In this study, we employ Hardware-in-the Loop (HIL) simulation to model, characterize, and analyze the effects of a single-phase microgrid incorporating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) units. HIL simulations allow us to execute an accurate assessment of the performance of DER units before their effective implementation in a real electrical grid. This is critical to identifying and resolving potential issues, optimizing the design and ensuring that the DER meets expectations in terms of energy production, efficiency, and reliability. Accurate system characterization for HIL applications assists in minimizing rework costs and helps to test robustness and evaluate operating scenarios and respond to unforeseen events such as grid failures, playing a crucial role in optimization, integration, safe and efficient operation of distributed generation units. To implement our simulation, we used a microgrid divided in three modules, composed by: 600-nodes, two PV array connected to IGBTs/VSIs, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) unit connected to the system via a contactor switch and an output filter and, a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) unit. The model and real-time simulation results are presented and analyzed using a OPALRT™ 5707 simulator.

This paper presents a groundbreaking capacitorless buck-boost DC-DC converter that harnesses the inherent parasitic capacitances of discrete planar inductors, eliminating the necessity for an external capacitance. The proposed approach integrates high dielectric material-based thin films, manufactured using nanotechnology processes, into planar magnetic structures, enhancing power density. By intentionally increasing stray capacitance, the converter effectively serves as an output filter element. This study advocates for the application of calcium copper titanate (CCTO) CaCu3T i4O12in the design, renowned for its remarkable dielectric constant of approximately 10, 000 at room temperature. A comprehensive mathematical model for the novel converter approach, encompassing the design of the circuit parameters is presented. Moreover, this paper establishes a detailed circuit model for the new electromagnetic device, verified through Ansys Maxwell finite element analysis tool. To highlight the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, a practical buck-boost design example is presented. Through rigorous simulations, minimum inductance of 20 uH, and the combined filter capacitor Coat 80 uF is estimated.

This paper proposed a composite substrate with$200nm$graphene layer deposited on the base plate of a commercially available IGBT Infineon BSM75GB60DLC model. The proposed solution shows its superiority in reducing the hot spots temperature; specifically the bondwires, which are the most causes to the IGBT defects and system failures. Different thicknesses of graphene layers were considered,$10nm,\ 200nm$and$500nm$. The$200nm$was found to be the optimal thickness to reduce the temperatures by a factor of$28.45\%$or$48.23^{\circ}C$compared to the original design without nano graphene layer. Sapphire substrate was found to provide less lattice mismatch compared to the original$Al_{2}O_{3}$substrate and therefore provided better thermal response. The study included heat sink design based on the specified maximum thermal limits in the device datasheet.$54cm^{3}$heat sink volume size is required to operate the device within its safe operating limits. The heat sink size for the proposed IGBT with the$200nm$graphene layer was found to be$27cm^{3}$, which represents 50% size reduction. The finite element analysis results showed the validity of the proposed solution for future high-power devices.

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review with focus on the difficulties electric vehicles (EVs) face to charge the battery while on a trip, and proposes a solution without the need of an expensive change in infrastructure. The proposed method charges EVs while en route from another vehicle, which will be referred to as vehicle-to-vehicle recharging (VVR). The aim of this system is to bring an innovative way for EVs to charge their battery without getting off route on a highway. The electric vehicle can request such a service from a designated charger vehicle on demand and receive electric power wirelessly while en route. The vehicles that provide energy (charger vehicles) through wireless power transfer (WPT) only need to be semi-autonomous in order to engage/disengage during a trip. The state-of-the-art is divided into three subsections relevant to the proposed system and where most of the innovations to reduce the burden of charging EVs can be found: (1) infrastructure changes, (2) device level innovations, and (3) autonomous vehicles. The infrastructure changes highlight some of the proposed systems that aim to help EVs become a convenient solution to the public. Device level innovations covers some of the literature on technology that addresses EVs in terms of WPT. And finally, the autonomous vehicle subsection covers the importance of such technology in terms of safety and reliability, that could be implemented on the VVR system. Furthermore, modeling, analysis, and simulation is presented to validate the feasibility of the proposed system.

The identification of the vocation of an unknown heavy-duty vehicle is valuable to parts’ manufacturers. This study proposes a methodology for vocation identification that is based on clustering techniques. Two clustering algorithms are considered: K-Means and Expectation Maximization. These algorithms are used to first construct the operating profile of each vocation from a set of vehicles with known vocations. The vocation of an unknown vehicle is then determined by using one-versus-all or one-versus-one assignment. The one-versus-one assignment is more desirable because it scales with an increasing number of vocations and requires less data to be collected from the unknown vehicles. These characteristics are important to parts’ manufacturers since their parts may be installed in different vocations. Specifically, this paper compares the one-versus-one bracket and the one-versus-one round-robin tournament assignments to the one-versus-all assignment. The tournament assignments are able to scale with an increasing number of vocations. However, the bracket assignment also benefits from a linear time complexity. The results show that despite its scalability and computational efficiency, the bracket vocation identification model has a high accuracy and a comparable precision and recall. The NREL Fleet DNA drive cycle dataset is used to demonstrate these findings.

This paper presents a shunt active power filter (SAPF) topology, based on the concept of a transformer with open-end winding (OEW), for reactive power and harmonic compensations employed in three-phase four wire (3P4W) systems under balanced and unbalanced conditions. The proposed system uses two independent dc-links and two independent converters series connected through transformers. Complete system control, including PWM technique, is developed and a comparison between the proposed SAPF and conventional one is presented as well. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the theoretical approach.

This paper proposes a multimotor drive based on a commercial three-leg converter. The topology is composed by a standard three-leg converter supplying two machines in a parallel connection. A Permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and Single-phase induction motor (SPIM) are used in this work. The configuration is suitable for applications which is required independent control of two machines from a standard converter. Relevant characteristics of the converter is presented, such as: voltage capability, capacitor currents, PWM modulation. Details of the vector control implemented is addressed. Additionally, is applied a sensorless strategy to control the PMSM machine, thus, it is possible to increase the mechanical robustness and reduction of the cost and volume of the system. The proposed method is implemented in a test setup. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed topology.

This paper proposes a speed sensorless control for PMSM motor drive system. The sensorless strategy is based on back-emf estimation of the motor, suited for applications at high speed. The drive system uses a four-switches three-phase inverter. This topology is attractive specially in fault conditions in one leg of the conventional three-phase converter. The speed sensorless vector control based on the proposed converter provides a motor drive system with reduction of cost and volume. Relevant characteristics of the converter is presented, such as: voltage capability, capacitor currents, PWM modulation. Details of the vector control implemented is addressed. Simulation results are shown and validates the proposed system. The proposed method are under implementation in an industrial converter.

This paper presents an optimized single phase DC-AC converter with RCD snubber circuit. The proposed converter has an optimized number of levels per number of switches (nL/nS) which is by far the best relationship among the converters proposed in literature. The most important characteristics of the proposed configuration are: (i) reduced number of semiconductor devices, while keeping a high number of levels at the output converter side, (ii) only one DC source without any need to balance capacitor voltages, and (in) reduced semiconductor losses and as a result higher efficiency. The principle of operation, RCD snubber design, modulation technique, and modeling of the proposed converter are presented in this paper. The proposed multilevel DC-AC converter topology is simulated and validated experimentally.

In this paper, a single-phase rectifier topology based on a five-level four-switch converter is proposed. Such topology will be called as 5L-4S Rectifier, which presents some advantages over the traditional ones, such as lower THD of the grid current due to high number of levels generated at the grid side and lower power switching losses. The complete analysis presented in this paper includes the rectifier model, its operation, the PWM strategy, dc-link capacitor voltage and grid current controls. A comprehensive comparison between the proposed and conventional rectifiers is also presented. Simulated and experimental results corroborate the theoretical study.

This paper presents a hybrid PWM (HPWM) strategy for a voltage source inverter used to supply open-end winding (OEW) equipment. Such equipment can be either an electrical machine in a motor drive system or a transformer in dynamic voltage restorer. The technique described in this paper combines the theory of space-vector PWM (SVPWM) with the easy implementation of a sinusoidal PWM (SPWM). Simulation and experimental results are shown to validate the proposed modulation strategy.

This paper presents a reversible paralleled single-phase to single-phase dc-link converter which can be applied in line voltage regulator, power factor correction (PFC) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). It is composed of two single-phase three-leg ac-dc-ac converters with a leg shared by both load and grid sides. Suitable modelling and control strategy of the system are developed. A pulse width-modulation (PWM) technique based on a single and interleaved carriers PWM (double and quadruple carriers) is presented. Proposed topology permits to improve the harmonic distortion reducing the switching stress in dc-link capacitor and power losses. Generalized topology with N parallel dc-link converters is presented. Simulation and experimental results are also presented for confirmation of the performance of the proposed topology.

This paper proposes a bidirectional grid interface converter to be applied in Energy-Control-Center (ECC) in order to interface dc variables, such as battery energy storage system and ac conventional utility grid. Such power electronics solution guarantees: (i) bidirectional power flow between dc and ac converter sides, (ii) independent control in both sides, (iii) high level of integration, and (iv) implementation of two functions using a unique power conversion stage. Despite proposing a new solution, this paper presents an analysis of the converter in terms of: PWM strategy, dc-link capacitor variables, switches variables, low-pass-filter specification employed at the output converter sides and a comparison with a conventional solution. Simulation and experimental results are presented as well.