Browsing by Subject "Electric"

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Consumer-Data Approach to Assess the Effect of Residential Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Systems and Electric Vehicles on Distribution Transformers
(IEEE, 2014-06) Uriarte, F. M.; Toliyat, A.; Kwasinski, A.; Hebner, R. E.
The authors examine the impact of residential photovoltaic arrays and electric vehicles on distribution transformers by using 3-D surface and 2-D filled contour plots. These visualizations, somewhat unorthodox to power distribution analysis, elucidate the impact of hundreds of assets on distribution transformers on a single view. The visualizations are created with a smart grid computer model that accepts residential electrical recordings in one minute intervals. An analysis of simulation results shows that the electrical footprint experienced by a residential community and its distribution transformers stems from photovoltaic arrays rather than from electric vehicles. Additionally, the results indicate the existing distribution assets may be ready to support the proliferation of photovoltaic arrays and electric vehicles, a common concern across utilities in the United States.
Controlling neural cell behavior with electric field stimulation across a conductive substrate
(2012-12) Nguyen, Hieu Trung 1980-; Schmidt, Christine E.
Electrical stimulation of tissues induces cell alignment, directed migration, extended processes, differentiation, and proliferation, but the mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. To reveal effects of electric fields (EF) through the media on cell behavior, voltage (7.45 – 22 V), current density (36 – 106 mA/cm2), duration (2 – 24 hrs), and alternating currents (AC, 2 – 1000 Hz) were varied independently when exposed to cell cultures. It was determined that current density and duration are the primary attribute Schwann cells respond to when an EF is applied through the media. This implies that the number of charges moving across the cell surface may play a key role in EF-induced changes in cell behavior. Identical conditions were used to stimulate cells grown on the surface of a conductive substrate to examine if a scaffold can provide structural and EF cues. The effects of an EF through the substrate were examined by placing a protein gel on the surface during stimulation and observing the morphology of subsequent cell cultures and the physical topology of the gel. EFs were shown to create Ca2+ redistribution across gels and subtle changes in collagen I fibril banding. Stimulated gels were able to induce perpendicular Schwann cell alignment on newly seeded cultures days after initial EF exposure, and the cell response decreased when seeded at longer times, indicating the effects of EF on the matrix environment has a relaxation time. These findings were then integrated into a biodegradable, electrically conductive polypyrrole-poly-ε-caprolactone polymer developed by collaborators. Dorsal root ganglia placed in matrix gels on top of conducting polymer exhibited significantly longer axons when stimulated with DC and AC signals. The overall results demonstrate that EFs have a significant effect on the extracellular environment. The broad implication of this data grants researchers with the ability to physically and metabolically control cell behavior with EFs, including improved wound healing or reduced cancer metastasis.
Drivers of environmentally-friendly technology adoption : electric vehicle and residential solar PV adoption in California
(2016-05) Nath, Vivek; Rai, Varun; Zarnikau, Jay
The use of electric vehicles (EVs) and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is expected to play a role in stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere within an acceptable range, to mitigate detrimental climate change impacts. This thesis uses two uniquely rich datasets from the EV and residential solar PV market in California to study the demographic, motivational, social and informational influences on technology adoption decision-making. Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) are extensively used to contextualize the findings. Several findings aligned with Rogers’ generalizations regarding communication channels and characteristics of earlier adopters, and the increasing role of interpersonal communication channels signaled a shift to the early majority. Strong support was also found for the theory of planned behavior through the identification of the role of personal norms, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control on intention and, ultimately, behavior. Information channels used by the EV cohort suggest a possible departure from TPB through the role of habitual behavior and attitudinal formation.
Multi-speed electric hub drive wheel design
(2013-08) Woodard, Timothy Paul; Tesar, Delbert
Advances in electro-mechanical actuation have encouraged revolutions in automobile design which promise to increase fuel efficiency, reduce costs, improve safety and performance, and allow a wider range of architectural choices for the vehicle designer and manufacturer. This is facilitated by the concept of an intelligent corner (IC). The IC consists of traction, steering, camber, and suspension actuators working together to control the forces generated at the wheel/surface interface, allowing complete control of vehicle motion with completely active, as opposed to passive, systems. The most critical actuator to the longitudinal performance of an IC vehicle is the traction system, envisioned in this case as a hub mounted electro-mechanical actuator connected directly to the wheel. This traction actuator consists of a number of primary and supplementary components, including a prime mover, gear train, clutch, brake, bearings, seals, shafts, housing, etc. The consideration of these components in the design of an in-hub electric drive actuator is the subject of this report. Currently, gear trains are used in automobiles to match the operating speed of an internal combustion engine (ICE) to the speed of the vehicle on the road. The same need is anticipated for the hub drive wheel, although with fewer reduction ratio choices due to the responsiveness of the electric motor. Specifying a gear train design includes selecting a gear train architecture, and designing the gears to handle the expected loads. A review of gear design and gear train architectures is presented. A number of electric machines are used in industrial, and now more commonly, vehicle applications; of these, the switched reluctance motor (SRM) represents an excellent candidate for a vehicle prime mover due to its ruggedness, broad torque speed curve, low cost, and simplicity. Integrating the motor and gear train into an electro-mechanical actuator with multiple speeds requires consideration of other ancillary components. Brief design guides are presented for clutches, brakes, bearings, seals, and the structure for the in-hub wheel drive. Given the analytical descriptions of the drive wheel components, methods for managing the numerous design parameters are developed and expanded. Actuator specifications are chosen based upon meeting various vehicle performance requirements such as maximum speed, gradeability, acceleration, and drawbar pull. A proposed parametric drive wheel design is presented to meet the requirements of a generic heavy vehicle. The design demonstrates the feasibility of actuator technology that can be used to increase the performance, maintainability, and refreshability of hybrid electric vehicles while allowing open architecture paradigms to lower costs and spur new levels of manufacturing and innovation.
Residential PVs and EVs: Before and After
(0000-00-00) Uriarte, F. M.; Hebner, R. E.
Power distribution systems are experiencing higher load levels, unbalanced distributed generation, a wealth of load diversity, and more uncorrelated events than ever before. To provide quantitative information regarding the changes, this paper contrasts the electrical state of the largest Smart Grid residential community in Austin, Texas before and after the proliferation of its PVs and EVs. This community is the research focus of the authors, local utilities, and many others attempting to hinder detrimental consequences of the uncontrolled, fast proliferation of residential assets on the grid. The authors use surface and filled contour plots to show new electrical footprints, and show its impact on transformer utilization, feeder demand, current unbalance, and distribution losses.