Browse Topic: Electric power grid

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SAE TOMORROW TODAY BRIEFS - Power Grid Solutions for EV Charging1349901/28/2025
How do we balance the demands of EV charging with the capabilities of the power grid? The answer lies in coordination between automakers, consumers and utilities. Enter ChargeScape, a software platform that harnesses data analytics and managed EV charging to reward drivers for their flexibility and reduce the total cost of EV ownership. The goal is sustainable, affordable energy from a reliable power grid. To learn more, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Joseph Vellone, CEO of ChargeScape, to discuss the complexities of the power grid and how flexible EV charging can reward consumers and boost EV ownership. For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can check out the latest news from CES 2025 including the Honda 0 Series, Toyota's Woven City, and Sony's Afeela 1. We'd love to hear from you. Share your comments, questions and ideas for future topics and guests to
Hineman, Marcie
Podcast
SIMULATION FOR VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE AND VEHICLE-TO-GRID RESOURCE SHARING ANALYSIS2024-01-344411/15/2024
ABSTRACT A simulation capable of modeling grid-tied electrical systems, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-vehicle(V2V) resource sharing was developed within the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Using the steady state admittance matrix approach, the unknown currents and voltages within the network are determined at each time step. This eliminates the need for states associated with the distributed system. Each vehicle has two dynamic states: (1) stored energy and (2) fuel consumed while the generators have only a single fuel consumed state. One of its potential uses is to assess the sensitivity of fuel consumption with respect to the control system parameters used to maintain a vehicle-centric bus voltage under dynamic loading conditions.
Jane, Robert S., Parker, Gordon G., Weaver, Wayne W., Goldsmith, Steven Y.
Technical Paper
Simulating V2G Concept for optimized EV fleet charging in India2024-26-010101/16/2024
The transport sector is bound to play a huge role in the imminent transition to green energy. India has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 at COP26 and is committed to have 30% EV sales by 2030. The Indian government has been facilitating fleet electrification through initiatives like FAME–II. India’s EV market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 90% between 2022 and 2030. With this projection combined with climate targets, comes the anticipated exponential rise in renewable energy contribution to the national grid accompanied by a huge transport related demand for electricity. NITI Aayog – India’s public policy think tank along with Ministry of Power is already looking into expansion of EV charging infrastructure in India as part of smart grid implementation. Deployment of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology as extension of smart charging initiative is imperative in smooth transition to renewable energy. The possibility of bi-directional energy flow between EV battery and
Sandhu, Rouble, Cao, Xinyuan, Faßbender, Max, Schade, Thomas, Emran, Ashraf, Andert, Jakob, Xia, Feihong, Sharma, Vijay
Technical Paper
Improving Battery Lifespan and Service Trip Reliability of EVs in Public Transport by Learning Energy Consumption2023-01-122506/26/2023
Electrification of public transport in cities puts lots of stress onto the vehicle's traction batteries and the power grid during charging. A self-learning operating strategy (SELEOS) improves the battery life and reduces stress on the power grid by limiting the charging power as much as feasible and avoiding extreme SoC. During regular service operation, SELEOS observes the vehicle state and energy flows inside of the vehicle and between vehicle and charging infrastructure. Based on these observations, SELEOS plans an optimal SoC trajectory for the trip and dispatches recommendations for charging and discharging the traction battery to the vehicle's ECU. Originating from hybrid buses, SELEOS is designed to work on battery-electric buses (BEB) and battery trolley buses (BTB) as well. In addition to reducing stress to battery and power grid, SELEOS ensures reliable service trips. It does so by checking if the current SoC matches the estimated energy consumption in the near future while
von Kleist, Hermann, Saroch, Lars, Beims, Martin
Technical Paper
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: What Role Do Electric Utilities Have in the EV Space?1336811/17/2022
As demand for EVs grows, so too does the role of electric utilities. From powering the grid to ensuring the reliability of EV charging stations, the electric utility industry plays a pivotal role in accelerating EV adoption. For more than a century, Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has delivered electricity to more than 600,000 customers in the Pittsburgh region. Currently, there are more than 6,000 EVs in DLC's service territory -- and they expect that number to grow to more than 23,000 by the end of 2025. With this projected growth, DLC is not only providing reliable power, but EV information analysis and incentives like a Community Charging Program and Electric Fleet Advisory Service Program. We sat down with Sarah Olexsak, Senior Manager, Transportation Electrification, to discuss the role of electric utilities and how DLC is supporting EV adoption in Western Pennsylvania.
Hineman, Marcie
Podcast
EV Battery Power Management for Supplying Smart Loads in Power Distribution Systems2022-01-019203/29/2022
Uninterrupted and economic power is very important for a smart power distribution system's operation. A strong transmission and distribution system is needed to supply uninterrupted power, which is challenging and costly for power system operators in the perspective of ever-increasing energy demand. While the number of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing in the society, by appropriate power management of their batteries, they have the potential to support the uninterruptable power goal. This research analyses different penetration level of electric vehicles in power distribution systems to provide stable energy for the smart devices and observes its impacts on operational costs and environmental emissions. The supply of EV power is determined based on smart device consumption by optimal energy management of EV batteries in such a way that both the utilities and the car owner get benefits. Utilities can save energy by reducing system loss, while EV owners can earn money by selling it
Alam, Md Shahin, Arefifar, Seyed Ali, Hamadi, Abdullah
Technical Paper
Analyzing the Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Losses and Voltage Profile in Power Distribution Systems 2022-01-090803/29/2022
As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) within society rapidly increase, the concept of maximizing its efficiency within the electric smart grid becomes crucial. This research presents the impacts of integrating EVs within a smart grid through a vehicle to grid (V2G) program. It also observes the circulation of electric charge within the system on a time schedule so that the electric grid does not become exhausted during peak hours. This paper will cover several different case studies and will analyze the best and worst scenarios for the power losses and voltage profiles in the power distribution system. Specifically, we seek to find the optimal location as well as the ideal number of EVs in the distribution system while minimizing its power losses and optimizing its voltage profile. Verification of the results will be primarily conducted using GUIs created on MATLAB. These simulations aim to develop a better understanding of the potential impacts of electric vehicles in smart grids
Majumdar, Maitreyee, Spencer, Delton, Arefifar, Seyed Ali
Technical Paper
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: DRAM: The Unsung Hero of the Smart Vehicle Revolution1316610/08/2021
Vehicle technology is evolving at a rapid pace, requiring more powerful processors and more DRAM capabilities. Memory and storage solutions are defining what our cars will be able to do in the near future - enabling the future of autonomous vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and life-saving safety technology. Robert Bielby, Micron Technology's Senior Director, Automotive System Architecture, Embedded Business Unit, discusses the culture at Micron and how their application-aware memory solutions will be able to make the impossible, possible.
Hineman, Marcie
Podcast
Arrangement and Control Method of Cooperative Vehicle Platoon2021-01-011304/06/2021
With the development of cellular communication technology and for the sake of reducing drag resistance, the multi-lane platoon technology will be more prosperous in the future. In this article, the cooperative vehicle platoon method on the public road is represented. The method’s architecture is mainly composed of the following parts: decision-making, path planning and control command generation. The decision-making uses the finite state machine to make decision and judgment on the cooperative lane change of vehicles, and starts to execute the lane change step when the lane change requirements are met. In terms of path planning, with the goal of ensuring comfort, the continuity of the vehicle state and no collision between vehicles, a fifth-order polynomial is used to fit every vehicle trajectory. In terms of control command generation module, a model predictive control algorithm is used to solve the multi-vehicle centralized optimization control problem. We use the two DOF vehicle
Chen, Guosheng, Wu, Jian, Li, Shuai, Zhang, Jinghua, Du, Zhiqiang, Wang, Guojun, Chen, Zhicheng
Technical Paper
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Enabling the Journey to Mobile Electrification with ChargePoint1293502/26/2021
Bill Loewenthal, Senior Vice President, Product at ChargePoint, joins us to share his insights on the unstoppable migration to electric vehicles by the masses and how ChargePoint is enabling this adoption with the right hardware and technology. From the benefits of the fuel-while-parked model over the drive-to-fuel model, to the design and infrastructure behind the charging network, Loewenthal shares how ChargePoint has been on the bleeding edge of this technology. Discover how this electrifying network will soon integrate with your life - at home, work and through the apps on your phone - and the efficiency of future charging stations.
Hineman, Marcie
Podcast
Q&A: Oil and Gas Wells for Energy StorageTBMG-3850402/01/2021
Professor Iraj Ershaghi and a team of researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) found a way to use idle oil and gas wells for energy storage — one of the major concerns for solar and wind energy generation.
Magazine Article
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Reinventing Transportation in a Positive Way1291010/08/2020
Pittsburgh has become a hotbed for mobility innovation and one of the leaders is undoubtedly Argo AI. This week, we are joined by our Steel City neighbor, Bryan Salesky, co-founder and CEO of Argo AI, to discuss Argo's approach to automated vehicles, the role of autonomy in improving mobility for all, and how the education system should develop smarter thinkers and future leaders. Throughout the conversation, Bryan discusses how safety plays an essential role in establishing autonomous vehicles as a trusted technology that people will understand, adopt and support. And as such, the defining legacy of eliminating cars crashes to improve society is touched upon. Bryan talks about how Argo has built relationships and partnerships with cities based on mutual trust and respect. He details Argo's approach to solving specific needs in cities; the company's efforts in Washington, DC, Austin, Texas, and Miami; the importance of a playbook to operationalize consistency in every city; and how
Hineman, Marcie
Podcast
Smart Textiles Powered by Soft Transmission LinesTBMG-3735608/01/2020
EPFL researchers have developed electronic fibers that, when embedded in textiles, can collect a wealth of information about our bodies by measuring subtle and complex fabric deformations. Their technology relies on transmission line theory and offers a host of applications, such as in healthcare and robotics.
Magazine Article
Wraparound SensorsTBMG-3747408/01/2020
A low-cost, printed, flexible sensor was developed that can wrap around power cables to precisely monitor electrical loads. Using an inkjet printer, researchers deposited wires on a flexible plastic substrate, then wove in a magnetic strip to channel the flux produced by an electric current, making the sensor suitable to install in tight spaces.
Magazine Article
Challenges in Integrating Cybersecurity into Existing Development Processes2020-01-014404/14/2020
For an established development process and a team accustomed to this process, adding cybersecurity features to the product initially means inconvenience and reduced productivity without perceivable benefits. Adapting development processes to take cybersecurity into account introduces challenges not present in engineering divisions so far. Strategies designed to deal with these challenges differ in the way in which added duties are assigned and cybersecurity topics are integrated into the already existing process steps. Cybersecurity requirements often clash with existing system requirements or established development methods, leading to low acceptance among developers, and introducing the need to have clear policies on how friction between cybersecurity and other fields is handled. A cybersecurity development approach is frequently perceived as introducing impediments, that bear the risk of cybersecurity measures receiving a lower priority to reduce inconvenience. Moreover, this leads
Lenhart, Patric, Arndt, Paul, von Wedel, Jana, Beul, Christian, Weldert, Jan
Technical Paper
Requirements for Road Weather ApplicationsJ2945/3_202003 (Historical)03/24/2020
Inclement weather can have a significant impact on surface transportation systems. It can result in hazardous conditions for travelers due to poor visibility, or wet or icy roadways. Weather applications have the potential to provide additional data to surface transportation infrastructure owners and operators, allowing them to better assess the impacts of the weather environment on or around the roadway and to better manage the surface transportation system. Such weather applications can: Collect road weather data from connected vehicles and mobile devices, increasing the number of data sources available. Provide road weather related traveler information to travelers via connected vehicles and devices, such as when and where a hazardous condition exists. Provide the ability to manage road weather response on specific roadways. This SAE Standard specifies interface requirements between vehicles and infrastructure for weather applications, including detailed systems engineering
Infrastructure Applications Technical Committee
Technical Standard
Service Specific Permissions and Security Guidelines for Connected Vehicle ApplicationsJ2945/5_202002 (Current)02/05/2020
SAE is developing a number of standards, including the SAE J2945/x and SAE J3161/x series, that specify a set of applications using message sets from the SAE J2735 data dictionary. (“Application” is used here to mean “a collection of activities including interactions between different entities in the service of a collection of related goals and associated with a given IEEE Provider Service Identifier (PSID)”). Authenticity and integrity of the communications for these applications are ensured using digital signatures and IEEE 1609.2 digital certificates, which also indicate the permissions of the senders using Provider Service Identifiers (PSIDs) and Service Specific Permissions (SSPs). The PSID is a globally unique identifier associated with an application specification that unambiguously describes how to build interoperable instances of that application. If the application features multiple activities such that different activities have different security impacts, correspond to
V2X Security Technical Committee
Technical Standard
Optimal Sizing and Energy Management of a Microgrid Using Single and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization under Autonomous and Grid Connected Mode2019-28-015810/11/2019
The conventional energy sources are getting depleted while at the same time the energy demand keeps growing. Hence, it is important to consider non-conventional energy sources to meet future energy demands. The renewable energy based microgrid system is one of the promising solutions to meet this increasing energy demand. The major parameters under consideration in a micro-grid system are cost-effectiveness, quality of service and energy management. This work concentrates on the energy management of the Photovoltaic/Wind based microgrid system connected to the fuel cell, microturbine and battery under Islanding (or) Autonomous mode and Grid-Connected Mode. The current model of PV, Wind and Battery systems are employed. The Wind, PV and Battery types are chosen from i-HOGA. The optimal combination of these sources with the aim of minimizing the operating cost, pollutant treatment cost and maximizing reliability using both single and multi-objective particle swarm optimization (PSO) has
Dayalan, Suchitra, Rathinam, Rajarajeswari, Valliappan, Subramaniyan
Technical Paper
Demand Side Load Management by Using Priority Based Load Shedding Algorithm with and without Renewable Energy Generation2019-28-007310/11/2019
Demand side load management (DSLM) emphasizes control of the power demanded, by reducing the peak load and control of energy utilization of the system. DSLM is introduced to improve the flexibility of the grid power usage and also to aid the utilization of Renewable Energy Generation (REG) which is intermittent. In this work, implementation of load shedding (LS) algorithm for the residential load is performed with the limit of power as constraint, considering REG and grid in three different modes of operation. Solar and Wind power are the REG considered in this work. Priority Based Load Shedding (PBLS) is performed to limit the power consumption of equipment during peak hours with the implementation of varying pricing signal. In order to implement PBLS, three residential user load data for 24 hours is considered. The users are categorized as low, medium and high priority user. The priority of the user is based on the load consumption for 24 hours. The proposed LS scheme is performed
Rathinam, Rajarajeswari, Dayalan, Suchitra
Technical Paper
Use Cases for Communication Between Plug-in Vehicles and the Utility GridJ2836/1_201907 (Current)07/15/2019
This SAE Information Report establishes Use Cases for communication between plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and the electric power grid, for energy transfer and other applications.
Hybrid - EV Committee
Information Report
The Navigator19AVEP07_0207/01/2019
As the world turns to C-V2X, Europe picks WiFi Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications is a relatively straightforward and inexpensive technology that has the potential to reduce crashes by improving driver situational awareness. Compared to the automated-driving technology that most of the industry is rushing to develop, V2X is cheap and can even be retrofitted to existing vehicles. Yet despite these and other benefits, V2X has not yet been rolled out globally amid a new technology-standards battle.
Abuelsamid, Sam
Magazine Article
Trust-Based Control and Scheduling for UGV Platoon under Cyber Attacks2019-01-107704/02/2019
Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) may encounter difficulties accommodating environmental uncertainties and system degradations during harsh conditions. However, human experience and onboard intelligence can may help mitigate such cases. Unfortunately, human operators have cognition limits when directly supervising multiple UGVs. Ideally, an automated decision aid can be designed that empowers the human operator to supervise the UGVs. In this paper, we consider a connected UGV platoon under cyber attacks that may disrupt safety and degrade performance. An observer-based resilient control strategy is designed to mitigate the effects of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) cyber attacks. In addition, each UGV generates both internal and external evaluations based on the platoons performance metrics. A cloud-based trust-based information management system collects these evaluations to detect abnormal UGV platoon behaviors. To deal with inaccurate information due to a V2C cyber attack, a RoboTrust
Li, Fangjian, Mikulski, Dariusz, Wagner, John R., Wang, Yue
Technical Paper
SAE STANDARDS NEWS19AUTP04_0704/01/2019
SAE's Global Ground Vehicle Standards (GVS) staff and committee members have a busy schedule lined up for this year's SAE World Congress Experience (WCX) in Detroit. The GVS team will meet and work on activities that include advanced technologies of automated driver-assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, V2X, cyber security, and human factors, in addition to dozens of “traditional” subject areas. The GVS staff is implementing new methods to expedite the standards development process for these increasingly complex engineering systems and rapid technology advancements, without violating fundamental rules of a consensus-based open process needed to ensure stakeholder participation and adoption. Visit sae.org for more details.
Shuttleworth, Jennifer
Magazine Article
Road Tested19AVEP03_1103/01/2019
Transportation-infrastructure expert Kirk Steudle reflects on the rapid progress toward the connected-AV future and the challenges ahead. In the auto industry, mechanical and electrical engineers work from the tire up. Civil engineers work from the tire down,” quips Kirk Steudle. “And although it's taken a while for both to understand each other's jargon, the connected-and-autonomous vehicle is forcing them all together-to solve problems for society's mobility.” Steudle, a registered professional engineer, has been at the vehicle-to-road nexus his entire career. Last October he retired as director of the Michigan Dept. of Transportation where, among many achievements, his leadership helped put the state and its core industry in the vanguard of connected-car and AV-related developments, testing, and infrastructure standards. During his final year at MDoT, he also served as interim CEO of the American Center for Mobility, the new 500-acre AV proving ground and test center near Ann Arbor.
Brooke, Lindsay
Magazine Article
High-Voltage Power Line Multi-Sensor SystemTBMG-3369402/01/2019
Government infrastructure facilities such as water treatment facilities, power plants, laboratories, and the like may be targets for terrorist attacks. Similarly, oil pipelines, power grids, warehouses, factories, laboratories, and the like in the commercial sector may be targeted by terrorists or persons engaging in industrial espionage and sabotage. When these facilities are remotely located, the limited or nonexistent power sources in the area may prevent or severely restrict the employment of cameras, sensors, and other intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) devices. Thus, there is a need to overcome these limitations while providing around-the-clock persistent support and similar capabilities.
Magazine Article
Engineering AVs to ‘play nice’ with humans18AUTP11_0411/01/2018
More than a decade after the DARPA Grand Challenge program demonstrated the technical viability of self-driving vehicles, the industry is now preparing its first commercial deployments of the technology at scale. While Waymo, GM Cruise, Aptiv and others begin to ramp-up automated ride-hailing services for paying passengers, unanswered questions remain. Many of them revolve around the “social” aspects of the technology. Engineering is about taking the principles learned from science and applying them to solving real-world problems. But if the resulting technology requires people to change their behavior for it to work reliably, the engineers are doing it wrong.
Abuelsamid, Sam
Magazine Article
Power Line Detection System for Unmanned Aircraft SystemsTBMG-3309810/01/2018
Electrical power lines pose a serious crash hazard to helicopters and other air-based vehicles, especially small aerial vehicles such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This is because power lines are so widespread, hard to see, and strung at roughly the same height above the ground at which these aircraft fly. In fact, according to one report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), power lines are the cause of roughly 5 percent of helicopter accidents. This statistic applies to both civilian and military cases. Another report found power-line collisions are responsible for 31 percent of accidents among agricultural aircraft. Fatalities and injuries occurred in many of these accidents.
Magazine Article
Idaho National LaboratoryTBMG-3310510/01/2018
In 1951, the first nuclear reactor in Idaho was built, starting a legacy at what is now Idaho National Laboratory (INL). INL is the site where 52 pioneering nuclear reactors were designed and constructed, including the first reactor to generate usable amounts of electricity. It was here that nuclear-generated electricity first powered an American community.
Magazine Article
Merging Antenna and Electronics Boosts Energy and Spectrum EfficiencyTBMG-3291009/01/2018
By integrating the design of antennas and electronics, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have boosted the energy and spectrum efficiency for a new class of millimeter-wave transmitters, allowing improved modulation and reduced generation of waste heat.
Magazine Article
Water-Based Battery Stores Solar and Wind EnergyTBMG-3247608/01/2018
Wind and solar energy generation creates challenges, since the Sun only shines by day, and sometimes the wind doesn't blow. Another variability is surges of demand on the grid. On a hot day when air conditioning is in use, utilities must have load-balancing strategies to meet peak demand. A water-based battery was developed that could provide a cheap way to store wind or solar energy generated when the Sun is shining and wind is blowing so it can be fed back into the electric grid and be redistributed when demand is high.
Magazine Article
Hybrid Controller for Multiple Energy Storage DevicesTBMG-2969807/01/2018
A new hybrid energy storage controller is designed for a centralized control system that operates multiple energy storage devices (ESDs) and distributed generators to provide energy and ancillary services that can be shared among electric utilities, independent system operators, and balancing authorities. This new controller design supports the increased integration of renewable energy onto the grid.
Magazine Article
Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Power ElectronicsTBMG-2904206/01/2018
Power electronics used for routing, control, and conversion of electrical power traditionally utilize silicon semiconductors. These systems tend to be bulky, require active cooling, and are inadequate for applications demanding portable power conversion requirements (e.g., distributed power generation, vehicles, and satellites).
Magazine Article
Grid Friendly™ Charger ControllerTBMG-2887105/01/2018
Electric vehicles are growing in popularity, and while they represent a cleaner alternative to fossil-fueled vehicles, their increased use may stress the grid if this growing load is left unmanaged. A need exists for a method of charging these vehicles that reduces costs for the consumer, while assuring a stable electric grid.
Magazine Article
2021-12-29.TEST Visual Sensor Fusion and Data Sharing across Connected Vehicles for Active Safety2018-01-002604/03/2018
The development of connected-vehicle technology, which includes vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-infrastructure communications, opens the door for unprecedented active safety and driver-enhanced systems. In addition to exchanging basic traffic messages among vehicles for safety applications, a significantly higher level of safety can be achieved when vehicles and designated infrastructure-locations share their sensor data. In this paper, we propose a new system where cameras installed on multiple vehicles and infrastructure-locations share and fuse their visual data and detected objects in real-time. The transmission of camera data and/or detected objects (e.g., pedestrians, vehicles, cyclists, etc.) can be accomplished by many communication methods. In particular, such communications can be accomplished using the emerging Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology. In our proposed system the vehicle receiving the visual data from an adjacent vehicle fuses the received visual
Al-Qassab, Hothaifa, Pang, Su, Al-Qizwini, Mohammed, Radha, Hayder
Technical Paper
Reliability and Cost Trade-Off Analysis of a Microgrid2018-01-061904/03/2018
Optimizing the trade-off between reliability and cost of operating a microgrid, including vehicles as both loads and sources, can be a challenge. Optimal energy management is crucial to develop strategies to improve the efficiency and reliability of microgrids, as well as new communication networks to support optimal and reliable operation. Prior approaches modeled the grid using MATLAB, but did not include the detailed physics of loads and sources, and therefore missed the transient effects that are present in real-time operation of a microgrid. This article discusses the implementation of a physics-based detailed microgrid model including a diesel generator, wind turbine, photovoltaic array, and utility. All elements are modeled as sources in Simulink. Various loads are also implemented including an asynchronous motor. We show how a central control algorithm optimizes the microgrid by trying to maximize reliability while reducing operational cost. The performance of the proposed
Skowronska, Annette G., Mourelatos, Zissimos, Gorsich, David
Journal Article
5Ws of the Grid Friendly Charger ControllerTBMG-2841701/01/2018
The Grid Friendly™ Charger Controller offers reduced electricity costs for consumers of electric vehicles by determining the optimal charging strategy. It also smooths supply and demand stresses on the electric grid to prevent power outages, helping to operate the grid safely under high intermittent renewable energy contributions.
Magazine Article
Electromagnetic Metamaterial with Wide Angular and Broadband Spectral AbsorptionTBMG-2816201/01/2018
Propagation in a waveguide requires proper termination of signals to prevent reflections from interfering with the desired circuit functionality. Conventional termination designs for a two-dimensional planar waveguide topology provide maximum signal suppression in the direction perpendicular (so-called normal incidence in optics) to the structure, and can exhibit poor performance when the signal is incident at a modest angle of incident. The purpose of the innovation is a calculable metamaterial design for an absorber or termination that has broadband frequency response and low signal reflection over large incident angles.
Magazine Article
EDITORIAL: EVs lack a robust charging grid17AUTP10_0410/01/2017
The flames lit up the sky when the electric-power substation in my town blew up one night last August. TV news had it covered: A transformer at the DTE Energy site had exploded, immediately knocking out power for over 4,000 homes and businesses. More than 9,000 residents dug out flashlights, lit candles and sweated the summer heat. The utility acted quickly, bringing in a convoy of five flatbed trailers-DTE Energy's mobile emergency units-each carrying a large diesel-electric generator rig. Humming away behind a makeshift fence and “DANGER: High Voltage” signs, the generator trailers formed the nucleus of a temporary grid while an army of helmeted technicians worked to get the juice flowing. Two days after the fire, the town's lights were back on and my beer was cold again. But as I write this seven weeks later, the emergency generators are still powering the town. And the utility still doesn't know for certain the cause of the explosion.
Brooke, Lindsay
Magazine Article
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)TBMG-2718407/01/2017
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was founded in 1901, and is now part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Based in Gaithersburg, MD, it was established to remove a major challenge to U.S. industrial competitiveness at the time — a second-rate measurement infrastructure that lagged behind the capabilities of the United Kingdom, Germany, and other economic rivals.
Magazine Article
Authenticated Sensor Interface DeviceTBMG-2683905/01/2017
Researchers at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) have developed a device to read data, encrypt the information, and distribute it electronically to multiple locations, providing a one-way data pathway that segregates each destination to prevent cross-party data manipulation. Previous “data diode” devices employ computer-based communication channels such as fiber-connected data cards between the sender and receiver. No integrated data authentication is performed, and data is sensitive to external attack and manipulation.
Magazine Article
Reliability and Resiliency Definitions for Smart Microgrids Based on Utility Theory2017-01-020503/28/2017
Reliability and resiliency (R&R) definitions differ depending on the system under consideration. Generally, each engineering sector defines relevant R&R metrics pertinent to their system. While this can impede cross-disciplinary engineering projects as well as research, it is a necessary strategy to capture all the relevant system characteristics. This paper highlights the difficulties associated with defining performance of such systems while using smart microgrids as an example. Further, it develops metrics and definitions that are useful in assessing their performance, based on utility theory. A microgrid must not only anticipate load conditions but also tolerate partial failures and remain optimally operating. Many of these failures happen infrequently but unexpectedly and therefore are hard to plan for. We discuss real life failure scenarios and show how the proposed definitions and metrics are beneficial.
Skowronska, Annette, Pandey, Vijitashwa, Weinert, Kevin, Gorsich, David, Mourelatos, Zissimos
Technical Paper
Optimal Power Management of Vehicle Sourced Military Outposts2017-01-027103/28/2017
This paper considers optimal power management during the establishment of an expeditionary outpost using battery and vehicle assets for electrical generation. The first step in creating a new outpost is implementing the physical protection and barrier system. Afterwards, facilities that provide communications, fires, meals, and moral boosts are implemented that steadily increase the electrical load while dynamic events, such as patrols, can cause abrupt changes in the electrical load profile. Being able to create a fully functioning outpost within 72 hours is a typical objective where the electrical power generation starts with batteries, transitions to gasoline generators and is eventually replaced by diesel generators as the outpost matures. Vehicles with power export capability are an attractive supplement to this electrical power evolution since they are usually on site, would reduce the amount of material for outpost creation, and provide a modular approach to outpost build-up
Rizzo, Denise, Jane, Robert, Parker, Gordon G., Weaver, Wayne, Matthews, Ronald, Cook, Michael
Journal Article
Model-Based Analysis of V2G Impact on Battery Degradation2017-01-169903/28/2017
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) service has a potential to improve the reliability and stability of the electrical grid due to the ability of providing bi-directional power flow from/to the grid. However, frequent charging/discharging may impact the battery lifetime. This paper presents the analysis of battery degradation in three scenarios. In the first scenario, different battery capacities are considered. In the second scenario, the battery degradation with various depth of discharge (DOD) are studied. In the third scenario, the capacity loss due to different charging regime are compared. The charging/discharging of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are simulated in a single-phase microgrid system integrated with a photovoltaics (PV) farm, an energy storage system (ESS), and ten electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE). The battery degradation model is an energy throughput model, which is developed based on the Arrhenius equation and a power law relationship between time and capacity fading
Wang, Luting, Chen, Bo
Technical Paper
Compact Planar Microwave Blocking FiltersTBMG-2635302/01/2017
Innovators at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have designed, fabricated, and characterized absorptive thermal blocking filters for cryogenic microwave applications. The device allows direct integration of the high-frequency signal and microwave readout, and mitigates spurious resonances in the circuit response. This leads to improved electrical performance and a reduction in the required circuit area. The transmission line filter's input characteristic impedance is designed to match 50 ohms and its response has been validated from 0 to 50 GHz. The observed return loss in the 0 to 20 GHz design band is greater than 20 dB and shows graceful degradation with frequency. The filter's response is calculable, repeatable under cryogenic cycling, and is capable of providing an intrinsically broadband matched impedance termination.
Magazine Article
RFID CavityTBMG-2615001/01/2017
This technology provides a method for interrogating collections of items with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. It increases the read accuracy, meaning that more of the item tags will be successfully read. It also permits smaller tag antennas than would otherwise be necessary.
Magazine Article
Products of Tomorrow: November 2016TBMG-2590111/01/2016
The technologies NASA develops don’t just blast off into space. They also improve our lives here on Earth. Life-saving search-and-rescue tools, implantable medical devices, advances in commercial aircraft safety, increased accuracy in weather forecasting, and the miniature cameras in our cellphones are just some of the examples of NASA-developed technology used in products today.
Magazine Article
Selenium Interlayer for High-Efficiency Multi-Junction Solar CellTBMG-2551810/01/2016
Innovators at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have developed a low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell that uses a thin layer of selenium as the bonding material between wafers. Selenium is a semiconductor, and it is also transparent to light at photon energies below the band gap. The innovation allows a multi-junction solar cell to be developed without the constraint of lattice matching, and uses a low-cost, robust silicon wafer as the supporting bottom substrate and bottom cell. This enables a cell that is simultaneously lower in cost, more rugged, and more efficient than existing space solar cell designs. This technology has the potential to be used in next-generation solar cells in space, and it can be commercialized for terrestrial applications such as power plants and smart grid systems.
Magazine Article
Using a Power Grid as an Extremely Large Antenna for Geophysical ImagingTBMG-2536609/01/2016
Geomagnetic storms drive geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in high-voltage power transmission systems. GICs thus carry information about the near-space environment conditions. The U.S. high-voltage power transmission system was used as an extremely large antenna to extract unprecedented spatiotemporal space physical and geological information from distributed GIC observations.
Magazine Article
Fast, Stretchy Circuits Could Yield New Wearable ElectronicsTBMG-2478306/14/2016
The consumer marketplace is flooded with a lively assortment of smart wearable electronics that do everything from monitor vital signs, fitness or sun exposure to play music, charge other electronics or even purify the air around you — all wirelessly. Now, a team of University of Wisconsin—Madison engineers led by Zhenqiang “Jack” Ma, the Lynn H. Matthias Professor in Engineering and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in electrical and computer engineering, has created the world’s fastest stretchable, wearable integrated circuits, an advance that could drive the Internet of Things and a much more connected, high-speed wireless world.
Magazine Article
Spotlight on Design Insight: EV Charging and the Vehicle-to-Grid PotentialSOD-010/1S04/12/2016
In �EV Charging and the Vehicle-to-Grid Potential� (10:29), engineers from NextEnergy show how users can take advantage of electric vehicles not only as green transportation, but also as power suppliers. The case study of a bi-directional vehicle-to-home charging project is presented in detail. Qualcomm�s Halo technology for wireless EV charging is also demonstrated in this episode. This episode highlights: NextHome, an experiment that makes bi-directional charging a reality How to integrate energy systems to manage energy flows from the car, the house and the grid How to manage the way we can purchase energy for different purposes when prices are the most affordable Also Available in DVD Format To subscribe to a full-season of Spotlight on Design, please contact SAE Corporate Sales: CustomerSales@sae.org or 1-888-875-3976.
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