Discussion of the Grainger Center for
Electric Machinery and Electromechanics
Collaborative Network: an Overview of
Machines and Energy on a National Scale
P. Krein, P. Chapman
Grainger Center for Electric Machinery
and Electromechanics
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introduction
• CEME Collaborative Network (in order of visits)
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Purdue University
University of California at Berkeley
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Wisconsin – Madison
The Ohio State University
Oregon State University
• Highlights of one or two activities at each school
• Time for discussion of directions and needs
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Purdue University
• Electromechanical and systems requirements
for more-electric naval vessels.
– Transform the fleet, not just a ship.
– System requirements and vulnerabilities have
changed: in the last several major naval incidents,
physical damage was limited
but system failure was complete.
– Must be able to function through
first-level damage.
www.defenseindustrydaily.com
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Purdue University
• Genetic-algorithm-based system-level
optimization.
– Examples include optimization based on mission
requirements.
– Optimize operation subject to rational damage
scenarios.
• Ultra-fast simulation
– Applying approaches that perform time simulation
faster than real time.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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University of California at Berkeley
• Direct electromechanical generation from
engines
– Integrated generator methods for Stirling engine.
– The figure of merit for energy conversion is really
cost per output joule. Efficiency is less germane.
• Microengines
– Rotary engine at millimeter scale with integrated
generator.
– Favorable possibilities relative to batteries and
small fuel cells.
• Robot microactuators
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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University of California at Berkeley
• Interests in PWM modulation processes and
noise management.
• Much interaction with industry in areas of
analog integrated circuits and integrated
power.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Georgia Institute of Technology
• Program size on a par with Illinois (Ga Tech
and Illinois are the largest ECE programs).
• Hosts NEETRAC, a power test facility
transferred from Georgia Power.
• Interaction with mechanical engineering.
• New faculty member in analog and power
integrated circuits.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Georgia Institute of Technology
• Online diagnostics for machines
– Interpret current waveforms for various problems.
– Applications include internal failures, bearing
condition monitoring, imbalance detection.
– Certain classes of problems are hard to distinguish.
Various combinations of forward-sequence,
backward-sequence, and d-q transformation
concepts can help.
• In smaller machines, bearing failures are the
most common failure mechanism.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Georgia Institute of Technology
• Machine design is actively taught.
• One example: small generator to optimize
power extraction from a reciprocating
source.
• Do the extraction directly rather than with
(lossy) mechanical linkages for continuous
motion.
• Global energy challenges: in many areas,
100 W-hr/day would make a substantial
impact on living conditions.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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University of Wisconsin
• Strong industry support and industry
programs.
• “Self-sensing” drive technologies in which
sensors are integrated with machines or with
drive circuits.
• Very strong experimental activity, including a
number of drives at a range of power levels.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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University of Wisconsin
• “Modular machines”
– Discrete pole arrangements that can be
assembled in piecewise fashion.
– Opportunity to integrate pole-based drives with
individual machine poles.
– Challenge in dimensional consistency and rigidity.
• Good interaction between aspects of power
systems and aspects or machines and power
electronics.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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The Ohio State University
• Analysis-based machine design is alive and
well. Several industrial projects.
• Example: discrete-pole machine with high
pole count for washing machine application.
• Work on dual-rotor machines for flexible
applications.
• Example: concentric machine with one PM
rotor and one induction rotor. Provides an
electric differential action.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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The Ohio State University
• Ohio State maintains one of very few high
voltage labs.
• Lab work is directed at dielectrics and
insulation, and to a lesser extent at
operational issues in power systems.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Oregon State University
• Strong effort right now in ocean wave
eecs.oregonstate.edu
energy.
• Challenge:
convert vertical
motion to
electricity.
• Direct
conversion is
needed.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Oregon State University
• Interesting aspect: the political and social
efforts associated with licenses and siting.
• Even very careful and diligent preparation
leads to a long, involved process.
• The Oregon Coast has sufficient wave energy
potential to more than supply the entire state.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Discussion
• Outside of CEME, much electromechanics
work seems to divide into various camps.
• Few researchers exploring broad design
questions or attempting “apples to apples”
technology comparisons.
• Design automation and design
optimization remain excellent topics for
current researchers.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Discussion
• Innovations in electromechanics play a
dominant role in energy as a whole.
– Efficient machines would drop energy
requirements substantially.
– Broad use of ac drives also yields high impact.
– Electric and hybrid vehicles.
– Other more-electric systems for ships, aircraft,
and many off-road mobile systems.
Grainger Center for Electric Machines and Electromechanics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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