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NOVEMBER 2022 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 43 an understanding of both the specified materi- als and the stackup, as well as the approach of the fabricator. It's not as simple as sitting in a darkened room studying datasheets. Conclusion Good use of modelling tools, a knowledge of PCB fabrication, and, even better, a close rela- tionship with your fabricator perhaps will help you answer why "the laws of physics" don't always seem to apply. e fact is that they do, but the materials we use and the geometries that are used mean that SI engineers, PCB design- ers, and PCB technologists need to know how material composition and interaction with the PCB fabrication process will impact a success- ful design. With careful use of simulation, your chances of a high yielding reliable design are increased whilst at the same time reducing your need for repeated prototype builds. DESIGN007 Martyn Gaudion is managing director of Polar Instruments Ltd. To read past columns, click here. Additional content from Polar: • The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to… Secrets of High-Speed PCBs, Part 1 by Martyn Gaudion • The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to… Secrets of High-Speed PCBs, Part 2 by Martyn Gaudion • You can also view other titles in our full I-007eBooks library. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently demonstrated a new technology to better control how power flows to and from commercial buildings equipped with solar, wind or other renew- able energy generation. "We are creating an electric grid of the future that allows renewable energy to be deployed in the most effective way," said ORNL's Madhu Chin- thavali, who leads the research. "With this new grid interface architecture, operators can control energy flows much more meaningfully, even when power generation is decentralized." Renewable energy is key to helping the U.S. electricity sector achieve national decarbonization goals. But they also add uncertainty to the electri- cal grid because they are unevenly available across the country and generate electricity intermittently. Developing and coordinating power electronic sys- tems to incorporate these resources more easily is vital to creating a more resilient grid for reliable electricity. Several industries could see significant benefits. The technology could be used by a builder or build- ing owner to save money and energy, or it could be installed by a utility for enhanced power control and reliability. The team is moving to the next step in the research: substituting higher-power, com- mercial converters secured directly from industry. This will demonstrate that the power electronics hub can manage the megawatts of power handled by electric utilities using components from com- mercial suppliers. The power electronics hub is an example of the type of technology developed in GRID-C that could be deployed with a potential consortium of partners. (Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory) New Tech Manages Two-Way Power Flow to Commercial Buildings