Load Forecasting Based Distribution System Network Reconfiguration-A Distributed Data-Driven Approach

In this paper, a short-term load forecasting approach based network reconfiguration is proposed in a parallel manner. Specifically, a support vector regression (SVR) based short-term load forecasting approach is designed to provide an accurate load prediction and benefit the network reconfiguration. Because of the nonconvexity of the three-phase balanced optimal power flow, a second-order cone program (SOCP) based approach is used to relax the optimal power flow problem. Then, the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is used to compute the optimal power flow in distributed manner. Considering the limited number of the switches and the increasing computation capability, the proposed network reconfiguration is solved in a parallel way. The numerical results demonstrate the feasible and effectiveness of the proposed approach.Comment: 5 pages, preprint for Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers 201

Chance-Constrained Day-Ahead Hourly Scheduling in Distribution System Operation

This paper aims to propose a two-step approach for day-ahead hourly scheduling in a distribution system operation, which contains two operation costs, the operation cost at substation level and feeder level. In the first step, the objective is to minimize the electric power purchase from the day-ahead market with the stochastic optimization. The historical data of day-ahead hourly electric power consumption is used to provide the forecast results with the forecasting error, which is presented by a chance constraint and formulated into a deterministic form by Gaussian mixture model (GMM). In the second step, the objective is to minimize the system loss. Considering the nonconvexity of the three-phase balanced AC optimal power flow problem in distribution systems, the second-order cone program (SOCP) is used to relax the problem. Then, a distributed optimization approach is built based on the alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM). The results shows that the validity and effectiveness method.Comment: 5 pages, preprint for Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers 201

Collisionless energy transfer in kinetic turbulence: field-particle correlations in Fourier space

Turbulence is ubiquitously observed in nearly collisionless heliospheric plasmas, including the solar wind and corona and the Earth's magnetosphere. Understanding the collisionless mechanisms responsible for the energy transfer from the turbulent fluctuations to the particles is a frontier in kinetic turbulence research. Collisionless energy transfer from the turbulence to the particles can take place reversibly, resulting in non-thermal energy in the particle velocity distribution functions (VDFs) before eventual collisional thermalization is realized. Exploiting the information contained in the fluctuations in the VDFs is valuable. Here we apply a recently developed method based on VDFs, the field-particle correlation technique, to a $\beta=1$, solar-wind-like, low-frequency Alfv\'enic turbulence simulation with well resolved phase space to identify the field-particle energy transfer in velocity space. The field-particle correlations reveal that the energy transfer, mediated by the parallel electric field, results in significant structuring of the ion and electron VDFs in the direction parallel to the magnetic field. Fourier modes representing the length scales between the ion and electron gyroradii show that energy transfer is resonant in nature, localized in velocity space to the Landau resonances for each Fourier mode. The energy transfer closely follows the Landau resonant velocities with varying perpendicular wavenumber $k_\perp$ and plasma $\beta$. This resonant signature, consistent with Landau damping, is observed in all diagnosed Fourier modes that cover the dissipation range of the simulation.Comment: 31 pages, accepted by JPP, minor improvements compared to v

Low Mach-number collisionless electrostatic shocks and associated ion acceleration

The existence and properties of low Mach-number ($M \gtrsim 1$) electrostatic collisionless shocks are investigated with a semi-analytical solution for the shock structure. We show that the properties of the shock obtained in the semi-analytical model can be well reproduced in fully kinetic Eulerian Vlasov-Poisson simulations, where the shock is generated by the decay of an initial density discontinuity. Using this semi-analytical model, we study the effect of electron-to-ion temperature ratio and presence of impurities on both the maximum shock potential and Mach number. We find that even a small amount of impurities can influence the shock properties significantly, including the reflected light ion fraction, which can change several orders of magnitude. Electrostatic shocks in heavy ion plasmas reflect most of the hydrogen impurity ions.Comment: In Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusio

Spread the Warmth. EUC Policy Challenge. EU-ASEAN Tourism Policy Brief

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established as a regional bloc to further cooperation amongst countries in Southeast Asia. One of the recent long term goals of ASEAN is to establish an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to create a single market and production base and build a competitive region well integrated into the global economy. In the AEC blueprint, Tourism has been identified as one of the priority sectors for integration. Our policy paper draws inspiration from the successes of tourism initiatives in Europe and seeks to learn from these initiatives how we can promote ASEAN tourism with a unique ASEAN flavor. We start off by identifying the strengths, opportunities and challenges of the region in the tourism industry. The strengths include the diversity of the region and the relatively low cost advantage. An ageing population with spending power and an increase in size and affluence of the middle class are opportunities we can leverage on. Challenges like underdeveloped infrastructure, distressed public health environment‟ security concerns, ineffective stakeholder management and industrial restructuring brought about by tourism are important considerations in the formulation of our recommendation. Our strategic goal is to boost the competitiveness of tourism in the region by implementing sustainable and quality tourism in view of the strengths, opportunities and challenges identified. Our overall strategy takes into account the fundamental ideals and principles we stand by in developing tourism in the ASEAN. With that in mind, we have concocted three innovative recommendations. They are first, to market the unique seasonality of ASEAN; second, to launch an ASEAN Connect pass; and lastly, introducing the ASEAN free riding tour series. We make a case on how the infusion of ideas on sustainable and quality tourism into our action plan will be a great leap forward in ASEAN tourism development. The progress and result of the implementation will be kept in check by a set of annual performance indicators and 5 years‟ deliverables. In short, our paper seeks to provide a well-defined and convincing development plan to boost ASEAN tourism competitiveness. Most importantly, we hope that our plan will excite the sense of adventure and raise curiosity of the ASEAN people to travel around the region, and in the process build greater awareness of the region and instill a sense of ASEAN community amongst the people in the long run