Major Research Areas and Projects
Design and Controllability of EV Charging Facilities Integrated with Renewable Energy Resources
Development of photovoltaic and wind integrated EV charging station architectures.
Design of control and scheduling algorithms based on DC-link voltage sensing to manage charging demand and reduce grid stress.
Smart charging strategies that minimize peak loading, enhance transformer lifespan, and facilitate higher renewable energy utilization.
Experimental validation of charging control strategies using laboratory-scale prototypes
Funding Source: CenterPoint Energy, Houston, TX
Optimal Placement and Sizing of Distributed Energy Resources Using Metaheuristic Optimization
Development of multi-objective optimization frameworks using metaheuristic algorithms such as Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA), and Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO).
Reduction of real and reactive power losses, improvement of voltage profiles, and enhancement of system efficiency in radial distribution networks.
Monthly optimization of PV tilt and azimuth angles combined with DER sizing to maximize energy capture and reduce losses.
Economic assessment of DER planning solutions, including cost savings, payback periods, and long-term system benefits.
Optimal Placement and Sizing of Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Two-stage and multi-stage optimization frameworks for coordinated placement of DGs, shunt capacitors, and EV charging stations.
Fuzzy multi-objective and Pareto-based approaches that balance technical performance, economic cost, and emission reduction.
Integration of time-of-use pricing and demand response considerations into EV charging planning.
Quantification of energy savings, loss reduction, and emission benefits resulting from optimized EV load allocation.
Distribution System Resilience Enhancement and Post Disaster Restoration
Resilience-driven planning frameworks for zonal allocation and sizing of photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems.
Quantification of unserved energy and cost–resilience tradeoffs during extended outages.
Use of time-series load and renewable generation data to evaluate seasonal resilience strategies.
Analysis of power–communication interdependencies and their impact on restoration performance.
Funding Source: UMKC Funding for Excellence
Hybrid Power Supply Systems for Mission-Critical Applications
Techno-economic and fuel-efficiency analysis of hybrid systems integrating liquid propane generators, battery energy storage, and photovoltaic generation.
Evaluation of system performance under different load levels, temperatures, and geographic conditions.
Quantification of fuel savings, operating cost reductions, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Long-term total cost of ownership analysis based on real-world deployment data.
Funding Source: HCI Energy and Missouri Institute of Defense and Energy (MIDE)