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Metal alloy catalysts (e.g., Pt-Co) are widely used in fuel cells for improving the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics. Despite the promise, the leaching of the alloying element contaminates the ionomer/membrane, leading to poor durability. However, the underlying mechanisms by which cation contamination affects fuel cell performance remain poorly understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive understanding of cation contamination effects through the controlled doping of electrodes. We couple electrochemical testing results with membrane conductivity/water uptake measurements and impedance modeling to pinpoint where and how the losses in performance occur. We identify that (1) ∼44% of Co2+ exchange of the ionomer can be tolerated in the electrode, (2) loss in performance is predominantly induced by O2 and proton transport losses, and (3) Co2+ preferentially resides in the electrode under wet operating conditions. Our results provide a first-of-its-kind mechanistic explanation for cation effects and inform strategies for mitigating these undesired effects when using alloy catalysts.

The Advanced Light Source Upgrade (ALS-U) is a 4th generation diffraction-limited soft x-ray radiation source, consisting of a new accumulator ring (AR) and a new storage ring (SR). In both rings coupling-impedance driven instabilities need careful evaluation to ensure meeting the machine's high-performance goals. This paper presents the workflow followed in building the impedance models and the beam-stability analysis based on those models. We follow the commonly accepted approach of separating the resistive-wall and the geometric parts of the impedance; the former is obtained by analytical formulas, the latter by numerical electro-magnetic codes (primarily CST Studio software) with perfectly-conducting boundary conditions. Impedance budgets are established and pseudo-Green functions calculated to be used in beam dynamics studies. We also present various ways to cross-check simulation results for reliable impedance modeling. Finally, the crucial single-bunch instability current thresholds for various operation modes are determined and discussed.

Long-term ECG (electrocardiogram) measurement in patients with burns is a complicated problem since the overlapping of surface contact electrodes can lead to additional injuries. The possibility of ECG recording in patients with burns using capacitive electrodes was not proved, and there are no models of the electrode contact with a patient’s body while rehabilitation means are used. In this paper, the model of the contact between capacitive electrodes and the skin was modified and the circuit model of the contact: skin – bandages (saline solution) – film – active capacitive electrode, was described. The influence of the parameters of a capacitive electrode on the amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) of the contact of an electrode with skin was assessed. It was found that contact capacitance is crucial to obtain a high-quality ECG signal. The parameters of the impedance of bandages, saline solution, a dielectric film were calculated, and their effect on the AFC was studied. Based on the modified model, the AFC contact was modeled taking into consideration all the calculated parameters; it was found that the resulting AFC of the contact corresponds to the frequency range of the ECG signal. Analysis of the calculations proves the possibility of using capacitive electrodes when applying various rehabilitation means. It was found that at a change in the impedance of the saline solution from 0.1gigaohms to 1gigaohm, the changes in the AFC of the contact are not crucial for the final quality of the received signal. All calculations were carried out by modeling in the Qucs environment (ngspice SPICE). Simulation results can be used in the development of new types of capacitive electrocardiographic electrodes. The proposed model can be used to study other wound covers, as well as to model physiological processes when putting artificial skin and wound covers

Due to the breakneck switching speed, SiC mosfet is extremely sensitive to parasitics in the power device, circuit layout, and also measurement probe. It is not clear how the parasitics of measurement probes affect the transient stability of SiC mosfet, and it poses an unsolved challenge for the industrial field. This paper focuses to uncover the transient instability mechanism of SiC mosfet intruded by probes. Mathematical and circuit models of voltage and current probes are created, by considering the parasitics, input impedance, and bandwidth issues. To reveal the stability principles of SiC mosfet associated with probes, impedance-oriented and heterogeneity-synthesized models combining device with probes are proposed. Furthermore, an assessment methodology and root locus analysis are presented to demonstrate the transient stability schemes and the stable boundaries of SiC mosfet influenced by multiple factors, including probe parasitics, device parameters, gate resistances, and snubber circuits. Comparative experiments are presented to confirm the transient behaviors of SiC mosfet intruded by probe parasitics and regulated by control circuits. It is proven that, because of low bandwidth specifications, the large input capacitance of the voltage probe and coil inductance of the current probe degrade the transient stability of SiC mosfet. Due to the deteriorated stability margin of SiC mosfet intruded by the inserted parasitics of probes, instability may also be activated by using the small gate resistance. The snubber circuit is helpful to enhance the transient stability. Advanced probes with high bandwidth and high impedance are crucially needed for stable measurement of wide bandgap power devices like SiC mosfet. Ministry of Education (MOE) Nanyang Technological University This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 51607016, in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2017YFB0102303, in part by Singapore ACRF Tier 1 Grant RG 85/18, and in part by the NTU Startup Grant (SCOPES) for Prof Zhang Xin.

In this paper, impedance modeling of a DC microgrid system consisting of a source and load converter, including an input filter, is performed. Impedance-based modeling has been used to derive mathematical models of the output impedance of the source converter and the input impedance of the load converter. The correlation between the converter interaction and system stability is analyzed based on the mathematical model. An impedance-based stability analysis is used to determine the system stability by analyzing the interactions among the converters in the DC microgrid system. Middlebrook's stability criterion, which uses the impedance transfer function, is applied to determine system stability. Moreover, in this paper, a stability enhancement control algorithm is proposed to resolve the system instabilities resulting from interaction among the converters and the distortion caused by the harmonics emanating from the AC input. The proposed stability enhancement control algorithm consists of a feed-forward type virtual impedance (VI) and a proportional-resonant (PR) controller. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated by the results of the response characteristics in the frequency domain, and the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm is verified via simulations and prototype experimental models.

A modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an emerging converter technology widely used in wind power applications using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, and it has been largely investigated in medium-voltage solar harvesting as well as electric motor drives. Different from studies dealing with active circulating current control loops, this paper focuses on impedance modeling and harmonic stability studies for MMCs with passive circulating current filters (PCCFs). A power stage circuit including a PCCF is transformed and remodeled to obtain small-signal formulations. This transformation leads to additional high-order matrix computing complexity due to the added impedance subnetwork matrix from the PCCF as well as relevant crossed-frequency impacts. To simplify the computational burden, the proposed model aims to solve one arm equation instead of all six MMC arm equations. To achieve this result, additional challenges occur when the MMC is connected to a renewable energy source instead of the grid voltage, where low-level zero-sequence components might exist in the neutral point of three phases, especially in the case of no integrated advanced modular voltage balancing control, which prevents computational simplification. To overcome this challenge, further impedance matrix adjustments are conducted in this paper to theoretically suppress the impact of zero-sequence harmonics when obtaining small-signal impedance, taking into account the frequency coupling effect. Finally, simulations are carried out to validate the developed impedance model under different operating scenarios. Harmonic stability case studies of MMCs with PCCFs connected to renewable energy current sources are also presented, where frequency-domain stability analyses based on Bode diagrams are compared to time-domain simulation waveforms and FFTs, which validate the effectiveness of the proposed impedance model.

Solid-state supercapacitors (SSCs) consist of porous carbon electrodes and gel-polymer electrolytes and are used in novel energy storage applications. The current study aims to simulate the impedance of SSCs using a clearly defined equivalent circuit (EC) model with the ultimate goal of improving their performance. To this end, a conventional mathematical and a physicochemical model were adapted. The impedance was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An EC consisting of electrical elements was introduced for each modeling approach. The mathematical model was purely based on a best-fit method and utilized an EC with intuitive elements. In contrast, the physicochemical model was motivated by advanced theories and allowed meaningful associations with properties at the electrode, the electrolyte, and their interface. The physicochemical model showed a higher approximation ability (relative error of 3.7%) due to the interface impedance integration in a more complex circuit design. However, this model required more modeling and optimization effort. Moreover, the fitted parameters differed from the analytically calculated ones due to uncertainties in the SSC’s microscale configuration, which need further investigations. Nevertheless, the results show that the proposed physicochemical model is promising in simulating EIS data of SSCs with the additional advantage of utilizing well-reasoned property-based EC elements.

The doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) is the most widely applied wind turbine in practice and contains a dc-link capacitance in its back-to-back converter to deliver the generated power and to provide dc-link voltage for converters. In small-signal analysis, fluctuations in dc-link voltage can be caused by perturbations injected at the ac-terminals of DFIG system and the dc-link voltage fluctuations can affect the outputs of ac-terminals in reverse. It has been found in former publications that this dc-link dynamic behavior is able to shape the small-signal characteristics of DFIG system and influence the system stability. However, the modeling and analysis for the dc-link dynamic behavior is lacked, which makes it difficult to indicate the influencing factors of dc-link dynamics and how to suppress the negative influence of weakly-damped dc-link dynamics on the DFIG system. In this paper, the mechanism of dc-link dynamics and how dc-link dynamics affect the small-signal characteristics of DFIG system are described at first. Then, an indicator function that models the dc-link dynamic behavior is firstly defined and then obtained based on harmonic linearization method. The proposed indicator function will be applied to describe the impedance shaping effect of dc-link dynamics on DFIG system, indicate the influencing factors of dc-link dynamics and analyze the influence of weakly-damped dc-link dynamic behavior. Several experiments based on Control-hardware-in-loop (CHIL) platform will also be carried out to verify the analytical models and theoretical analysis in this paper.

Based on the complex vector theory, a more comprehensive doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) impedance model under series compensated network, taking both outer loops and phase-locked loop (PLL) dynamic into consideration, is developed in stationary reference frame (αβ-frame). Then the complex vector-based impedance model is combined with the equivalent RLC circuit to intuitively and quantitatively explain the mechanism of sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) and its mitigation methods. The impact of the RSC controllers and series compensation level on the equivalent impedance and the SSR frequency of the DFIG system are analyzed. The mechanism of the two mitigating SSR methods, one is damping control and the other is virtual inductance control, is revealed based on the complex vector impedance model. Finally, the accuracy of the derived model and the theoretical analysis are verified by simulation.

Due to the advantages of superior harmonics attenuation ability and reduced size, the LCL filter has been widely adopted to interface between the inverter and the grid for improving the quality of injected grid currents. However, the high-order characteristics and various constraints of the LCL filter complicate the filter design. Moreover, the stability of the internal current control loop of the individual inverter is susceptible to the inherent LCL -filter resonance peak. Meanwhile, the overall system stability would be aggravated by the external interactions between the inverter and the weak grid as well as among the paralleled inverters. Both the LCL -filter resonance peak and two types of interaction would cause severely distorted grid currents. Motivated by the existing problems, a comprehensive review on the modeling and stability analysis of the LCL -type grid-connected inverters is conducted in this paper. Concretely, the generalized parameter constraints of the LCL filter are outlined to facilitate the passive components selection, and the magnetic integration techniques of filter inductors are also introduced to reduce the weight and size of filter for increasing the power density of the system. Then, the various damping methods for enhancing the individual internal stability and the relevant application issues are also discussed. Furthermore, the impedance-based method for evaluating the system-level interactive stability is subsequently reviewed, with the emphasis on different modeling methods of inverter output impedance and online impedance measurement techniques. Finally, the future research trends on the modeling and stability analysis of LCL -type grid-connected inverters are also presented.

The DC-side floating capacitors in the floating power modules of power converters are subject to high voltage fluctuation, due to the presence of reactive harmonic components. Utilizing passive capacitors, as done in traditional methods, helps reduce the DC-bus voltage ripple but makes the system bulky. An active capacitor can be integrated with the floating H-bridge power modules to remove the effect of the ripple powers on the DC bus. The auxiliary circuit, which is much smaller in size compared to an equivalent passive capacitor, helps increase the power density of the system. This work focuses on the analysis of power components, and the extension of the active capacitor to the Perturbation Injection Unit (PIU), in which the DC side is highly distorted by multiple harmonic components. A control scheme is proposed to compensate for these multiple harmonics and balance the DC-link voltage in the active capacitor. Also, an equivalent DC-bus impedance model is introduced, which is more accurate than that in existing works. Simulation studies and evaluation of the design have verified the effectiveness of the active capacitor solution. Single-phase power converters have been widely used in many applications such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and grid integration. Due to their popular application, there is a need to reduce the sizes and volumes while still maintaining good performances of the systems. One of the most effective methods, which is a subject in many research works, is to replace the bulky passive capacitor bank in a system by an active capacitor. The active capacitor is designed to absorb the ripple components in the DC side of the converters, which results in a constant DC-link voltage. In comparison to the passive capacitor solution, the active capacitor is much smaller in size but can give a better DC-bus ripple performance. Therefore, the active capacitor has become an attractive solution for the single-phase converters. The active capacitor for the traditional rectifier, where the DC side is directly connected to a load, has been intensively investigated in the past decade. However, there is limited research regarding the active capacitor for rectifiers with floating H-bridge power modules. This work extends the application of the active capacitor to the Perturbation Injection Unit (PIU), which is a grid-connected single-phase rectifier with floating H-bridge power modules. The selection of a suitable active capacitor for the PIU is based on the evaluation of various active capacitor banks. Limits in existing control schemes, which prevent the extension of the active capacitor to the PIU, are thoroughly studied. An effective voltage-mode control scheme is then proposed for the selected active capacitor, which makes it an attractive solution for the PIU. Moreover, limits of the DC-bus impedance analysis using traditional assumptions in existing works are investigated, and an improved DC-bus impedance model is proposed. Based on the operation conditions of the PIU and the proposed impedance model, the active capacitor's components can be properly designed, and improved configurations in terms of the equivalent impedance can be analyzed. Simulation results, as well as the design and evaluation of the active capacitor, demonstrate great improvements in terms of volume and weight over the traditional passive capacitor bank.

This paper presents a parallel resonant inductive wireless power transfer system for medical implant applications. The aim of the transcutaneous charging system is to address a larger range of implant depth compared to the current state of the art technology. The impact on amplifier load impedance and with that, -design and -modeling, is shown from an analytical stand-point. The obtained model provides insight into component tolerance impact as well. An objective simulation comparison approach for rectifier topologies further ensures an efficient design. With a 0.5 W transmitter output power, a transferred current of 100 mA is measured over an implant depth of 10 to 50 mm and fitting well both a time- and frequency domain simulation model. The latter enabling complex analyses like class- mathrm{D} amplifier load pull combined with component tuning.

The advantages and drawbacks of Capacitance vs Voltage (CV) characteristics, trap-assisted gate leakage tunneling and multi-frequency charge pumping techniques, have been brought out through an attentive investigation of oxide defects in CMOS technologies. To this purpose, the importance of the extension of the accessible regions of the oxide in energy and depth and the influence of model parameters, are discussed using a novel methodology based on a multiphonon charge trapping model. The significant differences found in the probed regions and their localization in the oxide extracted with the three techniques constitutes an important information for process development and oxide quality optimization.

© 2018 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. Aeronautical ground lighting (AGL) systems assist aircraft pilots in airport operations. These systems are singlephase series circuits where constant current regulators (CCRs) feed luminaires with an adjustable rms current. CCRs are voltage source converters (VSCs) which may cause harmonic resonance instabilities when their control interacts with poorly damped resonances in the 0.75 - 2.5 kHz range. The paper studies these instabilities from the impedance-based representation of AGL systems which are grid-connected VSC systems much simpler than the usual systems analyzed in the literature. This offers the possibility of contributing with a comprehensive stability assessment. Approximate expressions of the CCR and AGL circuit equivalent admittances are given to assess system stability. A comprehensive overview of the influence of AGL system parameters on harmonic resonance instabilities is presented and several recommendations on the AGL system components and CCR parameters are proposed to improve stability. Additionally, an active damping solution based on virtual conductances is analyzed. The expressions of the CCR admittance and some of the recommendations on CCR and AGL system parameters contribute to stability studies of grid-connected VSC systems. Matlab/Simulink and PSCAD/EMTDC simulations of a 68 luminaire AGL system illustrate the contributions of this paper. Field measurements support the stability study.

Electrical lines, also known as wirelines, are commonly used for well intervention techniques to increase flow of oil and gas wells that can be executed during a low service time. Previous studies show the importance of this electrical conductor for power delivery as well as communication purposes. Nevertheless, a validated model and its parameters of this channel are still missing. This papers outlines a geometrical approach to estimate the electrical dynamic behavior for wireline types used in the field with results supported by four different types of validation. The proposed method proves to capture the wireline dynamic behavior characteristics and is particular accurate in modeling the capacitive element within 5 %.