Previous Research Projects
Prof. Cao and his group have worked on multiple power electronics and power systems related projects since 2009 for both academia and industry. Please find them below.
*
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.
Our group models and designs hybrid DER based microgrid solutions for naval facilities.
*
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.
Our group models different energy storage types, grid connections, renewables, charging facilities, as well as propulsion drives for futuristic e-trains and associated infrastructures. This work involves multi-physics modeling and design optimization.
* A Mission Profile Based Reliability Modeling Framework for Fault-tolerant Electric Propulsion (sponsored by Amazon Prime Air) (2019-2021)
*
Machine
Learning Enabled Design Automation and Multi-Objective
Optimization for Electric Transportation Power Systems
(sponsored by OSU Foundation) (2019-2021)
*
State-of-the-art power electronics educational toolbox
with Si and SiC devices (sponsored by OSU Learning
Innovation Award) (2019-2021)
*
High-frequency Low-ripple Variable-phase Motor Drives:
Exploring Improvement in PMSM Drive Performance and
Reliability Enabled by Futuristic Power Electronics
(sponsored by Grainger Foundation) (2020-2021)
*
Control Architectures of Solar-Powered HVAC Systems: A DC-DC
Converter’s Perspective (sponsored
by OSU Foundation) (2020-2021)
*
Energy Storage Analysis for Wave Energy
Converters (sponsored
by DOE
EERE WPTO TEAMER)
(2021)
Our
group models and analyzes different
architectures of supercapacitors and DC-DC
converters for commercial wave energy
converters.
*
Offshore Research: CSEM for Geohazard Identification –
Pulsed Power with Supercapacitor (sponsored
by DOE
NETL) (2021-2022)
Our group models and designs a supercapacitor+power
electronics (AC/DC and DC/DC) enabled pulsed power solution
for geophysics equipment.
* An Interleaved Open and Short-Circuit Ride-Through Scheme for a Sensorless Fault-Tolerant PMSM Drive (sponsored by Amazon Prime Air) (2019-2020)
*
Advanced propulsion systems (converters, motor drives,
and system modeling) for heavy-duty eVTOL urban aerial
vehicles (UAVs) (sponsored by Amazon Prime Air)
(2019-2020)
* Fixed Zone Perturb and Observe MPPT Technique for Standalone Distributed PV System (sponsored by OSU foundation and IIT-Madras) (2019-2021)
* High-Conversion High-Voltage DC-DC Converters for Electrified Aviation Power Distribution System (sponsored by OSU Foundation) (2019-2020)
* DCM and CCM Operation of Buck-Boost Full-Bridge DC-DC Converter (sponsored by OSU foundation and IIT-Madras) (2019-2021)
*
Practical Compensation Strategy for Accurate Torque
Control in Mass-Produced High-speed Traction IPM
E-Drives
*
Big data in PV: submillisecond fast-dynamic solar
database: energy implication and power converter control
(sponsored by DOE ARPA-E) (2017-2019)
* Multi-physical multi-timescale modeling of aviation power systems (MEA/UAV) (sponsored by Rolls-Royce) (2015-2017)
*
Mitigating power systems variability in more electric
aircraft utilizing power electronics implemented dynamic
thermal storage as effective inertia (sponsored by
Rolls-Royce, NSF ERC POETS) (2016-2017)
*
Energy efficient buildings utilizing power electronics, HVAC
drives, and solar-electrical-thermal energy interaction and
storage, creating useful thermal inertia (sponsored by NSF
ERC POETS, Grainger CEME) (2014-2016)
*
Complete electrical, thermal, hydraulic power systems
modeling and simulation toolsets for Boeing 737 and Boeing
787 more electric aircraft (sponsored by Rolls-Royce)
(2015-2017)
*
Electrical battery model for use in dynamic electric vehicle
simulations (sponsored by Grainger CEME) (2013-2016)
*
Modular switched capacitor DC-DC converters for EV
drivetrain applications (sponsored by Grainger CEME)
(2014-2015)
*
Wireless and catenary power transfer systems for EV range
extension on rural highways (sponsored
by Grainger CEME) (2014-2015)
*
Design and modeling of hybrid power systems and motor drives
for use in mobile/transportation refrigeration applications
(sponsored by Ingersoll Rand/Thermo King) (2011-2013)
* BugEV: single-passenger urban-commuting electric vehicle and hybrid fuel-cell/electric vehicle (sponsored by EPA, Univ. of Tenn.) (2010-2011)
*
11-level cascaded H-bridge grid-tied inverter interface with
solar panels (sponsored by NSF, Univ. of Tenn. Oak Ridge NL)
(2008-2011)
* Industry employment (showing only public info):
a) Amazon Prime Air propulsion drive's modeling and control (2017-2018);
b) Apple Special Project - not yet disclosed (2015);
c) Halliburton down-hole drilling SiC power inverter for oil and gas (2014);
d) Flanders medium-voltage electric drive for mining/metal machinery (2012);
e) Memphis Utility MLGW residential power line study and conversion (2009).
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b) 
c) 
d)
e) 