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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 19 records

Peer-to-peer Communication Control Architecture for Engaging Ubiquitous DERs to Support Distribution System Resiliency

In this project, we developed a leader-follower consensus (LFC) control architecture to coordinate between GFM and GFL inverters with the former being leaders and the latter being followers. The objective is to simultaneously achieve a fast frequency and voltage regulation along with accurate real power and var sharing among all inverters under various disturbances. The distinction of our work is that we consider both GFM and GFL inveters for frequency and voltage regulations. In addition, rather than a standard consensus algorithm, our work utilized a leader-follower consensus algorithm which exploits the physical characteristics of GFM-GFL inverters: (i) the GFM inverters directly control frequency and voltage, and hence, serve as leaders, (ii) the GFL inverters measure frequency/voltage to modulate their outputs, and hence, they should serve as followers. The effectiveness of the proposed LFC coordination was tested on a networked microgrid test system under different disturbances and communication degradation events. We demonstrated that the proposed fully coordinated control is robust to disturbances, while outperforming uncoordinated and GFM-only coordinated approaches. Overall, this work emphasized the necessity and benefits of the GFMGFL coordination in the secondary control of microgrids.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Power and Communications Hardware-in-the-Loop CPS Architecture and Platform for DER Monitoring and Control Applications: Preprint

The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) has prompted increasing interest in the monitoring and control of DERs through hybrid smart grid communications. The deployment of communications and computation has transformed the traditional physical power grid into a smart cyber-physical system (CPS). To fully understand the interdependency between physical grid and cyber netowrks, this study designed a power and communications hardware-in-the-loop (PCommHIL) CPS architecture, which enables the flexible verification of DER monitoring and control with hybrid communications architectures and Internet protocols. Design, development and case study of a PCommHIL testbed for the DER coordination are discussed in detail, and the proposed platform integrates DER devices, Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMIs), and a suite of hybrid communications networks for distribution automation applications. Case study on DER situational awareness and Volt-Var control validates the efficacy of this proposed PCommHIL platform with hybrid communications designs. Results show that the HAN communication technologies play a critical role in hybrid designs and it is the bottleneck for DER applications. High performance communication technologies are highly recommended to be applied in the HAN for enhanced monitoring and real-time control of DERs.

AMIs↗

NASA Global Hawk: A New Tool for Earth Science Research

This slide presentation reviews the Global Hawk, a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that NASA plans to use for Earth Sciences research. The Global Hawk is the world's first fully autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft, and is capable of conducting long duration missions. Plans are being made for the use of the aircraft on missions in the Arctic, Pacific and Western Atlantic Oceans. There are slides showing the Global Hawk Operations Center (GHOC), Flight Control and Air Traffic Control Communications Architecture, and Payload Integration and Accommodations on the Global Hawk. The first science campaign, planned for a study of the Pacific Ocean, is reviewed.

Hall, Phill↗

Integrated command, control, communications and computation system functional architecture

The functional architecture for an integrated command, control, communications, and computation system applicable to the command and control portion of the NASA End-to-End Data. System is described including the downlink data processing and analysis functions required to support the uplink processes. The functional architecture is composed of four elements: (1) the functional hierarchy which provides the decomposition and allocation of the command and control functions to the system elements; (2) the key system features which summarize the major system capabilities; (3) the operational activity threads which illustrate the interrelationahip between the system elements; and (4) the interfaces which illustrate those elements that originate or generate data and those elements that use the data. The interfaces also provide a description of the data and the data utilization and access techniques.

Cooley, C. G.↗

Selection of a Data Acquisition and Controls System Communications and Software Architecture for Johnson Space Center's Space Environment Simulation Laboratory Thermal and Vacuum Test Facilities

Upgrade of data acquisition and controls systems software at Johnson Space Center's Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) involved the definition, evaluation and selection of a system communication architecture and software components. A brief discussion of the background of the SESL and its data acquisition and controls systems provides a context for discussion of the requirements for each selection. Further framework is provided as upgrades to these systems accomplished in the 1990s and in 2003 are compared to demonstrate the role that technological advances have had in their improvement. Both of the selections were similar in their three phases; 1) definition of requirements, 2) identification of candidate products and their evaluation and testing and 3) selection by comparison of requirement fulfillment. The candidates for the communication architecture selection embraced several different methodologies which are explained and contrasted. Requirements for this selection are presented and the selection process is described. Several candidates for the software component of the data acquisition and controls system are identified, requirements for evaluation and selection are presented, and the evaluation process is described.

Jordan, Eric A.↗

Constellation's Command, Control, Communications and Information (C3I) Architecture

Operations concepts are highly effective for: 1) Developing consensus; 2) Discovering stakeholder needs, goals, objectives; 3) Defining behavior of system components (especially emergent behaviors). An interoperability standard can provide an excellent lever to define the capabilities needed for system evolution. Two categories of architectures are needed in a program of this size are: 1) Generic - Needed for planning, design and construction standards; 2) Specific - Needed for detailed requirement allocations, interface specs. A wide variety of architectural views are needed to address stakeholder concerns, including: 1) Physical; 2) Information (structure, flow, evolution); 3) Processes (design, manufacturing, operations); 4) Performance; 5) Risk.

constellation↗

Nested Microgrids for Increased Grid Resiliency

The article presents a control and communication architecture for interconnecting multiple microgrids by leveraging IEC 61850 data models with distributed energy resources (DER) extensions, IEC Common Information Model (CIM) and Open Field Message Bus (OpenFMB) frameworks. An example use case for planned islanding in the nested microgrid scenario is also provided.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A MW scale charging architecture for supporting extreme fast charging of heavy-duty electric vehicles

Extreme fast charging of electric vehicles technologies is coming. Heavy duty electric vehicles (HD-EVs) are in development and are expected to have multipliers bigger in battery capacity compared to the light duty counterparts. To meet short charging times, MW charging will be necessary. This paper presents a MW scale extreme DC fast charger with a communication and control architecture for HD-EVs. The system is validated in a controller hardware in the loop platform.

Starke, Michael↗

On Distributed Model-Free Reinforcement Learning Control with Stability Guarantee

Distributed learning can enable scalable and effective decision making in numerous complex cyber-physical systems such as smart transportation, robotics swarm, power systems, etc. However, the stability of the system is usually not guaranteed in most existing learning paradigms; and this limitation can hinder the wide deployment of machine learning in decision making of safety-critical systems. This paper presents a stability guaranteed distributed reinforcement learning (SGDRL) framework for interconnected linear subsystems, without knowing the subsystem models. While the learning process requires data from a peer-to-peer (p2p) communication architecture, the control implementation of each subsystem is only based on its local state. The stability of the interconnected subsystems will be ensured by a diagonally dominant eigenvalue condition, which will then be used in a model-free RL algorithm to learn the feedback control gains. The RL algorithm structure follows an off-policy iterative framework, with interleaved policy evaluation and policy update steps. We numerically validate our theoretical results by performing simulations on four interconnected sub-systems.

Mukherjee, Sayak↗

An Intelligent Power Electronic System for Secondary Use Batteries

This paper presents a plug-and-play power electronic system for integration of multiple energy storage system technologies. The system uses a communication and control architecture with individual developed modules to support scaling to larger systems for the electric grid. An optimization framework is also presented to demonstrate the functionality of the system. This system is shown to work in hardware with a constructed testbed to demonstrate different use cases and systems. Results are presented for a full efficiency cycle test.

Starke, Michael↗

A Low Voltage DC Power Electronic Hub to Support Buildings

This paper presents the communication, control, and architecture, for a low voltage (nominal 480V) hybrid AC/DC microgrid for supporting small commercial buildings with critical data center loads. The proposed system is based on a dc-power electronic hub (PEH) that seamlessly integrates renewable energy resources, energy storage, and back-up generation to support commercial building economical energy management and reliability. This PEH concept provides a parallelization of critical power to the commercial and industrial buildings leading to increased efficiency and reliability compared to traditional uninterruptable power supplies. The demonstration of the proposed PEH architecture and controls is conducted through a controller hardware in the loop validation.

Starke, Michael↗

A Review of Current Research Trends in Power-Electronic Innovations in Cyber–Physical Systems

Here, in this article, a broad overview of the current research trends in power-electronic innovations in cyber–physical systems (CPSs) is presented. The recent advances in semiconductor device technologies, control architectures, and communication methodologies have enabled researchers to develop integrated smart CPSs that can cater to the emerging requirements of smart grids, renewable energy, electric vehicles, trains, ships, the Internet of Things (IoT), and so on. The topics presented in this article include novel power-distribution architectures, protection techniques considering large renewable integration in smart grids, wireless charging in electric vehicles, simultaneous power and information transmission, multihop network-based coordination, power technologies for renewable energy and smart transformer, CPS reliability, transactive smart railway grid, and real-time simulation of shipboard power systems. It is anticipated that the research trends presented in this article will provide a timely and useful overview to the power-electronics researchers with broad applications in CPSs.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Centralized and Decentralized Optimal Control of Variable Speed Heat Pumps

Utility service providers are often challenged with the synchronization of thermostatically controlled loads. Load synchronization, as a result of naturally occurring and demand-response events, has the potential to damage power distribution equipment. Because thermostatically controlled loads constitute most of the power consumed by the grid at any given time, the proper control of such devices can lead to significant energy savings and improved grid stability. The contribution of this paper is the development of an optimal control algorithm for commonly used variable speed heat pumps. By means of selective peer-to-peer communication, our control architecture allows for the regulation of home temperatures while simultaneously minimizing aggregate power consumption, and aggregate load volatility. An optimal centralized controller is also explored and compared against its decentralized counterpart.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Multi-layered Resilient Microgrid Networks

Distribution grid resilience, especially when the grid is under high penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), e.g. PV and energy storage, is essential to ensure the quality of electric power services. The resiliency aspect is particularly important for critical loads that typically include hospitals, police/fire stations, and national security facilities. Networks of multiple interconnected reconfigurable microgrids help to increase renewable energy penetration and may be used as basic building blocks for implementing future resilient power grids. However, this integration requires additional layers of communications, both horizontal and vertical, which may substantially increase the potential cyber attack surfaces as well as escalate risks for wide-spread malfunctions of automation systems. The Mulit-layered Resilient Microgrid Networks project is an industry-academic collaboration between ABB, Duke Energy and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) that has developed and demonstrated a cyber-physical resilient control and communication architecture for deployment of multiple microgrid networks, as well as retrofitting the existing distribution grids by increasing DER penetration levels.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Cyber-physical Resilient Interoperable Microgrid Networks

The paper presents the results of an industry-academic collaboration between ABB, Duke Energy and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) that has developed and demonstrated a cyberphysical resilient control and communication architecture for deployment of multiple microgrid networks, as well as retrofitting the existing distribution grids by increasing DER penetration levels.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Architecture Design and Validation for Autonomous Energy Systems

The architecture presentation discusses the requirement grid architecture design to integrate AES capabilities. Three NREL projects that cover control, communication, and operation architectures are discussed as reference AES implementations. Testing platforms and capabilities such as ADMS test bed are introduced to validate AES solutions and developed architectures.

architecture design↗

Distributed microprocessors in a tactical universal modem

The distributed microprocessor system associated with a wideband signal conversion unit (WBSCU) is described. Multiple embedded 8086 and 2901 microprocessors, supported by dedicated hardware modules, perform the required real time operations for both transmit and receive functions. Commands from a host computer determine the configuration of the WBSCU via the IEEE 488 bus. Each of the four WBSCU channels is assigned to process a specified IF waveform; each channel configures its own resources and, in some cases, borrows resources from other channels. The processed waveform data is communicated from individual channels to redundant global memories. Data flow between the user community and global memories occurs via redundant 1553 buses through intelligent Bus Interface Units. Each WBSCU channel contains one 2901 bit slice machine and one 8086 microprocessor. The 2901 provides high speed processing capability for the most time critical operations. The 8086 is used for lower speed processing tasks where its high level language capability can be better exploited. Each 8086 has a global bus for wideband interprocessor communication, and a local bus for 8086/2901, master/slave communication. Software architecture consists of a control and communications structure governing mode dependent signal processing tasks.

Gray, D. M.↗

Communication Needs Assessment for Distributed Turbine Engine Control

Control system architecture is a major contributor to future propulsion engine performance enhancement and life cycle cost reduction. The control system architecture can be a means to effect net weight reduction in future engine systems, provide a streamlined approach to system design and implementation, and enable new opportunities for performance optimization and increased awareness about system health. The transition from a centralized, point-to-point analog control topology to a modular, networked, distributed system is paramount to extracting these system improvements. However, distributed engine control systems are only possible through the successful design and implementation of a suitable communication system. In a networked system, understanding the data flow between control elements is a fundamental requirement for specifying the communication architecture which, itself, is dependent on the functional capability of electronics in the engine environment. This paper presents an assessment of the communication needs for distributed control using strawman designs and relates how system design decisions relate to overall goals as we progress from the baseline centralized architecture, through partially distributed and fully distributed control systems.

Culley, Dennis E.↗