The role of smart sensor networks for voltage monitoring in smart grids

The large-scale deployment of the Smart Grid paradigm will support the evolution of conventional electrical power systems toward active, flexible and self-healing web energy networks composed of distributed and cooperative energy resources. In a Smart Grid platform, distributed voltage monitoring is one of the main issues to address. In this field, the application of traditional hierarchical monitoring paradigms has some disadvantages that could hinder their application in Smart Grids where the constant growth of grid complexity and the need for massive pervasion of Distribution Generation Systems (DGS) require more scalable, more flexible control and regulation paradigms. To try to overcome these challenges, this paper proposes the concept of a decentralized non-hierarchal voltage monitoring architecture based on intelligent and cooperative smart entities. These devices employ traditional sensors to acquire local bus variables and mutually coupled oscillators to assess the main variables describing the global grid state

Software Defined Networks based Smart Grid Communication: A Comprehensive Survey

The current power grid is no longer a feasible solution due to ever-increasing user demand of electricity, old infrastructure, and reliability issues and thus require transformation to a better grid a.k.a., smart grid (SG). The key features that distinguish SG from the conventional electrical power grid are its capability to perform two-way communication, demand side management, and real time pricing. Despite all these advantages that SG will bring, there are certain issues which are specific to SG communication system. For instance, network management of current SG systems is complex, time consuming, and done manually. Moreover, SG communication (SGC) system is built on different vendor specific devices and protocols. Therefore, the current SG systems are not protocol independent, thus leading to interoperability issue. Software defined network (SDN) has been proposed to monitor and manage the communication networks globally. This article serves as a comprehensive survey on SDN-based SGC. In this article, we first discuss taxonomy of advantages of SDNbased SGC.We then discuss SDN-based SGC architectures, along with case studies. Our article provides an in-depth discussion on routing schemes for SDN-based SGC. We also provide detailed survey of security and privacy schemes applied to SDN-based SGC. We furthermore present challenges, open issues, and future research directions related to SDN-based SGC.Comment: Accepte

Design concepts and analysis of a semi-active steering system for a passenger car

YesThe fundamentals and preliminary analyses of an innovative future technology referred to as `semi-active steering' (SAS) are presented in this article. The proposed steering system configuration is similar to a conventional electrical power-assisted steering with the replacement of the rigid steering shaft with a low stiffness resilient shaft (LSRS), the presence of which allows `active control¿ to be performed on vehicles similar to the concept of full steer-by-wire (SBW). But, unlike SBW, the LSRS is an integral part of the system characteristics. The advantages of the semi-active system in comparison with SBWand other conventional systems are demonstrated. A mathematical model to predict the mechanical properties of the LSRS has been developed, and experiments were conducted on a medium-sized car fitted with an LSRS to verify that vehicle stability and drivability can be ensured in the event of active system failure. The results have indicated that the vehicle was stable and safe to be driven at low speeds, and is predicted to be driveable and safe at higher speeds. It is concluded that an SAS system of this type has the potential to improve the safety of SBW systems

Conceptual development of a novel photovoltaic-thermoelectric system and preliminary economic analysis

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) hybrid system is one typical electrical production based on the solar wide-band spectral absorption. However the PV-TE system appears to be economically unfeasible owing to the significantly higher cost and lower power output. In order to overcome this disadvantage, a novel PV-TE system based on the flat plate micro-channel heat pipe was proposed in this paper. The mathematic model was built and the performance under different ambient conditions was analyzed. In addition, the annual performance and the preliminary economic analysis of the new PV-TE system was also made to compare to the conventional PV system. The results showed that the new PV-TE has a higher electrical output and economic performance

Study of Low Stiffness Resilient Shaft (LSRS)

This dissertation mainly covers various chapters upon the design and modeling of Low Stiffness Resilient Shaft (LSRS) using wire rope as the main component. The use of flexible LSRS to replace the conventional steering shaft is discussed. The proposed steering system configuration is similar to a conventional electrical power-assisted steering with the replacement of the rigid steering shaft with a LSRS. The flexible LSRS should be able to carry the main task of the conventional steering shaft where it can allow active control of the vehicle. The steering system developed has a fail-safe functions that can respond to failures in steer-by-wire (SBW) steering system. The advantages of LSRS in comparison SBW and other conventional systems are discussed. This dissertation also discuss on the best wire rope configuration that should be used to build the LSRS. A single wire rope is compared with a four strand wire rope in ANSYS™ simulation. From the simulation, Total Deformation, Equivalent Stress, Maximum Principal Stress, Equivalent Elastic Strain, and Total Angle Deflection for both wire ropes are compared. The results show that wire rope that are configured using four strand where it is arranged in two of the wire ropes are in a right hand lay an

Technical-economic evaluation of a portable solar machine of potential use in pumping systems and water purification, through the use of photovoltaic solar technology for non-interconnected areas in Colombia

The purpose of this article is to present the dimensioning of a portable, autonomous solar machine, of potential utility in pumping systems and water purification, through the use of photovoltaic solar technology and innovation to an unsatisfied basic need, such as service drinking water, in areas of the country, where there are inconveniences for access to drinking water and electricity service. The solar machine is innovative, modular, portable, easy to transport and install, sustainable and environmentally friendly, with zero greenhouse gas emissions as it is powered by photovoltaic technology. The solar machine is innovative, modular, portable, easy to transport and install, sustainable and environmentally friendly, with zero greenhouse gas emissions as it is powered by photovoltaic technology and does not use batteries. This portable solar machine substantially reduces the cost of investment, operation and maintenance, by using photovoltaic solar panels and working with direct current, eliminating the use of the conventional electrical power network, inverters, for its operation and can be dimensioned for water. surface water from rivers or reservoirs to the reservoir or pond, the same as for groundwater from wells, for the supply of drinking water, through the improvement, disinfection and sterilization of drinking water, to improve the quality of life of rural communities and secondly measure for use in the agricultural sector, for irrigation, domestic use, livestock (livestock pasture) and other services, for the rural development of the regions in Colombia

A review on power electronics technologies for power quality improvement

Nowadays, new challenges arise relating to the compensation of power quality problems, where the introduction of innovative solutions based on power electronics is of paramount importance. The evolution from conventional electrical power grids to smart grids requires the use of a large number of power electronics converters, indispensable for the integration of key technologies, such as renewable energies, electric mobility and energy storage systems, which adds importance to power quality issues. Addressing these topics, this paper presents an extensive review on power electronics technologies applied to power quality improvement, highlighting, and explaining the main phenomena associated with the occurrence of power quality problems in smart grids, their cause and effects for different activity sectors, and the main power electronics topologies for each technological solution. More specifically, the paper presents a review and classification of the main power quality problems and the respective context with the standards, a review of power quality problems related to the power production from renewables, the contextualization with solid-state transformers, electric mobility and electrical railway systems, a review of power electronics solutions to compensate the main power quality problems, as well as power electronics solutions to guarantee high levels of power quality. Relevant experimental results and exemplificative developed power electronics prototypes are also presented throughout the paper.This work has been supported by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. This work has been supported by the FCT Project DAIPESEV PTDC/EEI-EEE/30382/2017 and by the FCT Project newERA4GRIDs PTDC/EEIEEE/30283/2017

Considerations with respect to the design of solar photovoltaic power systems for terrestrial applications

The various factors involved in the development of solar photovoltaic power systems for terrestrial application are discussed. The discussion covers the tradeoffs, compromises, and optimization studies which must be performed in order to develop a viable terrestrial solar array system. It is concluded that the technology now exists for the fabrication of terrestrial solar arrays but that the economics are prohibitive. Various approaches to cost reduction are presented, and the general requirements for materials and processes to be used are delineated