Electrical Subsystems Research Articles

Prognostics and Health Management for Electrified Aircraft Propulsion: State of the Art and Challenges

Abstract In recent years, the aviation industry has witnessed a transformative wave of innovation in electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP), driven by sustainability and efficiency goals. Integration of novel electrical subsystems, including high-voltage power electronics, motors/generators, and energy storage devices, has introduced intricate complexities. In this context, an intensified focus on prognostics and health management (PHM) is imperative, considering the heightened reliability needs in a transportation propulsion application. This paper extensively analyzes the current state of the art in PHM applicable to various EAP systems and components crucial for the functioning of electric aircraft. Typical fault modes and fault management strategies are analyzed at various levels of systems hierarchy. An integral aspect of our investigation involves the identification of critical gaps within existing PHM frameworks, guiding the research agenda for enhanced reliability and performance. Moreover, the distributed nature and increasing complexity of electric propulsion systems underscore the importance of model-based systems engineering (MBSE). We advocate for the exploration of MBSE not only to inform the design and implementation of PHM solutions but also to facilitate certification and Verification and Validation activities. Additionally, the paper offers insights into existing tools and simulation software packages capable of integrating traditional gas turbine modules with electric subsystems, as well as simulating various faulty conditions in EAP relevant to PHM development. Key gaps in these tools are emphasized, drawing attention to areas that require further refinement and development. This comprehensive exploration aims to pave the way for future advancements in PHM tailored for the unique challenges posed by electric aircraft propulsion systems.

Balancing operational efficiency and regulation performance, for guiding pumped-storage day-ahead scheduling

Pumped-storage plants (PSPs) have significant potential to regulate intermittent energy sources. However, achieving coordinated optimization of regulation stability and operational efficiency has been a long-standing challenge. This study proposes a new soft linking model to address the limitation that current scheduling methods fail to account for both efficiency and second-level stability simultaneously, aiming to improve the day-ahead scheduling strategies for PSP. Firstly, a Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric System (PSHS) model is developed to reflect the regulation stability of PSP, considering the transient characteristics of hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical subsystems. Then, by analyzing transient responses under various operating working conditions, the study integrates the transient variation laws of the power plant into a regulation stability dataset (RSD). Finally, using RSD as the coupling interface, with regulation stability and operational efficiency as the objective functions, a Pumped-Storage Power Day-ahead Scheduling (PSPDS) model is established. An actual PSP is used as a case study to evaluate the effects of four operational scenes with varying optimization objectives on operational efficiency and subsystem performance. The results indicate that controlling load change magnitude and increasing the load decrease working conditions effectively enhance the stability of PSP subsystems. In addition, although the proposed scheduling scheme increases water consumption by 0.0213% compared to traditional scheduling method, it improves regulation stability by at least 15.14%. The findings suggest that a minor compromise in operational efficiency can lead to a significant improvement in regulation stability. This study provides new perspectives and methods for the management and optimization of PSPs.

Mathematical Model of a Nonlinear Electromagnetic Circuit Based on the Modified Hamilton–Ostrogradsky Principle

This paper presents a mathematical model of a typical lumped-parameter electromagnetic assembly, which consists of two subassemblies: one includes a magnetic circuit and the other with selected elements of electric circuits. An interdisciplinary research approach is used, which assumes the use of a modified integral method based on the variational Hamilton–Ostrogradsky principle. The modification of the method is the extension of the Lagrange function by two components. The first one reflects the dissipation of electromagnetic energy in the system, while the second one reflects the effect of external non-potential forces acting on the electromagnetic system. This approach allows for the avoidance of the inconvenience of the classical theory, which assumes the decomposition of the entire integrated system into individual electrical subsystems. The state equations of the electromagnetic subassembly are presented solely on the basis of the energy approach, which in turn allows taking into account various latent motions in the system, because the equations are derived based on non-stationary constraints between subsystems. The adopted theory allows for the formulation of the model of the system in a vector form, which gives much more possibilities for the analysis of higher-order electromagnetic circuits. Another important advantage is that the state equations of the considered electrical object are given in Cauchy normal form. In this way, the equations can be integrated both explicitly and implicitly. The results of computer simulations are presented in graphical form, analysed, and discussed.

Governing of the piezoelectric effect by external fields and strains

Piezoelectricity in quantum rare-earth metallic boron oxides with the coupling between magnetic, electric and elastic subsystem is studied theoretically. It is proved that the change of piezoelectric modules of the considered crystals are proportional to components of the quadrupole susceptibility, which determines the external magnetic and electric fields, strain and temperature dependences of that change. We show why holmium compounds manifest the strongest renormalization among other rare-earth ions in this family of crystals. The reason is in the structure of the low energy term of the electron configuration, depending on spins and orbital moments of 4f electrons.

Enhanced hybrid energy storage system combining battery and supercapacitor to extend nanosatellite lifespan

The power limitations of nanosatellites, particularly during peak demand periods such as data transmission and maneuvering, hinder their operational capabilities. Traditional Electrical Power Subsystems relying solely on batteries face challenges in delivering the necessary power density and maintaining battery life, especially during eclipses. This study proposes an innovative Hybrid Energy Storage System for a 3U nanosatellite, integrating high-energy-density batteries with high-power-density supercapacitors, using an active parallel hybrid topology with two bidirectional converters and an optimal power management strategy. Using MATLAB and Simulink models, the study optimizes the Hybrid Energy Storage System by focusing on minimizing the capacity rate and depth of discharge to extend battery life. Simulation results show a 53.42% reduction in depth of discharge compared to a battery-only system, indicating a significant extension of battery life. Additionally, the proposed system allows for a minimal 2.08% increase in overall mass while maintaining enhanced performance. This research fills a critical gap in the literature by exploring active Hybrid Energy Storage System topologies for spacecraft applications, beyond the traditional passive and semi-active configurations. The innovative power management strategy ensures efficient energy utilization, significantly enhancing the reliability and efficiency of nanosatellite missions. The findings offer a practical solution to improve mission performance and extend the operational lifespan of nanosatellites, paving the way for more robust and capable small satellite deployments.

A Review of Modular Electrical Sub-Systems of Electric Vehicles

Climate change risks have triggered the international community to find efficient solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly produced by the energy, industrial, and transportation sectors. The problem can be significantly tackled by promoting electric vehicles (EVs) to be the dominant technology in the transportation sector. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to increase the scale of EV penetration, which requires simplifying the manufacturing process, increasing the training level of maintenance personnel, securing the necessary supply chains, and, importantly, developing the charging infrastructure. A new modular trend in EV manufacturing is being explored and tested by several large automotive companies, mainly in the USA, the European Union, and China. This modular manufacturing platform paves the way for standardised manufacturing and assembly of EVs when standard scalable units are used to build EVs at different power scales, ranging from small light-duty vehicles to large electric buses and trucks. In this context, modularising EV electric systems needs to be considered to prepare for the next EV generation. This paper reviews the main modular topologies presented in the literature in the context of EV systems. This paper summarises the most promising topologies in terms of modularised battery connections, propulsion systems focusing on inverters and rectifiers, modular cascaded EV machines, and modular charging systems.

Dynamic characteristics of electromechanical coupling of body-suspended drive system for high-speed trains under wheel polygonal wear

Wheel polygonal wear can trigger intense wheel–rail interactions in railway vehicles, posing a significant threat to traffic safety. However, the mechanism and interaction of the influence of wheel polygonal wear on the electromechanical coupling characteristics of high-speed trains remain unclear. Therefore, this paper proposes a joint simulation modelling method that takes into account the integration of the electrical subsystem with the complete mechanical subsystem. A comprehensive analysis is conducted on the dynamic response of the high-speed train’s body-suspended drive system under a wide range of frequency excitations arising from harmonic torque, gear meshing, and wheel polygon wear. The results indicate that the electrical system generates a substantial amount of harmonic frequency components, resulting in a significant increase in the vibration of the train. The wheel polygon wear causes a broadening of the low-frequency resonance band, revealing a relatively prominent observation interval for the dynamic characteristics. Concurrently, it is discovered that the 23rd-order wheel polygon wear excites the system’s resonance frequency, and as the wavelength of the wheel polygon increases, the acceleration vibrations intensify progressively. Research reveals first the interaction of electrical system and mechanical system under wheel polygon wear, especially in the resonance gain characteristics under polygons and harmonic torques.

Electrical design of the flexible imaging diffraction diagnostic for laser experiments (FIDDLE) at the National Ignition Facility (NIF)-Requirements, design, and performance.

The Flexible Imaging Diffraction Diagnostic for Laser Experiments (FIDDLE) is a newly developed diagnostic for imaging time resolved diffraction in experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). It builds on the successes of its predecessor, the Gated Diffraction Development Diagnostic (G3D). The FIDDLE was designed to support eight Daedalus version 2 sensors (six more hCMOS sensors than any other hCMOS-based diagnostic in NIF to date) and an integrated streak camera. We will review the electrical requirements, design, and performance of the electrical subsystems that were created to support this large number of cameras in the FIDDLE. The analysis of the data that the FIDDLE is intended to collect relies heavily on the accurate and well-understood timing of each sensor. We report camera-to-camera timing jitter of less than 100ps rms and sensor integration times of 2.2ns FWHM in 2-2 timing mode. Additionally, diffraction experiments on the NIF produce electric fields (EMI) on the order of 1 kV/m, which have been observed to negatively impact the performance of some electrical components of the FIDDLE. We report on the results of testing hCMOS camera electronics in a similar EMI environment generated in an offline lab. We also summarize the use of a novel approach to using a vector network analyzer as an EMI leak detector to understand and reduce the negative impacts of EMI on the FIDDLE.

Real-time coordinated control strategy for the hybrid electric propulsion system of a flying car with model adaptation and game theory

Coordination among the multiple power components is essential for the hybrid electric propulsion systems since the decision made by one impacts the state and decisions of others due to the coupling mechanical and electrical dynamics. Traditional model-based approaches with weight-sum objectives may result in misleading optimization or even unstable situations because of the inherent poor scalability and synergy. To overcome this issue, this paper proposes a novel game theory-based control strategy with model adaptation mechanism for the hybrid electric flying car to enhance the control performance, system stability, and robustness. Firstly, a control-oriented model of the system is derived with the utilization of the recursive least square parameter estimation method. The non-cooperative game framework is then established with the turboshaft engine subsystem and electric supply subsystem treated as two independent players. The performance of Nash equilibrium solutions with closed-loop and open-loop information structures are investigated where the problem is iteratively solved by exploiting Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle and dynamic programming, respectively. The simulation results demonstrate that the game theory-based controllers can outperform MPC with the weight-sum objectives in terms of control efficiency and robustness improvement and the game theory-based controller with open-loop information structure shows excellent computation efficiency. Moreover, the result of the hardware-in-the-loop experiment demonstrates the real-time performance of the proposed controller.

Hydraulic-mechanical-electrical coupled model framework of variable-speed pumped storage system: Measurement verification and accuracy analysis

With the large-scale operation of wind and solar energy, the demand for energy storage in power grids has increased sharply. As a reliable means of long-term energy storage, the variable-speed pumped-storage power station (VSPSU) is a new development direction for pumped storage that has attracted increasing attention owing to its advantages of more rapid and flexible action. However, accurately predicting the transient process of a VSPSU is a key challenge in its design and operation. The inconsistent time step required for the fine simulation of the hydraulic-machine subsystem (millisecond level) and the electrical subsystem (microsecond level) is the main challenge that hinders the coordination of system simulation efficiency and accuracy and restricts further development of the entire coupling system simulation. Simultaneously, a coupling refinement model verified by multi-condition measurements has not been reported. This paper proposes a VSPSU hydraulic-mechanical-electrical coupling model framework that has been verified experimentally. The innovation of the model framework lies in the realization of the fine solution of the hydraulic and electrical systems through the coupling strategy of the variable simulation step size rather than using model simplification. Based on a real micro-VSPSU system, we conducted experiments under various operating conditions and compared the measurements with the numerical simulation results. The results showed that in the generation mode, the maximum simulation error of the proposed coupling model framework on the hydraulic-mechanical side was 2.29 %, and the maximum simulation error on the electrical side was 9.59 %. Finally, we quantified the contribution of key parameters in the model framework to the dynamic response process and clarified the influence of physical parameters on the transient process in the VSPSU. Compared with conventional models, the advantage of the proposed coupling framework is that it can realize the coupling of a hydraulic-mechanical-electrical system without simplification, which has been verified by measuring multiple working conditions. This framework provides a reliable tool for the parameter design and operation optimization of VSPSU.

Tracking control of robot manipulators actuated by brushless DC motors: Elimination of joint velocity measurements with a robust observer

AbstractThis work introduces an innovative robust partial state feedback controller designed for robotic manipulators actuated by brushless DC motors. The proposed controller/observer structure relies solely on actuator current and robot joint position measurements, while effectively compensating for dynamic uncertainties in both the electrical (actuator dynamics) and mechanical (robot's dynamical terms) subsystems. Specifically, a model–based robust observer, eliminating the need of joint velocity measurements, is combined with a backstepping‐type controller design. As opposed to the previous model based observers that depend on the actual model parameters, the proposed observer structure utilizes the best guest estimates of the system parameters supported with a robust compensation term. This approach eliminates the need for precise knowledge of system parameters of the observer design which is a significant improvement over most of the previous results. This approach ensures the semi‐global, uniformly ultimately bounded joint tracking error signal. The overall stability of the closed‐loop system is affirmed through Lyapunov‐based arguments. Experimental studies conducted on an in‐house‐built two‐link robotic manipulator, actuated by brushless DC motors, are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method.

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)

The motivations are art, elegance, and ethics. Human error and negligence cause 90% of road accidents, making the human the important part in this process while also being the weakest link. Every year, numerous accidents are reported as a result of excessive speed and poor decision-making. According to a logical concept, every 1% increase in velocity increases the probability of a fatal collision by 4% and the risk of a serious collision by 3%. Modern automobiles are a symbiosis of several electrical subsystems that work together to provide a safe and enjoyable driving experience. One of the technologies used in automotive development is the Advanced Driver Assistant System (ADAS). It is a system that monitors different parameters related to the vehicle and its surroundings in order to detect potentially dangerous circumstances early on. Sensors with sophisticated electronics, known as Sensor Network (SN), are already installed in many cars today to accomplish (ADAS) technology. A well-known ADAS is the Adaptive Speed Control system (ASC), Automatic Brake System (ABS), Warning Collision System (WCS), and Legal Restriction System, which are used to avert high-speed accidents. In addition, there are Lane Keeping Systems (LKS) and Lane Change Systems (LCS).

A 3D-Printed Portable UV and Visible Photoreactor for Water Purification and Disinfection Experiments.

Water scarcity and contamination are urgent issues to be addressed. In this context, different materials, techniques, and devices are being developed to mitigate contemporary and forthcoming water constraints. Photocatalysis-based approaches are suitable strategies to address water contamination by degrading contaminants and eliminating microbes. Photoreactors are usually designed to perform photocatalysis in a scalable and standardised way. Few or none have been developed to combine these characteristics with portability, flexibility, and cost effectiveness. This study reports on designing and producing a portable (490 g), low-cost, and multifunctional photoreactor that includes adjustable radiation intensity and two types of wavelengths (UV-A and visible), including combined agitation in a compact mechanism produced through 3D printing technology. The mechanical, electrical, and optical subsystems were designed and assembled into a robust device. It is shown that it is possible to apply radiations that can reach 65 mW/cm2 and 110 mW/cm2 using the installed visible and UV LEDs and apply mechanical agitation up to 200 rpm, all under a ventilated system. Regarding functionality, the photoreactor proof of concept indicated the ability to degrade ~80% and 30% ciprofloxacin under UV and visible irradiation of TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles. The device also showed the ability to eliminate E. coli bacteria, recurring to radiation set-ups and nanoparticles. Therefore, the originally designed and constructed photoreactor concept was characterised and functionally validated as an exciting and flexible device for lab-scaled or outdoor experiments, assuring standardised and comparable results.

Improving the environmental temperature adaptability of an electric temperature measurement subsystem by matching temperature coefficients of substitutable resistors

The electrical temperature measurement subsystem in space gravitational wave detectors requires micro-Kelvin precision in the submillihertz band. However, the low-frequency stability of the measurement circuit, excluding the sensor, is susceptible to environmental temperature fluctuations, closely related to the residual temperature coefficient of the circuit. This paper proposes a method to minimize the residual temperature coefficient for a thermistor-based temperature measurement , enabling the circuit to be mounted on surfaces with less stringent thermal stability requirements. Through extensive testing of resistors with the same nominal resistance, a best-matched pair is selected to compensate for the residual temperature coefficient by replacing two gain resistors in the low-pass filter. Our assessment demonstrates that this matching and replacement process reduces the residual temperature coefficient of the circuit from −0.135 mV K−1 to −0.027 mV K−1, resulting in a significant five-fold improvement in the subsystem’s adaptability to environmental temperatures within the specified frequency band. This method contributes to the development of measurement subsystems that meet stringent stability requirements.

Iterative convex relaxation of unbalanced power distribution system integrated multi-energy systems

This study describes a multi-period, multi-energy operation of a three-phase unbalanced Electric Distribution System (EDS) that coordinates with a District Heating System (DHS) and a Natural Gas (NG) distribution system. The electrical subsystem problem is formulated as a bi-level programming problem, with levels 1 and 2 solving the subsystem’s linearized and relaxed nonlinear versions, respectively. Second-Order Cone Programming (SOCP) and polyhedral relaxations are availed to circumvent the non-convexities involved in the subsystems. The SOCP relaxation for an unbalanced power distribution network is inexact; also, the subsystems applying polyhedral relaxation may not generate a meaningful solution as the relaxations are not tight. Therefore, a solution recovery algorithm is developed for each subsystem to recover a feasible solution from their relaxed counterparts. The successive bound tightening algorithm employing a solution recovery procedure is proposed for each subsystem, improving solution quality and strengthening the relaxations with the desired computational efficiency. The proposed solution strategy to optimize the Multi-Energy System (MES) operation cost is verified on the three-phase IEEE-13 and IEEE-123 bus systems, each coordinating with a 30-node DHS and a 6-bus NG network. The results analyses demonstrate that the proposed solution strategy efficiently achieves an optimal solution, reducing maximum relaxation error below 0.1% for each subsystem. The proposed strategy delivered a 14.58% reduction in real power losses and a 12.73% decrease in phase voltage unbalance rate for the EDS in MES. Furthermore, a 1.96% decrease in operational cost demonstrates the techno-economic benefits of the proposed strategy.

Enhancing urban system resilience to earthquake disasters: Impact of interdependence and resource allocation

During the post-disaster recovery process of the urban system (US), it is critical to understand the interdependencies of critical infrastructure systems (CISs) and strategically allocate resources among them. However, due to the complexity of the problem and the limitations of the perspective, the existing research usually ignores the implicit impact of interdependence and resource allocation on urban resilience. To bridge this gap, this study establishes a multilayer network-based methodological framework to characterize various types of interdependencies between different CISs and integrate the US as a complex “system of systems”. Then, the system functionality of the US under different resource allocation strategies is quantified and optimized by resilience metrics. This proposed framework was demonstrated in a virtual US including a transportation subsystem (TS), an electric power supply subsystem (EPSS), and a community subsystem (CS) under catastrophic earthquakes. The sensitivity of urban resilience to interdependencies is investigated, and the corresponding results reveal that urban resilience is most sensitive to the interdependence between TS and EPSS. In particular, when there exists strong interdependence between the TS and EPSS, the optimal resource allocation strategy to maximize urban resilience is assigning resource allocation coefficients of 0.1, 0.8, and 0.1 for the TS, EPSS, and CS, respectively. These results can be effectively applied in future planning and investment in urban resilience.

Passivity and higher-order sliding mode control for doubly-fed induction generation wind power system

To simplify the model of DGIG and improve the robustness, the variable speed and constant frequency (VSCF) DFIG wind power generation systems from the perspective of energy and robustness were studied. It was based on passivity and sliding mode control (SMC) theory. Firstly, the model of DFIG based on Euler-Lagrange (EL) equations was established, so the original DFIG wind turbine system is divided into electrical and mechanical subsystems. For two subsystems, the electrical subsystem was designed. In contrast, the mechanical subsystem is an energy-consuming system and is stable through selecting suitable design parameters. Hence, the system control algorithm is simplified. A high-order terminal SMC was designed to get a faster speed and better robustness for the speed loop. Simulation results show that the proposed controller is simple and effective. It can guarantee the wind power system outputs constant frequency. The motor speed can also track the reference speed quickly, so the performance of the wind turbine system is improved.

A new perspective on the performance comparison of pure electric buses versus converted electric buses in public transportation systems

Abstract The utilization of electric buses presents a viable solution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the concomitant decrease in fossil fuel consumption. Furthermore, their low-noise operation has the additional benefit of reducing noise pollution, which is a particular issue in large urban areas. This constitutes a significant advantage for public transport systems. Additionally, they provide cost savings in operations and maintenance, which represent a substantial proportion of expenditure for public transport operators. However, the initial purchase cost of electric buses is higher than that of conventional buses (diesel and CNG). This discrepancy can be attributed primarily to the absence of economies of scale in the manufacturing of electric bus subsystems and the substantial expenses associated with non-standardized, disparate technologies, most notably the high-voltage traction battery. The considerable disparity in the upfront cost of electric buses (in comparison to their internal combustion counterparts of equivalent specifications) has prompted a novel strategy among local authorities responsible for the provision of public transportation services: Retrofit! This paper presents, for the first time, a comparison between all-electric buses constructed from the ground up and retrofitted diesel-electric buses in actual public transportation operations. The results obtained will facilitate an evaluation of the retrofit approach within the context of sustainable transport policies, with the ultimate objective of raising awareness among relevant audiences and decision-making mechanisms.

Frequency stability control method for multi-energy system considering storage characteristics and transmission inertia of hot and gas pipeline network

The grid-connected capacity of renewable energy generation in multi-energy microgrid is increasing. This leads to a decrease in the inertia level in the microgrid, which has a great impact on the frequency stabilization control. This article proposes an adaptive control method for frequency control of inertia in multi-energy microgrids. Firstly, the system frequency fluctuation problem is addressed. Analyze the response characteristics of virtual inertia and the influence of physical inertia of rotating equipment on system frequency dynamics in multi-energy microgrid. Secondly, study the energy transfer characteristics of electric, thermal and gas systems in multi-energy microgrids. The energy coupling model between the subsystems in the multi-energy microgrid is established. And according to the difference of energy transmission time inertia of electric, heat and gas subsystems, the microgrid inertia response time model of different energy systems is established. Then, according to the energy balance stability criterion of multi-energy microgrid, combined with the current operating state of the system and the state of the higher-level distribution network, the fast response adaptive over-compensation control of multi-energy microgrid cluster is carried out to realize the inertia allocation in multi-energy microgrids. Finally, the proposed advanced frequency control method of multi-energy microgrid considering inertia demand is verified by simulation.

Mechatronics system for solving SuDoKu puzzle based on Cartesian robot

The article describes an original solution of a mechatronic device with a Cartesian robot and a character recognition system for autonomous solving the SuDoKu puzzle. The device demonstrates the use of intelligent mechatronic devices for tasks that are difficult to algorithmize. The work contains a description of the mechanical executive system, including the motor apparatus of the system, a description of the electrical and information subsystem, and the software responsible for controlling the device in question. The OCR system operation principle, responsible for recognizing and locating characters on the SuDoKu board, is explained in the article. It also presents how to find a solution using the Backtracking algorithm. The results of testing the correct operation of the designed mechatronic system and estimating the execution time of individual test tasks are presented here.