Engineering Commons^™

Mapping The Molecular Interface Of A Gpcr Dimer, Zhenqi Li

Theses - ALL

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most diverse membrane proteins in eukaryotes that transmit chemical signals to the cell. GPCRs are considered the largest family of targets for approved drugs on the market. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1), a widely expressed GPCR protein in many cell types, performs signal transduction function not only in the monomeric state but also in the dimeric or complex oligomeric states. However, the detail of the S1P1 assembly is still not clearly understood. Cholesterol is believed to affect S1P1 dimerization, but the details of the cholesterol-binding sites with S1P1 are not well understood. In this project, …

Improving The Piezoelectric Properties Of Flexible Polymer-Nanoparticle Energy Harvesters, Muhammet Emin Cavusoglu

Theses and Dissertations

In this research, one of the widely used polymers, poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF), was used to develop thin-film polymer energy harvesters. Dimethylformamide (DMF) and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were used to dissolve the PVDF powder. Four different (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) ZnO nanoparticle (NP) concentrations were used to enhance the electrical output of the thin-film energy harvesters. A sonication bath and additional MEK were used in dispersing the ZnO NPs to obtained uniform PVDF/ZnO NP solution. The electrode poling technique was used for dipole alignment to improve the electrical performance of the devices. The fabricated samples were tested using the tensile …

Energy And Economic Losses Due To Soiling On Utility Scale Pv Systems To Guide Timing Of Cost Effective Cleaning, Jackson P. Puckett, Maximilian M. Sosa, Brandon F. Grossman

Electrical Engineering

The energy and associated economic losses due to soiling on both residential and utility scale PV (photovoltaic) systems can be both significant and avoidable. Losses from 1.2% up to 6% have been reported, which is of interest to system operators [1]. Modules may be cleaned to reduce losses, but this comes with an offsetting economic cost. A quantification of energy losses, and the corresponding economic loss, will allow a determination of a closer to optimal cleaning schedule depending on the level of soiling and corresponding energy loss. Two methods are proposed and compared. Method 1 uses an ARES Soiling Measurement …

Integrated Resource Plan For Portland General Electric (Pge), Mary Biswal, Alejandro Castelan

Master's Projects and Capstones

An integrated resource plan (IRP) for Portland General Electric (PGE) is developed in this master’s project. The IRP is based on capacity expansion modeling for zero-carbon emission scenarios. PGE is a public electric utility based in Oregon and serves around 887,000 customers across a territory of 4,000 sq. miles. The utility’s resource mix is currently heavily dependent on natural gas making up almost 50% of its capacity. While the state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) require Oregon power utilities to derive 50% of their generation from renewable sources by 2040, PGE plans to move rapidly into a clean energy mix by …

An Integrated Resource Plan For Arizona Public Service Electric (Aps), Irene Boghdadi, Randy Chiu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Our Masters Capstone Project is an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Arizona’s largest electric utility, Arizona Public Service Electric (APS).

An IRP is developed by utilities to identify the optimal combination of demand- and supply-side resources needed to reliably meet forecasted demand for energy and capacity, including a planning reserve margin, over a future period.

In addition to APS’s obligation to serve the growing load in Arizona while minimizing costs, it is required by the state to adhere to the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) policy of 15 percent retail sales from renewable energy resources by 2025.

The analysis described in …

Energy Storage Systems For Traction And Renewable Energy Applications, Hamad Abdullah Aldawsari

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Energy storage systems are the set of technologies used to store various forms of energy, and by necessity, can be discharged. Energy storage technologies have a wide range of characteristics and specifications. Like any other technology, each type of energy storage has its pros and cons. Depending on the application, it is crucial to perform a tradeoff study between the various energy storage options to choose the optimal solution based on the key performance objectives and various aspects of those technologies. The purpose of this thesis is to present a thorough literature review of the various energy storage options highlighting …

Dual-Axis Solar Tracker, Bryan Kennedy

All Undergraduate Projects

Renewable energies, and fuels that are not fossil fuel-based, are one of the prolific topics of debate in modern society. With climate change now becoming a primary focus for scientists and innovators of today, one of the areas for the largest amount of potential and growth is that of the capturing and utilization of Solar Energy. This method involves using a mechanical system to track the progression of the sun as it traverses the sky throughout the day. A dual-axis solar tracker such as the one designed and built for this project, can follow the sun both azimuthally and in …

Análisis De Operación De Un Sistema De Generación Undimotriz Conectado A Un Modelo De Red, Juan Sebastián Reyes Salazar

Ingeniería Eléctrica

El uso de generación eléctrica basada en fuentes no convencionales de energía se ha impulsado en los últimos años, una razón de la diversificación de la matriz energética en todos los países del mundo y además con la intención de reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Dentro de su diversidad, las energías renovables cuentan con el movimiento Mareo-Motriz, como función del movimiento ondulatorio de las olas. En este tipo de fuentes no convencionales la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero es prácticamente cero, en la producción de energía este es un paso fundamental que se articula con algunas …

On The Energy Sustainability Of Active And Passive Building Integrated Technologies In The Context Of A Changing Climate For Tropical Coastal Cities, Rabindra Pokhrel

Dissertations and Theses

Caribbean Sea surface temperatures have been rising at an alarming rate of 0.020C/year. The effect of rising sea surface temperatures is reflected in increasing in 2m air temperature over the Caribbean. The rise in extreme temperatures increases human discomfort and energy demands for air conditioning (AC) putting both the population and energy infrastructure at higher risk of vulnerability. This vulnerability is amplified in compact cities where anthropogenic heat removal from the built environment further increases the temperature of the urban canyon with feedback on human comfort and energy demands. Although there has been prior work reported on mitigating energy demands …

Enabling Innovation In The Energy System Transition, Bonnie Wylie Pratt

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Innovation in the electric sector has the potential to drive job growth, decrease environmental impacts, reduce rate payer costs, and increase reliability and resiliency. However, the traditional electric system was built to deliver a controlled flow of energy from a centralized location with maximum reliability and minimum cost. As both customer expectations and generation technologies change, new avenues for grid innovation are being explored. Residential customers, commercial and industrial clients, and electric utilities must all find a way to balance goals for decarbonization and social justice with maintaining a least cost, reliable power grid. Grounded in Geel’s energy system transition …

Energy Forensics Analysis, Rupa Das

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The energy consumed by a building can reveal information about the occupants and their activities inside the building. This could be utilized by industries and law enforcement agencies for commercial or legal purposes. Utility data from Smart Meter (SM) readings can reveal detailed information that could be mapped to foretell resident occupancy and type of appliance usage over desired time intervals. However, obtaining SM data in the United States is laborious and subjected to legal and procedural constraints. This research develops a user-driven simulation tool with realistic data options and assumptions of potential human behavior to determine energy usage patterns …