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Results for “phase locking”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 973 records · Page 54
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Experimental evidence of runaway electron tail generation via localized helical structure in pellet-triggered tokamak disruptions

A novel detector, using stacked BGO crystals, is developed for runaway electron (REs) studies in the DIII-D tokamak. It is able to resolve fast dynamics of high-energy tail formation of REs with an ultra-high time resolution of ~1 μs. As a cost, the detector estimates the `effective' energy of a given shape of γ-ray spectra and sacrifices the energy resolution. In aid of the new measurement capability, a rapid, inhomogeneous growth of RE tail is observed in detail during a major disruption triggered by an argon pellet. It is found that both the population and energy of a well-confined RE tail significantly oscillate at the early period of the growth. The oscillation phase is locked to a slow rotating magnetohydrodynamic instability, which is briefly destabilized for only ~1 ms at the early period of the current quench. The oscillation ceases promptly, when the mode disappears. As a result, the data suggests that the high-energy RE tail is well-confined and accelerated via a localized helical structure in the plasma core.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Wavelength conversion for single-photon polarization qubits through continuous-variable quantum teleportation

A quantum internet connects remote quantum processors that need to interact and exchange quantum signals over a long distance through photonic channels. However, these quantum nodes operate at the wavelength ranges unsuitable for long-distance transmission. Therefore, quantum wavelength conversion to telecom bands is crucial for long-distance quantum networks based on optical fiber. Here, we propose wavelength conversion devices for single-photon polarization qubits using continuous-variable quantum teleportation that can efficiently convert qubits between near-infrared (780–795 nm suitable for interacting with atomic quantum nodes) and telecom wavelength (1300–1500 nm suitable for long-distance transmission). The teleportation uses entangled photon fields (i.e., nondegenerate two-mode squeezed state) that can be generated by four-wave mixing in a rubidium atomic gas using a diamond configuration of atomic transitions. The entangled fields can be emitted in two orthogonal polarizations with locked relative phase, making them especially suitable for interfacing with single- photon polarization qubits. Furthermore, our work may pave the way for the realization of long-distance quantum networks.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Nearly Quantum-Limited Josephson-Junction Frequency-Comb Synthesizer

While coherently driven Kerr microcavities have rapidly matured as a platform for frequency-comb formation, such microresonators generally possess weak Kerr coefficients; consequently, triggering comb generation requires millions of photons to be circulating inside the cavity. This suppresses the role of quantum fluctuations in the dynamics of the comb. In this paper, we realize a minimal version of coherently driven Kerr-mediated microwave-frequency combs in the circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) architecture, where the fluctuations of the quantum vacuum are the primary limitation on comb coherence. We achieve a comb phase coherence of up to 35 μs, approaching the theoretical device quantum limit of 55 μs and vastly longer than the inherent lifetimes of the modes, of 13 ns. The ability within cQED to engineer stronger nonlinearities than optical microresonators, together with operation at cryogenic temperatures, and the excellent agreement of comb dynamics with quantum theory indicates a promising platform for the study of complex dynamics of quantum nonlinear systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Network-Cognizant Model Reduction of Grid-Tied Three-Phase Inverters

Power-electronics inverters are expected to satisfy a significant fraction of system load in next-generation power networks with the growing integration of renewable resources and flexible loads. Typical dynamical models for grid-tied inverters are nonlinear and composed of a large number of states; therefore it is impractical to study systems with many inverters when their full dynamics are retained. In our previous work, we have shown that a system of parallel-connected grid-tied three-phase inverters can be modeled as one aggregated inverter unit with the same structure and state-space dimension as any individual inverter in the system. Here, we extend this result to networks with arbitrary topologies by leveraging a classical aggregation method for coherent synchronous generators in transmission networks, and a linear approximation of the AC power-flow equations to ease computational burden. Numerical simulation results for a prototypical distribution feeder demonstrate the accuracy and computational benefits of the approach.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Stability Assessment of a System Comprising a Single Machine and Inverter with Scalable Ratings

Synchronous machines have traditionally acted as the foundation of large-scale electrical infrastructures and their physical properties have formed the cornerstone of system operations. However, with the increased integration of distributed renewable resources and energy-storage technologies, there is a need to systematically acknowledge the dynamics of power-electronics inverters - the primary energy-conversion interface in such systems - in all aspects of modeling, analysis, and control of the bulk power network. In this paper, we assess the properties of coupled machine-inverter systems by studying an elementary system comprised of a synchronous generator, three-phase inverter, and a load. The inverter model is formulated such that its power rating can be scaled continuously across power levels while preserving its closed-loop response. Accordingly, the properties of the machine-inverter system can be assessed for varying ratios of machine-to-inverter power ratings. After linearizing the model and assessing its eigenvalues, we show that system stability is highly dependent on the inverter current controller and machine exciter, thus uncovering a key concern with mixed machine-inverter systems and motivating the need for next-generation grid-stabilizing inverter controls.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Understanding Impacts of Frequency Calculations on Underfrequency Load Shedding

Power system fundamental frequency-dependent protection decisions and control decisions are increasingly common in the distribution system space. Understanding the algorithms used in frequency measurements is critical to understanding the decisions made by the many intelligent electronic devices in the power system. These decisions are critically important for reliability analysis for interconnected power systems as they bear directly on resource planning to mitigate under-frequency conditions that would result in under-frequency load shedding (UFLS). This work aims to improve the understanding of frequency measurement algorithms, evaluate the intelligent electronic devices that use frequency measurements for decision making, and understand the algorithms' direct impact on frequency related decision making. First, this work presents background information on the use of frequency measurements in protection logic, specifically UFLS. Second, the paper presents a relay hardware evaluation test bed used to detect and protect systems from under-frequency events. Finally, the paper presents the dynamic events used to evaluate commercially available, off-the-shelf relay equipment and the results from the relay evaluation.

COMTRADE↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Multilevel DC to Three-phase AC Architecture for Photovoltaic Power Plants

This study presents a photovoltaic (PV) inverter architecture composed of stackable dc to three-phase ac converter blocks. Several such blocks, each containing a converter power stage and controls, are connected in series on their ac sides to obtain transformerless medium-voltage ac interfaces for PV power plants. The series-connected structure is made possible by a quadruple active bridge dc-dc converter that provides isolation between the PV input and each of the three ac-side phases within each block. Furthermore, since incoming PV power is transferred as constant balanced three-phase ac power, instantaneous inputoutput power balance bypasses the need for bulk energy storage. To streamline implementation and maximize system scalability and resilience, decentralized block-level controllers accomplish dc-link voltage regulation, maximum power point tracking, and ac-side power sharing without centralized means. The proposed architecture is validated by simulations of a PV string to mediumvoltage ac system consisting of six blocks and on a proof-of-concept hardware prototype that consists of three cascaded converter blocks.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Blackstart and Fault Ride-Through Capability of DFIG-Based Wind Turbines

Grid-forming wind turbines must be able to re-energize transmission branches, motor loads, unbalanced loads, and power electronics loads following a blackout. Further, they must ride through faults that can arise during restoration. To tackle these challenges, this paper sets forth a grid-forming control strategy for wind turbines using doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs). In particular, a special set of feedforward control loops are engineered to mitigate the impacts of restoration transients as well as symmetrical and asymmetrical faults on the regulation of DFIG rotor currents and stator voltages. This paper also leverages two-axis anti-windup regulators to bound two-axis voltage and current commands within ratings. As a result, the controller performance is demonstrated via a high-fidelity simulation model of a notional wind-dominant grid.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Grid Forming Fast Frequency Response for PMSG-Based Wind Turbines

Electric power systems are undergoing a rapid transition from fuel-based generation using synchronous generators to renewable generation interfaced by power electronics. In this context, a key challenge is using renewable generation with limited controllability to contribute to power system stability. In this work, we investigate grid-forming control of permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbines. The proposed control and curtailment strategy supports the entire spectrum of standard functions of grid-following (e.g. maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and grid-forming control (e.g., primary frequency control) without explicit mode switching. A detailed case study is used to compare the performance of the proposed control at operating points corresponding to MPPT and frequency control with standard grid-forming and grid-following controls. Further, the results demonstrate that (i) the proposed energy balancing grid forming control is self-synchronizing in MPPT mode, (ii) the (limited) energy storage and controllability of wind turbines can be adequately utilized to provide grid support, and (ii) the proposed control exhibits good performance under variable wind speeds and does not result in a significant increase of wind turbine fatigue loads.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Resilience of the slow component in timescale separated synchronized oscillators

Physiological networks are usually made of a large number of biological oscillators evolving on a multitude of different timescales. Phase oscillators are particularly useful in the modelling of the synchronization dynamics of such systems. If the coupling is strong enough compared to the heterogeneity of the internal parameters, synchronized states might emerge where phase oscillators start to behave coherently. Here, we focus on the case where synchronized oscillators are divided into a fast and a slow component so that the two subsets evolve on separated timescales. We assess the resilience of the slow component by, first, reducing the dynamics of the fast one using Mori-Zwanzig formalism. Second, we evaluate the variance of the phase deviations when the oscillators in the two components are subject to noise with possibly distinct correlation times. From the general expression for the variance, we consider specific network structures and show how the noise transmission between the fast and slow components is affected. Interestingly, we find that oscillators that are among the most robust when there is only a single timescale, might become the most vulnerable when the system undergoes a timescale separation. We also find that layered networks seem to be insensitive to such timescale separations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Resilience of the slow component in timescale-separated synchronized oscillators

Physiological networks are usually made of a large number of biological oscillators evolving on a multitude of different timescales. Phase oscillators are particularly useful in the modelling of the synchronization dynamics of such systems. If the coupling is strong enough compared to the heterogeneity of the internal parameters, synchronized states might emerge where phase oscillators start to behave coherently. Here, we focus on the case where synchronized oscillators are divided into a fast and a slow component so that the two subsets evolve on separated timescales. We assess the resilience of the slow component by, first, reducing the dynamics of the fast one using Mori-Zwanzig formalism. Second, we evaluate the variance of the phase deviations when the oscillators in the two components are subject to noise with possibly distinct correlation times. From the general expression for the variance, we consider specific network structures and show how the noise transmission between the fast and slow components is affected. Interestingly, we find that oscillators that are among the most robust when there is only a single timescale, might become the most vulnerable when the system undergoes a timescale separation. We also find that layered networks seem to be insensitive to such timescale separations.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1958

Microlock- a minimum weight radio instrumentation system for a satellite

The design, construction and laboratory testing of a satellite tracking system are described. The tracking mechanism employs a low power, lightweight flight transmitter in conjunction with a receiving system of advanced design. The flight transmitter will radiate 3 mw for three months and will provide two narrow hand telemetering channels in a unit having a total weight of 2 lb. The ground receiving equipment is capable of acquiring and tracking the beacon signal at a line-of-sight distance of 3000 miles and at any azimuth and elevation angle. Interferometer antennas could he used to determine the angular position of the satellite with an accuracy of one milliradian, which is equivalent to approximately ±0.04 sec in the determination of the period.

Earth Satellites↗