Plenary Talks

High efficient energy conversion for mobile vehicles – contactless power transmission for  electric train and series chopper power train for EV

Atsuo KAWAMURA, Yokohama National University

Abstract:

It is expected that future mobile vehicles may include more electrification energy in the system because electric energy has several advantages. The speaker will talk about two types of high efficient energy conversion system for mobile vehicles.

One is concerning very high efficient contactless energy transmission for electric trains aiming at elimination of the pantograph. A coaxial type transformer with air gap is proposed and after optimization of the structural and electrical parameters, a very high efficiency (over 96%) was realized with a few hundred power [W] range. A video will be provided for a mini model train.

Another is concerning a series chopper power train for EV aiming at driving range extension of the one battery charge. An ultrahigh efficient chopper called HEECS was proposed with two circuit topologies and high efficiency over 99% was realized around 20 kW output power.

Speaker Bio:

Atsuo Kawamura received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1981. After the five-year-stay at the University of Missouri-Columbia as a faculty member, he joined Yokohama National University in 1986, and in 1996 he became a professor. From 2013 to 2015 he was a dean of College of Engineering Science and also a dean of Graduate School of Engineering at Yokohama National University. His interests are in the fields of power electronics, digital control, electric vehicles, and biped robotics. He received Transactions Paper Awards from IEEE in 1988, 2001 and 2002, also from IEE of Japan in 1996. Dr. Kawamura is an IEEE Fellow, and also a Fellow of the IEE of Japan. He served as a president of IEEJ/IAS from May 2012 to May 2013.


Power Electronics for Microgrid Interface

Abstract: Power electronics is the core technology that enables various energy resources to be efficiently and effectively converted to the desired format for microgrid interface. The main interfacing issues come from source and load interactions. Typical problems with sources especially renewable energy sources are high source impedance, sluggish response, voltage level mismatched with the load, etc. Typical problems with loads are the fluctuation of load, low-frequency current ripples propagation back, and compliance of standards such as IEEE 1547 for grid interconnection. This talk will focus power electronics circuit topologies and control strategies that deal with the abovementioned interface issues.

Brief Bio – Dr. Jih-Sheng (Jason) Lai

Jih-Sheng (Jason) Lai received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1985 and 1989. In 1989, he joined the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Power Electronics Applications Center (PEAC). From 1993, he worked with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the Power Electronics Lead Scientist. He joined Virginia Tech in 1996. Currently he is James. S. Tucker Professor and Director of Future Energy Electronics Center (FEEC). He also holds International Chair Professorship at National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan and serves as a Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

He published more than 100 refereed journal and 270 international conference papers and 2 books and received 25 U.S. patents. He received Technical Achievement Award in Lockheed Martin Award Night, 2 Journal Paper Awards, 12 Best Paper Awards from IEEE sponsored conferences, and Virginia Tech Dean’s Award on Research Excellence. He led student teams to win the Top Three Finalist in Google Little Box Challenge in 2016, Grand Prize Award from International Future Energy Challenge (IFEC) in 2011, Grand Prize Award in Texas Instruments’ Engibous Analog Design Competition in 2009.

Dr. Lai is an IEEE Fellow and the recipient of 2016 IEEE IAS Society Gerald Kliman Innovation Award. He is the founding chair of the 2001 IEEE Future Energy Challenge (FEC) and 2016 IEEE Asian Conference on Energy, Power, and Transportation Electrification (ACEPT); the General Chairs of IEEE Workshop on Computers in Power Electronics (COMPEL 2000) and IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC 2005).


Multilevel Inverters For Induction Motor Drives and Grid Connected Applications

Abstract:
Multilevel inverters are preferred for variable speed drives due to its improved output voltage profile , less low order harmonic content and low dv/dt requirements for the devises etc;. Multilevel inverters with single DC link enabling back to back converter operation will be introduced in the first part of the talk. The concept will be extended for increasing the linear modulation range to the full base speed and then the idea of stacking and cascading the basic inverter structures to generate higher number of voltage levels will be discussed. But the conventional multilevel voltage space vector structure has a hexagonal profile and it introduces the low order 5th and 7th harmonics, especially in the over modulation region. In this respect dodecagonal voltage space vector structure or octadecagonal voltage space vector structure ,with increased modulation range, are some of the viable alternatives for multilevel voltage space vector generation for variable speed drives. The technique of dodecagonal and octadecagonal voltage space vector structures with a single DC power supply will be introduced, enabling Back to Back converter operation , in the later part of the talk

Speaker Bio:

Dr. K. Gopakumar received his B.E. M.Sc. (Engg.) and Ph.D. (E.E.) from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Dr. Gopakumar is currently a Professor in the Department of Electronics Systems Engineering (DESE) – formerly known as the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology (CEDT), at I.I.Sc., Bangalore, India. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, Fellow of IETE (India), and Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers (NAE). He is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. He also serves as Co-editor- in –Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.


Hardware in the loop testing, the key enabling technology for the rapid transformation of power systems and electrification of transportation

Abstract:  As a society, we are only at the beginning of a massive transformation that will completely reengineer the way we produce, distribute, and use electrical energy. We are transforming our energy networks into more resilient, more flexible, and more sustainable systems through integration of distributed energy resources, introduction of renewable energy generation, and through distributed controls. To meet the demands of the increasingly competitive global market power electronics industry is rapidly adopting new EDA tools and methodologies such as Ultra-high Fidelity Hardware in the Loop (HIL) real-time simulation; on the widest possible scale. Indeed, power electronics and power industry is facing fast evolving grid codes, new communication standards as well as the pressure to dramatically shorten time-to-market for new products.
The key challenges that ultra-high fidelity HIL testing helps overcome are: automated testing and certification of complex converter controllers for fast switching converters, testing and validation of microgrids with deep penetration of power electronics, testing and integration of complex distribution systems. From converter level control testing all the way to microgrid and DMS level HIL control testing is bringing efficiency improvements as well as cost reduction and quality.

Speaker Bio: Ivan Celanovic Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of Typhoon HIL, Inc and was a member of the team that developed both the theoretical algorithms and experimental validation of the world’s first 1us ultra-low latency Hardware-in-the Loop (HIL) real-time emulator platform for power electronics. He is responsible for business development, technology and product development vectors as well as product innovation. He holds an Sc.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, an M.Sc. degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Diploma Engineer degree from the University of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, all in electrical engineering and computer science.


Lightweight, Compact and High Performance Electric Vehicle Powertrain

Abstract:
Electric vehicle powertrain designs have evolved based on available technology, but to date no design has proved to be a true alternative to existing gasoline vehicles in terms of market price, operating cost, driving range and charging time. Electric powertrain has an average efficiency around 80% over the drive cycle. Moreover, it has also been estimated that a 10% reduction in weight of the vehicle will lead to 6% improvement in driving range of the vehicle. Furthermore, design of an EV powertrain with excellent efficiency and reliability requirements over a wide speed and load under thermal limits must address challenges such as losses, expected faults and parameter variations. This can be achieved only through advanced modeling, control and accurate electrical, mechanical and thermal characterization of the powertrain. Hence, over the last decade, need for economical, compact, high-torque density, high-power density, fault-tolerant, reliable and energy efficient integrated electric motors and drives has led to an increased interest in studying various electric motors and drive configurations for EVs. Towards these objectives, this talk will focus on on-going research and development activities towards lightweight and high performance electric powertrain components at the Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy, University of Windsor. First part of the talk will focus on research being conducted on stator winding and core materials for lightweighting and efficiency improvement of electric motors followed by their optimal structural design. Thereafter, focus will be shifted to motor modeling and intelligent control techniques incorporating saturation, losses, temperature effect, inverter non-linearity, torque ripple, etc. Finally, the talk will concentrate on accurate and comprehensive characterization of electric powertrain performance under an emulated EV environment over various drive cycles.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Narayan Kar is a Canada Research Chair in Electrified Transportation Systems and a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Windsor, ON, Canada. Dr. Kar’s research focuses on the design, control and testing of efficient, lighter and compact electrical machines and drives for electric vehicles in an effort to extend the frontiers of electric powertrain technology towards improving the driving range, reducing the overall cost of the electric vehicle at the Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy (CHARGE) founded by him. CHARGE is equipped with fully functional industrial scale electric vehicle motor and drive test systems. He is an editor of the IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.


Issues and Challenges in Autonomous Microgrids

Abstract:
The microgrid idea arises as a result of the need to ensure stable operation of a distribution network (or a portion there-of) during faults and various network disturbances.  As a result, power is supplied to loads in case of emergencies and responds to power shortages during power interruption in the parent grid. Microgrid allows integration of renewable energy generation source. Typical microgrid system include distributed generation units with inverters and incorporate control systems that allow flexible operation. When operated as autonomous systems, microgrids can encounter several technical challenges that require special attention. This presentation reviews technical challenges with respect to voltage and frequency control, islanding and protection. We also discuss open issues that require further future investigation

Speaker Bio: Dr El-Hawary is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of Engineering at Dalhousie University. Dr. El-Hawary pioneered in computational solutions for economic operation of power systems including hydro-thermal systems, the application of computational intelligence techniques to power system operational problems He authored ten textbooks and research monographs and more than 300 research articles.
Dr. El-Hawary serves currently as a member of the 2010 Publications Services and Products Board, and is IEEE Press Power Engineering Series Editor. He served as Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Press in 2006-2007. He is Founding Editor, Power Letters, Power Engineering Society, is Associate Editor for the three major Electric Machines and Power Systems’ Journals, and is Editor, Electrical Power Engineering, McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
Dr. El-Hawary received numerous awards and recognitions and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Engineering Institute of Canada.