Current Issue : January-March Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 5 Articles
Hybrid-electric aircraft require a reliable power distribution architecture. The electrical drive system is connected to the power source via a DC-link composed mostly of capacitors—one of the faultiest power electronic components. In order to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft, DC-link capacitor condition monitoring is needed. The main requirements for such an algorithm are low data consumption and the possibility to use it in generator- or battery-powered systems. The proposed discharge-based repetitive recursive least squares (RRLS) method provides satisfactory estimates utilizing small data packages. Its execution during capacitor discharge makes it independent from the power source type. Based on the capacitor’s physical parameters, the computational complexity of the estimation process is reduced. Simulation validation and experimental tests were conducted. An analysis was carried out in a capacitance range between 705 μF and 1175 μF. The effective range of the algorithm is 881 μF–1044 μF, with an estimation error of less than 5%. Additionally, a range of changes in the time constant of the multiplier of 0.1–10 was tested in the simulation study....
This paper presents an integrated approach for optimizing the performance of a 36-pulses converter system by using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to be included in a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment. The focus of the proposal is on enhancing harmonic reduction through intelligent adjustment of switching angles and coordinated control of the reinjection transformer included in the power converter topology. A key component of the proposed methodology involves a simulation-based process to determine optimal firing angles (α1, α2, and α3), based on Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) theory, that minimize Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Using MATLAB with Simulink and PLECS models, a parametric sweep of the firing angles, generating a comprehensive dataset of THD outcomes. This dataset, consisting of THD evaluations across fine-grained angle variations, serves as the training foundation for supervised machine learning models—specifically, neural network regressors—that approximate the nonlinear mapping between firing angles and harmonic distortion. These predictive models are then employed as surrogates to estimate THD rapidly and guide the selection of optimal switching angles in real time without requiring iterative numerical solvers. Optimization heuristics and predictive models are then deployed to dynamically adapt system parameters in real time under varying load conditions. The proposed method demonstrates significant improvements in power quality and operational reliability, highlighting the potential of AI-assisted SCADA systems in advanced power electronics applications. Implementation results performed on a 36-pulses voltage source converter prototype are included to illustrate the appropriateness of the proposal....
Graphene’s exceptional carrier mobility and broadband absorption make it promising for ultrafast photodetection. However, its low optical absorption limits responsivity, while the absence of a bandgap results in high dark current, constraining the signal-to-noise ratio and efficiency. Although silicon (Si) photodetectors normally offer fabrication compatibility, their performance is severely hindered by interface trap states and optical shading. To overcome these limitations, we demonstrate an epitaxial graphene/n-Si heterojunction photodiode. This device utilizes graphene epitaxially grown on germanium integrated with a transferred Si thin film, eliminating polymer residues and interface defects common in transferred graphene. As a result, the fabricated photodetector achieves an ultralow dark current of 1.2 × 10−9 A, a high responsivity of 1430 A/W, and self-powered operation at room temperature. This work provides a strategy for high-sensitivity and low-power photodetection and demonstrates the practical integration potential of graphene/Si heterostructures for advanced optoelectronics....
This paper presents a proportional–integral (PI) control-based charging strategy that introduces a ripple component into the constant-current (CC) charging profile to regulate battery temperature and improve long-term performance. The proposed method is implemented within an on-board charger (OBC), where the ripple amplitude is adaptively adjusted based on battery temperature and internal resistance. While most prior studies focus on electrochemical characteristics, this work highlights the importance of analyzing current profiles from a power electronics and converter control perspective. The ripple magnitude is controlled in real time through gain tuning of the PI current controller, allowing temperature-aware charging. To validate the proposed method, experiments were conducted using a 11 kW OBC system and 70 Ah lithium-ion battery to examine the correlation between ripple amplitude and battery temperature rise, as well as its impact on internal resistance. The control strategy was evaluated under various thermal conditions and shown to be effective in mitigating temperature-related degradation through ripple-based modulation....
Silicon photonics offers a powerful route to leverage existing microelectronics infrastructure to enhance performance and enable new applications in data processing and sensing. Among the available material platforms, silicon nitride (Si3N4) provides significant advantages due to its wide optical transmission window. A key challenge, however, remains the monolithic integration of passive nitride-based photonic components with active electronic devices directly on silicon wafers. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a tapered bottom-cladding design that enables efficient coupling of visible light from Si3N4/SiO2 core–cladding waveguides into planar p–n junction photodiodes fabricated on the silicon surface. Si3N4/SiO2 waveguides were fabricated using fully CMOS-compatible processes and materials. Controlled reactive ion etching (RIE) of SiO2 allowed the formation of vertically tapered claddings, and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations were carried out to analyze coupling efficiency across wavelengths from 509nm to 740nm. Simulations showed transmission efficiencies above 90% for taper angles below 30◦, with near-total coupling at 10◦. Experimental fabrication achieved angles as low as 8◦. Responsivity simulations yielded values up to 311mAW−1 for photodiodes without internal gain. These results demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating monolithic Si-based waveguide– photodetector systems using simple, CMOS-compatible methods, opening a scalable path for integrated photonic–electronic devices operating in the visible range....
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