Researcher

Ning Kang, Ph.D.

Department Manager for Idaho National Laboratory’s Power & Energy Systems Department

Research Areas:

Biography:

Dr. Ning Kang leads the Idaho National Laboratory’s Power & Energy Systems Department, specializing in modeling of distributed energy resources (DERs), clean and renewable energy resources grid integration, hydropower analysis, irrigation modernization, power and controller hardware-in-the-loop testing, clean hydrogen production and grid integration, microgrid design, testing and field deployment, geothermal energy and subsurface systems, techno-economic analysis for various renewables, hybrid energy systems and hydrogen technologies, Prior to joining INL, she was a Principal Engineer at the Argonne National Laboratory where she focused on research in transmission and distribution systems (T&D) co-simulation and planning and operations coordination, reliability impact of DERs on the bulk electric system (BES), advanced distribution management system (ADMS), and microgrid integration and impact analysis. Ning has had 6 years’ industry R&D experience when she was a Senior R&D Engineer at ABB U.S. Corporate Research Center in Raleigh, NC. At ABB, she was the main contributor to developing a substation-based protection and automation solution for ABB’s substation controllers, a Volt-VAR optimization solution considering high DER penetration for ABB’s DMS software, and condition-based and data-driven algorithms for ABB’s recloser controllers. She is the main creator of an open-source T&D systems co-simulation software (TDcoSim) and holds five U.S. patents and one U.S. patent applications. She has co-authored more than 45 journal and conference papers, book chapters, and technical reports.

Digital Profiles:

Google Scholar

Orcid

Education:

Ph.D , Electrical Engineering, University of Kentucky

BSc, Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Affiliations:

1) Study Committee Member of “Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States" for The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/laying-the-foundation-for-new-and-advanced-nuclear-reactors-in-the-united-states (Dec 2020 – Present).

2) Member of The POWERGEN International Advisory Committee (May 2022 – Present).

3) Member of National Laboratory Community Engaged Research (NL-CER) Working Group supporting the National Laboratory Director's Council on community engaged research efforts (Jan 2022 – Present).

4) Reliability and Resiliency Task Force Chair, Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance, Idaho Governor's Office of Energy & Mineral Resources (Sep 2021 – Present).

5) MDPI Journal Sustainability Guest Editor for Special Issue on Power Systems Sustainability, https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/Electric_Power_Systems (Feb 2021 – Present).

6) Member of 2021 Strategic Laboratory Leadership Program (SLLP), Cohort 14, conducted by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (Sep 2021 – Mar 2022).

7) Senior Editor of the Power and Energy Section of the IEEE Access Journal (Nov 2019 – Present).

8) Steering Committee Member of the IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing Journal (2019 – Present).

9) Senior Member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) (2019 – Present).

10) Frequent chairs of panel sessions and Best Conference Paper Sessions, and judges of Student Poster Contest sessions at IEEE Power & Energy Society Conferences.

11) Member of NERC's System Planning Impacts of Distributed Energy Resources Working Group (SPIDERWG) (2017 –2019).

12) Registered Professional Engineer in the state of North Carolina (2015 – Present).

13) Guest Editor of Special Issue “Recent Advances in Control, Analysis, and Design of DC Distribution Systems and Microgrids" for the Electric Power Components and Systems Journal (2017).

Publications:

Peer Reviewed Publications:

Balasubramaniam, S. Plathottam, S. Yim, N. Kang, K. Jhala, R. Bhattarai, and S. Zhao, “Co-simulation of Transmission and Distribution Systems – From Modeling to Software Development," to submit to IEEE Access soon.

B. Zhang, D. Scoffield, R. Carlson, L. Walker, T. Pennington, J. Smart, M. Sundarrajan, V. Galigekere, O. Onar, M. Mohammad, C. Jones, M. Lave, N. Kang, and E. Dufek, “Advances of Electric Vehicle Wireless Charging – Technical Challenges and Future Opportunities with Grid Integration", submitted to eTransportation.

M. Usama Usman, A. Banerjee, A. Medam, N. Kang, M. Stadler, K. Fahy, Z. Pecenak, and A. Nasle, “Microgrid Fast Charging Station (MFCS) Platform and Its Impact on the Utility Grid," accepted for publication for IEEE PES General Meeting 2022, Denver, CO, Jul 2022.

M. Khatibi, S. Ahmed, and N. Kang, “Multi-Mode Operation and Control of a Z-Source Virtual Synchronous Generator in PV Systems," IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 53003-53012, Feb 2021.

W. Fan, N. Kang, R. Hebner, X. Feng, “Islanding Detection in Rural Distribution Systems," Energies Special Issue “Novel Developments in Energy Resources Management, Distribution Systems, Microgrids and Energy Communities", vol. 13, no. 20, Oct 2020.

W. Fan, Y. Liao, and N. Kang, “Optimal fault location for power distribution systems with distributed generations using synchronized measurements," International Journal of Emerging Power Systems Electric Power Systems, vol. 21, no. 5, Oct 2020.

R. Bhattarai, A. Levitt, D. Ramasubramanian, J. Boemer, and N. Kang, “Impact of Distributed Energy Resource's Ride Through and Trip Settings on PJM's Footprint," IEEE PES General Meeting 2020, Montreal, Canada, Aug 2020.

R. Bhattarai, N. Kang, and J. Reilly “Modeling Approaches and Studies of the Impact of Distributed Energy Resources on the Reliability of Bulk Electric System," CIGRE US National Committee 2019 Grid of the Future Symposium, Atlanta, GA, Nov 2019.

N. Kang, R. Singh, W. Kou, N. Segal, and J. Reilly, “Reliability impact of distributed energy resources on bulk electric system," CIGRE US National Committee 2018 Grid of the Future Symposium, Reston, Virginia, Oct 2018.

H. F. Zhai, M. Yang, B. Chen, and N. Kang, “Dynamic reconfiguration of three-phase unbalanced distribution networks," Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 99, pp. 1-10, Jul 2018.

A. Maitra, T. Hubert, J. Wang, R. Singh, N. Kang, X. Lu, J. Reilly, A. Pratt, and S. Veda, “DMS Advanced Applications for Accommodating High Penetrations of DERs and Microgrids," 24th International Conference on Electricity Distribution, Glasgow, UK, 12-15 Jun 2017.

N. Kang, G. Gombos, M. J. Mousavi, and X. Feng, “A fault location algorithm for two-end series-compensated double-circuit transmission lines using the distributed parameter line model," Electric Power Components and Systems, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 615-623, Apr 2017.

N. Kang, M. J. Mousavi, and M. Zarghami, “Faulted segment identification in multiphase distribution systems using sequence component modelling," Electric Power Components and Systems, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 18-28, Jan 2016.

Z. Zhang, N. Kang, and M. J. Mousavi, “Real-time transformer parameter estimation using terminal measurements," IEEE PES General Meeting 2015, Denver, CO, Jul 2015.

N. Kang, J. Chen, and Y. Liao, “A fault-location algorithm for series-compensated double-circuit transmission lines using the distributed parameter line model," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 360-367, Feb 2015.

D. Ishchenko, M. J. Mousavi, N. Kang, and J. Stoupis, “Real-time feeder event and performance monitoring in IEC 61850 substations," 2014 Protection and Control World, Raleigh, NC, Sep 2014.

N. Kang and M. J. Mousavi, “Leveraging substation automation for faulted segment identification," IEEE PES General Meeting 2014, Washington D.C., Jul 2014.

P. Chaiwan, N. Kang, and Y. Liao, “New accurate fault location algorithm for parallel transmission lines using local measurements," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 108, pp. 68-73, Mar 2014.

D. He, T. Habetler, M. J. Mousavi, and N. Kang, “A ZIP model-based feeder load modeling and forecasting method," IEEE PES General Meeting 2013, Vancouver, Canada, Jul 2013.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Double-circuit transmission line fault location utilizing synchronized sparse current phasors," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 1040-1047, Apr 2013.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Equivalent PI circuit for zero-sequence double circuit transmission lines," IEEE PES General Meeting 2012, pp. 1-7, San Diego, California, Jul 2012.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Double-circuit transmission line fault location with availability of limited voltage measurements," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 325-336, Jan 2012.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Contingency studies of a real power system and violation mitigation measures," International Review on Modelling and Simulations, v. 3, n. 5, Oct 2010.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Fault location estimation for transmission lines using voltage sag data," IEEE PES General Meeting 2010, pp. 1-6, Minneapolis, MN, Jul 2010.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Fault location estimation using current magnitude measurements," SoutheastCon 2010, pp. 214-217, Charlotte-Concord, NC, Mar 2010.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “New fault location technique for series compensated transmission lines," International Review of Electrical Engineering, v. 4, n. 6, pp. 1385-1390, Dec 2009.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “New fault location technique for double-circuit transmission lines based on sparse current measurements," 41st North American Power Symposium, Starkville, Mississippi, Oct 2009.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Fault location for double-circuit lines utilizing sparse voltage measurements," IEEE PES General Meeting 2009, pp. 1-7, Calgary, Canada, Jul 2009.

Y. Liao and N. Kang, “Fault location algorithms without utilizing line parameters based on the distributed parameter line model," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, v. 24, n. 2, pp. 579-584, Apr 2009.

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Some experiences in estimation of synchronous generator parameters," 41st Southeastern Symposium on System Theory, pp. 133-138, Tullahoma, TN, Mar 2009.

Y. Liao, T. Nguyen, and N. Kang, “Transmission system harmonic benchmarking and statistical analysis with field data," IEEE PES General Meeting 2007, pp. 1-6, Jun 2007.

N. Kang, J. Zou, C. Li, L. Yang, and H. Wang, “Transient parameters and numerical calculation model on VFT in three-phase enclosed GIS," Proceedings of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, v. 25, n. 20, p.112, Oct 2005.

J. Zou, N. Kang, C. Li, and H. Wang, “Research on mechanism in formation and depression of Very Fast Transient Overvoltage," Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University, v. 39, n. 4, p.417, Apr 2005.

N. Kang, Y. Li, L. Yang, Q. Zhang, H. Wang, and J. Zou, “Analysis of simplified models for numerical calculation of VFT in GIS," High Voltage Engineering, v. 30, n. 10, p.1, Oct 2004.

Book Chapters:

N. Kang and R. Singh, book chapter “Control and operations of microgrids and smart grids" for the book “Intelligent Power Grids of Tomorrow: Modeling, Planning, Control, and Operation", Springer, 2018.

M. J. Mousavi, N. Kang, H. Kazemzadeh, and C. McCarthy, Chapter “Automatic Restoration Systems and Outage Management" for the book “Smart Grids: Advanced Technologies and Solutions, Second Edition", Taylor & Francis, Jan 2018. (https://www.routledge.com/Smart-Grids-Advanced-Technologies-and-Solutions-Second-Edition/Borlase/p/book/9781498799553)

N. Kang and Y. Liao, “Advanced fault location technique for parallel power transmission lines," Electric Power Systems in Transition, Nova Science Publishers, 2010, ISBN: 978-1-61728-313-0.

Reports:

N. Kang et al, “Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States," a consensus study report of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, to appear soon.

N. Kang et al, “Opportunities and Barriers to Enhance Energy Reliability & Resiliency in Idaho," to appear soon.

B. Poudel, T. McJunkin, and N. Kang, “Net-zero Microgrid Program Project Report: Small Reactors in Microgrids", Oct 2021, INL/EXT-21-64616, to appear soon.

“Findings: June 22-23, 2021 Place-Based MultiLab Workshop," National Laboratory Directors' Council, Aug 2021, https://nationallabs.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NLDC_2021_Place-Based_Multilab_Workshop_Findings_DRAFTv2.pdf.

A. Banerjee, K. Fahy, N. Kang, A. Medam, A. Nasle, Z. Pecenak, M. Stadler, M. Usman, “Summary Report for the Microgrid Fast Charging Station (MFCS) Design Platform", Jun 2021, https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1813548.

N. Kang, R. Bhattarai, and J. Reilly, S. Ahmed “Impact of High Penetration Distributed Energy Resources on the Bulk Electric System," ANL/ESD-20/3, May 2021, https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1784528-impact-high-penetration-distributed-energy-resources-bulk-electric-system.

N. Kang, K. Balasubramaniam, S. Yim, S. Plathottam, R. Bhattarai, and J. Reilly, “Transmission and Distribution Systems Co-Simulation Tool (TDcoSim) User Manual," https://github.com/tdcosim/TDcoSim, Aug 2020.

Reliability Guideline Parameterization of the DER_A Model", North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Sep 2019, https://www.nerc.com/comm/PC_Reliability_Guidelines_DL/Reliability_Guideline_DER_A_Parameterization.pdf.

N. Kang and N. Segal, Technical Brochure “Transmission and Distribution Co-simulation Tool - Questions and Answers," https://www.wecc.org/Administrative/ANL-TD%20co-simulation%20tool%20informational%20brochure.pdf, Jan 2018.

N. Kang, R. Singh, J. Reilly, and N. Segal, “Impact of distributed energy resources on the bulk electric system - combined modeling of transmission and distribution systems and benchmark case studies," ANL/ESD-17/26, Nov 2017.

J. Wang, N. Kang, R. Singh, X. Lu, J. Reilly, A. Maitra, S. Martino, and T. Hubert, “Integrated Distribution Management Systems: Monitoring and Control of Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrid Energy Management Systems," ANL/ESD-17/16, Jun 2017.

R. Singh, J. Reilly, J. Wang, X. Lu, and N. Kang, “Foundational Report Series: Advanced Distribution Management Systems for Grid Modernization (DMS Integration of Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids)," ANL/ESD-17/8, Mar 2017.

N. Kang, J. Wang, R. Singh, and X. Lu, “Interconnection, Integration, and Interactive Impact Analysis of Microgrids and Distribution Systems," ANL/ESD-17/4, Jan 2017.

Patents:

X. Feng and N. Kang, “An AMI Based Volt-VAR Optimization Using Online Model Learning,” US patent: 10642237, May 5, 2020.

N. Kang and M. J Mousavi, “Systems and methods for identifying faulted segments in multiphase power networks,” US patent: 10514412, Dec 24, 2019.

N. Kang, G. Gombos, and M. J. Mousavi, “Fault Location Method for Series-Compensated Double-Circuit Transmission Lines,” US patent: 10436831B2, Oct 8, 2019.

X. Feng and N. Kang, “Hierarchical robust model predictive voltage and VAR control with coordination and optimization of autonomous der voltage control,” US patent: 10230239B2, Mar 12, 2019.

N. Kang and M. Mousavi, “Decision support system for outage management and automated crew dispatch,” US patent: 9874593, Jan 23, 2018.

Z. Zhang, N. Kang, and M. Mousavi, “Transformer parameter estimation using terminal measurements,” US patent application: US20170030958 A1, Feb 2, 2017.

Presentations:

Oral Presentations (Invited)

Panelist “TDCoSim – An Open Source T&D Co-Simulation Platform,” 2021 IEEE PES General Meeting, Jul 2021.

Invited Lecture “Modeling, Simulation, and Case Studies for Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure Planning Analysis,” IAEA Interregional Training Course on Electrical Grid Considerations and Interactions with a Nuclear Power Plant, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, Jun 2019.

Invited Tutorial “A T&D Co-Simulation Tool and Case Studies,” Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) 2019 Spring Technical Workshop, Tutorial Session “Impact of DER on Bulk System,” Albuquerque, NM, Mar 2019.

Panelist “A T&D Co-Simulation Tool (TDcoSim),” EPRI Power Delivery & Utilization Program Advisory and Sector Council Meetings, San Antonio, TX, Feb 2019.

Invited speaker “T&D Co-Simulation Tool,” NERC SPIDERWG Kick-off Meeting, Austin, TX, Jan 2019.

Invited speaker “T&D Co-Simulation Tool and a Demo,” NERC Load Modeling Task Force Meeting, Eagan, MN, Nov 2018.

Panelist “Transmission Distribution Co-Simulation Modeling,” International Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources, Vienna, Austria, Oct 2018.

Panelist “NERC’s Efforts to Include DER in Planning Models and Argonne’s Combined T&D Co-Simulation Tool Enabling Bulk Power System Reliability Studies,” IEEE PES General Meeting, Portland, OR, Aug 2018.

Panelist “Impact and enhancement on reliability of BPS considering high penetration of DERs on distribution level”, 2018 IEEE PES T&D Conference and Exposition, Denver, CO, Apr 2018.

Panelist on Panel “Incorporating DERs in Modeling, Planning and Operations Studies”, FERC Technical Conference on Distributed Energy Resources – Technical Considerations for the Bulk Power System, Washington, D.C., Apr 2018.

Invited Speaker “Overview of transmission and distribution co-simulation tool and benchmark case studies” at NERC Industry Webinar, Washington D.C., Feb 2018.

Invited Speaker “Protection challenges and solutions enabling high DER penetration in distribution systems" at 2018 Condition-Based Online Monitoring of Electric Assets (COMET), Austin, TX, Jan 2018.

Invited Presentation “Impact of Distributed Energy Resources on Bulk Energy System: Co-Simulation Modeling of Transmission and Distribution and Primary Use Case Studies” at PJM, Audubon, PA, Aug 2017.

Invited Presentation “Some Experience with Distribution System Protection Automation and Control” at Eaton Corporate Research and Technology, Eden Prairie, MN, Jun 2016.

Invited Speaker “Leveraging Substation Automation for Distribution Systems” at EPRI Smart Distribution and Power Quality 2014 Conference and Exhibition.

Other Oral Presentations

Best Conference Paper Session Presentation “Leveraging Substation Automation for Faulted Segment Identification” at 2014 IEEE PES General Meeting.

Paper Forum Presentation “Fault location estimation for transmission lines using voltage sag data” at 2010 IEEE PES General Meeting.

Paper Presentation "New fault location technique for double-circuit transmission lines based on sparse current measurements" at 41st NAPS (2009).

Paper Presentation "Some experiences in estimation of synchronous generator parameters" at 41st SSST (2009).

Poster Presentations

Poster “Achieving Net Zero in Microgrids as a Major Stepping Stone to Carbon Reduction and Increasing Resilience," Conference on Innovation in Climate Resilience, Columbus, OH, April 2022.

Poster Presentation “Real-time transformer parameter estimation using terminal measurements” at 2015 IEEE PES General Meeting.

Poster Presentation “Equivalent PI Circuit for Zero-sequence Double Circuit Transmission Lines” at 2012 IEEE PES General Meeting.

Poster Presentation "Fault location for double-circuit lines utilizing sparse voltage measurements" at 2009 IEEE PES General Meeting.

DOE Program Review Presentations

DOE OE Microgrid R&D Program Peer Review presentation “Impact and Reliability Enhancement of Bulk Electric System Considering High Penetration of DERs on Distribution Level” at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, July 2019.

DOE OE Advanced Grid Modeling Program Peer Review presentation “Transmission and Distribution Coordination” at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, July 2019.

DOE OE Advanced Grid Modeling Program Peer Review presentation “Combined T&D Co-Simulation Tool” at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, July 2019.

DOE OE Microgrid R&D Program Peer Review presentation “Combined T&D Co-Simulation Enabling Bulk Power System Reliability Studies” at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle, WA, Dec 2018.

DOE OE Microgrid R&D Program Peer Review presentation “Combined T&D Co-Simulation Enabling Bulk Power System Reliability Studies” at Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Charlotte, NC, June 2018.

DOE OE Microgrid R&D Program Peer Review presentation “Impact Analysis of DERs Interconnected at Distribution Level on Bulk Electric System” at Electric Power Board, Chattanooga, TN, Dec 2017.

DOE OE Microgrid R&D Program Peer Review presentation “Impact Analysis of DERs Interconnected at Distribution Level on Bulk Electric System” at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, May 2017.

Awards:

Diversity MBA 2020 Top 100 under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders (August 2020).

Best Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid (2015).

Diversity Journal Women Worth Watching in Leadership 2021, https://womenworthwatching.com/2021-award-winners/, June 2021.

Research Interests:

Clean and renewable energy resources

Grid integration

Energy systems decarbonization

Power systems reliability and resilience

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