When we think about charging electrical devices, we typically think of using a huge power supplying power cord. However, is it possible to charge without having any physical connection? Well, let’s use our engineering mindset to figure it out. We know that if we were to take two inductive coils, put them close together, and send an electric coil to one, then a current will be induced in the other. So what if we were to have a station with one inductive coil, and a device with another, every time the electromagnetic activity of the station can induce a current in the other? Well, this is known as wireless charging and is a very rapidly developing technology, with voluminous implications for both electric vehicles and cell phones.
“What is it called when current can flow through a diode?”
Diodes are able to force current to flow in one direction. If current flows in a direction that the diode is not in polarity with, then the diode will block it. That being said, if the current flows in a way that the diode allows, then the diode is said to be forward biased. If the current is being blocked, then the diode is said to be in reverse bias.
“How can we apply Machine Learning to estimate electric loads?”
Electric Load Forecasting if vital for making informed decisions about how to use energy throughout the day. And thanks to modern computational technology, we will be able to do such work by applying Machine Learning in Electric Load Forecasting. A computer algorithm can learn the past behavior of electric loads, and then make models to predict future behavior. Electric utility companies are investing large amounts of resources into developing these systems to increase their infrastructure.
“Can we predict the amount of energy generation for a given day?”
Predict how intense the electric load will be for a given day is immensely useful. For example, we will need to know how much energy to generate or how much energy to take from a battery. This is known as Electric Load Forecasting and is one of the most important factors in the energy industry.
“How can we integrate electric vehicles with buildings energy systems?”
With the ascent of building integrated renewable energy, the need for storage is now more important than ever. However, current forms can be quite expensive and difficult to implement. So how can we use our engineering mindset to think outside of the box for this problem? Well, many people now own electric vehicles, which have onboard batteries. So what if we were to connect these batteries to homes, enabling a quick and portable storage solution for renewable energy? Well, this technology is known as Vehicle to Building Integration, and will be a hot topic in the coming decade. V2B is very similar to Vehicle to Grid Systems, except that they work with buildings instead of grids
“How can we make an application based framework for sensing and control?”
The modern world of engineering is evolving more and more towards the internet of things. However, most appliances nowadays use proprietary means to connect with each other. This makes building a truly open internet of things nearly impossible! However, the good people for the U.S Department of Energy want to fix this, specifically in the area of energy utilization with the use of a little technology known as VOLTTRON. VOLTTRON is an application framework that software developers can use to import and manage data and actions collected by devices. This allows for greater control over their efficiency and can support real-time agent-based communications. VOLTTRON is language agnostic, meaning that it can be written in any desired programming language, making it easier for developers to get their hands on it. VOLTTRON has a wide range of appliances, from utility research to building automation systems and even to vehicle-grid integration!
“How can we implement a distributed control system?”
Distributed Control Systems are famous for their ability to transmit data and control the physical world over distant ranges. However, how exactly can we implement these systems in real life, without making the components too expensive? Well, let’s use our scientific mindset to find out. We know that microcontrollers can send and receive information on a rapid basis. And these microcontrollers can then connect to one another to form a greater network. So what if we were to simply use these microcontrollers as the interface for distributed control systems? Well, these special microcontrollers are called Remote Terminal Units. Remote Terminal Units can be likened to the tentacles of an octopus, each a separate part of a grander control system.
“How can a building’s energy be shut down by a little critter?”
Something very interesting happened at my school today. A little squirrel found its way into the central power line and decided to have a nibble on the insulation cord. Soon enough, (s)he had destroyed the connection, knocking out power to the entire university, even the cogeneration facilities! I think that this little event illustrates how local wildlife can affect a building’s power systems. To guard against such an event, construction managers add further insulation from the external world or apply animal repellent in the wires. If such an event does happen, then local generators, batteries, or solar panels can be placed to allow for backup power
“How can we control a building automation system?”
Building components can consume quite a bit of energy. However, this energy usage can be mitigated greatly if devices were able to obtain data from the surrounding environment and communicate it to one another. This IoT-like technique is known as Direct Digital Control, and can be a great investment by increasing productivity while lowering utility costs, occupant complaints, and maintenance fees.
Isaac's Science Blog 