Current Research Projects
***For past research, click here or find under the Research menu.***
*
RAFT: Reconfigurable Array of High-efficiency Ducted
Turbines for Hydrokinetic Energy Harvesting (sponsored by
DOE ARPA-E SHARKS) (2021-2024)
Our group designs direct drives (AC-DC-AC) for arrayed
hydrokinetic turbines with grid connection, achieving
high-efficiency, high-reliability, and low-cost, as well as
intelligent generator control. The work involves multi-physics
modeling, control, optimization, and hardware prototypes.
*
CAREER: Universal Modeling of Real and Virtual Energy
Storage with Connected Power Electronics (sponsored
by NSF CAREER) (2022-2027)
Work is related to modeling, control, and design of complex
multi-physical power electronics based systems, including
energy storage, electromechanics, thermal, etc.
*
Supertruck 3: Ultra-Efficient Long Haul Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Tractor (sponsored
by DOE EERE VTO) (2022-2026)
Work is related to high-power high-voltage SiC-based motor
drive design, including hardware and control.
*
Modeling the Integration of Marine Energy into Microgrids
(sponsored
by DOE EERE WPTO) (2021-2025)
Our group models dynamic power electronics interfaced power
systems as part of the wave/hydrokinetic based microgrids.
This
work involves data-driven modeling, design optimization,
control verification through hardware-in-the-loop.
*
A Unified Multiphysics Approach for Modeling, Control, and
Optimization of Wave Energy Converters (sponsored
by DOE EERE WPTO) (2021-2025)
Our group investigates an equivalent circuit modeling approach
of electro-mechanical-hydro relationship of the individual and
arrayed wave energy converters. This work involves modeling
and control including hardware validation.
*
Large-signal PV Inverter Enhanced Grid Model for Rural Area
Voltage Stability Analysis and Control (sponsored
by Portland General Electric) (2021-2023)
Our group investigates the effect of rural PV's effect on
distribution grid, using grid-forming approach and L-index
stability criteria.
*
Pulsed Power DC Microgrid for Remote Area Highway Fast
Charging Stations (sponsored
by Portland General Electric)
(2021-2023)
Our group models and designs the fast charging stations (for
heavy-duty trucks) using hybrid energy storage and advanced
power converters, with impact on grid asset especially in
rural areas.
*
Hybrid Hydropower-Storage Units for Greater Operational
Flexibility
(sponsored by DOE EERE WPTO) (2023-2026)
This project’s goal is to demonstrate and quantify the value
of a hybrid hydroelectric-storage generation unit, which
combines a hydropower unit that does not have storage
capability with supercapacitors.
Our group models and designs hybrid DER based microgrid solutions for naval facilities.
* Accelerating and Deploying Grid-edge Computing (sponsored by DOE GRIP) (2024-2028)
Co-development of computational power system and power electronics models and development of interfaces with high performance computing environments.