Introduction to Microgrids
Mr. Bob Salter
Energy Systems Consultant
Thu, 02/02/2023
Abstract: Most consumers receive their electricity via electrical grids consisting of utility generation plants and transmission and distribution networks. In most highly developed and populated parts of the world, consumers receive their electricity continuously and reliably most of the time. Unfortunately, disruptions do occur for various reasons, and with significantly negative social, economic, and public safety impacts. In addition, modern utility rate structures can significantly impact electricity costs to consumers due to surcharges based on tiered and time-of-use pricing and peak demand charges. In lesser populated and/or more remote locations, electrical grids do not exist at all, and localized solutions are required.
This lecture will discuss Microgrids as a solution to some of the challenges we face; we will explore definition of microgrid; types of microgrids; main elements of microgrids including DERs and DERMS; and review use case and value proposition examples. We will also explore steps required to design a microgrid and some of the simulation and modeling tools used.
Bio: Bob Salter has 47 years of industry experience in Energy and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Marketing, Construction, Commissioning, Compliance and Field Services. From 2008 Bob has focused on design and execution of major projects involving electrical power distribution, monitoring, controls and protection. Bob is a Registered Professional Engineer (State of California, Electrical) since 1973; received his BS-EE from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1976, and his MBA (with concentration in Finance) from San Francisco State University in Finance in 1982. Bob is a Life Senior Member in IEEE, current Treasurer of OEB Section, and past Officer at various Chapter, Section and Council Levels. Bob is currently a volunteer Professor on the SSU Engineering Department faculty.
Infrared Oscilloscopes: Sampling 30-THz Waveforms for Next-Generation Spectroscopy
Dr. William Putnam
Assistant Professor
ECE Department, UC Davis, Davis, CA
Thu, 11/17/2022
Abstract: In electronic devices like field-effect transistors, applied electric fields, up to hundreds of gigahertz in frequency, control electron motion. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the electric fields of ultra-intense laser pulses, i.e. electric fields in the tera- to petahertz (THz to PHz) regime, can similarly control electric currents around gas-phase atoms. In this talk, I will describe recent efforts to extend these early demonstrations of THz- and PHz-speed electronics from gaseous media to solid-state, microelectronic devices. Specifically, I will describe nanoantenna-based devices in which electric currents can be switched on and off by individual oscillations of the electric field of an infrared laser pulse. I will show that these devices can be used to sample >30-THz electric field waveforms in the time domain, and I will overview one of the exciting potential applications of these devices: field-resolved infrared spectroscopy.
Bio: William Putnam received his Ph.D. in EECS from MIT as well as undergraduate degrees in EECS and physics. Following his Ph.D. he held postdoctoral positions at MIT and the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) at the University of Hamburg, Germany. After his postdoctoral work and prior to joining the faculty at UC Davis, William spent several years as a staff scientist at Northrop Grumman’s basic research laboratory, NG Next where he worked on ultrafast electronics and frequency comb technology. From his undergraduate years to his postdoctoral work to his time in industry, William’s research has centered around both fundamental and applied studies of optics and quantum electronics.
Learning Preferences for Interactive Autonomy
Dr. Erdem Bıyık
Postdoctoral Researcher
Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, UC, Berkeley, CA
Thu, 11/03/2022
Abstract: In human-robot interaction or more generally multi-agent systems, we often have decentralized agents that need to perform a task together. In such settings, it is crucial to have the ability to anticipate the actions of other agents. Without this ability, the agents are often doomed to perform very poorly. Humans are usually good at this, and it is mostly because we can have good estimates of what other agents are trying to do. We want to give such an ability to robots through reward learning and partner modeling. In this talk, I am going to talk about active learning approaches to this problem and how we can leverage preference data to learn objectives. I am going to show how preferences can help reward learning in the settings where demonstration data may fail, and how partner-modeling enables decentralized agents to cooperate efficiently.
Bio: Dr. Erdem Bıyık is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at University of California, Berkeley. He has received his B.Sc. degree from Bilkent University, Turkey, in 2017; and Ph.D. degree from Stanford University in 2022. His research interests lie in the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and game theory. He is interested in enabling robots to actively learn from various forms of human feedback and designing robot policies to improve the efficiency of multi-agent systems both in cooperative and competitive settings. He also worked at Google as a research intern in 2021 where he adapted his active robot learning algorithms to recommender systems. He will join the University of Southern California as an assistant professor in 2023.
Photovoltaic Microinverters and Energy Storage Systems, 2022
Mr. Mark Baldassari
Director of Codes and Standards
Enphase Energy, Petaluma, CA
Thu, 10/20/2022
Abstract: The presentation will cover how solar photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into usable power. The effects on energy production due to insolation (sunlight) and temperature. Simple solar systems cover traditional string inverters versus modern microinverters and discusses the safety benefits. Energy storage is discussed starting with why storage is needed for several applications. A simple single line diagram is presented showing how PV and energy storage can be incorporated into a home. A quiz is presented to test the audience on the major topics presented.
Bio: Mr. Baldassari has over 39 years experience in engineering and product development and over 14 years with Enphase Energy, where he holds the position of Director, Codes and Standards. Currently, he actively participates in several Codes and Standards development groups both internationally and domestically. He is involved with the development of the National Electrical Code, product safety standards with Underwriters Laboratory, and international installation and safety standards. Mr. Baldassari has a bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronic Engineering from California State University Sacramento.
Class Modular Sensors: Used in Outdoor IoT Monitoring
Mr. Neil Hancock
CTO
Azonde, Aznode.com
Thu, 10/06/2022
Abstract: The low-cost Internet of Things architecture is well suited for remote environmental monitoring. This talk covers a device designed to be low cost, solar powered, and used outdoors, for critical stream level monitoring in the drought stricken North Bay. The “open source” Stroud Water Research Center's "Modular Sensors" software and the Mayfly microcomputer facilitate environmental scientists collecting physical measurements from the “great outdoors”. Low-cost board level sensors using ADC, I2C or 1Wire are well understood and relatively low power. External transducers have a wider range of sensing, and require interfaces using the newer USGS SDI-12 three wire water world protocol, and the older stable Modbus 4wire RS485. Each brings new powering challenges. The software code and hardware definitions are stored in git, a distributed “Version Control System” allowing easy incremental traceable improvements. The package comes with technical debt that needs characterizing and analyzing.
Bio: Neil Hancock is a Chartered Engineer, active in circuit design and firmware for 40 years. For the first 20 years he worked with large companies in telecom equipment design and more recently in Internet of Things design for environmental monitoring. Neil volunteers as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Cotati, an Industry Advisor for SSU, is a long-term IEEE member, and enjoys short bicycle rides to coffee shops in Sonoma County. He received his BSc in Electronic Engineering, from City, University of London, United Kingdom.
Chartered Engineers (CEng) develop solutions to engineering problems using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change and/or they may have technical accountability for complex systems with significant levels of risk.