Award date: 2021

Recipients: Alan Wong


RMIT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Impact

Award date: 2021

Recipients: Alan Wong

Fire Awareness Award - Innovation and Design Award 

Award date: 2016

Recipients: Alan Wong

Key awards by year

  • Clunies Ross Award for Innovation 2021
  • RMIT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Impact 2021

  • Fire Awareness Award - Innovation and Design Award 2016
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Grants

  • ARC Discovery Grant, “Novel Partial Discharge Detection Technique based on an Overhead Transmission Line Sensing Architecture”, 2008-2011
  • ARC Discovery Grant, “Nodal Power Saving for Disconnected Ad Hoc Sensor Networks”, 2006-2008
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Public and media engagements

2018

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.