Senior Design Projects Spring 2015

Geomagnetically-Induced Current Monitoring

Geomagnetically-Induced Current Monitoring

Team Members: Rion Mott, Evan Bajek, Michael Spenle, and Daryl Bennet, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: John Lukowski, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: ITC Holdings


Project Overview:
ITC Holdings is the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. ITC has transmission systems throughout the Midwest and supply a peak load over 25,000 megawatts. Geomagnetically-Induced Current (GIC) is a phenomenon caused when solar winds interact with the earth’s magnetosphere causing DC currents to be created in AC transmission lines that can damage transformers and other equipment. Transformers and GIC mitigation are both expensive. A GIC monitoring system can determine what protection and mitigation is required for ITC’s transmission system. The project is a continuation from last year to further develop a system not only to detect GIC but also communicate this data using the existing ITC networks.


Front-End Protection for Data Acquisition

Front-End Protection for Data Acquisition

Team Members: Sylvia Ferragut, Caleb Wright, and Ben Veltman, Electrical Engineering; Matthew Zawisza, Computer Engineering
Advisor: Duane Bucheger, Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Sponsor: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project Overview:
Often devices under test can behave in erratic ways, resulting in catastrophic damage to expensive test equipment. By designing specifications based on National Instruments’ limitations and typical automotive testing requirements, the team created a buffer box to protect from over-voltage and add layers of isolation. The buffer box, used in conjunction with the $50k–$500k tools being regularly used by the automotive industry, is a simple tool, which can be used by a wide range of people with varying levels of expertise to keep expenses down.

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System to Measure the Effectiveness of a Rail Shunt

System to Measure the Effectiveness of a Rail Shunt

Team Members: Samuel Scott, Alexander Pate, Frank BeFay, and Sean Massey, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Duane Bucheger, Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Sponsors: Union Pacific Railroad, Michigan Tech Rail
Transportation Program, National University Rail
Center (NURail)

Project Overview:
Our objective is to develop a system to measure the effectiveness of a rail shunt. Signalmen utilize rail shunts to test functionality of rail systems and calibrate signal equipment. The new system will provide immediate feedback and inform the signalmen when a good shunt is achieved. Railroads use different signals flowing through them to detect existing trains. Rail shunts are used to simulate a train so that an actual train doesn’t enter the area being repaired or calibrated. By retrofitting a rail shunt using custom integrated circuitry and a micro-controller, we’ve developed a tool that not only effectively shunts the line, but also indicates when a good connection has been established.


Kimberly-Clark Smart Bin

Kimberly-Clark Smart Bin

Team Members: Louis Bersine, Jake Fiebing, and Yuancheng He, Electrical Engineering; Kaiquan Wang, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Don Moore, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Sponsor: Kimberly-Clark

Project Overview:
The Smart Bin is a system designed to send wireless data to Kimberly-Clark’s PLC for measurement purposes. It is designed to handle a rough industrial setting and be powered for a long time.

 

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MAP Determination of Intake Cam Centerline, Phase II

MAP Determination of Intake Cam Centerline, Phase II

Team Members: Paul Thomas, David Entingh, and Robert Roush, Computer Engineering
Advisor: Duane Bucheger, Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Sponsor: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Project Overview: The objective of our project is to correlate manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor data from a Chrysler Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine with the position of the camshaft through analysis of pressure changes from intake timing variation. Using this data, we have implemented a method to improve deduction of the cam position to allow for precise adjustments in the engine timing leading to increased efficiency in real-time operation.


Smart Grid Home Energy Management Application

Smart Grid Home Energy Management Application

Team Members: Matthew Alessi, Benjamin Ginnow, Amanda Rueff, and Noah Hagman, Electrical Engineering; Andrew
Hanson, Computer Engineering
Advisor: Don Moore, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: Consumers Energy

Project Overview:
Over the next several years, Consumers Energy will continue to deploy smart metering technology infrastructure throughout the regions it serves within the state of Michigan. The opportunity exists to employ smart metering infrastructure and mobile devices to benefit households within Consumers Energy’s region of operation. Consumers Energy has challenged our team to develop a smartphone application that provides customers with an interactive way to understand their home energy usage. This application will provide users with the ability to view energy usage statistics over a user-defined time period, connect to a centralized household communication hub to control energy usage within users’ homes, and provide energy saving goals and opportunities.

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Software Tool to Develop Equivalent Circuit Motor Parameters

Software Tool to Develop Equivalent Circuit Motor Parameters

Team Members: Zack Browne, Holden Hunt, Michael Martin, and Matt Militello, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Trever Hassell, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: American Transmission Company (ATC)

Project Overview:
The purpose of this design project is to assist American Transmission Company (ATC) in the development and creation of a software tool for three phase, single and double squirrel cage induction motors. More specifically, the team will investigate and derive a method and software tool, which can accurately predict an induction motor’s equivalent circuit parameters from a manufacturer provided torque speed curve and nameplate data in an efficient and  non-heuristic approach. This software tool will allow ATC to be more accurate and efficient when describing a motor’s effects during black start conditions.


End of Line Noise Test Certification System

End of Line Noise Test Certification System

Team Members: Tyler Giddens, Mechanical Engineering; Max Moeller and Jake Bell, Electrical Engineering; Nick
Oshaben, Computer Engineering
Advisor: Jeff Burl, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: Nexteer Automotive

Project Overview:
Nexteer Automotive requires a calibration device that can be implemented into their production line that will allow the testing equipment used to test each final product before distribution to be checked and re-calibrated when an issue arises. This device will be able to produce a vibration that is comparable to what the test equipment reads. Calibration can then be performed and testing resumed without major delays in the production line.


Substation Automation Standards

Substation Automation Standards

Team Members: Marc Kohler, Adam Kovach, Britta Anderson,
William Gagnon, and Dong Xia, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: John Lukowski, Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Sponsor: DTE Energy


Project Overview:
Our team has three goals. The first is to develop a password management system for an intelligent electronic device (IED) that will work across multiple vendors. Second, we will create a universal program that can manipulate (upload, download, edit) configured IED description (CID) files. Third, we will also research incorporating the IEC 61850 protocol within traditional bus protection schemes.


dSpace Hardware in the Loop Development and Testing

dSpace Hardware in the Loop Development and Testing

Team Members: Chen Li, Matthew Hooker, Brian Knapp and Alexandra Roche, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Jeff Burl, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: Nexteer Automotive

Project Overview:
This senior design project is a continuation of Nexteer Automotive-sponsored graduate research development of Electric Power Steering dSpace Hardware in the Loop (EPS dSpace HiL). Our goal is to further use the Hil bench for software testing and, if required, motor dyno testing. The team also works on the setup process including dSpace test hardware, dSpace Vehicle Dynamics software, Simulink models of EPS, vehicle driver, sensors, and test wiring harness.