Renewable Energy & Advanced Power Electronics Research Lab
News Archive
Ms. Sawsan Shukri presents a research paper at IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition (ECCE ’23).
PhD student Sawsan Shukri presented the paper co-written with Dr. Morcos Metry, Dr. Nagi Guler, and Dr. Wesam Rohouma titled “Performance Comparison of dSPACE and DSP MPC Implementation in PV Power Optimizer” at the IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition poster session in Nashville, TN on October 31st.
This paper aims to bridge the gap between expensive rapid prototyping platforms (RPP) and low-cost MCUs by exploring the feasibility of rapid prototyping (RP) on the low-cost F28379D launchpad. This paper is aimed toward the practitioner or researcher who desires to reduce to practice the model predictive control (MPC) methods developed on a RPP to a lower-cost embedded controller. The suitability of a low-cost Texas Instrument (TI) launchpad to perform the same rapid-prototyping functions needed for MPC regulator development in a full-featured, high-end RPP is discussed. Experimental results using the dSPACE 1006 and the F28379D Launchpad showing steady-state performance and dynamic response are illustrated and compared.
Dr. Morcos Metry and Ms. Nabila ElBeheiry publish a research paper at IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition (ECCE ’23).
Assistant research scientist Dr. Morcos Metry presented his paper co-authored with M.S. student Ms. Nabila ElBeheiry etitled “Event-triggered Online MPC Model Calibration for Photovoltaic Power Optimizers” at the IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition poster session in Nashville, TN on October 31st.
In power electronics, parameters of the converter model equations are subject to mismatch including but not limited to capacitor values, equivalent series resistances, and load values. Solar photovoltaic (PV) dc optimizers and microinverters placed on the back sheet of the solar panel are exposed to excessive heat compared to an inverter in a less austere environment. Thus, exacerbating the effects of parameter mismatch. This paper addresses the parameter mismatch effects in model predictive controllers (MPC) using a parameter calibration technique to identify system parameters, augmented within the MPC framework; hence, mitigating parameter mismatch and improving tracking efficacy. The significance of this method is utilizing an error signal within the MPC control loop as an event-based trigger for the calibration process without the need for any sophisticated detection methods.
Thesis Defense: Ms. Fatima Al-Janahi
REAPER Lab congratulates Ms.Fatima Al-Janahi for successfully defending her MS thesis, “Characterizing Photovoltaic System Arc-Faults.” Ms. Al-Janahi’s research studied the electrical characteristics of arcs in photovoltaic dc systems. She developed a computer-controlled mechatronics testbed that she used to precisely generate a large collection of electric arcs in which she investigated the effect of electrode material and geometry, pull-apart separation distance and velocity, and electrical voltage and current on the arc formed between the electrodes. Her contributions include the design details of the hardware and software as well as analysis of the resulting data. She plans to publish the raw data and analyzed data so that other researchers and arc fault detection designers can benefit from her curated dataset.
Ms. Al-Janahi received her B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in Qatar in May 2020. She received her M.S. in Electrical Engineering in the REAPER lab at Texas A&M University with a focus area on characterization of electrical arc faults in photovoltaic systems. She is currently a Teaching Assistant with the Department of Electrical Engineering at Qatar University.
Research team files for second US Patent on innovative shape memory alloy actuated switch (SMAAS) technology.
REAPERlab researchers Dr. Robert Balog (Professor and lab Director) and Mr. Moustafa Raslan (former MS Student of Interdisciplinary Engineering with the Texas A&M University) along with Dr. Ibrahim Karaman (Professor and Department Head with the Texas A&M University Department of Materials Science and Engineering) have filed for a second US Patent in the technical area of shape memory alloy actuated switch.
The patent assignee is Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development. This patent was made possible by NPRP grant # 7-299-2-124 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Research team awarded US Patent for innovative shape memory allow actuated switch (SMAAS).
The REAPERlab is pleased to announced that Dr. Robert Balog (Professor and lab Director) along with Dr. Ibrahim Karaman (Professor and Department Head with the Texas A&M University Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Mr. Moustafa Raslan (former MS Student of Interdisciplinary Engineering with the Texas A&M University) have been awarded US Patent 11,515,101 entitled “Shape memory alloy actuated switch.”
A shape-memory alloy actuated switch (SMAAS) enables the bi-stable switching between two or more electrical circuits. The disclosed SMAAS includes a substrate, one or more electrical contacts attached to the substrate for connecting to one or more electrical circuits, and one or more electrically conductive elements for selectively connecting the one or more electrical contacts. The disclosed SMAAS also includes one or more shape-memory alloy actuators attached to the substrate. The shape-memory alloy actuators are configured to move the electrically conductive element(s) and are self-heated by passing a brief current pulse through the shape-memory alloy material. The SMAAS invention discloses a retention mechanism(s) to prevent movement of the electrically conductive element(s) after actuation. Thus the SMAAS is efficient as is only requires energy to changing switch state and does not require holding current to maintain a particular switch configuration.
For Prof. Balog, this is his twenty-first US patent that he has been awarded. Most of his patents have been assigned or licensed to the industry and have already been or are currently being commercialized.
The patent assignee is Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development. This patent was made possible by NPRP grant # 7-299-2-124 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Dr. Morcos Metry Promoted to Assistant Research Scientist
The REAPER lab congratulates Dr. Metry on his promotion to Assistant Research Scientist. Dr. Morcos Metry received the B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar, in 2014, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, in 2020. Since 2020, he has been a postdoctoral researcher with the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M university at Qatar. In 2022, he was a visiting researcher with the department of energy technology, Aalborg university, Aalborg, Denmark. His current research interests include power converters for solar energy, optimal control methods for power electronics, and highly reliable power electronics and power systems for renewable energy applications.
Dr. Robert Balog and M.S. student Ms. Nabila Elbeheiry publish paper on smart agriculture in IEEE Sensors Journal
Dr. Robert S. Balog and Ms. Nabila ElBeheiry have published a paper entitled “Technologies driving the shift to smart farming: A review” in the IEEE Sensors Journal.
The agriculture industry is facing numerous challenges including climate changes and encroachment of the urban environment; there is increasing interest in developing new practices to ensure a sustainable agriculture and food supply. Smart Farming (SF) is an advanced manufacturing technique that utilizes advanced information and communication technologies to improve the quantity and quality of agricultural activity. The paper curated and explored the state of the art in smart agriculture and can be used by researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to identify technology gap and opportunities for innovation.
Keywords for the paper include: Actuators, Automation, Internet of Things (IoT), Irrigation Systems, Data Analysis, Deep Learning, Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), Machine Learning, Microcontrollers, Remote Monitoring, Robotics, Smart Farming, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN).
These publications were made possible by grant # AICC02-0505-190022 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Ms. Fatima Al-Janahi and Ms. Sawsan Shukri selected as finalists and present an invited research poster at the 14th Annual QNRF UREP Competition
Masters of Science student Ms. Fatima Al-Janahi, and Ph.D. student Ms. Sawsan Shukri were selected as final contestants in the14th Annual Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) Competition. They presented their invited research poster entitled “Characterizing DC Arcs for Photovoltaic Arc Fault Detection” on October 18, 2022.
Their project developed a computer-controlled mechatronics arc generation test bed using the pull-apart method described in UL1699B. The test bed enabled to team to study the electrical characteristics of direct-current arcs using various parameter combinations including electrode material and geometry, electrical current and voltage, and the electrode separation gap profile. The analysis of the results can be help researchers to identify key distinguishing features of the arc that can be used to design a reliable arc detector. The methods developed in this project have been adopted and are in use by industry.
This project was made possible by QNRF grant # UREP24-023-2-010 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Ph.D. Final Examination: Dr. Aaqib Peerzada
The REAPER lab congratulates Dr. Aaqib Peerzada for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation, related to modelling and statistical methods for distributed energy resource into the electrical power grid. Dr. Peerzada was an affiliate of the REAPERlab and was in-residence at both the TAMU College Station and TAMU Qatar locations. His relevant research focused on power quality at the grid edge and the impact of a D-STATCOM on the operation of the power distribution systems. His Ph.D. adviser and committee chair is Dr. Miroslav Begovic and Dr. Balog served as his co-adviser.
Dr. Peerzada received the B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Srinagar India, in 2011 and the M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University at College Station, TX USA in 2018.
The REAPER lab congratulates undergraduate students Ms. Maria Khan and Ms. Swati Singh on the publication of their Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) thesis.
The REAPERlab congratulates undergraduate students Ms. Maria Khan and Ms. Swati Singh on the publication of their Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) undergraduate honors research thesis entitled “I-V Curve Tracer Communication Protocol.”
Their research pertains to experimentally measuring the current vs. voltage characteristic curve of photovoltaic cells, modules, or even arrays. They developed a communication protocol for an i-v curve tracer and addressed the challenge of a scalable, low latency communication between the Pi-Arduino-Relay interface by significantly reducing the packet size of the transmitted data and eliminating the need for bloated and slow IoT platforms.
Their thesis can be found at the following URL: https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/196546
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