ECCE 2018, Portland, OR, USA
Published:
Summary
I attended the IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE) 2018 in Portland, Oregon, where I presented a poster on our research related to voltage variations in droop-controlled DC microgrids.
This was my first visit to the United States, and Portland left me with very positive memories. Alongside the conference, I had time to explore the city and experience a little of life on the American West Coast.
Exploring the City
One practical detail I appreciated was Oregon’s lack of a general sales tax. I visited an Apple Store and bought an iPad during the trip. I also enjoyed trying local steak, another small but vivid memory of that first visit.
My accommodation was away from the downtown area, so I used public transport to explore different parts of the city. One evening, on the journey back, I missed my stop. I got off at the next one and ended up walking a long way to where I was staying.
Finding My Own Impressions
Before the trip, I had heard plenty of warnings about safety in American cities, especially after dark. That evening, though, I felt reasonably comfortable on the walk and noticed other people out jogging at night.
It was only my own experience of one evening, but it reminded me how much first-hand experience matters. The stories we hear before visiting a place can shape our expectations, while being there gives us a chance to form a more personal and nuanced impression. For me, Portland was a very good start to travelling in the United States.
Poster Presentation
You can view the embedded poster below:
Research Topic
The poster highlighted our proposed low-pass filter-based method for mitigating voltage variations caused by droop control in DC microgrids — a simple yet effective enhancement for improved voltage stability.
Get in Touch
Feel free to email me if you’re interested in droop control, voltage regulation, or collaborative research on DC microgrids.