Design and integration of a dynamic IPT system for automotive applications

Inductive power transmission (IPT) for electric vehicles (EVs) is a promising emergent technology that seems able to improve the electric mobility acceptance. In the last two decades many researchers have proved its feasibility and the possibility to use it to replace the common conductive systems for the charge of the on-board battery. Many efforts are currently aimed to extend the IPT technology towards its use for the charge during the vehicle motion. This application, commonly indicated as dynamic IPT, is aimed to overcome the limit represented by the long stops needed for the recharge introducing also the possibility of reducing the battery capacity installed on vehicle. An IPT system is essentially based on the resonance of two magnetically coupled inductors, the transmitter, placed on or under the ground, and the receiver, placed under the vehicle floor. The typical operating frequency range for the EVs application goes from 20 kHz to approximately 100 kHz. The coupling between the two inductors takes place through a large air-gap, usually about 10-30 cm. This thesis presents the results of the research activities aimed to the creation of a prototype for the dynamic IPT oriented to the private transport. Starting from an analysis of the state of the art and the current research projects on this domain, this work presents the development of a circuit model able to describe the electromagnetic phenomena at the base of the power transfer and the interface with the power electronics. This model provides the information at the base of the design and the implementation of a dedicated low cost-high effciency H-bridge converter for the supply of the transmitter side. A general architecture of the power electronics that manages the receiver side is proposed together with the additional protection circuits. A methodology for the integrated design of the magnetic structure is illustrated covering the aspects of the matching with the power electronics, the integration on an existing vehicle and the installation on the road infrastructure. A series of activities aimed to the implementation of a dedicated test site are presented and discussed. In particular, the activities related to the creation of the electrical infrastructure and the issues and methods for the embedding of the transmitters in the road pavement are presented. The final goal is the creation of a dedicated IPT charging line one hundred meters long. Finally, a methodology for the assessment of the human exposure is presented and applied to the developed solution

EcoBlock: Grid Impacts, Scaling, and Resilience

Widespread deployment of EcoBlocks has the potential to transform today's electricity system into one that is more resilient, flexible, efficient and sustainable. In this vision, the system will consist of self- su cient, renewable-powered, block-scale entities that can deliberately adjust their net power exchange and can optimize performance, maintain stability, support each other, or disconnect entirely from the grid as needed. This report is intended as an independent analysis of the potential relationships, both constructive and adverse, between EcoBlocks and the grid

Distributed Control of Electric Vehicle Charging: Privacy, Performance, and Processing Tradeoffs

As global climate change concerns, technological advancements, and economic shifts increase the adoption of electric vehicles, it is vital to study how best to integrate these into our existing energy systems. Electric vehicles (EVs) are on track to quickly become a large factor in the energy grid. If left uncoordinated, the charging of EVs will become a burden on the grid by increasing peak demand and overloading transformers. However, with proper charging control strategies, the problems can be mitigated without the need for expensive capital investments. Distributed control methods are a powerful tool to coordinate the charging, but it will be important to assess the trade-offs between performance, information privacy, and computational speed between different control strategies. This work presents a comprehensive comparison between four distributed control algorithms simulating two case studies constrained by dynamic transformer temperature and current limits. The transformer temperature dynamics are inherently nonlinear and this implementation is contrasted with a piece-wise linear convex relaxation. The more commonly distributed control methods of Dual Decomposition and Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) are compared against a relatively new algorithm, Augmented Lagrangian based Alternating Direction Inexact Newton (ALADIN), as well as against a low-information packetized energy management control scheme (PEM). These algorithms are implemented with a receding horizon in two distinct case studies: a local neighborhood scenario with EVs at each network node and a hub scenario where each node represents a collection of EVs. Finally, these simulation results are compared and analyzed to assess the methods’ performance, privacy, and processing metrics for each case study as no algorithm is found to be optimal for all applications

Energy Management Systems for Optimal Operation of Electrical Micro/Nanogrids

Energy management systems (EMSs) are nowadays considered one of the most relevant technical solutions for enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and economy of smart micro/nanogrids, both in terrestrial and vehicular applications. For this reason, the recent technical literature includes numerous technical contributions on EMSs for residential/commercial/vehicular micro/nanogrids that encompass renewable generators and battery storage systems (BSS) The volume “Energy Management Systems for Optimal Operation of Electrical Micro/Nanogrids”, was released as a Special Issue of the journal Energies, published by MDPI, with the aim of expanding the knowledge on EMSs for the optimal operation of electrical micro/nanogrids by presenting topical and high-quality research papers that address open issues in the identified technical field. The volume is a collection of seven research papers authored by research teams from several countries, where different hot topics are accurately explored. The reader will have the possibility to benefit from original scientific results concerning, in particular, the following key topics: distribution systems; smart home/building; battery energy storage; demand uncertainty; energy forecasting; model predictive control; real-time control, microgrid planning; and electrical vehicles

Modeling and Analysis of Power Processing Systems

The feasibility of formulating a methodology for the modeling and analysis of aerospace electrical power processing systems is investigated. It is shown that a digital computer may be used in an interactive mode for the design, modeling, analysis, and comparison of power processing systems

Advanced Modeling and Research in Hybrid Microgrid Control and Optimization

This book presents the latest solutions in fuel cell (FC) and renewable energy implementation in mobile and stationary applications. The implementation of advanced energy management and optimization strategies are detailed for fuel cell and renewable microgrids, and for the multi-FC stack architecture of FC/electric vehicles to enhance the reliability of these systems and to reduce the costs related to energy production and maintenance. Cyber-security methods based on blockchain technology to increase the resilience of FC renewable hybrid microgrids are also presented. Therefore, this book is for all readers interested in these challenging directions of research

NASA Tech Briefs Index, 1977, volume 2, numbers 1-4

Announcements of new technology derived from the research and development activities of NASA are presented. Abstracts, and indexes for subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief number are presented for 1977