EPNES: Integrated MEMS and Advanced Technologies for the Next Generation Power Distribution System

这项研究项目涉及电力分配：将电力从发电和输电系统输送到使用点。电力系统的一个重要组件是断路器，本质上是一个开关，用于隔离和隔离故障和某些其他运行条件下的系统部件。在这个项目中，计划从根本上改变机械断路器：微电子机械(MEMS)开关应以非常高的速度运行，以实现快速的系统运行配置更改。MEMS开关的使用将允许应用先进的最佳操作策略，以允许快速断开故障部件；将电力从故障段重新路由到无故障段；在海军应用中利用直流配电；并将系统损耗降至最低。该项目的经济方面应涉及创新配电系统设计的成本效益比的优化。该项目的一个重要元素是对一系列个人的教育，包括工业和电气工程师、学生和工业工程师、研究人员和从业人员。教育成分的前提是工科教育的互惠价值。其目标是利用跨学科的主题来激励和教育--在本科生、研究生和继续教育层面。其目的是让工业工程师接触电气工程主题；所有学科的工程学学生接触MEMS技术；以及电气工程师接触优化和不确定性(特别是从IE的角度)。

This research project relates to electric power distribution: the delivery of electric power from a generation and transmission system to a point of utilization. An important power system component is the circuit breaker, essentially a switch, used to isolate and separate parts of the system under fault and certain other operating conditions. In this project, a radical departure from mechanical circuit breakers is planned: microelectrornechanical (MEMS) switches shall be operated at very high speed to effectuate rapid system operating configuration changes. The use of MEMS switches will allow the application of advanced optimal operating strategies to permit rapid disconnection of faulted components; rerouting of power from faulted segments to unfaulted segments; utilization of DC distribution in naval applications; and minimization of system losses. The economic aspect of the project shall relate to the optimization of the cost to benefit ratio of innovative distribution system designs.An important element of the project is education over a range of individuals including industrial and electrical engineers, students and industry engineers, researchers and practitioners. The premise of the educational component is the value of cross-fertilization in engineering education. The objective is to utilize cross-disciplinary topics for motivation as well as education -- at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The intent is to expose industrial engineers to electrical engineering topics; engineering students of all disciplines to MEMS technologies; and electrical engineers to optimization and uncertainty (especially from an IE point of view).