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.
* LOCOMOTIVES - Lowering CO2: Models to Optimize Train Infrastructure, Vehicles, and Energy Storage: Multi-Decadal Decarbonization Pathways for U.S. Freight Rail (sponsored by DOE ARPA-E LOCOMOTIVES) (2021-2022)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).
a)
b) 
c) 
d)
e) 