FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers will develop solar technology to improve disaster resilience

From left, Yuan Li, an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Eren Ozguven, associate professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering; and Simon Foo, a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The trio have been working on the project of studying modular photovoltaic energy systems to help restore power quickly after natural disasters. (Mark Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering) — From still left, Yuan Li, an assistant professor of Electrical and Laptop or computer Engineering Eren Ozguven, affiliate professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Simon Foo, a professor of Electrical and Pc Engineering at the FAMU-FSU Faculty of Engineering. The trio have been performing on the challenge of finding out modular photovoltaic energy systems to assistance restore energy quickly after organic disasters. (Mark Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU University of Engineering)

A team of researchers from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is creating a modular solar electric power system that can aid communities retain electric power flowing through all-natural disasters.

The function is component of a U.S. Division of Energy (DOE) initiative recognized as the Renewables Advancing Local community Energy Resilience (RACER) method, which aims to maximize resilience to disasters by employing renewable electrical power. DOE focused $33 million to funding 20 analysis tasks across the place for exploration to help communities strategy their transition to a clean electrical power long run and improve grid trustworthiness and protection. This venture will acquire $3 million in funding.

“Extreme climate can knock electricity out for a several days, primarily if it damages vital pieces of electrical power infrastructure,” stated Yuan Li, an assistant professor in the Division of Electrical and Laptop Engineering who is leading the venture. “Our resolution is to acquire a procedure that duplicates that crucial infrastructure as quite a few submodules, so an electrical system can preserve operating even if aspect of it is compromised.”

Li and her workforce are developing light-weight, compact inverters for solar ability plants. The inverters, which change immediate recent to alternating existing, assistance control the stream of electricity from energy crops to the electrical grid. They are small adequate that a staff of two folks can established them up without having large devices, letting solar energy plants to immediately restore electrical power in the wake of disruptions, these kinds of as the hurricanes that batter Florida for the duration of the summer.

This inverter will have similar modules that handle unique sections of a solar electric power plant. If significant climate damages section of the inverter, the remaining modules will go on operating. The technological innovation also will allow employees to switch the unsuccessful section although the rest of the inverter procedure is producing electric power.

Alongside with fellow school customers from the Section of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the crew contains researchers from the college’s Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Middle and Florida Point out University’s Middle for Highly developed Energy Systems. They also will operate with the Metropolis of Tallahassee, Northeastern College and the National Renewable Vitality Lab on the challenge.

“Building neighborhood resilience to take care of natural disasters is an interdisciplinary issue,” explained challenge member Simon Foo, a professor in the Office of Electrical and Computer system Engineering. “Disaster influences so many facets of a community, so our reaction to it requires to choose that into account.”