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

这个研究项目涉及电力分配：电力从发电和输电系统输送到一个利用点。一个重要的电力系统部件是断路器，本质上是一个开关，用于在故障和某些其他运行条件下隔离和分离系统的各个部分。在这个项目中，计划彻底改变机械断路器：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变化。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组件；将电力从故障段重新路由到无故障段；直流配电在海军中的应用；以及最小化系统损失。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。该项目的一个重要组成部分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程教育的交叉受精价值。目标是利用跨学科的主题来激励和教育——在本科、研究生和继续教育水平。目的是让工业工程师接触电气工程主题；对MEMS技术感兴趣的各学科工科学生；和电气工程师优化和不确定性（特别是从IE的角度来看）。

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).