Massimo Mitolo

Irvine Valley College · Department of Electrical Engineering

Electrical professionals working on the installation, construction, repair, and maintenance of facilities are exposed to the risk of electric shock due to their possible interaction with live parts but also due to the contact with the enclosure of equipment, normally not energized, which has become live under fault conditions. This necessary intera...

In this paper, the issues related to short-circuit calculations in hybrid AC/DC microgrids are discussed. The reference standard for short-current calculations in DC systems is the IEC 61660, which provides a mathematical formulation of the problem. The standard only includes radial DC grids and does not consider a more complex system, such as mesh...

A new multi-objective minimal-drift maximum power point tracking (MOMD-MPPT) technique is introduced to harness maximum power from single photovoltaic (PV) array fed multilevel converter (MLC). A drift in voltage arises with conventional MPPT techniques, which is minimized in this work with a new multi-objective solution. A new swarm optimization a...

To Promote and meet the projected levels of electric vehicle (EV) penetration, the development of charging infrastructure, i.e., both slow charging and dc-fast charging, is essential. Slow/onboard chargers pose weight, efficiency, and thermal management challenges to the designers, while the off-board fast/superfast/ultra-superfast chargers pose ef...

The author offers a power-efficient multichannel low-pass filter for digital image processing based on the cascade multiple accumulate finite impulse response (CMFIR) structure in this study. The CMFIR filter was created using the outputs of a linear time-invariant system (LTI), which was built using a cascaded integrator comb (CIC) and a MAC low-p...

Microgrid formation is a promising solution to enhance resiliency of distribution networks. The self-adequacy feature of a microgrid enables continuity of power supply through distributed generation (DG) units during severe faults and natural disasters. In this paper, different methods commonly used to partition a distribution network into multiple...

A reference to designing and developing electrical systems connected to renewable energies Electrical Safety Engineering of Renewable Energy Systems is an authoritative text that offers an in-depth exploration to the safety challenges of renewable systems. The authors-noted experts on the topic-cover a wide-range of renewable systems including phot...

The photovoltaic output power varies according to the solar radiation and ambient temperature because the operation of the photovoltaic arrays is greatly dependent on them. Therefore, achieving the maximum photovoltaic power under different shading patterns is a key factor in the performance improvement of photovoltaic systems. An efficient Maximum...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world in ways that were unimaginable in 2019. It has changed how professionals work and interact with one another. To ensure the safety of experts and attorneys, forensic inspection procedures must evolve while still providing a reliable foundation for expert testimony. Traditional field inspections req...

In solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mechanism is employed to track the maximum power (MPP) to maximize the PV array power output. Among the various mechanisms, the perturb & observe (P&O) technique is mostly preferred technique to track the MPP since, it is very easy implement with simple str...

Some regions may be characterized by a very low annual lightning ground flash density, and yet lightning strikes seem to have been in those areas the cause of widespread wildfires in forested areas. Due to global climate change, these occurrences seem to be an increasing threat. In this paper, the authors discuss the withstand capability of trees a...

The papers in this special section focus on Multilevel converter applications in the area of renewable energy, electric propulsion, electric vehicles and power grid integration. Today, power electronics converters have shifted into a decisive part of our ways of living, noticeably for the profitable utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs). E...

Major electrical gadgets are moving towards energy-efficient designs. Ceiling Fans are one of the prime focuses of such electrical gadgets. This paper discusses and reviews about the past, present and future scenarios of the ceiling fans. The review includes different electric motors used in this application with its electromagnetic designs, contro...

Despite the growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) leading toward the 2030 goal, deficiencies in charging infrastructures, extended charging times, range anxiety, and existing battery technology may limit EVs' applicability. These constraints affect the choice of EV for both urban driving (high charging times) and highway driving (range anxiety). Thus,...

In this article, the authors discuss the crucial aspects of the insulation resistance testing of photovoltaic (PV) installations. This test verifies the integrity of the wiring systems and can be used to detect or prevent damages to wiring as well as ground faults. The insulation resistance test measures the resistance between the ungrounded circui...

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical devices, which collects data and processes into a system without human intervention. In the commercialized market, IoT architectures are upgrading day by day to reduce data transmission costs, latency, and bandwidth usage for various application requirements. The extensively available IoT...

This paper presents a novel asymmetrical 21-level multilevel inverter topology for solar PV application. The proposed topology achieves 21-level output voltage without H-bridge using asymmetric DC sources. This reduces the devices, cost and size. The PV standalone system needs a constant DC voltage magnitude from the solar panels, maximum power poi...

In this paper, a new solar PV fed Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) based on Trans-Z-source Inverter (TransZSI) is proposed to improve the power quality of on-grid Photovoltaic (PV) systems. DVR is a power electronic compensator using for injecting the desired voltage to the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) as per the voltage disturbance. In the propose...

As a new emerging approach, Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) control for interfacing inverters in renewable distributed generation (DG)-based microgrids has attracted significant research interest. However, VSG control cannot ensure proportional reactive power sharing among DG units when unequal transmission line impedances are involved, althoug...

In this article, the authors discuss a simulation model to study the effect of cross-bonding of metallic sheaths, and/or nonmagnetic armors, of single-core medium- and high-voltage cables in the same circuit. In single-core cables, the resistive losses due to the induced circulating currents in cable sheaths or armors cause an increase of the cable...

Current era seems to mark the increased applications of high gain converters in renewable energy-based DC microgrids. This paper proposes a hybrid high gain converter for DC microgrid applications without using transformer and voltage multiplier. The proposed hybrid configuration is derived by combining the structure of a Cuk converter and buck-boo...

In this paper, a review of the existing special bonding techniques for medium voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) cables is presented. Special bonding techniques have the purpose of reducing sheath currents, thereby limiting copper losses and the reduction of the ampacity of cables. The literature review shows various bonding techniques and how thes...

Current era seems to mark the increased applications of high gain converters in renewable energy-based DC microgrids. This paper proposes a hybrid high gain converter for DC microgrid applications without using transformer and voltage multiplier. The proposed hybrid configuration is derived by combining the structure of Cuk converter and buck-boost...

The automobile companies are focusing on recent technologies such as growing Hydrogen (H2) and Fuel Cell (FC) Vehicular Power Train (VPT) to improve the Tank-To-Wheel (TTW) efficiency. Benefits, the lower cost, ‘Eco’ friendly, zero-emission and high-power capacity etc. In the power train of fuel cell vehicles, the DC-DC power converters play a vita...

Microgrids are often considered as the solution for affordable and clean energy in the distribution sector. This paper presents the small signal stability analysis of a distributed generation unit in an autonomous microgrid operation. The purpose of the proposed strategy is to optimally improve the capacity of the power system to restore the reason...

Learn the theory behind grounding systems and bonding equipotential connections from a worldwide renowned expert. Through mathematical analysis, comprehensive explanations and detailed figures, Analysis of Grounding and Bonding Systems explains the theory and the reasons behind basic ground electrodes (i.e., the sphere, the ground-rod, and the hori...

Wind power generation has increased in the past twenty years due to the development of power electronic converters. Power generation through wind has advantages over other renewable sources, such as having more efficiency, being pollution-free, and its abundant availability. Power electronic converters play a vital role in the wind energy conversio...

Design of multilevel inverters (MLIs) using switched-capacitor (SC) is emerging due to suitability in renewable power conversion systems, high-frequency power distribution, etc. Using the SC technique, the number of dc sources can be significantly reduced, and required voltage levels can be created by utilizing the capacitor voltage along with the...

Photovoltaic (PV) energy has increased drastically at an average annual rate of 60% in the last few years. It quickly became an integral part of the power system networks. This increase, in turn, has triggered the evolution of PV power converters with more efficiency and reliability. In this paper, a prototype of the PV integrated controlled conver...

Highly efficient passive Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver configurations are studied and examined in this paper. The technology based on the LED becomes a promising lighting technology to exchange inefficient energy lamps. For outdoor applications, the LED drivers based on passive elements are appropriate in extreme weather conditions. A compariso...

In this manuscript, to avoid the floating driver circuitry, a close-knit of X-Y converter family called new DCDC chain of XY converter (XG-YG power converter family) is articulated for high step-up renewable applications. Initially, Switched Reactive Networks (SRNs) are utilized, and eight (8) new configurations of the buck-boost converter are deri...

In DC microgrid, the combination of energy source, especially renewable with the unit for storage and utility load rely heavily upon the electronics power converters. This paper proposes a novel DC to DC converter called Quad- Switched-Inductor Double-Switch (QSI-DS) converter for microgrid voltage step-up applications. The non-isolated topology ut...

The proper monitoring and operation and maintenance (O&M) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are an integral part of the service tasks required to ensure long-term reliability and prolonged lifetime of the installation. In the recent years, with the end of the feed-in-tariff legislation, the PV stakeholders and operators shifted their focus from th...

In the current era, the desire for high boost DC-to-DC converter development has increased. Notably, there has been voltage gain improvement without adding extra power switches, and a large number of passive components have advanced. Magnetically coupled isolated converters are suggested for the higher voltage gain. These converters use large size...

To meet the specifications of low cost, highly reliable electronic devices, fault diagnosis techniques play an essential role. It is vital to find flaws at an early stage in design, components, material, or manufacturing during the initial phase. This review paper attempts to summarize past development and recent advances in the areas about green m...

In this paper, the authors discuss the legal liabilities of the professional engineer as both the engineer of record of a project and the construction site manager. In particular, this paper analyzes the case of a fire at the end-user Medium Voltage-Low Voltage (MV-LV) substation of a shopping center in Italy, which occurred a few years after the m...

Wind power generation has increased in the past twenty years due to the development of power electronic converters. Power generation through wind has advantages over other renewable sources, such as having more efficiency, being pollution-free, and its abundant availability. Power electronic converters play a vital role in the wind energy conversio...

The papers in this special section examine building automation that incorporates energy management, microgrids, and automated metering. Energy efficiency is one of the most important goals in the design, operation, management, and maintenance of industrial and commercial power systems. Building automation systems and metering systems must be suppor...

Several safety regulations particularly concerning the charging electric vehicles (EVs) are developed to ensure the electric safety and prevent the hazardous accidents, in which safety requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and the EV battery are the two main driving factors. At present, quantitative assessment of electrical safe...

Academic laboratories should be a safe environment in which one can teach, learn, and conduct research. Sharing a common principle, the prevention of potential accidents and imminent injuries is a fundamental goal of laboratory environments. In addition, academic laboratories are attributed the exceptional responsibility to instill in students the...

The resonant grounding is one of the possible methods of system neutral grounding for the medium voltage distribution. IEEE standards do define this grounding configuration, but important advantages and drawbacks of the resonant grounding might not be fully known, due to its rather uncommon application in North America. On the other hand, resonant...

Maxwell's equations explain all phenomena of classical electrodynamics, magnetism, and optics the way Newton's equations of motion describe classical mechanics. Maxwell introduced the theoretical description of electromagnetic waves and fostered a deeper understanding of the behavior of light.

Hans Christian ?ersted (Figure 1) was a professor of physics at the University of Copenhagen (1777-1851). When he learned of the invention of the electric battery in 1799 from Alessandro Volta, he began to experiment with electric currents.

The refurbishment of historic buildings is a complex task in which the goal of obtaining a more energy-efficient building can conflict with the peculiar characteristics of the building's environment and its intended use. In this article, the authors address this problem for a very specific type of building: a historic opera house located in norther...

Downed distribution conductors in overhead distribution systems, may not be a concern for equipment, but greatly challenge the safety of persons, as well as the integrity of properties. Standard overcurrent protective devices may not be able to detect the magnitudes of currents resulting from high-impedance ground- faults. Sophisticated relays able...

The interconnection of grounding systems of HV-MV stations via the armors of medium voltage cables, is herein analyzed to verify the effects on touch voltages in ground-fault conditions. The major contributions of this paper are two: the analysis of the impact of a HV ground-fault on a Global Grounding System (GGS), and the analysis of the paramete...

The determination of both magnitude and duration of touch voltages is of paramount importance to protect persons against electric shock hazards, such as those caused by basic insulation failure in equipment/appliances, or direct contact with live parts. The magnitude of touch voltages depends on the impedance of the equipment grounding conductor (a...

The paper discusses the status of the development status of the inductive power transmission for automotive applications. This technology is, in fact, gaining the interest of electric vehicle manufacturers as an effective strategy to improve the market penetration of electric mobility. Starting from the origin of this technology, the paper presents...

This article discusses fundamental electrical safety issues, especially protection against electric shock, for those interacting with electric vehicles (EVs). The safety of users may be challenged by the vehicle's increased operating voltages, at different frequencies, possibly making the protection against direct and indirect contacts more complex...

Energy efficiency policies require the implementation of strategies to reduce energy use during the operation of integrated urban water systems. In Italy, the overall amount of electrical energy consumption for water systems is close to 2.3% of the total national consumption, thus efforts to minimize costs are crucial. This paper analyzes a case st...

Common solids (e.g. flour, sugar, etc.) can be suspended and transported in air via pneumatic conveying systems. Finely divided solid substances dispersed into a dust cloud (e.g. into a silo) can form a potential explosive atmosphere, if in the right concentration with the oxidizing agent (e.g. air). In addition, it is known that the pneumatic hand...

The refurbishment of historic buildings is a complex task where the goal of obtaining a more energy efficient building often conflicts with the peculiar characteristics of the built environment, and its final destination. In this paper, the authors address this problem for a very specific type of building: a historic opera house located in Northern...

In case of direct or indirect contact with electrically energized parts, an electric current circulates through the body. When the magnitude and duration of the current through the heart exceed the ventricular fibrillation thresholds, the cardiac muscle starts uncoordinated contractions, greatly jeopardizing the life of the subject. Technical stand...

Manual metal arc welding can be a hazardous practice if proper precautions are not taken. The welding procedure uses an open electric arc between an electrode and the metals to be joined. Besides the obvious risks of burns and inflammation of the cornea, which are prevented by using proper personal protective equipment, the operator may also be sub...

Manual metal arc welding can be a hazardous practice if proper precautions are not taken. The welding procedure uses an open electric arc between an electrode and the metals to be joined. Besides the obvious risks of burns and inflammation of the cornea, which are prevented by using proper personal protective equipment, the operator may also be sub...

The paper discusses the status of the development status of the inductive power transmission for automotive applications. This technology is, in fact, gaining the interest of electric vehicle manufacturers as an effective strategy to improve the market penetration of electric mobility. Starting from the origin of this technology, the paper presents...

In case of direct or indirect contact with electrically energized parts, an electric current circulates through the body. When the magnitude and duration of the current through the heart exceed the ventricular fibrillation thresholds, the cardiac muscle starts uncoordinated contractions, greatly jeopardizing the life of the subject. Technical stand...