Engineering Commons^™

A Position Allocation Approach To The Battery Electric Bus Charging Problem, Alexander Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

With an increasing adoption of Battery Electric Bus (BEB) fleets, developing a reliable charging schedule is vital to a successful migration from their fossil fuel counterparts. In this work, a BEB charging scheduling framework that considers fixed route schedules, multiple charger types, and battery dynamics is modeled as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP). The MILP is modeled after the Berth Allocation Problem (BAP) in a modified form known as the Position Allocation Problem (PAP). The optimization coordinates BEB charging to ensure that each vehicle remains above a specified charge percentage. The model also minimizes the total number of chargers …

Design Of High Efficiency Doherty Power Amplifier, Kobi G. Kelly, Severin Pindell

Electrical Engineering

The project includes design and fabrication of a high efficiency power amplifier for a student design competition held at International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2023. Efficient power amplifiers are critical for base station communication requiring efficient use of available power. The final design optimizes power added efficiency (PAE) and linearity. The amplifier will operate at 2.45 GHz. Competitive PAE above 50%, and C/I above 30 dB is achieved by leveraging a Doherty class amplifier using accurate discrete CGH4006P transistor models to simulate an efficient and linear design. Unique design features include optimal transistor bias point selection and power split ratios between …

X-Band Wireless Power Transfer System Using A Focused Array Lens, Jason Alexander Kunz, Tyler S. Bury, Oscar Damian Gonzalez, Jaime Garcia

Electrical Engineering

Wireless power beaming from space and energy harvesting were once stories of science fiction, until now. Wireless power transmission (WPT) is a field continually in development to provide energy in situations where energy transfer through wires is impractical or unfeasible. This engineering discipline abandons the use of wire technology for the energy transfer between the power source and a distant device. While various forms of WPT exist, our project focuses on transmission through means of radio frequency (RF), utilizing electromagnetic waves to power devices. Furthermore, WPT technology primarily assists in the elimination of a physical connection between devices, and it …

Advancing Embedded Iot Architectures For Space And Terrestrial Applications, Wuwei Douglas Liu, Nicolas Jesus Alvarez, Eric Huang

Electrical Engineering

Radio transceivers play a pivotal role in establishing communication networks, particularly in regions where existing infrastructures are unstable or compromised due to natural disasters or conflicts. By utilizing LoRa (Long Range) communication technology, OWL Integrations develops radio transceivers to establish mesh networks to communicate with one another during disasters. This project team continues development of a second generation OWL board, classified as Quacker Advanced Development (QuAD), with a focus on transitioning to a new microcontroller and integrating GNSS libraries and drivers. An ulterior objective involved R&D for a space application of the board.

Ross Dam Micro Hydropower Project, Ryan Pospichal, Wilson Szeto

Electrical Engineering

In 2020, Utica Water and Power Authority (UWPA) commissioned the development and installation of a micro hydropower system for Ross Dam in northern California. The micro-hydro system was intended to serve as a reliable source of renewable energy to power on-site equipment for monitoring the Ross Reservoir. Despite its innovative approach, the system encountered operational shortcomings, including frequent mechanical failures, rapid wear, and an inability to adapt to variable flow rates. To address these challenges, UWPA has commissioned interdisciplinary teams of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) students to redesign the micro hydropower system. The ME team was entrusted …

Improving The Power Efficiency Of Woodward’S High-Power Inverter (Hpi) Using Algorithmic Part Selection., Jaron Holder, Ali Al Gazwi, John Childers, Jose Soublett

Honors Capstones

Woodward Inc. is a secondary aerospace manufacturer based in the USA that specializes in aircraft power and control systems. This senior design project was concerned with a power systems platform currently in development by Woodward, the High-Power Inverter (HPI) system. In this report, the senior design group from Northern Illinois University (NIU) demonstrated the creation of an algorithmic part selection process to choose more power-efficient electrical components, the prototyping using MATLAB Simulink, and the practical testing that showed an increase of 7% in the power efficiency of the HPI system.

Electromagnetic Penetration Of Structures Considering High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse, David P. Mignardot

Masters Theses

The electric power system is undergoing transformation in the 21^st century. Generation is becoming more distributed, more electronic equipment is utilized for operation and control, and load demand is increasing with society’s electrification. As this transformation occurs, both new and old threats to the system’s resilience are of concern. Of the old threats, and a critical component when studying resilience, is high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP). In this thesis, weaponized electromagnetic pulse and its interaction with the power system is revisited with an emphasis on structure shielding effectiveness against both radiated and conducted energy. Computational electromagnetic plane wave simulations are …

Power System Electromagnetic Transient Simulation Using A Semi-Analytical Approach, Min Xiong

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates efficient power system electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulations using a semi-analytical approach.

First, based on state-space equations of system EMT models, a semi-analytical solution (SAS) is acquired using the Differential Transformation Method (DTM). The DTM can efficiently derive the SAS of any linear or nonlinear system as a power series in time in a recursive manner using well-developed transformation rules. A high-order SAS allows a large time step to speed up the simulation while maintaining the same level of accuracy. Also, a variable time step approach is proposed to further improve its efficiency. Case studies on multiple systems …

Real-Time Degradation Abatement Framework For Energy Storage System In Automotive Application Using Data-Driven Approaches, Laxman Timilsina

All Dissertations

The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is driven by their compatibility with sustainable energy goals. However, the decline in the performance of energy storage systems, such as batteries, due to their degradation puts EVs and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) at a disadvantage compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The batteries used in these vehicles have limited life. The degradation of the battery is accelerated by the operating conditions of the vehicle, which further reduces its life and increases the reliability and economic concerns for the vehicle’s operation. The aging mechanism inside a battery cannot be eliminated but …

Phasor-Domain Short-Circuit Analysis Of Power Transmission Systems In The Presence Of Inverter-Based Resources, Dol Kunwar

All Theses

Although a power system is nonlinear during healthy operation because of constant power loads and controlled power injections from the sources, a conventional power system fed by synchronous generators is linear during fault, and can be represented by bus impedance matrix (Z-bus), which is useful in power system analyses such as short circuit (SC) analysis. However, With increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) in the system, the assumption of linearity of the faulted network does not hold. This impacts the analyses relying on Z-bus and Thevenin’s equivalent impedance (TEI), such as certain protection schemes set using short circuit analysis. Therefore, …

Photovoltaics And Battery-Based End-To-End Direct Current Sustainable Power Networks- Concept, Design, And Control, Vishwas Powar

All Dissertations

The consequences of climate change have emphasized the need for a power network that is centered around green, low-cost, and renewable sources of energy. Currently, photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines are the only two technologies that can convert renewable energy from the sun and wind, respectively, into large-scale power for the electricity network. This dissertation aims to provide a novel solution to implement direct current-based architecture for PV generation coupled with lithium-ion battery storage in an efficient and sustainable manner. Such a power network can enable efficiency, reliability, low cost, and sustainability with minimum impact on the environment. The first …

Discrete Time State-Space Modeling Framework For Switched-Mode Power Supplies, Jared Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations

Electrical power consumption has become ever prominent in modern society. Switch mode power supplies, now more than ever, have become a foundation for residential, commercial, and industrial electrical needs. These demands require numerous advanced power converters, and modeling plays a vital role in the design of these converters. Commonly, modeling is completed using either dedicated hand analysis, which must be completed individually for each topology, or time-stepping circuit simulations, which are insufficiently rapid for broad analysis considering a wide range of potential designs or operating points. Discrete time state-space modeling of switching converters has shown merits in rapid analysis and …

Advancing Power Equipment And Line Protection With Practical Solutions, Russell W. Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is the culmination of an academic and professional career dedicated to power system protection. It begins with an emphasis on the need for excellence in analysis of power system fault events with the goal of improving system protection and reliability. The bulk of this work describes the detailed analysis of various misoperations of protective relays and the solutions that those analysis led to. The last chapters round out the manuscript with two innovations that the author advanced, and which are now becoming part of the state of the art in generator protection being incorporated into Institute of Electrical …

Quantum-Powered Battery Scheduling In Modern Distribution Grids, Diba Ehsani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rising need for exploiting a novel and evolved computation is an increasing concern in the power distribution system to address the exponential growth of distribution-connected devices. Scheduling numerous battery energy storage systems in an optimal way is one of the emerging challenges that will be more noticeable as the number of batteries, including residential, community, and vehicle batteries, increases in the grid. This thesis focuses on this topic and offers a necessary component in building the quantum-compatible distribution system of the future. Using a constrained quadratic model (CQM) on D-Wave’s hybrid solver as well as a binary quadratic model …

Data-Driven Approaches For Enhancing Power Grid Reliability, Behrouz Sohrabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the transformative potential of data-driven approaches in addressing key operational and reliability issues in power systems. The first part of this thesis addresses a prevalent problem in power distribution networks: the accurate identification of load phases. This study develops a data-driven model leveraging consumption measurements from smart meters and corresponding substation data to reconstruct topology information in low-voltage distribution networks. The proposed model is extensively tested using a dataset with more than 5,000 real load profiles, demonstrating satisfactory performance for large-scale networks. The second part of the thesis pivots to a crucial safety concern: the risk and …

Improvements Of Hybrid Ac/Dc House Prototype, Arden Abude

Electrical Engineering

This is an iteration from previous designs of the Hybrid AC/DC House with a systematic addition of a portable AC power supply unit. This iteration for the Hybrid AC/DC House is an innovation of independence for sustainable housing solutions. It will serve as an alternative for rural communities needing power to rely on self-sustainable microgrids rather than large-scale AC electric grids. The addition of a portable AC power supply would allow the microgrid to remove its reliance on AC power from the larger grid and would elevate the system to complete energy independence. The microgrid has DC power generated from …

Fair Fault-Tolerant Approach For Access Point Failures In Networked Control System Greenhouses, Mohammed Ali Yaslam Ba Humaish

Theses and Dissertations

Greenhouse Networked Control Systems (NCS) are popular applications in modern agriculture due to their ability to monitor and control various environmental factors that can affect crop growth and quality. However, designing and operating a greenhouse in the context of NCS could be challenging due to the need for highly available and cost-efficient systems. This thesis presents a design methodology for greenhouse NCS that addresses these challenges, offering a framework to optimize crop productivity, minimize costs, and improve system availability and reliability. It contributes several innovations to the field of greenhouse NCS design. For example, it recommends using the 2.4GHz frequency …

Structural Construction And Surface Modification Of Copper Current Collectors For Lithium Metal Batteries, Yaohua Liang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graphene, a prevalent anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries, has reached its theoretical capacity limit. The imperative is to develop high-capacity anode materials to meet the growing demand for energy density. Lithium metal, renowned for its exceptionally high theoretical specific capacity density (3680 mAh g-1) and low reduction potential (-3.04 V, relative to the standard hydrogen electrode), is commonly dubbed the "Holy Grail" for negative electrode materials in high-energy-density batteries. However, practical advancements in lithium metal anodes face obstacles like low Coulombic efficiency, limited cycle life, and heightened reactivity to the electrolyte and internal short circuits resulting from lithium dendrite …

Energy Harvesting For Residential Microgrid Distributed Sensor Systems, Devin C. Whalen

Master’s Theses

Microgrids are localized, independent power grids that can operate while connected to the larger electrical grid. These systems make intelligent decisions regarding power management and use an array of components to monitor power generation, consumption, and environmental conditions. While this technology can save end users money, the complexity of installation and maintenance has limited the adoption of microgrids in residential spaces. To simplify this technology for end users, the next evolution of microgrid components includes sensors that are wireless and ambiently powered.

Even with a microgrid installed, significant energy is wasted in residential spaces. To address this loss, energy harvesting …

Pulsed Dielectric Breakdown And Permittivity Characterization Of Composite Solid Insulators In Pulsed Power Systems, Shawn T. Scoggin

Electrical Engineering Dissertations

In high voltage pulsed power systems, liquids and gases are often used as insulating materials because they offer high breakdown strengths, conform around complex geometries, and are self-healing, but they can introduce significant engineering challenges and restrictions when it comes to implementing them. Solid dielectrics can be desirable for improving the maintenance requirements, shelf life, and power/energy density metrics associated with insulating high voltage pulsed power systems, however they possess design challenges of their own. Solid dielectrics are not self-healing and can be difficult to manufacture, especially around complex geometries. Epoxy dielectrics are of high interest because of their naturally …

Extending Trailer, Alex Grove

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this research project is to revolutionize the convenience in towable transportation. This innovative design aims to enhance the versatility of pull-behind trailers by incorporating an extendable feature, allowing users to effortlessly adjust the length according to their specific needs. Whether navigating tight spaces or accommodating extra cargo, our trailer adapts to diverse situations, providing unmatched flexibility. In addition to its adjustable length, the trailer is engineered to be compactable, addressing the storage constraints often faced by users with limited space. The collapsible design ensures easy storage without compromising on functionality, making it an ideal solution for individuals …

Schaeffler Icvd Coating Machine, Louis Mcgrath

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is mutual technology used to deposit thin film through a gaseous phase by vaporizing the solid materials. This conventional process usually requires high thermal stability of the materials, which is not applicable for most of the polymeric materials. Therefore, a novel process, initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) is developed by introducing the gaseous monument and initiator to form the thin film in-situ. By adjusting the free-radical polymerization in the vapor phase, a variety of thin and uniform polymer films can be achieved. Depending on the chemistry, iCVD has many categories. This report explains the design …

Efficient Connectivity Management And Path Planning For Iot And Uav Networks, Amirahmad Chapnevis

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how to better manage resources in mobile networks, especially for enhancing the performance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-supported IoT networks. We explored ways to set up a flexible communication architecture that can handle large IoT deployments by making good use of mobile core network resources like bearers and data paths. We developed strategies that meet the needs of IoT networks and enhance network performance. We also developed and tested a system that combines traffic from several mobile devices that use the same user identity and network resources within the core mobile network. We used everyday smartphones, SIM …

Modeling And Mitigating Power Grid Vulnerabilities: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Renewable Energy Integration, Cascading Failures, And Microgrid Resilience, Saikat Das

Theses and Dissertations

In modern power systems, rapid integration of renewable energy and the emergence of microgrid technology emphasize the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of vulnerabilities and robust defense mechanisms. The research begins with an exploration of power grid vulnerabilities to cascading failure amidst the increasing integration of renewable energy sources. A novel power balance technique is employed for cascading failure analysis and power grid vulnerability measurement. Simulation results indicate that the growing penetration of renewable energy has a proportionally higher impact on grid vulnerability to cascading failures. After a certain level of renewable energy penetration, some systems may deteriorate rapidly, necessitating …

Power Electronic Converter Reliability Improvement Optimization Using Genetic Algorithm, Felix Adabla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Power electronic converter (PEC) systems are vital for efficient and reliable electrical energy conversion across various applications. Since the overall reliability of these applications is determined, to some degree, by the reliability of the PECs that form the foundation of these applications, it is essential to explore the reliability improvement strategies adopted for these PECs. In fact, various works have been done in that regard. However, another question that arises from these reliability improvement strategies is "how much is enough" since improvement in one area might be at the cost of another factor. In an attempt to answer this question, …

Design, Fabrication And Characterization Of Zero Power Sensor/Harvester For Smart Grid Applications, Zeynel Guler

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This study presents a flexible sensor/harvester device to be used in both electromagnetic sensing and energy harvesting applications for smart grids. When a current passes through a wire, the sensor detects the magnetic field created by that current. The sensor magnet interacts with the wire magnetic field resulting in a transfer of energy through the piezoelectric cantilever. Piezoelectric, conductive, magnetic, and magnetostrictive composite thin films were prepared to fabricate this device.

Initially, the magnet of the cantilever was optimized considering its shape, thickness, length, taper angle etc. via both simulations and experiments. Peak to peak voltage versus cantilever position graph …

Static And Dynamic State Estimation Applications In Power Systems Protection And Control Engineering, Ibukunoluwa Olayemi Korede

Doctoral Dissertations

The developed methodologies are proposed to serve as support for control centers and fault analysis engineers. These approaches provide a dependable and effective means of pinpointing and resolving faults, which ultimately enhances power grid reliability. The algorithm uses the Least Absolute Value (LAV) method to estimate the augmented states of the PCB, enabling supervisory monitoring of the system. In addition, the application of statistical analysis based on projection statistics of the system Jacobian as a virtual sensor to detect faults on transmission lines. This approach is particularly valuable for detecting anomalies in transmission line data, such as bad data or …

Fourier Analysis And Optimization Of Inductive Wireless Power Transfer For Electric Vehicle Charging, Andrew P. Foote

Doctoral Dissertations

With the growth of electric vehicle (EV) popularity, different charging options to increase user convenience and reduce charging time such as high power wireless charging are increasingly being developed and researched. Inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) systems for EVs must meet specifications such as stray field, battery power and voltage operating range, efficiency, and ground clearance. The coil geometry and design have a large impact in meeting these constraints. Typical design approaches include iterative analysis of predetermined coil geometries to identify candidates that meet these constraints.

This work instead directly generates WPT coil shapes and magnetic fields to meet specifications …

A Scalable Transmission And Distribution Co-Simulation Platform For Ibr-Heavy Power Systems, Yousu Chen

All Dissertations

The grid is evolving rapidly to meet the requirements of the clean energy transition. This evolution involves an increasing penetration of renewable energy resources and new complexities with a larger number of devices and controls spread across transmission and distribution networks. The boundary between transmission and distribution becomes blur. Consequently, we face significant challenges in managing the fundamental shift in power system physics. The ubiquitous use of Inverter Based Resources (IBRs) throughout the transmission and distribution systems has made it more difficult for the grid to maintain grid stability under dynamic conditions. Therefore, there is a strong need to explore …

An Analysis On Wildfire Mitigations Employed By Utilities In California, Evan Luu

Master's Theses

As climate change continues to worsen, environmental effects are felt by many people around the world. In California, some of its most damaging wildfires have been found to be started by utilities. As the state continues to suffer from worsening wildfire conditions, the utilities need to implement a variety of wildfire mitigations to help reduce the risk of wildfires that can affect the state and its residents. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of four mitigations employed across three California utilities and suggests potential ways for the mitigations to be used together. The technologies evaluated are covered conductor, rapid earth fault …