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Dr. Morcos Metry presents a research paper at IEEE 4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE2024)
Assistant research scientist Dr. Morcos Metry presented his paper titled “Online Weight Factor Tuning for MPC Regulated Power Quality Compensators” at the IEEE 4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE2024) oral presentation session in Doha, Qatar on January 8, 2024.
This paper improves the capacitor-less power quality compensator’s (CPQC) ability to provide long service life by reducing switching losses. While finite control set model predictive control (MPC) achieves high fidelity tracking for multi-objective cost functions, it results in high switching frequency, which increases losses and device stresses and reduces the overall converter reliability. This paper develops an auto-tuning approach for the MPC weighting factors that minimizes the switching frequency within IEEE harmonics standards, hence reducing switching stresses. This paper includes detailed parametric studies on the impact of different loading conditions and weight factor combinations on performance. The significance of this paper is the use of the load characterization of the system bus, to auto-tune the MPC weighting factors during operation.
This publication was made possible by NPRP grant # 13S-0213-200357 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 presents a research paper at IEEE 4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE2024)
Masters student Fatima AL-Janahi presented her paper co-authored with PhD student Ms. Sawsan Shukri and undergraduate students Ms. L. Al-Huneidi, and Mr. A. Al-Shammary entitled “An Automated Testbed for PV Arcs Analysis” at the IEEE 4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE2024) poster session in Doha, Qatar on January 8th, 2024. The project was directed by Mr. K. Abdulmawjood, Dr. J. J. Boutros, and Dr. R. S. Balog.
Arc faults are one of the leading causes of photovoltaic (PV) system failures and can ultimately result in electrical fires. Ensuring reliable arc fault detection is essential for maintaining the safe operation of PV systems. Electrical PV arcs are chaotic and challenging to characterize. Developing an effective arc fault detector is made possible by accurately characterizing arc faults. Therefore, a scientifically repeatable method is required to generate PV arcs within a controlled laboratory setting. A mechatronics arc generator is developed based on the pull-apart method described in the UL1699B standard. This paper describes improvements to a previous design that overcomes limitations identified in the prior design. A MATLAB-based data library filter application is designed to simplify and optimize the handling and filtering of the extensive arc data repository, ensuring its accessibility and usability for researchers and professionals.
This publication was made possible by grant # AICC02-0505-190022 and grant # UREP24-023-2-010 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the authors’ responsibility.
Dr. Morcos Metry and Dr. Wesam Rohouma publish a research paper at IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition (ECCE ’23).
Assistant research scientist Dr. Morcos Metry presented his paper, co-written with Dr. Wesam Rohouma, titled “Load Characterization Tuning Strategy to Reduce Switching Losses in Power Quality Compensators” at the IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition oral presentation session in Nashville, TN on November 2.
This paper improves the capacitorless power quality compensators (CPQC) by achieving longer converter service life through reducing switching losses. While finite control set model predictive control (MPC) achieves high fidelity tracking for multi-objective cost functions, it results in high switching frequency, which increases losses and device stresses, and reduces the overall converter reliability. This paper develops an auto-tuning approach for the MPC weighting factors that minimizes the switching frequency within IEEE harmonics standards, hence reduces switching stresses. The significance of the developed approach is its use of the load characterization of the system bus, to auto-tune the MPC weighting factors during operation.
Dr. Wesam Rohouma presents a research paper at IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition (ECCE ’23).
Dr. Wesam Rohouma delivered his post-journal presentation, co-authored with Dr. Morcos Metry, Dr. Aaqib Peerzada, and Dr. Miroslav Begovic, titled “Analysis of the Capacitor-Less D-STATCOM for Voltage Profile Improvement in Distribution Network with High PV Penetration” at the IEEE Energy Conversion and Congress Exhibition poster session in Nashville, TN on October 31st.
This paper examines an alternative distribution static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) based on a matrix converter (MC) for the low voltage distribution networks with high PV penetration. This technology can extend service life by using inductors for energy storage. The converter being studied provides ancillary services, including reactive power support; the impact on reliability, operational constraints, and electrical behavior is demonstrated. The contribution of this paper is a detailed analysis and impact study of the capacitor-less D-STATCOM in high PV penetration distribution networks. The significance of this paper is that it studies the behavior of the power electronics converter and its interaction with the power systems without assuming or neglecting details of either. Compensation effects and reliability comparisons between the proposed capacitorless D-STATCOM and the incumbent D-STATCOM technology are also studied in this paper.
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 is currently pursuing an 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 also a Teaching Assistant with the Department of Electrical Engineering at Qatar University.
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