Engineering Commons^™

A Testbed And Methods For Improved Power Plant Model Validation Via Pmu Terminal Measurements, Jacob Eisenbarth

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The power industry requires the validation and sharing of the models for generators and controlling equipment to other utilities within North America. Accurate simulation of the electric grid is essential when setting operation and control strategies during various conditions present on the grid. An industry accepted method for performing model validation involves using the voltage and frequency measurements during an event, typically recorded by a phasor measurement unit, to perform a dynamic simulation on the system. The output real and reactive powers from the dynamic simulation and the actual event are then compared to each other. If the real and …

Modeling And Prototyping A Modular, Low-Cost Collision Avoidance System For Uavs, Tyler Holliday

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Many challenges arise when attempting to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in indoor environments, such as the lack of a GPS signal for use in navigation and the smaller margin of error in movements. Typically, those challenges are addressed by using a collision avoidance system. However, most commercially available collision avoidance systems are expensive, limited in suppliers, and are restricted to use on a specific platform. Additionally, some of the collision avoidance systems choose to forego obstacle detection in one or more directions, usually the upward direction. This work proposes that it is possible to develop a custom, low-cost collision …

Long-Term Dynamic Simulation Of Power Systems Using Python, Agent Based Modeling, And Time-Sequenced Power Flows, Thad Haines

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Automated controls facilitate reliable and efficient operation of modern power systems. Engineers employ computer simulations to develop, analyze, and tune such controls. Short-term dynamic, or transient, power system simulation is a useful and standardized power industry tool. Researchers have developed effective long-term dynamic (LTD) simulators, but there is not yet an industry standard computational method or software package for LTD simulation.

This work introduces a novel LTD simulation tool and provides examples of various engineering applications. The newly created software tool, Power System Long-Term Dynamic Simulator (PSLTDSim), uses a time-sequenced power flow (TSPF) technique to simulate LTD events. The TSPF …

Downhole Rf Communication: Characterization And Modeling Of Waveguide Propagation In A Fluid-Filled Drill Pipe, Patrick Cote

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Current technologies for downhole communication in oil and gas drilling applications are severely limited in data rate and latency. This work proposes that a system based upon guided wave propagation could be designed to utilize a wireless, radio frequency (RF) signal to yield tens of megabits per second of data transfer. To determine the feasibility of the proposed system, a test setup was built to measure attenuation of RF signals transmitted through a pipe filled with various drilling fluids. A finite element analysis model was also built to further investigate waveguide propagation of electromagnetic signals in a fluid filled pipe. …

Improving A Transient Stability Control Scheme With Wide-Area Synchrophasors And The Microwecc, A Reduced-Order Model Of The Western Interconnect, Robin Hallett

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This thesis is composed of two research projects. The first project investigated the feasibility of improving a generator tripping control scheme using wide-area synchrophasors and the second project focused on building a reduced-order model of the western North American power system (wNAPS) for use in a real-time digital simulator.

Transient stability is a major reliability issue for power systems. Radially-connected power plants are especially prone to transient stability problems. An example of this is the fourgenerator Colstrip power plant located in southeast Montana, USA. The Colstrip generators are protected by a tripping control system called the Acceleration Trend Relay (ATR) …

Phasor Measurement Unit Testing And Characterization, Joe Perigo

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The power grid is a complex system composed of many different elements. Knowledge of electrical waveform content across the grid is key to managing power and maintaining stability. Electrical waveforms can be represented mathematically as time-varying phasors. Electrical phasors give information pertaining to the magnitude of the waveform as well as the phase relationship of the waveform to a reference. A Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) is a device that is installed at a node on the power grid and measures electrical phasors. The potential of near real time phasor information is powerful and has driven PMU application technology forward at …

Control Of Gas Metal Arc Welding Using Process Sensing And Laser Arc Stabilization For Additive Manufacturing, Dale Brush

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The goal of the present research was to bridge the gap between powder-based and wire-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes using gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Powder-based AM processes typically can produce components with high geometric resolution (small features), but at low deposition rates. Wire-based AM processes typically can produce components with low geometric resolution, but at high deposition rates. AM with GMAW is a wire-based AM process in the wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) category of AM. To bridge the gap between powder-based and wire-based AM processes, GMAW’s deposition rate has to be reduced, allowing small features to be built. …

Feasibility Of 802.11a-Based Transceivers For Vhf/Uhf Communications In Remote Regions, Abhimanyu Nath

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The project focuses on adapting a traditional IEEE802.11a specification originally designed for indoors, to work across mountainous terrains such as areas of rural Montana in the UHF band. The goal of the project is to experiment with various CSMA/CA timing parameters to accommodate long propagation delays between mountain peaks. The simulation tool was built in C++. When links with various data rates and hidden nodes were introduced during worst case performance analysis, severe packet drops and queue latencies were found in the network statistics. A few timing optimizations were explored and alternatives were considered in the systems design. When stations …

Rural Broadband Mobile Communications: Spectrum Occupancy And Propagation Modeling In Western Montana, Erin Wiles

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Fixed and mobile spectrum monitoring stations were implemented to study the spectrum range from 174 to 1000 MHz in rural and remote locations within the mountains of western Montana, USA. The measurements show that the majority of this spectrum range is underused and suitable for spectrum sharing. This work identifies available channels of 5-MHz bandwidth to test a remote mobile broadband network. Both TV broadcast stations and a cellular base station were modelled to test signal propagation and interference scenarios.

Deposition Control For Electrospun Fibers, Joshua Beisel

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Electrospinning (ES) is a process for fabricating polymer fibers that have diameters that range from tens of nanons to hundreds of microns, which has been studied for over 100 years. These fibers have been studied in applications such as: the enhancement of mechanical properties including increased sensor sensitivity and increased tensile strength, filtration enhancement, drug delivery systems, and as a lithography masking material. In order to increase the effectiveness of ES, a real time feedback control mechanism to measure fiber diameters is needed. Currently only post-process methods of measuring fiber morphology, such as scanning electron microscopy or transmission electron microscopy, …

Development Of Two Pdci Damping Controller Supervisory Elements, James Colwell

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Long transmission lines create opportunities for synchronous generators to oscillate or swing against one another at frequencies known as inter-area modes that are well observed. Some modes become less damped during times of heavy loading on the power system. Due to these modes, transmission systems are generally constrained by dynamic limits. Approaches to improve system damping are being researched. One method being evaluated is modulating power flows on the Pacific Direct Current Intertie (PDCI). A derivative feedback control system using phasor measurement unit (PMU) data has been shown in simulation to improve system damping. However, any feedback control scheme utilized …

Power System Simulation Using An Adaptive Modeling Framework, Matthew Stajcar

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Power system operation has changed significantly in the last several decades. Factors such as renewable energy integration and deregulation are major contributors to this change. In response, today’s power grid requires supplemental simulation techniques to ensure stable and reliable operation. One supplemental simulation technique includes a simulation tool that encompasses system dynamics of multiple time frames. This thesis proposes initial research of a power system simulation tool, Adaptive Modeling Framework (AMF), capable of modeling multiple dynamic characteristics including slow dynamics, such as transient stability, as well as long term dynamics (LTD), such as frequency regulation or voltage stability. Each power …