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At least 307 records · Page 17

High-Power Electric Vehicle Charging Hub Integration Platform (eCHIP): Design Guidelines and Specifications for DC Distribution-Based Charging Hub

Managed under U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded EVs@Scale Consortium, High-Power Electric Vehicle Charging Hub Integration Platform (eCHIP) project aims to design and develop a high-power, interoperable charging experimental platform to research, develop, and demonstrate the integration and control approaches for a DC distribution-based high-power charging (HPC) system. The eCHIP project addresses the crucial need to design and validate efficient, low-cost, reliable, and interoperable solutions for DC-coupled charging hub ('DC hub' for short). This report explains the design, development, and implementation process of the experimental platform for the DC hub. The utilization of DC distribution holds significant potential for enhancing the operation of an HPC station architecture. However, there are challenges establishing the DC hub, including interoperability, commoditization, distributed energy resource integration, stability, DC protection, and lack of common system level controllers. To address these challenges, a testing setup is required that accommodates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products as well as novel, in-house designed solutions to evaluate different use cases at rated power and voltage levels.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Tailoring the Reaction Heterogeneity for Robust Li‐Rich Cathodes

The practical application of Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides (LLO) cathode is hindered by severe capacity and voltage degradation resulting from severe oxygen release and irreversible phase transition. In this work, the reaction heterogeneity, which describes the spatially resolved electrochemical divergence within individual cathode particles, is engineered through compositional gradient design to couple Li + transport kinetics and the anion redox activity between particle interiors and surfaces. It is revealed that Co/Mn concentration gradient within particles creates heterogeneous phase content distribution and structural ordering, inducing surface-bulk reaction heterogeneity that significantly impacts the overall electrochemical performance. Specifically, Li 2 MnO 3 -poor and Co-enriched surface effectively mitigates the oxygen loss and enhances electrochemical reaction kinetics, benefited from the reduced surface redox reactivity and induced highly ordered intra-layered cationic arrangement. Meanwhile, the Li 2 MnO 3 -enriched core with slight Li/Ni intermixing provides high reversible capacity and strong mechanical stability. Consequently, the greatly enhanced anion redox reversibility, Li + diffusion dynamics, and structure stability endow LLO with exceptional electrochemical properties, showing a capacity retention of 86.0% and a reduced voltage decay of 0.518 mV per cycle after 500 cycles at 1 C. This work provides a valuable strategy to tailor the redox chemistry and achieve robust LLO.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

EXERGETIC: De-Risking Next-Generation Resilient Geothermal Hybrids via At-Scale Evaluation Using Virtual Emulation Digital Twin Environment for Efficient Operation

The DOE-GTO-funded project, award number 5.1.2.12, entitled "EXERGETIC - De-risking Next Generation Resilient Geothermal Hybrids via at-Scale Evaluation Using a Virtual Emulation Digital Twin Environment for Efficient Operation," advances the solution to these challenges by developing and validating a geothermal co-emulation environment implemented at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)'s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform. This framework enables the de-risking of next-generation geothermal and geothermal hybrid systems through high-fidelity modeling, real-time digital emulation, advanced control strategies, and techno-economic assessment. The project focused on geothermal hybrid configurations that integrate geothermal power plants with concentrated solar power and underground thermal energy storage, enabling enhanced efficiency, flexibility, and grid support capabilities. The main goal of this project was the development of a geothermal digital co-emulation environment to demonstrate the technical and economic value of geothermal hybrid systems and their contribution to grid stability and flexibility. The EXERGETIC framework combined physics-based models, controls, and real assets at ARIES, including digital real-time simulators (DRTS), a 20-MW-scale controllable grid interface (CGI), and a 2-MW conventional generator. Detailed transient models were developed for the key subsystems of a hybrid geothermal plant, including parabolic trough solar collectors, reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES), and a binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant. The ORC model explicitly captured thermal inertia and off-design operation and integrated control strategies to dynamically respond to electric load profiles. The models were validated against published experimental and numerical studies, demonstrating strong agreement and confirming the accuracy and robustness of the modeling approach. The resulting digital twin represents geothermal-solar-storage systems at multiple scales (1 MW to 100 MW) and enables realistic emulation of grid-connected operation. The control architecture allows the geothermal resource to provide stable baseload generation, while solar and stored thermal energy supply flexible, dispatchable support during periods of high demand or variable grid conditions. A key contribution of the EXERGETIC project is the demonstration that geothermal hybrid systems can be designed to be active grid assets rather than passive baseload generators. Using the ARIES platform, the digital twin was evaluated under multiple grid scenarios, including load following, voltage support at the distribution level, and frequency response at the transmission level. Results show that hybrid geothermal systems can respond effectively to dynamic grid conditions, providing inertia-like behavior, primary frequency support, and voltage regulation through coordinated control. In addition to the performance and grid services capability analysis of geothermal and hybrid geothermal systems, the EXERGETIC project also focused on scalability and techno-economic analysis of geothermal hybrid plants. In particular, for the scalability analysis, machine-learning (ML)-based surrogate models were trained using data generated from the geothermal digital twin under different grid-connected scenarios and plant capacities. These ML models demonstrated strong interpolation and extrapolation capabilities across plant sizes, accurately reproducing both steady-state and transient responses with very low errors. Regarding the techno-economic analysis, plant performance results were integrated with cost models for hybrid geothermal systems, and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was used as the main economic metric to evaluate system performance across a range of system capacities, solar shares, solar multiples, and storage durations. Results indicate that economies of scale significantly reduce geothermal LCOE as plant capacity increases, with large-scale systems (25-100 MW) achieving substantially lower costs than small plants. Hybridization with solar thermal energy and storage further improves economic performance by increasing capacity utilization and enabling flexible dispatch. In addition, thermal storage plays a critical role in reducing LCOE by maximizing geothermal, solar, and stored energy resources. In summary, the results from this project demonstrate that geothermal hybrid systems represent a promising alternative for increasing the energy conversion efficiency of geothermal technologies, contributing to the preservation of geothermal resources, and supporting the transition of geothermal plants from traditional baseload resources into flexible, resilient, and cost-competitive energy conversion technologies.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Multi-Level Optimal Power Flow Solver in Large Distribution Networks: Preprint

Solving optimal power flow (OPF) problem for large distribution networks incurs high computational complexity. We consider a large multi-phase distribution networks of tree topology with deep penetration of active devices. We divide the network into collaborating areas featuring subtree topology and subareas featuring subsubtree topology. We design a multi-level implementation of the primal-dual gradient algorithm for solving the voltage regulation OPF problems while preserving nodal voltage information and topological information within areas and subareas. Numerical results on a 4,521-node system verifies that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve computational speed without compromising any optimality.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

MULTI-FIDELITY MODELING AND UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION OF INVERTER BASED RESOURCES IN INTEGRATED T&D SYSTEMS

Uncertainty quantification plays a pivotal role in improving the accuracy and reliability of inverter operation within modern power systems that are increasingly dominated by inverter-based resources (IBRs). IBRs, especially those operating under grid forming (GFM) control, rely heavily on a complex set of control parameters and system measurements to maintain voltage, frequency, and power balance. Traditional deterministic modeling approaches often fail to capture these parameter deviations, potentially resulting in suboptimal control actions, reduced system stability, or even instability under high penetration of IBRs. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of model calibration and uncertainty quantification (UQ) principles to an integrated transmission and distribution (T&D) model involving a GFM converter and provide a framework for prioritizing control improvements, guiding robust design, and informing adaptive strategies that can accommodate real-time variability in system conditions. The proposed approach could be valuable in enhancing the robustness of current and future power systems under increased IBR penetrations.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Measurement of needle and armature dynamics in a gasoline direct injector by high-speed neutron imaging

In modern spark ignition engines, precise delivery of fuel with gasoline direct injection has become increasingly important in the effort to meet ever stricter efficiency and emissions regulations. Use of multiple small close-coupled injections has become more common in attempt to precisely control fuel distribution in the cylinder, but these strategies are hindered by nonlinear injection effects due to operation in the ballistic region of the solenoid-operated valve and due to armature bounce at the end of injection. Understanding the internal dynamics of the injector is crucial to minimizing and controlling non-linearity and shot-to-shot variation, but the experimental techniques available to date are capable only of tracking the position of either the top of the needle (via laser sensors or by monitoring current and voltage in the solenoid coil) or the bottom of the needle (via transparent nozzles or high-speed x-ray imaging). Furthermore, a complete picture of the axial and radial motion of valve needle has until now remained elusive. In this work, we present high-speed ensemble neutron transmission imaging of an entire 8-hole gasoline direct injector operating at 200 bar, allowing for both visualization and quantification of the actuation dynamics including lift and wobble of the valve ball, oscillation and bending of the valve needle, lift, rocking, and bounce of the armature, compression of the springs, and radial swelling of the solenoid during energization. Because neutrons offer high penetration through the metal injector while also being sensitive to the 1 H nuclei in fuel molecules, it is also possible to simultaneously see the fluid dynamics of the injection process, including filling of the sac volume, emanation of the spray through the nozzle holes and into the downstream gas, and the formation and evolution of fuel films on the tip of the injector and the walls of the spray container.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Off-policy deep reinforcement learning with automatic entropy adjustment for adaptive online grid emergency control

Electric overloading conditions and contingencies put modern power systems at risk of voltage collapse and blackouts. Load shedding is crucial to maintain voltage stability for grid emergency control. However, the rule- or model-based schemes rely on accurate dynamic system models and face considerable challenges in adapting to various operating conditions and uncertain event occurrences. Here, to address these issues, this paper proposes a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based voltage stability control algorithm with automatic entropy adjustment (AEA) for grid emergency control. Various dynamic network components for complex system operations are modeled to construct the DRL environment. An off-policy soft actor-critic architecture is developed to maximize the expected reward and policy entropy simultaneously. The AEA mechanism is proposed to facilitate the policy maximum entropy procedure, and the proposed method can automatically provide effective discrete and continuous actions against various fault scenarios. Our approach accomplishes high sampling efficiency, scalability, and auto-adaptivity of the control policies under high uncertainties. Comparative studies with the existing DRL-based control methods in IEEE benchmarks indicate salient performance improvement of the proposed method for dynamic system emergency control.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Quantifying concentration distributions in redox flow batteries with neutron radiography

Abstract The continued advancement of electrochemical technologies requires an increasingly detailed understanding of the microscopic processes that control their performance, inspiring the development of new multi-modal diagnostic techniques. Here, we introduce a neutron imaging approach to enable the quantification of spatial and temporal variations in species concentrations within an operating redox flow cell. Specifically, we leverage the high attenuation of redox-active organic materials (high hydrogen content) and supporting electrolytes (boron-containing) in solution and perform subtractive neutron imaging of active species and supporting electrolyte. To resolve the concentration profiles across the electrodes, we employ an in-plane imaging configuration and correlate the concentration profiles to cell performance with polarization experiments under different operating conditions. Finally, we use time-of-flight neutron imaging to deconvolute concentrations of active species and supporting electrolyte during operation. Using this approach, we evaluate the influence of cell polarity, voltage bias and flow rate on the concentration distribution within the flow cell and correlate these with the macroscopic performance, thus obtaining an unprecedented level of insight into reactive mass transport. Ultimately, this diagnostic technique can be applied to a range of (electro)chemical technologies and may accelerate the development of new materials and reactor designs.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Impact of metal diffusion, lattice distortions, native defects, and ambient on dielectric breakdown in Ni–Ga 2 O 3 Schottky diodes

Ga 2 O 3 unipolar devices are of high interest due to their ~8 MV/cm predicted breakdown fields, which have not yet been achieved due to premature device failure. Pre- and post-failure defect analysis of Ni–Ga 2 O 3 Schottky diodes in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and air were performed using depth-resolved cathodoluminescence, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis to understand the physical mechanisms that precede premature breakdown. The breakdown voltage in UHV was dramatically reduced by nearly 40% compared with the breakdown in air. This reduction in the breakdown voltage correlated with post-breakdown differences in Ni distribution, indicating that the coordination and bonding of Ni contribute strongly to electrical behavior in Ni–Ga 2 O 3 Schottky diodes. Breakdown studies in UHV revealed that Ni diffuses away more from the metal–semiconductor interface than with air breakdown, where Ni localizes more near the interface, indicative of the preferential formation of a Ni oxide under O-poor conditions. These measurements also identified the formation of divacancy-interstitial complexes and their characteristic luminescence signature ~150 nm from the interface, the densities of which correlated with breakdown fields. These findings show that electric-field-induced degradation occurs via the rearrangement of native point defects, which act as an additional precursor to device failure. Macroscopically, they show the impact of both vacuum conditions and metal reactivity on Ga 2 O 3 device fabrication.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermal Modeling and Limitations for Power Electronics Embedded in Medium-Voltage Cables

As next-generation energy technologies gain traction and power demand increases, the existing electrical infrastructure faces significant stress, prompting innovative solutions to enhance the grid's capacity and lifespan. This work explores the possibility of embedding medium-voltage (MV) power electronics directly inline with the cable, and the resulting thermal challenges. Since the majority of power distribution cables installed in the U.S. are passively cooled, the work focuses primarily on passive cooling, with an emphasis on the limitations of axial heat spreading within the cable. To date, literature on axial spreading of high incident heat loads on cables and cable environments is limited, typically reporting cases with <10 W of incident heat load. This work will explore the considerations, limits, and tradeoffs of cable-embedded heat loads significantly larger than the cable losses. Both external and internal effects are modeled analytically in nondimensional terms via a Biot number analysis, allowing fundamental limits and tradeoffs to be derived. The work culminates in the design and experimental validation of a cable-embedded thermal system capable of passively dissipating 300 W of heat from a coaxial SiC mosfet switch module over a length of 20 cm, thus validating the possibility of MV cable-embedded power electronics from a thermal standpoint.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

New Modulation and Impact of Transformer Leakage Inductance on Current-Source Solid-State Transformer

This article presents a novel modulation scheme for device voltage stress mitigation and comprehensive analysis of the impact of transformer leakage inductance in a current-source solid-state transformer (SST). Different from dual active bridge (DAB) SST, the operation of the current-source SST is similar to that of a flyback converter. The device bridge on only one side of the transformer is active to store energy into or release energy from the magnetizing inductance which acts as a current-source dc link. Such flyback operation with reverse-blocking switches can lead to additional device voltage stress and incomplete zero-voltage switching (ZVS) on the current-source soft-switching solid-state transformer (S4T) under conventional modulation. A new modulation scheme is proposed to address this issue. Moreover, different from the DAB, the leakage inductance of the medium-frequency transformer (MFT) in the S4T is a parasitic element similar to that in a matrix SST and can cause additional device voltage stress. Though the resonant capacitors, originally added to achieve ZVS, can absorb and recycle the leakage energy in the S4T, these capacitors need to be increased with larger leakage inductances to limit the voltage stress. However, large resonant capacitors can result in more lost duty cycles and reduced efficiency. The impact of such leakage inductance on device voltage stress is analyzed comprehensively, which is critical to guide future research and design of the S4T. Experimental results from S4T prototypes for DC-DC, multiport AC-DC, and AC-AC conversion with 1:1 and 4:1 MFT comprehensively verify the proposed concepts. Lastly, a case study of a three-phase AC-AC S4T over a power range from 1 kVA to 100 kVA each module reveals that the MFT leakage inductance should be less than 1% of the magnetizing inductance for safe operation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Improved Control Strategy of Grid-Forming Inverters for Fault Ride-Through in a Microgrid System

This paper develops an improved control strategy of grid-forming (GFM) inverters with fault ride-through (FRT) capabilities to guarantee the stable operation of microgrids under fault conditions, especially islanded microgrids and asymmetrical faults. The proposed control strategy includes the dual control of positive-sequence and negative-sequence control as well as the adaptive virtual impedance (VI) control. Unlike existing works, the proposed strategy applies the VI control for only the d component of the positive-sequence control and leaves the q component of the positive-sequence control and the dq component of the negative-sequence control as zero, thus achieving improved stability and balanced three-phase voltages under asymmetrical faults. The adaptive feature of the VI control guarantees the stability of the GFM inverter under severe faults, which could cause the saturation of the inner current loop, and the instability if the VI is not adaptive. Simulation results of various unbalanced faults with high and low fault impedances show that the proposed control strategy improves the stability of the GFM inverter and achieves stable and balanced output voltages in islanded microgrids. And the algorithm also improves the stability of GFM inverters under balanced faults with high and low fault impedances.

adaptive virtual impedance control↗

Protection System Validation with Machine Learning Anomaly Classification

A poster for the Early Career Poster Session. Power system protection devices have transitioned over the past few decades from mechanical to analog devices, then to solid state and finally digital. Relays and their associated critical network of equipment have significantly increased in complexity. Even internally, relays have gained significant intricacy, with relatively simple overcurrent or differential functions now being assisted by a myriad of other functions. This is necessary as the grid becomes more complex, but it brings increased difficulty in monitoring and upkeep. Misoperation caused by improper relay settings or malicious actions is a constant challenge faced by all utilities. These improper settings can be difficult to identify and may require exhaustive post-mortem analysis, typically after a major outage event has already occurred. A mechanism is needed for monitoring the behavior of protection systems to validate that they act and perform as expected. This work presents a concept for a machine learning (ML) system capable of validating the performance of protection systems by classifying anomalous events and characterizing protection system responses based solely on available current and voltage measurements. As a first step in its development, an experimental dataset is generated, and a random forest model is implemented with high accuracy in distinguishing four power system scenarios.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Improved Control Strategy of Grid-Forming Inverters for Fault Ride-Through in a Microgrid System

This paper develops an improved control strategy of grid-forming (GFM) inverters with fault ride-through capabilities to guarantee the stable operation of microgrids under fault conditions, especially islanded microgrids and asymmetrical faults. The proposed control strategy includes the dual control of positive-sequence and negative-sequence control as well as the adaptive virtual impedance (VI) control. Unlike existing works, the proposed strategy applies the VI control for only the d component of the positive-sequence control and leaves the q component of the positive-sequence control and the dq component of the negative-sequence control as zero, thus achieving improved stability and balanced three-phase voltages under asymmetrical faults. The adaptive feature of the VI control guarantees the stability of the GFM inverter under severe faults, which could cause the saturation of the inner current loop and instability if the VI is not adaptive. Simulation results of various unbalanced faults with high- and low-fault impedances show that the proposed control strategy improves the stability of the GFM inverter and achieves stable and balanced output voltages in islanded microgrids. And the algorithm also improves the stability of GFM inverters under balanced faults with high- and low-fault impedances.

adaptive virtual impedance control↗

Industry Scan of Non-SF6 Gas-Insulated Technologies

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF 6 ) is a specialty gas with excellent electrical insulation properties which has been used extensively in the power industry. This gas is unfortunately also one of the most potent greenhouse gases known to humanity. A 2014 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that SF 6 has a global warming potential (GWP) 23,000 times higher than Carbon Dioxide, and has the highest GWP of all gases assessed (Myhre 2013). SF 6 is almost exclusively man-made and is produced for use as an insulator in high voltage electrical equipment. This makes the production and use of SF 6 one of the leading sources of anthropogenic climate change. Since SF 6 recognition as a significant contributor to climate change, most governments and organizations have sought ways to reduce or eliminate their use of this gas. Many utilities have initiated leak monitoring and repair programs which have significantly reduced emissions of this gas into the atmosphere. While leak reduction programs have been effective at reducing emission rates in the developed world, leak rates remain frozen at ~1% annually. However, one of the largest and fastest growing markets for this gas is in the developing world where emissions standards are often lacking (P&S Intelligence. 2023). To fully eliminate the environmental impacts of SF 6 , alternative technology is needed. The ideal replacement would be a technology that can fulfil the same role as SF 6 , at the same cost or cheaper, but without adverse environmental effects. Currently, no technology fits this description, however several promising technologies have begun to enter the market. This report was commissioned by the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity under the Transformer Resilience and Advanced Components (TRAC) program to assess the state of industry adoption and manufacturing capability for SF 6 -free alternative technologies for use at the high-voltage level, and the primary barriers to broader adoption. While this report is tailored to the United States, the findings should be relevant to all stakeholders seeking to reduce SF 6 emissions.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A Hybrid Optimization and Deep Learning Algorithm for Cyber-Resilient DER Control

With the proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the distribution grid, it is a challenge to effectively control a large number of DERs resilient to the communication and security disruptions, as well as to provide the online grid services, such as voltage regulation and virtual power plant (VPP) dispatch. To this end, a hybrid feedback-based optimization algorithm along with deep learning forecasting technique is proposed to specifically address the cyber-related issues. The online decentralized feedback-based DER optimization control requires timely, accurate voltage measurement from the grid. However, in practice such information may not be received by the control center or even be corrupted. Therefore, the long short-term memory (LSTM) deep learning algorithm is employed to forecast delayed/missed/attacked messages with high accuracy. The IEEE 37-node feeder with high penetration of PV systems is used to validate the efficiency of the proposed hybrid algorithm. The results show that 1) the LSTM-forecasted lost voltage can effectively improve the performance of the DER control algorithm in the practical cyber-physical architecture; and 2) the LSTM forecasting strategy outperforms other strategies of using previous message and skipping dual parameter update.

cyber-resilient algorithm↗

Investigation of Various Transformer Topologies for HF Isolation Applications

High-frequency (HF) transformers are an essential part of many power electronic devices. The performance and behavior of HF transformers can greatly affect the efficiency and performance of all systems, particularly, from a parasitic parameter point of view. In this article, HF transformers' parasitic parameters, such as leakage inductances and parasitic capacitances, are analyzed using a novel analytical method, finite element method (FEM), and experimental measurements of different structures and winding arrangements. Also, the magnetic field, electric field, electric displacement field, and electric potential distribution within the transformers are simulated and analyzed. Four different HF transformers with E and U cores with different windings are designed and analyzed. Investigation outcomes help to classify structures according to the trade-off between leakage inductances and series parasitic capacitances. This information can later be used for the optimal selection and design of transformers as a function of their operating frequency for any power rating and voltage level. Moreover, 3-D FEM and experimental results validate the proposed methodology to be used for designing HF transformers in high-voltage/power applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Hardware-in-the-loop Testing of Network Protectors for Low-Voltage Networks with Distributed Energy Resources

In this report, we developed and validated a network protector relay digital twin model and interfaced a commonly used network protector relay hardware with our real-time simulation system. Hardware-in-the-loop protection studies are performed to assess the impact of distributed energy resources (DER) and benchmark a rate-of-change-based mitigation strategy. Simulation results suggest that the network protector reverse trip and auto-reclose functions are negatively impacted by the high distributed energy resource penetration. To accommodate DER backfeed while remaining secure and reliable for faults on primary feeders, we recommend options for a rate-of-change-based blocking scheme and a protection setting change. Finally, future mitigation ideas and standard revisions are discussed.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗