MS student T.G. Roberts with advisor A. Domínguez-García Grid-forming inverters (GFMs) are a promising technology for replacing synchronous generators to sustain system voltage and frequency in microgrids with low inertia. In the U.S. bulk power grid, inertia from rotating generators helps resist sudden changes or fluctuations in frequency. Current grid-following inverters (GFIs) do not possess […]
Analysis and Design of Pulse De-icing on Solar Panels
MS student Mingrui Zhu with advisor A.Stillwell Under extreme cold conditions, a de-icing or de-frosting method is needed to maintain the normal function of solar panels and the grid system of which they are a part. A pulse de-icing method is proposed as an alternate for the traditional chemical method (by spraying defrosting fluid) because […]
Design of Grid Tied Solar Microinverter Optimized for Reactive Power Support
MS Student Macks Johanesen with advisor A. Stillwell When reactive power is not locally compensated, the demand over transmission lines causes active power line losses. Single phase microinverters, as seen in Figure 20, can be used for local reactive power compensation in addition to their dc to ac conversion, but typically these devices are optimized […]
Reliability Analysis of Novel Wind-Energy Conversion System
MS student Isaac Lawanson with advisor A. Domínguez-García We analyze various power converter architectures for wind-energy conversion systems to determine the system’s reliability and availability (based on the inclusion of passive rectifiers). Using Chapman-Kolmogorov equations, we build the Markov reliability and availability models that show the various states of the architecture and the probability of […]
Integrated generator-rectifier system and hardware development for high-power demonstration
Post-Doc Phuc Huynh with advisor A. Banerjee Integrated generator-rectifier system in Fig. 1 has been shown to be a promising candidate to reduce the offshore wind energy levelized cost of electricity. The cost reduction is achieved through improved conversion efficiency and better reliability of the electro-mechanical energy conversion system compared to the conventional alternatives. These […]
Illini Solar Car Brizo + Project C
This year has been an exciting one for Illini Solar Car. The team returned from Santa Fe, NM this summer after placing 3rd at the 2021 Formula Sun Grand Prix and 4th at the 2021 American Solar Challenge. Their second-generation road-legal vehicle, named Brizo, drove over 1,000 miles on public roads and highways across the […]
Variable-Pole Induction Machines for Electric Vehicles
PhD student Elie Libbos with advisor A. Banerjee High power density, high efficiency, and inexpensive drivetrain operating over a wide speed range are critical for future electric vehicles (EV). The induction machine (IM) offers a cost-effective and reliable alternative to permanent magnet-based solutions. A multi-leg drive (more than three phases) can reconfigure the machine to […]
Additive Manufacturing for Rapid Prototyping and Active Cooling
CEME Collaborator Bulent Sarlioglu – University of Wisconsin-Madison This research project presents an additively manufactured heat exchanger for rapid prototyping and active cooling of an electric machine. A rectangular in-slot heat exchanger with a coolant is used to cool the winding. The heat exchanger is optimized for a high heat transfer coefficient, high-temperature operation, water […]
Low-Cost Rapid Wide-range Adaptive Drives Using Arduino and FPGA
CEME Collaborator Julia Zhang with Qaed Alosaimi The Ohio State University This research is funded by the Grainger CEME. The objective of this proposed research is to set up two rapid wide-range adaptive drives using low-cost controllers. One platform uses an Arduino control unit and the other uses an FPGA controller to sense and control […]
Superconducting rotor torque-transfer mechanism with low thermal conductivity
MS student Jianqiao (Peter) Xiao with Advisor K. Haran In previous research, a spoke-suspension system was designed to lower thermal conduction in a cryogenic rotor so that a superconducting rotor can be cooled by a cryocooler. The details of the spoke-supported rotor, including spoke attachment, cryocooler mounting, and cooling through conduction are studied and some […]