Monday, April 28, 2014

Advanced Power Electronics and Motor Drives for Future Transportation Electrification

A reminder that the next meeting of the Denver Chapter of the IEEE Power Electronics Society is pleased:

Thursday, 1 May 2014, 6:00 p.m.
University of Denver – Knudsen Hall
Room CMK 309
Denver, Colorado

We are very pleased to host the following Distinguished Speaker:

Advanced Power Electronics and Motor Drives for Future Transportation Electrification
Speaker: Prof. Sheldon S. Williamson
-          P.D. Ziogas Power Electronics Laboratory Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
-          Distinguished Lecturer for IEEE Vehicular Technology Society

Abstract:

Currently, the most promising and practical solution to sustainable transportation electrification lies in electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs/PHEVs). An EV/PHEV can reduce fuel consumption by charging its battery from the utility grid, or in the near future, from renewable energy sources (smart grid/micro-grid scenario). Typical battery charging time for EVs/PHEVs is 6-8 hours. Thecharging/discharging EV battery will have a huge impact on the utility. Alternatively, photovoltaic (PV) panels could be used for charging EVs during work hours or at home.

The presentation will initially review current as well as future charging methodologies for EV/PHEV batteries and energy storage systems. The presentation will discuss the modeling, sizing, design, and implementation of a high-efficiency, single-stage, PV-grid-based charging infrastructure for EVs/PHEVs. The novel, single-stage PV/grid charging infrastructure is universal in nature and smartly adaptable, whereby EV/PHEV batteries of different chemistries as well as charging rates can be accommodated in a single power conversion stage. The designed charging infrastructure can support both Level 1 as well as Level 2 EV/PHEV charging. According to SAE J1772 standards, DC charging of EVs can be performed at 200-450 V DC, 36 kW, and 80 A (DC Level 1), and up to 200 A, 90 kW (DC Level 2). This presentation will also focus on system-level aspects of EV charging. Futuristic PV/grid-based inductive and/or surface charging infrastructures will also be presented for EVs and PHEVs. Power electronic converter topologies and energy management systems for such an inductive/surface EV/PHEV charging infrastructure will be presented.

On-board EV/PHEV energy storage issues for batteries and ultra-capacitors will also be highlighted. Li-ion batteries, although popularly proposed, have been highly uneconomic for EV/PHEV energy storage, overshooting cost requirements by a large margin. Li-ion batteries provide a respectable solution for EV energy storage. However, main practical issues include: cycle life, calendar life, energy density, power density, and lately, safety. These issues can be addressed successfully by using a simple approach: a power electronic cell voltage equalizer. The purpose of the second part of this seminar is to demonstrate the role of power electronics intensive battery and ultra-capacitor energy management solutions, to reach the cost break-even point of an EV. The design and implementation of both inductor-based as well as switched capacitor DC/DC converters for Li-ion battery cell-equalization will be discussed. Finally, the design of a novel, cost-effective DC/DC converter for voltage equalization of EV/PHEV Li-ion battery cells will also be presented.

Advanced motor drives for EV propulsion will be introduced. An overview of applications of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM), synchronous reluctance machines (SynRM), and switched reluctance machines (SRM) will be addressed. Advanced motor drive solutions for both PMSM, SynRM, and SRM will be presented. In addition, power electronic converter topologies for drive purposes as well as control algorithms for efficient performance will be discussed in detail for EV propulsion applications. This research seminar will be useful for engineers and managers with entry-level and/or medium-level knowledge of power electronics and motor drives. The talk would also be suitable for engineers with entry level knowledge of power electronics and motor drives applications towards energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems.

Speaker Biography:

Sheldon S. Williamson (S’01–M’06–SM’13) received his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Electrical Engineering with high distinction from University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India, in 1999. He received the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in 2002, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree (with Honors) in 2006, both in Electrical Engineering, from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, specializing in automotive power electronics and motor drives, at the Grainger Power Electronics and Motor Drives Laboratory. Dr. Williamson is an Associate Professor within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, where he has been working since June 2006. His main research interests include the study and analysis of electric drive trains for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles.  His research interests also include modeling, analysis, design, and control of power electronic converters and motor drives for land, sea, air, and space vehicles, as well as the power electronic interface and control of renewable energy systems.



Meeting Details

The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. with pizza, soft drinks, and the chance to network with your fellow power electronics professionals from the Front Range area.  A few business items for Denver PELS will be discussed starting at 6:30 pm and the main technical presentation will start at 7:00 p.m.

Please forward this meeting announcement to anyone you think might be interested.  You do not have to be an IEEE member to attend.  We welcome any interested person.

If possible, to help us plan the right amount of food and drinks, please RSVP by replying to this message or sending a message torsvp@denverpels.org and letting us know if you are coming.

If you aren't able to RSVP, no problem, please come anyway!



Directions And Parking

The meeting will be held in Room CMK 309 of Knudsen Hall on the University of Denver Campus.  Knudsen Hall is located at the corner of S. York St. and E. Wesley St. in Denver, CO.  Click below for a map of the area:


The best parking is probably in the parking garage next to Knudsen Hall (Parking Area 320).  Visitors are allowed to park in this lot but a hourly rate will most likely apply.  Click below for a parking map of DU:


If other parking options are found they will be communicated in future announcements.  The parking fee will be a small price to pay to attend the meeting and hear a distinguished lecturer!

Tutoring Opportunity

Cardinal Scholars is an in-home and online tutoring company that matches exceptional tutors affiliated with top universities with elementary, middle, and high school students in need of additional academic support. We now offer our services to the Fort Collins area and seek tutoring candidates who meet the following hiring criteria:

  • Are fantastic teachers and have experience teaching others
  • Are academically curious and intelligent
  • Love working with kids and are comfortable working in a home environment
  • Are responsible, creative and motivated
  • Attend or have graduated from Colorado State University

There are many benefits to joining the Cardinal Scholars platform. These include:

  • Freedom to work within your own schedule (we expect you to be taking classes yourself!)
  • Tutor between 2-10 hours per week
  • No time to start taking on students this term? That’s okay! You can still join our platform and begin taking on students this summer or next term - whichever is most convenient for you.
  • Competitive compensation starting at $20/hr
  • Get to know great families from the community who will really appreciate your help!

To learn more about our company, visit http://cardinalscholars.com
Coming on board as a tutor is not a guarantee of immediate tutoring work, but it offers the opportunity to be considered for any tutoring jobs we receive in your area for in person tutoring and around the country for online tutoring, as we receive them in the coming weeks and months.

Monday, April 21, 2014

IEEE Grip and Greet - Register Now! Free Food and Beer!

Please Register Here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_YxHBwvyzY28uL_wif8UU0h5MLb3HjAFZrHJrJyxnDI/viewform?usp=send_form

Hang out with industry members in this fun mixer put on by IEEE High Plains section! Learn about becoming a nationally registered IEEE member and gaining all of the related benefits!

CB Potts
Friday, May 2nd, 5p-7p


Free Food and Beer! See you there!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

RMACC High Performance Computing Symposium

From Daniel Jorgensen, IEEE: 

On behalf of Dr. Thomas Hauser, Director of Research Computing at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the executive committee of the Rocky Mountain Advanced Computing Consortium, I am pleased to invite IEEE student chapters to participate in the 4th Annual High Performance Computing Symposium.

This year’s event, set for Aug. 12-13 at the Wolf Law Building on the University of Colorado main campus, is an outgrowth of past symposiums sponsored by the Front Range Consortium for Research Computing.  The expanded Consortium now includes academic and research institutions from Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana, Utah and Idaho.  Featured speakers will be Irene Qualters, Acting Director of the Division of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (CISE/ACI) at the National Science Foundation, and Raj Hazra, Vice President and General Manager of High Performance Computing at Intel.

For students, this is an outstanding opportunity to meet and interact with academic, research and industry leaders in the high performance computing field.  Student research also will be featured at the symposium, and the second day of the event will be devoted to career opportunities, workshops, forums and networking to benefit you both in the classroom and in the industry.  

We also encourage your suggestions or proposals for small group sessions, and your recommendations for presenters and panelists at those sessions.  We want to make this symposium as worthwhile an experience as possible for student participants.   Student registration will be just $35, which includes all conference materials, noon meals and two evening receptions.

To suggest panel topics or panelists/presenters, please visit the Symposium website at www.rmacc.org/hpcsymposium

To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Advanced Computing Consortium go to: www.rmacc.org/about

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

IEEE High Plains 'Grip and Greet' May 2nd 5p-7p at CB Potts! Free Food and Drink!

IEEE High Plains Section, encompassing Northern Colorado and South Wyoming, is hosting 'Grip and Greet' May 2nd, 5p-7p at CB Potts! If you've ever thought about joining IEEE (the national organization) then this is a great opportunity to talk with dozens of IEEE members from across the front range over some free food and drink and learn about all of the benefits of a formal IEEE membership as you progress through CSU and enter industry! 

IEEE wants you to get involved! Come learn all about this opportunity, enjoy free food and drink, and have a great time!

Space is limited so register soon!
https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/meeting_view/list_meeting/25737

Thursday, April 10, 2014

2014-2015 Officers!

IEEE elections were held last night. Here are your 2014-2015 officers!

President: Bradley Evans
Vice President: Chris Blandin
Secretary: Patrick Stockton
Treasurer: Justin Brown
Events Coordinator: Andy Terhune