Greg Linder: Versatile Innovator

This section presents a visual outline of my engineering experience as small stories across a number of separate but interlocking engineering disciplines. As you read through this, imagine the headache it took to group my engineering background into straightforward categories, when one project can deal with industrial control, embedded programming, and manure pumping all at the same time.

If you have an interesting engineering problem that needs a versatile and skilled Engineer, I can probably help you out. Feel free to get in touch with me via email so I can solve your engineering problem.

Solar and Wind Engineering

This section discusses some of my innovative contributions to the less biologically-based aspects of renewable energy, notably solar and wind.

Solar Controls Sun Trackers Smart HAWT Hubs Sunswift II/III OpenADR
Solar Telemetry Equipment Low budget tracker accuracy test Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine hub The UNSW Sunswift II and III. Open Automatic Demand Reseponse

The MS Thesis: Failure Analysis and Smart Grid Control Protocols for Anaerobic Digesters

I am one of very few people who received an MS in Electrical Engineering for a project which involved a great deal of manure shoveling, welding, and plumbing, in addition to reading interconnection manuals and learning about industrial control.

This thesis is the culmination of my two years at Clarkson, the tale of which is further discussed in the Digester Development projects below. When printed, it is 2^8 pages long. Anaerobic digesters, although dirty in the most wholesome manner, are a viable renewable energy technology Properly designed, they can provide baseload power that is competitive with coal for certain locations. Read the Thesis to find out more.

HTML Version PDF Version
HTML thesis PDF Version of thesis

The Clarkson Anaerobic Digesters

When looking for a project on which I could work to earn my MSEE, my concerns were to find a project which would be interesting and hands on, while also having a large requirement that I learn about industrial control and utility interfacing for SCADA control. I originally went to Clarkson to study distributed generation interconnection requirements and utility dispatch control. Well, it turns out I got that, and so much more, in my key role in the construction of two digesters.

The Clarkson Digester: Version 2

Instructions Introduction Death Resurrection Electrical
Instruction manual Introduction V2 digester Death of the old digester Resurrection of the digester More on the electrical system

The Clarkson Digester: Version 1

Introduction Electrics Gas System Control and DAQ Mechanical Work The Manure Pump
Introduction Electric System Digester Gas System Digester contol and DAQ system Wrenching on the digester Guillaume's Pump

Field Experience

I have always had a penchant for hands-on field engineering, and feel quite strongly that engineers should be able to fix, in the field, what they design and program in their offices and workshops. Persuant to this goal, and to learn all about lighting systems and their integration with building automation equipment, I took a job as a service engineer for Chicago's premier lighting installation, rental, and rigging house.

Chicago Spotlight!
Chicago Spotlight.

Embedded Systems Programming

The casual reader may not expect an electrical engineer to know plumbing and electrical work, but they would expect him to know embedded systems development work. Well, I can do that as well, as illustrated by the follwing examples of completed projects. I enjoy writing things in assembly, but will also use C as well depending on the precessor required for a given application. Most of my work has been on MSP430 or PIC devices.

HotBox Dataloggers Motor Drive BattEQ Singing Fish
The SSES hotbox. The SSES dataloggers. The 2004-2005 FEC project. The BattEQ prototype. The Fish.

Engineering Integration

Sometimes projects just don't fit into any particular category. The projects here involved technologies not typical to an electrical engineer, including PLC integration with hot-tub accessories to test batteries, and using an X-ray diffraction rig to surface platinum for surface chemistry. To work on these projects, I had to integrate various engineering disciplines.

Battery Spa X-Ray Grinder RF Tester
The 2004-2005 FEC project. The X-ray grinding attachment. The Fermilab RF Tester.

Unique Repairs and Fun Projects

No electrical engineer could be complete without a section of bizarre and interesting projects to tinker with in their free time. Most of my test equipment is older equipment that needs fixing and repair, but that's not the cool stuff. Here's some neat things that I have fixed for other people or myself.

Sony CRT Barco LCD SRDC Refit
The big Sony CRT projector. The BIG Barco LCD projector. The SRDC refit project.

Mechanical Diversions

There's more to life that electrons. This section includes a sampling of my more mechanically-themed projects.

Turret Lathe Motorized Wall Test Case Motorcycle Minizooms
The Lathe. Motorized wall Portable PV test case SECA 750 motorcycle Minizoom restoration