Electrical engineering and project delivery challenges inlarge-scale photovoltaic systems and data centers
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There are workflow inefficiencies and engineering
knowledge deficits in large-scale photovoltaic system construction
projects. This dissertation compiles the results of my doctoral
research into (1) identifying and understanding the underlying
causes for some of these issues and (2) developing mechanisms to
address them. I assert that many workflow inefficiencies stem from
sub-optimal organizational constructs—such as extreme project
supply chain fragmentation and competitive bidding—prevalent
throughout the construction industry. These constructs also retard
knowledge development and hence influence knowledge voids in fairly
new project types/scopes, such as large-scale photovoltaic systems.
In response, I developed new calculation models and analysis
methods to fill knowledge voids related to electrical wiring,
component layouts, and electric arc-flash safety hazards in these
systems. These contributions give engineers better understandings
of the performance, reliability, operator safety, and cost
implications of the related design choices and facilitate
model-based design-analyses. Such analyses facilitate further
knowledge development and improved system quality through
metric-based optimization, examples of which are presented in this
dissertation. This dissertation also communicates workflow
inefficiencies and knowledge deficits in data center construction
and operation—a project type that is also fairly new and heavily
dominated by the electrical construction activities. This secondary
focus is a logical extension of my primary research goals and
conveys how the sub-optimal organizational constructs negatively
impact newly popular construction types other than large-scale
photovoltaic projects. As tertiary contributions, I demonstrate the
use of systems engineering principles in construction projects and
related design-automation software tools to illustrate how these
principles can be used to improve stakeholder value and system
lifecycle considerations. These contributions are meant to
encourage increased use of systems engineering, lean construction,
and/or other lifecycle based management processes in construction
projects as a means of tackling the sub-optimal organizational
constructs. Additionally, I introduce a new method for managing
probabilistic uncertainties in popular numerical-based
decision-making tools, such as Quality Function Deployment
matrices, which are used extensively in systems engineering. This
method is meant to increase confidence in the use of such tools and
promote further development of (and/or research into) mathematical
or scientific decision-making frameworks.