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At least 631 records · Page 35

Bounded motion design in the Earth zonal problem using differential algebra based normal form methods

Establishing long-term relative bounded motion between orbits in perturbed dynamics is a key challenge in astrodynamics to enable cluster flight with minimum propellant expenditure. Herein, we present an approach that allows for the design of long-term relative bounded motion considering a zonal gravitational model. Entire sets of orbits are obtained via high-order Taylor expansions of Poincarè return maps about reference fixed points. The high-order normal form algorithm is used to determine a change in expansion variables of the map into normal form space, in which the phase space behavior is circular and can be easily parameterized by action–angle coordinates. The action–angle representation of the normal form coordinates is then used to parameterize the original Poincarè return map and average it over a full phase space revolution by a path integral along the angle parameterization. As a result, the averaged nodal period and drift in the ascending node are obtained, for which the bounded motion conditions are straightforwardly imposed. Sets of highly accurate bounded orbits are obtained, extending over several thousand kilometers, and valid for decades.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Algorithm advances and applications of time‐dependent first‐principles simulations for ultrafast dynamics

Abstract Far from equilibrium phenomenon is a central theme of contemporary material research. Such phenomenon can exhibit itself in atomic structure and dynamics, but very often it also happens as non‐equilibrium phenomenon in the electronic structure. In ab initio material simulation, density functional theory (DFT) has played an essential role in studying electronic ground state problems. For excited states, besides many‐body perturbation theory, another powerful tool is the time dependent DFT (TDDFT) method. In particular, the real‐time TDDFT (rt‐TDDFT) method can be used to simulate many non‐equilibrium phenomena directly. Here we introduce our works on some algorithm advances based on our recently rt‐TDDFT method. This method uses the plane‐wave basis set, and significantly accelerates its efficiency by increasing the time step from 0.1–1 as in traditional methods to 0.2–0.5 fs. The noncollinear magnetic moments and spin–orbit coupling have also been included in our rt‐TDDFT method. Furthermore, a Boltzmann‐TDDFT algorithm has been developed to solve the hot carrier overheating problem in Ehrenfest dynamics, and a natural orbital branching algorithm has been developed to overcome the mean‐field approximation in Ehrenfest dynamics nuclear trajectory, thus allows stochastic multiple paths in chemical reactions. Utilizing these methods, we have studied the photoinduced ultrafast demagnetization, ultrafast phase transition, energy transfer between plasmon and hot carriers, as well as the high‐energy ion implantation and low‐energy atomic diffusion in semiconductors. We believe the tools as the ones introduced here can enable us to study a wide range of phenomena which are of great interest in modern day material research. This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory

Liu, Wen‐Hao↗

Axion detection via superfluid 3 He ferromagnetic phase and quantum measurement techniques

We propose to use the nuclear spin excitation in the ferromagnetic A 1 phase of the superfluid 3 He for the axion dark matter detection. This approach is striking in that it is sensitive to the axion-nucleon coupling, one of the most important features of the QCD axion introduced to solve the strong CP problem. We review a quantum mechanical description of the nuclear spin excitation and apply it to the estimation of the axion-induced spin excitation rate. We also describe a possible detection method of the spin excitation in detail and show that the combination of the squeezing of the final state with the Josephson parametric amplifier and the homodyne measurement can enhance the sensitivity. It turns out that this approach gives good sensitivity to the axion dark matter with the mass of $\mathcal{O}$(1) μeV depending on the size of the external magnetic field. We estimate the parameters of experimental setups, e.g., the detector volume and the amplitude of squeezing, required to reach the QCD axion parameter space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Robust trajectory-constrained frequency control for microgrids considering model linearization error

Grid supportive modes integrated within inverter-based resources can improve the frequency response of renewable-rich microgrids. The synthesis of grid supportive modes to guarantee frequency trajectory constraints under a predefined disturbance set is challenging but essential. To tackle this challenge, a numerical optimal control (NOC)-based control synthesis methodology is proposed. Without loss of generality, a wind-diesel fed microgrid is studied, where we aim to design grid supportive functions in the wind turbine. In the control design, linearized models are used, and the linearization-induced errors are quantitatively analyzed by reachability and interval arithmetics and represented in the form of interval uncertainties. Then, the NOC problem can be formulated into a robust mixed-integer linear program. The control structure is strategically configured into two levels to realize online deployment. The proposed control is verified on the modified 33-node microgrid with a full-order three-phase nonlinear model in Simulink. In conclusion, the simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed control paradigm and the necessity of considering linearization-induced uncertainty.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DG-IMEX method for a two-moment model for radiation transport in the $\mathscr{O}$($v$/$c$) limit

Here, we consider neutral particle systems described by moments of a phase-space density and propose a realizability-preserving numerical method to evolve a spectral two-moment model for particles interacting with a background fluid moving with nonrelativistic velocities. The system of nonlinear moment equations, with special relativistic corrections to $\mathscr{O}$($v$/$c$), expresses a balance between phase-space advection and collisions and includes velocity-dependent terms that account for spatial advection, Doppler shift, and angular aberration. The model is conservative for the correct $\mathscr{O}$($v$/$c$) Eulerian-frame number density and is consistent, to $\mathscr{O}$($v$/$c$), with Eulerian-frame energy and momentum conservation. This model is closely related to the one promoted by Lowrie et al. and similar to models currently used to study transport phenomena in large-scale simulations of astrophysical environments. The proposed numerical method is designed to preserve moment realizability, which guarantees that the moments correspond to a nonnegative phase-space density. The realizability-preserving scheme consists of the following key components: (i) a strong stability-preserving implicit-explicit (IMEX) time-integration method; (ii) a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) phase-space discretization with carefully constructed numerical uxes; (iii) a realizability-preserving implicit collision update; and(iv) a realizability-enforcing limiter. In time integration, nonlinearity of the moment model necessitates solution of nonlinear equations, which we formulate as fixed-point problems and solve with tailored iterative solvers that preserve moment realizability with guaranteed global convergence. We also analyze the simultaneous Eulerian-frame number and energy conservation properties of the semi-discrete DG scheme and propose a "spectral redistribution" scheme that promotes Eulerian-frame energy conservation. Through numerical experiments, we demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of this DG-IMEX method and investigate its Eulerian-frame energy conservation properties.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Fluoroarene Separations in Metal-Organic Frameworks with Two Proximal Mg 2+ Coordination Sites

Fluoroarenes which are widely used in medicinal, agricultural, and materials chemistry, and yet their production remains a critical challenge in organic synthesis. Indeed, the nearly identical physical properties of these vital building blocks hinders their purification by traditional methods, such as flash chromatography or distillation. As a result, the Balz-Schiemann reaction is currently employed to prepare fluoroarenes instead of more atom-economical C-H fluorination reactions, which produce inseparable mixtures of regioisomers. Herein, we propose an alternative solution to this problem: the purification of mixtures of fluoroarenes using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Specifically, we demonstrate that controlling the interaction of fluoroarenes with adjacent coordinatively unsaturated Mg 2+ centers within a MOF enables the separation of fluoroarene mixtures with unparalleled selectivities. Liquid-phase multicomponent equilibrium adsorption data and breakthrough measurements coupled with van der Waals-corrected density functional theory calculations reveal that the materials Mg 2 (dobdc) (dobdc 4- = 2,5-dioxidobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate) and Mg 2 ( m -dobdc) ( m -dobdc 4- = 2,4-dioxidobenzene-1,5-dicarboxylate) are capable of separating the difluorobenzene isomers from one another. Additionally, these frameworks facilitate the separations of fluoroanisoles, fluorotoluenes, and fluorochlorobenzenes. In addition to enabling currently unfeasible separations for the production of fluoroarenes, our results suggest that carefully controlling the interaction of isomers with not one but two strong binding sites within a MOF provides a general strategy for achieving challenging liquid-phase separations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Real-Time Krylov Theory for Quantum Computing Algorithms

Quantum computers provide new avenues to access ground and excited state properties of systems otherwise difficult to simulate on classical hardware. New approaches using subspaces generated by real-time evolution have shown efficiency in extracting eigenstate information, but the full capabilities of such approaches are still not understood. In recent work, we developed the variational quantum phase estimation (VQPE) method, a compact and efficient real-time algorithm to extract eigenvalues on quantum hardware. Here we build on that work by theoretically and numerically exploring a generalized Krylov scheme where the Krylov subspace is constructed through a parametrized real-time evolution, which applies to the VQPE algorithm as well as others. We establish an error bound that justifies the fast convergence of our spectral approximation. We also derive how the overlap with high energy eigenstates becomes suppressed from real-time subspace diagonalization and we visualize the process that shows the signature phase cancellations at specific eigenenergies. We investigate various algorithm implementations and consider performance when stochasticity is added to the target Hamiltonian in the form of spectral statistics. To demonstrate the practicality of such real-time evolution, we discuss its application to fundamental problems in quantum computation such as electronic structure predictions for strongly correlated systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Status of the Proton EDM Experiment (pEDM)

The Proton EDM Experiment (pEDM) is the first direct search for the proton electric dipole moment (EDM) with the aim of being the first experiment to probe the Standard Model (SM) prediction of any particle EDM. Phase-I of pEDM will achieve $10^{-29} e\cdot$cm, improving current indirect limits by four orders of magnitude. This will establish a new standard of precision in nucleon EDM searches and offer a unique sensitivity to better understand the Strong CP problem. The experiment is ideally positioned to explore physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), with sensitivity to axionic dark matter via the signal of an oscillating proton EDM and across a wide mass range of BSM models from $\mathcal{O}(1\text{GeV})$ to $\mathcal{O}(10^3\text{TeV})$. Utilizing the frozen-spin technique in a highly symmetric storage ring that leverages existing infrastructure at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), pEDM builds upon the technological foundation and experimental expertise of the highly successful Muon $g$$-$$2$ Experiments. With significant R&D and prototyping already underway, pEDM is preparing a conceptual design report (CDR) to offer a cost-effective, high-impact path to discovering new sources of CP violation and advancing our understanding of fundamental physics. It will play a vital role in complementing the physics goals of the next-generation collider while simultaneously contributing to sustaining particle physics research and training early-career researchers during gaps between major collider operations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Integral boundary conditions in phase field models

Modeling the chemical, electric and thermal transport as well as phase transitions and the accompanying mesoscale microstructure evolution within a material in an electronic device setting involves the solution of partial differential equations often with integral boundary conditions. Employing the familiar Poisson equation describing the electric potential evolution in a material exhibiting insulator to metal transitions, we exploit a special property of such an integral boundary condition, and we properly formulate the variational problem and establish its well-posedness. Next, we compare our method with the commonly-used Lagrange multiplier method that can also handle such boundary conditions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our new method achieves optimal convergence rate in contrast to the conventional Lagrange multiplier method. Furthermore, the linear system derived from our method is symmetric positive definite, and can be efficiently solved by Conjugate Gradient method with algebraic multigrid preconditioning.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Atomic Force Microscope Active Optical Probe for Single-Molecule Imaging and Time-Resolved Optical Spectroscopy (DOE SBIR Phase II/IIA Final Report)

Actoprobe LLC reports on the results of its DOE SBIR Phase II/IIA project on the development of Atomic Force Microscope Active Optical Probe for Single-Molecule Imaging and Time-Resolved Optical Spectroscopy. While chemistry science and technology greatly benefit from Atomic Force Microscopy in surface characterization, time-resolved chemical imaging on the single-molecule level lags far behind. Current scanning probe microscopy only obtains information about mechanical but not optical/chemical properties. To address this problem, the Actoprobe LLC research team has proposed a novel class of Atomic Force Microscopy probes, Ultra-Fast Pulsed Active Atomic Force Microscopy Optical Probes (UFP AAOPs), that will allow ultrafast time-resolved optical and chemical imaging at the nanoscale. As envisioned, these unique optical probes will perform the functions of conventional Atomic Force Microscopy probes and, in addition, will simultaneously provide chemical information about molecular scale interactions. This innovation is accomplished by integrating an ultrafast pulsed Quantum Dot laser source into an Atomic Force Microscopy probe. This report describes our progress with the fabrication of an ultrafast micrometer-size semiconductor laser, based on “artificial atoms” - Quantum Dots, integrated with an Atomic Force Microscopy probe. In this Phase II/IIA project, we have demonstrated the feasibility of the UFP AAOP concept by fabricating a first prototype of the UFP AAOP. The excellent performance of the probe has been proven in terms of AFM and optical spatial resolution through rigorous tests. The UFP AAOP provides pulses with less than 4 ps duration and higher than 11 GHz repetition rate, and spatial resolution better than 300 nm at 1240 nm wavelength. Technically, it is possible to reduce the pulse width to less than 1 ps and to improve lateral resolution to ~ 0.5 nm, which implies the potential capability for the probe to characterize chemical compounds with single-molecule resolution. The UFP AAOP fabrication procedure has been developed for wafer-scale production of multiple devices, with the yield of the process estimated to be lower than 1% with the limited fabrication capabilities and equipment available for use in the research project. However, using high-volume production tools and special GaAs processing equipment, the yield can be significantly improved, theoretically to ~ 50%. Finally, economic feasibility and scale-up manufacturing potential were analyzed for UFP AAOP and found to be very promising. In summary, the Actoprobe team has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the UFP AAOP concept.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Sequence-defined Pareto frontier of a copolymer structure

The correlations between the sequence of monomers in a macromolecule and its three-dimensional (3D) structure is a grand challenge in polymer science. The properties and functions of macromolecules depend on their 3D shape that has appeared to be dictated by their monomer sequence. However, the progress towards understanding the sequence–structure-property correlations and their utilization in materials engineering are slow because it is almost impossible to characterize an astronomically large number of possible sequences of a copolymer using traditional experimental and simulation methods. To address this problem, here, we combine evolutionary computing and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulation and study the sequence-structure correlations of a model AB-type copolymer in a solution and assess the impact of sequence on the packing density in its bulk phase. The CGMD-based evolutionary algorithm (EA) screens the sequence space of a single chain copolymer efficiently and identifies a wide range of single-molecule structures including extremal radii of gyration. The data are utilized to estimate the Pareto front of the structure-space of a binary copolymer as a function of its composition. The monomer packings in single-molecule solution phase and multimolecular bulk phase are found to be identical. Finally, this work highlights the opportunities of sequence-specific control of macromolecular structure for designing target materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A light QCD axion with hilltop misalignment

We study the cosmological evolution of a light QCD axion and identify the parameter space to obtain the correct relic dark matter abundance. The axion potential is flattened at the origin, corresponding to the only minimum, while it is unsuppressed at π. These potential features arise by assuming a mirror sector with the strong CP phase $\overline{θ}$ shifted by π compared to the SM sector, which allows the mirror axion potential to be tuned against the usual QCD axion potential. Before the QCD phase transition, assuming the mirror sector is decoupled and much colder than the SM thermal bath, the mirror sector potential dominates, causing the axion to initially roll to a temporary minimum at π. However, after the QCD phase transition, the potential minimum changes, and the axion relaxes from the newly created “hilltop” near π to the CP-conserving minimum at the origin. As the axion adiabatically tracks this shift in the potential minimum through the QCD phase transition, with non-adiabatic evolution near π and 0, it alters the usual prediction of the dark matter abundance. Consequently, this “hilltop” misalignment mechanism opens new regions of axion parameter space, with the correct relic abundance while still solving the strong CP problem, that could be explored in future experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Actinide Molten Salts: A Machine-Learning Potential Molecular Dynamics Study

We know that actinide molten salts represent a class of important materials in nuclear energy. Understanding them at a molecular level is critical to proper and optimal design of relevant technological applications. Yet, owing to the complexity of electronic structure due to the 5f orbitals, computational studies of heavy elements in condensed phases using ab initio potentials to study the structure and dynamics of these elements embedded in molten salts are difficult. This lack of efficient computational protocols makes it difficult to obtain information on properties that require extensive statistical sampling like transport. To tackle this problem, we adopted a machine-learning approach to study ThCl 4 -NaCl and UCl 3 -NaCl binary systems. The machine-learning potential, with the density functional theory accuracy, allows us to obtain long molecular dynamics trajectories (ns) for large systems (10 3 atoms) at a considerably low computing cost, thereby efficiently gaining information about their bonding structures, thermodynamics, and dynamics at a range of temperature. We observed a considerable change in the coordination environments of actinide elements and their characteristic coordination-sphere lifetime. Our study also suggests that actinides in molten salts may not follow well known entropy-scaling laws.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Addressing Critical Problems in Materials Science Through Multiscale and Multimode Characterization (Project 1); Characterization and Optimization of Novel Triple-Conducting Oxide Materials for Energy Applications (Project 2) (CRADA Final Report)

PROJECT 1: Address critical problems in materials science and simultaneously advance the state-of-the-art in multiscale and multimode characterization using the combined advanced analytical capabilities and expertise of Colorado School of Mines (CSM) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The primary effort of the Phase I of this CRADA is to establish the International Center for Multiscale Characterization using shared resources at both NREL and CSM. Phase II will focus on capability development and marketing, choosing candidate materials science issues in the areas of structure imaging, chemical composition mapping, and correlating properties and performance of materials for impact in energy-related, environmental and critical materials areas. The CRADA will be modified to include specific topics of concern in materials science to industry member partners. Advanced analytical capabilities and expertise at CSM and NREL will be used to advance materials understanding and performance through characterization of multiscale phenomena including structural imaging, chemical composition mapping, and other techniques correlating properties and performance of materials. PROJECT 2: As part of the International Center for Materials Characterization, work under Modification #1 will be led by Colorado School of Mines (CSM), working in collaboration with NREL staff to mentor and advise CSM postdoctoral researchers on set up of diffusion annealing experiments. The purpose of the modification is to provide for NREL staff to mentor and advise CSM postdoctoral researchers on set up of diffusion annealing experiments, including mentoring and advising the CSM-NREL team on proper Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) data analysis as needed. SIMS measurements of 10-20 samples will be performed at NREL during the project duration.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Battery Electric Vehicle Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control in the Vicinity of Signalized Intersections

This study develops a connected eco-driving controller for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the BEV Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control at Intersections (Eco-CACC-I). The developed controller can assist BEVs while traversing signalized intersections with minimal energy consumption. The calculation of the optimal vehicle trajectory is formulated as an optimization problem under the constraints of (1) vehicle acceleration/deceleration behavior, defined by a vehicle dynamics model; (2) vehicle energy consumption behavior, defined by a BEV energy consumption model; and (3) the relationship between vehicle speed, location, and signal timing, defined by vehicle characteristics and signal phase and timing (SPaT) data shared under a connected vehicle environment. The optimal speed trajectory is computed in real-time by the proposed BEV eco-CACC-I controller, so that a BEV can follow the optimal speed while negotiating a signalized intersection. The proposed BEV controller was tested in a case study to investigate its performance under various speed limits, roadway grades, and signal timings. In addition, a comparison of the optimal speed trajectories for BEVs and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) was conducted to investigate the impact of vehicle engine types on eco-driving solutions. Lastly, the proposed controller was implemented in microscopic traffic simulation software to test its networkwide performance. The test results from an arterial corridor with three signalized intersections demonstrate that the proposed controller can effectively reduce stop-and-go traffic in the vicinity of signalized intersections and that the BEV Eco-CACC-I controller produces average savings of 9.3% in energy consumption and 3.9% in vehicle delays.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Updraft dynamics and microphysics: on the added value of the cumulus thermal reference frame in simulations of aerosol–deep convection interactions

One fundamental question about atmospheric moist convection processes that remains debated is whether, or under which conditions, a relevant variability in background aerosol concentrations may have a significant dynamical impact on convective clouds and their associated precipitation. Furthermore, current climate models must parameterize both the microphysical and the cumulus convection processes, but this is usually implemented separately, whereas in nature there is a strong coupling between them. As a first step to improve our understanding of these two problems, we investigate how aerosol concentrations modify key properties of updrafts in eight large-eddy-permitting regional simulations of a case study of scattered convection over Houston, Texas, in which convection is explicitly simulated and microphysical processes are parameterized. Dynamical and liquid-phase microphysical responses are investigated using the following two different reference frames: static cloudy updraft grid cells versus tracked cumulus thermals. In both frameworks, we observe the expected microphysical responses to higher aerosol concentrations, such as higher cloud number concentrations and lower rain number concentrations. In terms of the dynamical responses, both frameworks indicate weak impacts of varying aerosol concentrations relative to the noise between simulations over the observationally derived range of aerosol variability for this case study. On the other hand, results suggest that thermals are more selective than cloudy updraft grid cells in terms of sampling the most active convective air masses. For instance, vertical velocity from thermals is significantly higher at upper levels than when sampled from cloudy updraft grid points, and several microphysical variables have higher average values in the cumulus thermal framework than in the cloudy updraft framework. In addition, the thermal analysis is seen to add rich quantitative information about the rates and covariability of microphysical processes spatially and throughout tracked thermal lifecycles, which can serve as a stronger foundation for improving subgrid-scale parameterizations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Develop and verify soil/structure interaction for pile/foundation interaction

Phase II of the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation and unCertainty (OC6) project was used to verify the implementation of a new soil-structure interaction (SSI) model for use within offshore wind turbine modeling software. The REDWIN Macro-element model implemented and verified in this study enables a computationally efficient way to model the linear and nonlinear SSI problem, including hysteretic damping, of a monopile structure. The modeling approach was integrated into several modeling tools and a series of increasingly complex simulations was conducted using the IEA 10MW reference turbine mounted on a monopile support structure to verify the coupling between the tools and the REDWIN Macro-element SSI model. This campaign includes only numerical verification between various software and modeling approaches so no experimental measurements are available. The load cases (LC) considered include: LC1 – static response of the tower and substructure LC2 – frequency and mode-shape analysis of the tower and substructure LC3 – response of the tower and substructure due to wind-only loading LC4 – response of the tower and substructure due to wave-only loading LC5 – response of the tower and substructure due to wind and wave loading. Detailed properties of the modeled system are found in the following reference, “Bergua, Roger, Amy Robertson, Jason Jonkman, and Andy Platt. 2021. "Specification Document for OC6 Phase II: Verification of an Advanced Soil-Structure Interaction Model for Offshore Wind Turbines.” Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5000-79938. https://www.nlr.gov/docs/fy21osti/79938.pdf. Details on the results from the OC6 Phase II project can be found in the following reference, “Bergua R, Robertson A, Jonkman J, et al. OC6 Phase II: Integration and verification of a new soil–structure interaction model for offshore wind design.” Wind Energy. 2022;25(5):793-810. doi:10.1002/we.2698

17 WIND ENERGY↗

High-Efficiency, Medium-Voltage-Input, Solid-State-Transformer-Based 400-kW/1000V/400A Extreme Fast Charger for Electric Vehicles

Range anxiety and long battery charging time continue to be critical challenges to mass adaptation of EVs. A major identified gap to wider adoption of BEVs is the ability and availability to refuel quickly or to fast charge. Studies have shown that in areas where drivers have access to 50-kW or 120-kW fast charge stations, annual electric vehicle (EV) miles traveled (i.e., eVMT) increased by over 25%, even in cases where fast charging was used for 1% to 5% of total charging events. Charge stations of higher power not only alleviate the “range anxiety” and reduce the driver’s waiting time, but also requires less investment. Michigan Energy Office completed a study in early 2019 titled “Electric Vehicle Charger Placement Optimization in Michigan: Phase I – Highways”. This study finds a system with 150kW chargers, though more expensive individually, actually has lower total system cost when compared to a 50kW charging system when serving the same battery size EV. To be truly competitive to the ICEV refueling experience, even higher power stations are necessary. However, high power charge stations would create large power draws from the grid. If this occurs during peak demand periods, grid capacity could be overloaded. This problem needs to be addressed to reduce the impact on the electric utility infrastructure. The main goal of this project is to develop a 400-kW/400-A XFC system targeting total efficiency of 96.5 percent from the MVAC grid to a vehicle. The novel SST power cell topology, combined with a new silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET device, enables a 3.5 percent improvement in system efficiency, a 50-percent smaller equipment footprint, and four times less weight than today’s DCFC systems. The SST technology would directly utilize MVAC at 4.8-kV or 13.2-kV. This would eliminate the line frequency transformer (LFT), which steps down medium-voltage AC to 3-Phase 480-V line-to-line voltage in current DCFC systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗