Medical Devices & Systems, Diagnostics,
Biodetectors & Sensors, Imaging, Neurotechnology
Wireless Communications,
Antenna & Satellite Systems, Electronics
Information Technology, Data Management
& Storage, Artificial Intelligence
Materials,
Manufacturing
Construction, Sustainability,
Resilient Infrastructure

Energy Storage, Power, Smart Grids

Distributed Renewable Energy Grid Controller

While customer demand at a power grid distribution network remains relatively predictable during the course of a day, the quick morning ramp ups and late afternoon ramp downs in grid connected Renewable Energy Source (RES) power plants without the support of secondary sources of generation pose a severe threat to the stability of the grid and the availability of power to customers. Existing technologies that deal with problems of such magnitude are based on unreliable weather prediction and ineffective modeling, making the overall grid performance unreliable and inefficient.

FIU researchers have developed a technology for effectively integrating large-scale distributed RESs across the smart grid and sustaining their benefits, through the creation of an adaptive holistic controller that comprises predictive and prescriptive computation models

APPLICATIONS

  • Future smart grid as a synergistic integration of its various components with tools for forecasting and intelligent load sharing among a diverse group of distributed RESs.
  • Understand, predict and mitigate the system instabilities and fluctuations triggered by photovoltaic intermittencies. This controller can be used in the planning process at the command and control centers for electric utilities.
Electronically Activated C-MEMS Electrodes for On-chip Micro Super-Capacitors

The technology is developed as a very promising method for fabricating electrochemical micro-capacitors. Carbon micro-electrode arrays for use in micro-capacitors are fabricated using the carbon microelectromechanical system (C-MEMS) technique. FIU inventors have successfully demonstrated that C-MEMS fabricated micro-electrodes are potentially capable of delivering energy storage solutions for micro-devices. In addition fabrication of higher aspect ratio micro-electrodes could increase the device’s surface area while maintaining a desirable in the limited footprint.

APPLICATIONS

  • Electrochemically activated carbon microelectromechanical system (C-MEMS) electrodes can be used as three-dimensional electrodes for on-chip electrochemical micro-supercapacitors.
  • The technology has specific applications in the fields of micro-power sources and energy storage.
Miniaturized Highly Efficient Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) System

WPT often uses inductive power delivery, which is the use of non-radiating magnetic fields generated by a transmitter coil to induce a current in a receiver coil. Strongly coupled magnetic resonators systems have shown good efficiency and range, but they require a certain distance between the source and the resonators, and therefore occupy a significant volume.

FIU inventors have designed advantageous systems and methods for WPT that can operate at a lower operating frequency, extended WPT range and higher WPT efficiency.

APPLICATIONS

Can be used in the wireless charging/powering of mobile devices, implantable devices or sensors, embedded sensors for structural health monitoring of concrete structures and bridges, wearable devices and healthcare applications

Misalignment Insensitive Wireless Power Transfer (WPT)

WPT is a convenient way to power devices. The drawback of current WPT system is that it is only efficient when the transmitter and receiver elements are resonating at the same frequency and are properly aligned. FIU inventors have designed advantageous systems and methods for WPT that are insensitive to misalignment.

APPLICATIONS

Can be used in the wireless charging/powering of mobile devices, implantable devices or sensors, embedded sensors for structural health monitoring of concrete structures and bridges, wearable devices and healthcare applications.

Active Aerodynamics Mitigation & Power Production System

This system is designed to simultaneously reduce wind damage and provide power to buildings, homes, and other construction structures. This technology uses a lightweight mini helicoidal wind turbine attached to a roof gutter, or to a roof edge if no roof gutter is available, attenuating wind induced suction (negative pressures) and also providing green energy in the form of wind energy that can be stored in batteries or can be used through net metering.

APPLICATIONS

This system is specifically designed for buildings, homes, and other construction structures such as stadiums, signs, canopies, trusses, and transportation, traffic, power infrastructure including bridges, towers, light poles, etc.