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At least 37 records · Page 2

Revisiting Power Systems Time-Domain Simulation Methods and Models

The changing nature of power systems dynamics is challenging present practices related to modeling and study of system-level dynamic behavior. While developing new techniques and models to handle the new modeling requirements, it is also critical to review some of the terminology used to describe existing simulation approaches and the embedded assumptions. This article provides a first-principles review of the simplifications and transformations commonly used in the formulation of time-domain simulation models. It introduces a taxonomy and classification of time-domain simulation models depending on their frequency bandwidth, network representation, and software availability. Furthermore, it focuses on the fundamental aspects of averaging techniques, and model reduction approaches that result in modeling choices, and discusses the associated challenges and opportunities of applying these methods in systems with large shares of Inverter Based Resources (IBRs). The article concludes with an illustrative simulation that compares the trajectories of an IBR-dominated system.

behavioral sciences↗

Inclusion of Body-Bias Effect in SPICE Modeling of 4H-SiC Integrated Circuit Resistors

The DC electrical behavior of n-type 4H-SiC resistors used for realizing 500 C durable integrated circuits (ICs) is studied as a function of substrate bias and temperature. Improved fidelity electrical simulation is described using SPICE NMOS model to simulate resistor substrate body bias effect that is absent from the SPICE semiconductor resistor model.

Neudeck, Philip G.↗

Inclusion of Body Bias Effect in SPICE Modeling of 4H-SiC Integrated Circuit Resistors

The DC electrical behavior of n-type 4H-SiC resistors used for realizing 500 degrees Celsius durable integrated circuits (ICs) is studied as a function of substrate bias and temperature. Improved fidelity electrical simulation is described using SPICE NMOS model to simulate resistor substrate body bias effect that is absent from the SPICE semiconductor resistor model.

Neudeck, Philip G.↗

A Generic and Multifunctional Electromagnetic Transient Model for Grid-Following Inverters

This paper presents a generic and multifunctional electromagnetic transient (EMT) dynamic model of grid-following (GFL) inverter-based resources (IBRs) using the PSCAD software platform. The features of the model include flexibility in selecting various types and combinations of DC sources covering photovoltaic modules, battery modules, and ideal DC-source modules as well as flexibility in selecting either switching or averaged models of the inverter. This model also covers exhaustive lists of controller algorithm, including open-loop/closed-loop PQ dispatch control, DC voltage and AC terminal voltage control, and conventional current control designed in the dq-domain, the ..alpha....beta.. -domain, and the positive-/negative-sequence domain. Moreover, this model is equipped with flexibility in selecting various types of current-limiting schemes, including saturation-based and latching-based current limiters, and anti-windup protection. Also, the EMT model is agnostic to the MVA rating and is suitable for interfacing transmission systems by complying with IEEE Std. 2800. The generality in the power circuits and the multifunctional options in the operation and control of the developed EMT model make it suitable for both academia and industry to study various power system aspects, including, but not limited to, the fault behavior of GFL IBRs, the impacts on the protection system, and the transient stability of a system interfaced with large numbers of GFL IBRs.

integrated circuit modeling↗

Visual Analytics of Crosstalk in Quantum Hardware

Crosstalk remains a major obstacle to building scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computers. Conventional diagnostic techniques-often based on numerical simulation or statistical modeling-struggle to scale with hardware complexity and offer limited interpretability. In this work, we present a visual analytics framework for diagnosing qubit crosstalk using lightweight, circuit-based models integrated with an interactive user interface. Our approach quantifies correlations between active and idle qubits under parameterized single- and twoqubit operations, enabling detection of both spatial and gateinduced crosstalk. The system incorporates qubit topology and gate performance data to support sector-based exploration and correlation mapping. This tool assists users in identifying correlated error sources, informing qubit placement strategies, and guiding noise-aware circuit design.

Chae, Junghoon [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000206016746)↗

Modeling and ZVS Operation of the Isolated Modular Multilevel DC–DC Converter With a Unified Trapezoidal Wave Modulation

Here, this article introduces a unified trapezoidal wave (UTW) modulation scheme for the isolated modular multilevel dc–dc (IM2dc) converter, which consolidates multiple existing modulation strategies for the IM2dc converter, including the quasi-square wave (QSW) modulation, trapezoidal wave modulation, and sinusoidal wave modulation, into a unified framework. Furthermore, this article introduces the harmonic state-space (HSS) equations to model the IM2dc converter based on the UTW modulation method. The HSS model operates in the frequency domain, enabling it to circumvent the complexities associated with time-domain analysis and seamlessly integrate with the UTW modulation. This article proceeds to analyze the real and reactive power transfer characteristics of the IM2dc converter, as well as the power factor, considering the influence of multiple modulation parameters. Subsequently, it delves into the examination of zero voltage switching (ZVS) conditions for the IM2dc converter based on the UTW modulation and the HSS model. The complete ZVS boundaries of the IM2dc converter, taking various voltage ratios into account, are derived. This article also illustrates the effects of including harmonic orders in the modeling process, modulation parameters, and internal harmonic ripples on the ZVS boundaries. Finally, experimental validation of the analyses is conducted on a down-scaled prototype.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Modeling the Impacts of Material Properties on Oscillatory Neuron Behavior

In this study, neuromorphic computing, which mimics the functions of biological brains, offers improvements in both latency and energy efficiency over typical von Neumann computing architectures. Spiking neural networks can be especially power-efficient because they encode information temporally and can use more sparse electrical inputs. Here, we study the design of volatile memristors (variable resistors with memory) for neuronal devices, with particular consideration toward the feasibility of all-on-chip oscillation using built-in capacitance. We use circuit simulations to model the behavior of oscillator neurons with a range of realistic material properties. We find that energy inputs increase with insulating-phase resistivity, thermal conductivity, and device aspect ratio. However, we also find that the minimum capacitance needed for oscillation decreases with increasing insulating-phase resistivity, which opposes the constraints for power efficiency. Based on published data on NbO 2 , VO 2 , and EuNiO 3 , we find that existing materials can be engineered for all-on-chip spiking using their parasitic capacitance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

AutoTG: Reinforcement Learning-Based Symbolic Optimization for AI-Assisted Power Converter Design

Power converters are pervasive in modern electronic component design. They can be found in all electronic devices from household appliances and cellphone chargers to vehicles. Currently, designing new circuit topologies is hard because it requires human expertise based on experience and is difficult to automate. However, artificial-intelligence-assisted design can significantly facilitate the development of new power converters and/or improve the final result. Intelligently designed highly efficient power converters can have a significant effect on many important attributes, such as power efficiency, layout size, cost, heat dissemination, energy requirements, etc. We propose Autonomous Topology Generator (AutoTG), a reinforcement-learning-based framework that generates power converter topology candidates based on user specifications, optimized for user preferences. By modeling power converter design as a symbolic optimization problem, we sequentially sample components in an autoregressive manner until new topologies are formed, providing both the topology specification and the sizing (magnitude of each component parameter) of the proposed power converter. Here, we provide an empirical evaluation and show that AutoTG is able to generate varied high-efficiency topologies within component restrictions based on user input and show that previously unknown topologies can be found for further evaluation.

(AI)-based design↗

Analysis of Defect Irrelevancy in a Non-Insulated REBCO Pancake Coil Using an Electric Network Model

High-temperature superconducting REBCO coated conductor is one of the main candidates for next-generation high field magnets in fusion reactors and particle accelerators owing to their high current-carrying capability. Although these materials can operate at higher temperatures and generate higher magnetic fields than their counterparts with lower critical temperatures, protecting the REBCO magnet against quench is challenging. A variety of candidate technologies that may be able to enable self-protection, including no-insulation technology and insulative coatings with temperature-dependent resistance, are in development. Here, in order to understand current sharing and thermal processes during a quench, we model a REBCO pancake coil as an electrical circuit, considering power generation and heat transfer along conductor turns, and study the current distribution around a local defect with lower critical current. The magnetic field and coil terminal voltage predicted by the simulation was compared to published experimental results. Our results provide useful insights into how current sharing occurs around defects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetostrictive Ultrasonic Waveguide Transducer for In-Pile Thermometry

Real-time and reliable temperature measurement on nuclear fuels is crucial for the safe operation of existing pressurized-water reactors and future advanced nuclear reactors. Magnetostrictive materials deform when subjected to a magnetic field or exhibit magnetization variation when stressed. Here, based on these properties, this study prototyped an ultrasonic thermometer (UT) consisting of a magnetostrictive waveguide, a dc coil providing appropriate magnetic biasing, and an ac coil generating an acoustic impulse and detecting the resulting acoustic echoes. By tracking the time of flight between the excitation pulse and the echoes, the UT can potentially detect nuclear fuel cladding temperature from a long distance. In this study, magnetostrictive iron–gallium alloys, or Galfenol, were selected as the waveguide due to their large magnetostriction, superior temperature survivability, excellent radiation resilience, and high mechanical robustness. A multiphysics finite-element model considering electrical, magnetic, and mechanical dynamics in the magnetostrictive UT was then developed. The model exhibited an error of 0.24% in time-of-flight simulation and, therefore, enabled computer-aided design and guided signal processing. Between room temperature and 120 °C, the new Galfenol-based UT exhibits a linear sensitivity of 162.8×10 ₋6 °C ₋1 , which is 51.7% higher than a previous magnetostrictive UT based on iron–cobalt–vanadium alloys.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Loop Antennas for Use On/Off Ground Planes

Many applications benefit from the ability of an RFID tag to operate both on and off a conducting ground plane. This paper presents an electrically small loop antenna at 433 MHz that passively maintains its free-space tune and match when located a certain distance away from a large conducting ground plane. The design achieves this using a single radiation mechanism (that of a loop) in both environments without the use of a ground plane or EBG/AMC structure. An equivalent circuit model is developed that explains the dual-environment behavior and shows that the geometry balances inductive and capacitive parasitics introduced by the ground plane such that the free-space loop reactance, and thus resonant frequency, does not change. A design equation for balancing the inductive and capacitive parasitic effects is derived. Finally, experimental data showing the design eliminates ground plane detuning in practice is presented. The design is suitable for active, “hard” RFID tag applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Impacts of Non-Ideal Back Contact on Capacitance Measurements in CdTe Solar Cells

CdTe solar cells suffer from a non-ideal back contact which can strongly affect the equivalent circuit model and complicate capacitance measurements. Here, five different back contact materials are deposited on identical CdTe absorbers and their influence on capacitance measurements is characterized. A five-element equivalent circuit model is shown to represent a CdTe solar cell with a non-ideal back contact, and capacitance-frequency (C-f) measurements on each sample clearly show the influence of this contact. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements on each sample show the influence of frequency on measured capacitance. In the AlGaOx/Au sample, temperature dependent C-fs show the back barrier height to be 240 meV, and ongoing measurements will give a comparison of back barrier heights for all samples. This study provides insight into the efficacy of various back contacts and highlights potential errors in the interpretation of capacitance measurements due to the presence of the back contact.

cadmium compounds↗

Defects in RbF - Treated Cu(InxGal-x)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Impact on Voc

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell efficiency is limited by VOC due in large part to bulk defects limiting lifetime, but alkali treatments such as RbF recover some of the VOC loss. In this work, defects in RbF-treated and untreated CIGS were quantitatively characterized using DLTS and DLOS, and three main defects were identified in each sample. The RbF-PDT resulted in a large decrease in the mid-gap trap concentration, which was accompanied by a large improvement in minority carrier lifetime. This lifetime improvement combined with a change in doping accounted for a significant portion of the VOC improvement in the RbF CIGS.

charge carrier lifetime↗

A Neural Network-Based Power Mismatch Elimination Strategy for Integrated Solar and ESS AC/DC Systems (MARS)

The multiport autonomous reconfigurable solar power plant (MARS) is a promising concept for the integration of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) to the transmission ac grid and a high-voltage direct current (HVdc) link. The presence of PV and ESS in each arm of the MARS results in uneven distribution of active power among different submodules (SMs), thereby leading to unbalanced SM capacitor voltages and potentially compromising the system stability. Moreover, in the case of partial shadings, shaded PV SMs will suffer from decreased power injections causing power mismatch in the MARS system. To address this issue, a neural-network-based power mismatch elimination (NNPME) strategy is proposed in this article. The proposed NNPME strategy optimizes ESS usage and leverages both dc and ac circulating currents to facilitate power transfer among the SMs, arms, and phases of the MARS system. Simulation and control hardware-in-the-loop (cHIL) experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed NNPME strategy. Compared with the traditional approaches, the proposed NNPME strategy can significantly enhance system efficiency and ensure stable and continuous operation, even in the presence of uneven power distribution within the MARS system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Aligned carbon nanotubes for 1,000x improvement in computing (CRADA Final Report)

As part of the Cyclotron Road program, the Aligned Carbon team worked to improve and bring to market their technology to manufacture carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for integrated circuits. There are multiple applications which can benefit from the use of CNT based transistors in integrated circuits, including high performance computing, RF data transmission, and biosensing. Each of these applications faces a problem of poor starting CNT material to come to market. Aligned Carbon offers material with the highest ceiling of performance based around a fully aligned, uniform, on-wafer growth of CNTs and our proprietary purification process to remove metallic CNTs leaving only the semi-conducting ones behind. Further, Aligned Carbon has been guided by scalable manufacturing processes that will fit seamlessly into the integrated circuit foundry model of chip fabrication.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Two-dimensional thermal modeling of power monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC's)

Numerical simulations of the two-dimensional temperature distributions for a typical GaAs MMIC circuit are conducted, aiming at understanding the heat conduction process of the circuit chip and providing temperature information for device reliability analysis. The method used is to solve the two-dimensional heat conduction equation with a control-volume-based finite difference scheme. In particular, the effects of the power dissipation and the ambient temperature are examined, and the criterion for the worst operating environment is discussed in terms of the allowed highest device junction temperature.

Fan, Mark S.↗