Roy Bell with adviser R. C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski A distributive and asynchronous maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm has been developed and experimentally validated for a series connection of three photovoltaic (PV) sub-modules. The distributive and asynchronous nature of the proposed algorithm greatly relaxes communication requirements needed to operate a solar installation at its maximum […]
Converter Rating Analysis for Photovoltaic Differential Power Processing Systems
Katherine A. Kim with adviser P. T. Krein Photovoltaic (PV) cells connected in series experience internal and external mismatch that reduces output power. Differential power processing (DPP) architectures achieve high system efficiency by processing a fraction of the total power while maintaining PV maximum power point operation. The two main DPP architectures, PV-to-bus and PV-to-PV, […]
Energy Efficient Building HVAC Systems: From Dynamic Frequency Domain Control to Renewable Energy Integration
Yue Cao with adviser P. T. Krein The statement “energy is not storable” is often heard in professional discussions, even though each person in the audience is sitting in a vast energy storage device—the building. Nearly 40% of annual U.S. energy consumption is attributed to lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems in residential […]
Differential Power Processing for Voltage Regulation of Series-Stacked Processor Cores
Dipanjan Das with adviser P. T. Krein Power delivery to multi-core processors is increasingly challenging as transistor sizes decrease and operating voltages thereby increase. With the growing number of cores in each processor, power requirements tend to remain the same, but handling the transient performance and efficiency requirements has become difficult at lower voltages. Significant […]
Design and Control of a 500 kRPM Switched Reluctance Machine with Flux Bridges on the Rotor
Ron Harley and J. Rhett Mayor – Georgia Institute of Technology The switched reluctance machine (SRM) is robust and a candidate for ultra high speed (UHS) applications. UHS motor drives have interesting features such as small size, high power density, and high efficiency, and they are attractive for applications, including micro-turbines, vacuum pumps, PCB drills, […]
Co-Design of Electric Machine and Integrated Modular Motor Drive based GaN Devices
Yehui Han and Thomas Jahns – University of Wisconsin-Madison The proposed integrated modular motor drive (IMMD) utilizes low-voltage high-performance GaN FETs, which have advantages of size, efficiency and thermal performance. This concept has been verified by the experimental results of an IMMD prototype and a rewound 6-lead induction machine. The IMMD prototype modules are rated […]
Induction Motor Drive Design Based on Drive-Cycle Energy Minimization
Srikanthan Sridharan with Adviser P. T. Krein Typical ac traction drive electrical components include the motor, inverter, dc link and filter elements. Drive design parameters and component values are chosen to minimize system-level drive losses. This research presents a systematic approach for selecting machine flux levels and passive component values in an induction motor drive […]
Inverter Characterization for Peak Duty
Veysel (Tutku) Buyukdegirmenci with adviser P. T. Krein Electric machines have significant short-term capabilities and can provide up to five times their rated power for half a minute. Inverters have much faster thermal dynamics than electric machines and might not survive such overloads. In this research, inverter short-term dynamic capabilities are assessed and sizing trade-offs […]
Self-Limiting Control of Induction Machines
Veysel (Tutku) Buyukdegirmenci with adviser P. T. Krein Past work has addressed the peak duty ratings of electric machines and control strategies to attain peak power until the maximum allowed temperature at the hot spot is reached. This research investigates control strategies to attain peak power after the maximum allowed temperature is reached. Conventional protection […]
Hybrid Machines for DC Generation
Steven Pekarek and Omar Laldin – Purdue University The goal is to develop electric machine topologies utilizing a field winding and permanent magnets, to be used in conjunction with passive rectifiers. New hybrid topologies enable the benefits of both sources, including low-mass, low-loss, robust, and regulated dc generation systems. The topologies are compared using a […]