Electrical Engineers at RRC Companies Co-author Research with Important Implications for Renewables

Yi Meng, Director of Engineering at RRC Companies, and Senior Electrical Project Engineer Irtaza M. Syed have co-authored an article that could improve the connectivity of renewable energy systems to the grid. Their collaborators included Muhammad M. Fayyaz of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Muhammad N. Aman of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The article, published in the journal Energies, examines the potential for using a comprehensive model predictive control (CMPC) method to control a three-phase four-legged inverter (TP4LI) to reduce losses in photovoltaic, i.e., solar power systems. In the article, researchers showed that CMPC provided a simple and intuitive control model to minimize losses associated with switching frequency and/or high voltage-current switching while keeping the harmonics under industry standard limits. The proposed method is based on model predictive control (MPC) and draws on its inherent strengths, such as small memory requirements, fast computational speed, parameter robustness, and high performance to optimize the process and losses. Although initially focused on solar power systems, Meng, Syed, and their co-authors found that CMPC was suitable for inverter control in all DC-AC conversion applications, including wind power. They plan to conduct further experimental work to support this research. Speaking about his interest in working on this article, Meng said, “Working on this project was a fantastic opportunity to apply engineering techniques to an important and challenging problem in the energy industry.” “I am happy to conduct research and explore new ideas at RRC Companies that can benefit our clients and the industry. It would not have been possible without RRC Companies’ encouragement and support,” added Syed. The implications of this research could be significant, as the use of these techniques helps reduce the cost and complexity of renewable energy systems, making them more efficient and sustainable in the long term. As the world continues to transition towards cleaner and more renewable forms of energy, this research could play an important role in shaping the future of the energy industry. The full text of the article is available on MPDI.com, an open-access publishing platform, supporting academic communities. To learn more about RRC Companies, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.