Md Motakabbir Rahman

Md Motakabbir Rahman, received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh. Since March 2020, he has served as a Lecturer at Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology, currently on study leave. He completed his Master of Engineering Science (MESc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Western University, Canada, graduating with an exceptional grade of 98/100. Md Motakabbir is currently a research assistant with the Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) research group, under the supervision of Professor J.M.Pearce, focusing on open-source appropriate technology (OSAT) for sustainability and poverty reduction.

Research Interest

His research interests focus on photovoltaic energy systems and power electronics, with a specialization in open-source nanogrid design and control. His work emphasizes modular DC nanogrid development tailored for sustainable, application-specific solutions. He possesses extensive expertise in power system modeling, stability analysis, protection system design, and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), with hands-on experience using PSCAD simulations. Additionally, he was actively involved in the development of the Pale Blue Hydrogen project, funded by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), focusing on solar-powered AEM electrolyzer-based green hydrogen production and solar-powered plasma-based blue hydrogen generation.

Education

Master of Engineering Science (MESc.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering (September, 2022-August 2024)
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Dissertation: Modular Open-Source Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrid for Application-Specific Designs.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (January 2015 – September 2019)
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), Rajshahi-6204, Bangladesh
Dissertation: Neural network based maximum power point tracking of a photovoltaic system.

Work Experience

Graduate Research Assistant (September, 2022 to August, 2024)
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) Research Group

• Designed the first-ever modular DC nanogrid for flexible, scalable energy solutions.
• Contributed to the Pale Blue Hydrogen project focusing on sustainable hydrogen production.
• Developed various solar-powered devices and systems.
  

Lecturer (March, 2020 to Present)
Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), Natore, Bangladesh
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

• Courses offered:Power Electronics, VLSI, Renewable Energy, Electronics I, Microprocessors and Interfacing.
• Responsibilities: Lab-in-charge (Electronics lab), Student Coordinator, Accreditation Committee Member.
• Vice President of Automation and Robotics Society
  

Industrial Trainee (May 2018 to June 2018)
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd & Walton Micro-Tech Corporation, Gazipur, Bangladesh

• Control of Roll former machine, CNC machine and Injection molding machine used for Refrigerator manufacturing.
• Servo motor driver, vector driver and Inverter control using PLC.
• IQC testing of LED Bulb: LED driver testing, LED testing using Spectro-photometer, Life testing.
  

Tecnical Skills

PV system optimization software: HOMER, SAM, SAMA,PVsyst
Coding: MATLAB, C and Arduino IDE.
Power system analysis: PSCAD, Simulink.
PCB design: KiCAD
3D printing: FreeCAD, Onshape

Project Demonstration Videos

Motakabbir on open source electronics

Off-grid Solar Photovoltaic 3-phase industrial energy system

FAST lab contributions to the Pale Blue Hydrogen Project

Completed Projects

Completed in 2024

Open-Source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid

This research article provides a novel innovation: a modular version of the PV powered DC nanogrid to be installed at consumer premises in a device form, operating as a plug-and-play device that can be customized according to consumer requirements.

• Solar DC nanogrids are well-established, but traditional designs focus on AC systems, requiring high technical knowledge and resulting in high costs.
• This study introduces a novel open-source modular DC nanogrid, offering plug-and-play functionality and customizable voltage levels for various applications.
• The system includes converters, controllers, and data loggers, with step-by-step assembly guidance, and has been experimentally validated and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink.
• The nanogrid is ideal for powering devices in locations like campsites, emergency vehicles, and off-grid homes, offering a more accessible alternative to AC systems.
• Stability and power supply efficiency were confirmed through time-domain simulations and load variation tests, making it suitable for a wide range of user-specific applications.

Open-source DC-DC converter enabling direct integration of solar photovoltaics with anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for green hydrogen production

This research explores innovative method for advancing sustainable hydrogen production using solar energy.

• Surplus PV energy is used via structured AEM electrolyzer schedules for H₂ production.
• 75% of AEM is PV-powered, reducing energy waste, with batteries covering the rest.
• Open-source adjustable DC-DC converter ensures optimal AEM electrolyzer performance.
• Custom DC-DC converter achieves 90% efficiency, cutting power loss for the electrolyzer.

Modular Open-Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrid System

This research presents a modular open-source solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered DC nanogrid system designed for sustainable and accessible off-grid power solutions, particularly in remote and isolated areas. By combining DIY PV technology with batteries, users can generate, store, and utilize electricity, reducing reliance on traditional grid infrastructure and promoting energy independence.

• Modular Open-Source Design: Customizable for diverse applications. DIY Approach: Empowers users to assemble and install their PV systems.
• DC Power Supply: Supplies DC power to loads at varying voltage levels. Parametric Energy Management System (EMS): Dynamically selects operational modes for efficiency.
• Simulation Validation: Confirms effectiveness in coordinating PV-battery system.
• Customizable Solution: Adaptable for different DC voltages, power levels, and battery backup requirements.
• Open Sharing of Design Specifications: Fosters continuous improvement to meet evolving energy challenges.

HVDC-VSC black start capability in coordination with grid forming solar farm

The study underscores the importance of grid-forming inverters for enhancing grid resilience, particularly during black start operations following power outages.

• The research highlights the significance of grid-forming inverters in autonomously establishing frequency and voltage, making them suitable for black start operations and system recovery.
• The study explores integrating grid-forming solar farms with HVDC networks to enhance black start capability, leveraging modular multilevel converters (MMC) for efficient energy transmission.
• A sequential energization strategy is proposed for HVDC-connected solar power plants during black start operations, ensuring a systematic restoration process.
• PSCAD simulations validate the effectiveness of the proposed black start strategy, demonstrating successful system restoration facilitated by grid-forming solar farms and HVDC technology.
• The study identifies avenues for future research, including variations in load conditions, fault scenarios, and automation of blackout detection for improved system reliability and efficiency.

Completed in 2023

Utilizing Smart Inverter-based PV STATCOM for dynamic voltage control

The study system in this project comprises a 10kW PV solar system operating as a PV STATCOM connected to a 208V L-L distributing system.

• Verification of the voltage control performance of PV STATCOM in response to sudden load changes under various scenarios using MATLAB/Simulink
• The system is capable of rapidly exchange dynamic reactive power within 1-2 cycles and supply rated reactive current even at reduced voltage.
• Additionally, provided detailed information about the design of the PV STATCOM controller and guidelines for modeling the system in Simulink environment.

Open-source Inverter based plasma generation system for blue hydrogen production

An open source Inverter for 230V, 50Hz AC supply compatible with 24V battery was desgined for plasma generator in order to faciliate blue hydrogen production.

• 50Hz 230V pure AC supply
• Open source hardware and encloser
• Over current and over temperature protection.
• High efficiency, low harmonic and low cost.
  

Completed in 2022

AC/off-grid photovoltaic powered open-source ball mill

The open-source ball mill is fully customizable and designed to be fabricated with distributed manufacturing. The parametric designs of the main components are 3-D printable on a low-cost readily accessible RepRap-class fused filament 3-D printer, and the electronic parts, bearings, magnets, and balls are provided by a wide-range of of-the-shelf vendors.

• The highly-customizable design of ball mill reduces the cost to <US$130 for an AC powered version and <US$315 for a switchable power that enables off-grid operation with a solar module and battery.
• The open-source ball mill is capable of reducing silicon particle sizes from the millimeter scale down to the nanometer scale.
• The open-source ball mill is also made with standard dimensions to work effectively and has been demonstrated to grind silicon particles from waste PV modules from 0.8 mm to 7 µm in 18 h.
  

Design and control of dual active bridge converter cascaded with inverter to interface between low voltage DC grid and AC grid

The background of this project is to modify the existing DC nano grid by designing the interface between the nano grid and AC network. The idea is to supply energy to the AC grid when the nano grid is in power surplus mode.

• In this project, the DAB cascaded with inverter topology has been designed which can be attached to a DC grid system as an interface with AC grid.
• Selection of transformer specifications, leakage inductance and conversion ratio in order to achieve ZVS operation for a wide range and reducing switching losses in dual active bridge converter.Hence, this DAB inverter has high efficiency.
• Designing the filters for the grid connected inverter and integrate it with the DAB.
• The simulations showed that, the DC capacitor voltage is maintained within the ZVS range in order ensure soft switching with a wide range of phase shift.

Completed in 2021

Design and Simulation of Solar DC Nano Grid System from Bangladesh Perspective

This research project proposes a model of DC Nano grid integrated with solar PV module which can supply electricity to up to 20 households at a distance of about 1 km.

• Solar DC Nano grid can be a possible approach towards achieving electrification to certain areas where grid connectivity is still unavailable.
• It can generate and distribute power to a cluster of households at close proximity reliably.
• I this project simulation results of buck converters assigned to supply power at three different voltage levels to feed various domestic loads.
• The cost estimation is presented of the proposed model.

Completed in 2020

PSO and ANN Based Hybrid MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Array under Partial Shading Condition

Most of the conventional MPPT methods fail to track maximum power under partial shading condition (PSC). Partial shading is the most common situation in PV power generation, which is caused if part of the series-connected strings is partially shaded. This situation leads to the multiple peaks in the P-V characteristics curve of the PV system.

• Stochastic search method, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), is used instead of the conventional methods to track maximum power under PSC.
• But the PSO method has the limitation of slow operation.So in this project, a fast hybrid method is presented, which combines the PSO method with the ANN method.
• In this hybrid method, the ANN enables the existing PSO method to track MPP quickly by providing more accurate initial particle positions of the PSO algorithm.
  

Completed in 2019

Protection of Power System during Cyber-Attack using Artificial Neural Network

Impacts of frequency and voltage disturbance on an isolated power system caused by cyber-attack has been discussed and a neural network-based protective approach has been proposed in this research work.

Artificial Neural Network Based Maximum Power Point Tracking of a Photovoltaic System

Nonlinear behavior of photovoltaic system under changing environmental conditions, creates the requirement of designing maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Conventionally perturb and observe (P&O) method and incremental conductance method have drawback of slow operation or low tracking efficiency. However, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has been deployed for this purpose, as it can track the optimal operating point (MPP) quickly and accurately based on training data sets.

Publications

Journals

1. M. M. Rahman, G. Antonini, and J. M. Pearce, “Open-source DC-DC converter enabling direct integration of solar photovoltaics with anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for green hydrogen production,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 88, pp. 333–343, Oct. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.09.199
2. M. M. Rahman, S. Khan, and J. M. Pearce, “Open-Source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid,” Technologies, vol. 12, no. 9, Art. no. 9, Sep. 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12090167
3. M. M. Rahman and J. Pearce, “Modular Open Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrids with Efficient Energy Management System,” Solar Energy and Sustainable Development Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, Art. no. 1, Feb. 2024, https://doi.org/10.51646/jsesd.v13i1.169
4. Maryam Mottaghi, Motakabbir Rahman, Apoorv Kulkarni, Joshua M. Pearce, AC/off-grid photovoltaic powered open-source ball mill,HardwareX, Volume 14, 2023,e00423,ISSN 2468-0672, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00423
5. Rahman, M. M., & Islam, M. S. (2020). PSO and ANN Based Hybrid MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Array under Partial Shading Condition. Engineering International, 8(1), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.18034/ei.v8i1.481
6. Islam, M. S., Sultana, S., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Protection of Power System during Cyber-Attack using Artificial Neural Network. Engineering International, 7(2), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.18034/ei.v7i2.478

Conference Papers

1. S. Khan and M. M. Rahman, “Design and Simulation of Solar DC Nano Grid System from Bangladesh Perspective,” 2021 International Conference on Automation, Control and Mechatronics for Industry 4.0 (ACMI), 2021, pp. 1-6, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACMI53878.2021.9528159
2. M. M. Rahman and M. S. Islam, “Artificial Neural Network Based Maximum Power Point Tracking of a Photovoltaic System,” 2019 3rd International Conference on Electrical, Computer & Telecommunication Engineering (ICECTE), Rajshahi, Bangladesh, 2019, pp. 117-120, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECTE48615.2019.9303531
   

Awards and Honours

• Hydro One Scholarship 2024, awarded for the academic achievement and contributions to Power Systems Engineering at Western University.
• Student of the Year award for the academic year 2018-2019, having attained the highest CGPA of 4.00/4.00 in the fourth year of Bachelor’s degree among 120 students at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET).

Professional and Research Profiles