I assist a team of graduate students in testing modules for PowerAmerica's clientele, including Corstat and CREE. I was initially responsible for routing a 555 timer circuit, simulating it in LT Spice, and constructing a PCB by soldering, which was used to test Gate-Drivers. In each Converter test 4-6 Gate Drivers are used, so we must ensure that they transmit and convert optical data to analog Sinusoidal waveforms correctly. Test setup generally involves: ensuring Gate-drivers are… Show more I assist a team of graduate students in testing modules for PowerAmerica's clientele, including Corstat and CREE. I was initially responsible for routing a 555 timer circuit, simulating it in LT Spice, and constructing a PCB by soldering, which was used to test Gate-Drivers. In each Converter test 4-6 Gate Drivers are used, so we must ensure that they transmit and convert optical data to analog Sinusoidal waveforms correctly. Test setup generally involves: ensuring Gate-drivers are functioning, connecting wires properly between interfaces from the FPGA module (where the signal information is stored) - up until the Oscilloscope, which displays the final output signal. In my second year at PowerAmerica I wrote a technical literature review, which incorporates the testing setup as well as background information on Half-Bridge Converters. The modules we tested were Silicon-Carbide (SiC) MOSFET Switching devices rated for 10kV. They were provided a double-pulse square wave signal, and loaded until the maximum power input to ensure they fit their specification. These devices are SiC because they can cope with large increases in base-plate temperature and are switchable at high frequencies - which reduces the size and weight requirements of passive elements. Show less

As a intern for the Motors and Drives team at Advanced Energy I was assigned numerous hands-on job responsibilities. The primary goal of interns at Advanced Energy is to prepare motors for testing, by aligning a test and a load motor with a torque-transducer, setting up an excel sheet to document test results, and to wire both motors properly. Test motors were regularly shipped to the lab, upon which I had to check them into the system using a shipping log, bolt individual number plate tags… Show more As a intern for the Motors and Drives team at Advanced Energy I was assigned numerous hands-on job responsibilities. The primary goal of interns at Advanced Energy is to prepare motors for testing, by aligning a test and a load motor with a torque-transducer, setting up an excel sheet to document test results, and to wire both motors properly. Test motors were regularly shipped to the lab, upon which I had to check them into the system using a shipping log, bolt individual number plate tags onto them, and transfer them to a dynanomometer using the crane. The lab has three dynanomometers: an Eddy-Current Dyno designed for higher horse-power motors (above 25 HP), and two dynos for motors under 25 HP. The majority of tests we performed were on either of the two smaller dynos. Once I placed the test motor onto the dyno table I had to locate a matching torque-transducer and load motor for it. The load motor had to match the number of Poles the test motor had, which is found by 7200/Speed. The majority of motors we tested were 4-poles (Motors rated for 1800 RPM). The software we used to record data was LabView, and we had routines for IEEE 112B and Locked-Rotor/Breakdown tests. Show less

I worked as an Electrical Engineering Co-op for Primary Engineering within the High Voltage Systems division. Our Cary, NC-based team coordinated with Siemens Mexico on the majority of projects. During this rotation I took upon tasks from various departments within High Voltage Systems to better understand the Air-Insulated and Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS) equipment that the engineers dealt with on a daily basis. This required knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical, Bentley Microstation, Microsoft… Show more I worked as an Electrical Engineering Co-op for Primary Engineering within the High Voltage Systems division. Our Cary, NC-based team coordinated with Siemens Mexico on the majority of projects. During this rotation I took upon tasks from various departments within High Voltage Systems to better understand the Air-Insulated and Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS) equipment that the engineers dealt with on a daily basis. This required knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical, Bentley Microstation, Microsoft Excel, and other programs that our team used to deliver proposals and project layouts to customers on time. Knowledge of High Voltage Transmission equipment such as Circuit Breakers, Current and Voltage Transformers, and Surge Arresters was necessary to accomplish Primary Engineering tasks. For example, knowing how to convert a 3D raster to a one-line diagram will help customers better understand the intended purpose of a particular substation element. Siemens Industry sub-contractors I worked with included AEP, Amtrak, Dominion Virginia Power, PSEG, and SDGE. Apart from participating in the design of substations, I assisted with Technical Scopes of Work and budgets. Show less