Integration of electric vehicles in a flexible electricity demand side management framework

Recent years have seen a growing tendency that a large number of generators are connected to the electricity distribution networks, including renewables such as solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and biomass-fired power plants. Meanwhile, on the demand side, there are also some new types of electric loads being connected at increasing rates, with the most important of them being the electric vehicles (EVs). Uncertainties both from generation and consumption of electricity mentioned above are thereby being introduced, making the management of the system more challenging. With the proportion of electric vehicle ownership rapidly increasing, uncontrolled charging of large populations may bring about power system issues such as increased peak demand and voltage variations, while at the same time the cost of electricity generation, as well as the resulting Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions, will also rise. The work reported in this PhD Thesis aims to provide solutions to the three significant challenges related to EV integration, namely voltage regulation, generation cost minimisation and GHG emissions reduction. A novel, high-resolution, bottom-up probabilistic EV charging demand model was developed, that uses data from the UK Time Use Survey and the National Travel Survey to synthesise realistic EV charging time series based on user activity patterns. Coupled with manufacturers’ data for representative EV models, the developed probabilistic model converts single user activity profiles into electrical demand, which can then be aggregated to simulate larger numbers at a neighbourhood, city or regional level. The EV charging demand model has been integrated into a domestic electrical demand model previously developed by researchers in our group at the University of Edinburgh. The integrated model is used to show how demand management can be used to assist voltage regulation in the distribution system. The node voltage sensitivity method is used to optimise the planning of EV charging based on the influence that every EV charger has on the network depending on their point of connection. The model and the charging strategy were tested on a realistic “highly urban” low voltage network and the results obtained show that voltage fluctuation due to the high percentage of EV ownership (and charging) can be significantly and maintained within the statutory range during a full 24-hour cycle of operation. The developed model is also used to assess the generation cost as well as the environmental impact, in terms of GHG emissions, as a result of EV charging, and an optimisation algorithm has been developed that in combination with domestic demand management, minimises the incurred costs and GHG emissions. The obtained results indicate that although the increased population of EVs in distribution networks will stress the system and have adverse economic and environmental effects, these may be minimised with careful off-line planning

[2,6-Dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetra­hydro­pyrim­idine-4-carboxyl­ato(2−)]bis(pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline)cobalt(II) dihydrate

The title complex, [Co(C5H2N2O4)(C14H8N4)2]·2H2O, features a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry for Co due to the sterical requirements of the orotic acid and pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligands. Inter­molecular hydrogen bonding between the uncoordinated water mol­ecules and the ligand stablizes the structure of the complex

4-Amino-13-(1-naphth­yl)-[2,2]paracyclo­phane

The title compound [systematic name: 12-amino-42-(1-naphth­yl)-1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclo­hexa­phane], C26H23N, was synthesized from 4-amino-13-bromo-[2,2]paracyclo­phane and 1-naphthalene­boronic acid in the presence of 1,4-dioxane. It is a new cyclo­phane-derived compound which can be regarded as a prospective ligand for asymmetric synthesis and catalysis. The benzene rings of the paracyclo­phane units are very slightly deformed from planarity as shallow boats

Bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-κ2 N,N′)(nitrato-κ2 O,O′)(trifluoro­acetato-κO)cadmium(II)

In the title complex, [Cd(C2F3O2)(NO3)(C10H8N2)2], the Cd(II) ion is hepta­coordinated by two chelating 2,2′-bipyridyl ligands [Cd⋯N 2.370 (6)–2.416 (6) Å], one carboxyl­ate O atom [Cd⋯O 2.290 (6) Å] from the trifluoro­acetate ligand and two O atoms [Cd⋯O 2.386 (6), 2.633 (6) Å] from a chelating nitrate anion. The trifluoro­methyl fragment is rotationally disordered between two orientations in a 0.640 (7):0.360 (7) ratio. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds contribute to the crystal packing stability

An Induced Hypersensitive-Like Response Limits Expression of Foreign Peptides via a Recombinant TMV-Based Vector in a Susceptible Tobacco

BACKGROUND: By using tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based vectors, foreign epitopes of the VP1 protein from food-and-month disease virus (FMDV) could be fused near to the C-terminus of the TMV coat protein (CP) and expressed at high levels in susceptible tobacco plants. Previously, we have shown that the recombinant TMV vaccines displaying FMDV VP1 epitopes could generate protection in guinea pigs and swine against the FMDV challenge. Recently, some recombinant TMV, such as TMVFN20 that contains an epitope FN20 from the FMDV VP1, were found to induce local necrotic lesions (LNL) on the inoculated leaves of a susceptible tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum Samsun nn. This hypersensitive-like response (HLR) blocked amplification of recombinant TMVFN20 in tobacco and limited the utility of recombinant TMV vaccines against FMDV. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we investigate the molecular mechanism of the HLR in the susceptible Samsun nn. Histochemical staining analyses show that these LNL are similar to those induced in a resistant tobacco Samsun NN inoculated with wild type (wt) TMV. The recombinant CP subunits are specifically related to the HLR. Interestingly, this HLR in Samsun nn (lacking the N/N'-gene) was able to be induced by the recombinant TMV at both 25°C and 33°C, whereas the hypersensitive response (HR) in the resistant tobacco plants induced by wt TMV through the N/N'-gene pathways only at a permissive temperature (below 30°C). Furthermore, we reported for the first time that some of defense response (DR)-related genes in tobacco were transcriptionally upregulated during HLR. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike HR, HLR is induced in the susceptible tobacco through N/N'-gene independent pathways. Induction of the HLR is associated with the expression of the recombinant CP subunits and upregulation of the DR-related genes

Integration of electric vehicles in a flexible electricity demand side management framework

Recent years have seen a growing tendency that a large number of generators are connected to the electricity distribution networks, including renewables such as solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and biomass-fired power plants. Meanwhile, on the demand side, there are also some new types of electric loads being connected at increasing rates, with the most important of them being the electric vehicles (EVs). Uncertainties both from generation and consumption of electricity mentioned above are thereby being introduced, making the management of the system more challenging. With the proportion of electric vehicle ownership rapidly increasing, uncontrolled charging of large populations may bring about power system issues such as increased peak demand and voltage variations, while at the same time the cost of electricity generation, as well as the resulting Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions, will also rise. The work reported in this PhD Thesis aims to provide solutions to the three significant challenges related to EV integration, namely voltage regulation, generation cost minimisation and GHG emissions reduction. A novel, high-resolution, bottom-up probabilistic EV charging demand model was developed, that uses data from the UK Time Use Survey and the National Travel Survey to synthesise realistic EV charging time series based on user activity patterns. Coupled with manufacturers’ data for representative EV models, the developed probabilistic model converts single user activity profiles into electrical demand, which can then be aggregated to simulate larger numbers at a neighbourhood, city or regional level. The EV charging demand model has been integrated into a domestic electrical demand model previously developed by researchers in our group at the University of Edinburgh. The integrated model is used to show how demand management can be used to assist voltage regulation in the distribution system. The node voltage sensitivity method is used to optimise the planning of EV charging based on the influence that every EV charger has on the network depending on their point of connection. The model and the charging strategy were tested on a realistic “highly urban” low voltage network and the results obtained show that voltage fluctuation due to the high percentage of EV ownership (and charging) can be significantly and maintained within the statutory range during a full 24-hour cycle of operation. The developed model is also used to assess the generation cost as well as the environmental impact, in terms of GHG emissions, as a result of EV charging, and an optimisation algorithm has been developed that in combination with domestic demand management, minimises the incurred costs and GHG emissions. The obtained results indicate that although the increased population of EVs in distribution networks will stress the system and have adverse economic and environmental effects, these may be minimised with careful off-line planning

Bandwidth turbulence control based on flow community structure in the Internet

Bursty flows vary rapidly in short period of time, and cause fierce bandwidth turbulence in the Internet. In this letter, we model the flow bandwidth turbulence process by constructing a flow interaction network (FIN network), with nodes representing flows and edges denoting bandwidth interactions among them. To restrain the bandwidth turbulence in FIN networks, an immune control strategy based on flow community structure is proposed. Flows in community boundary positions are immunized to cut off the inter-community turbulence spreading. By applying this control strategy in the first- and the second-level flow communities separately, 97.2% flows can effectively avoid bandwidth variations by immunizing 21% flows, and the average bandwidth variation degree reaches near zero. To achieve a similar result, about 70%–90% immune flows are needed with targeted control strategy based on flow degrees and random control strategy. Moreover, simulation results showed that the control effect of the proposed strategy improves significantly if the immune flow number is relatively smaller in each control step

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as a risk factor for high body fat mediated by blood pressure

Background Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an important clinical indicator of aortic stiffness and a risk predictor of cardiovascular disease and associated with obesity. However, whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with baPWV remains controversial. In our study, body fat-related indicators, including BMI, body fat rate (BFR), body fat volume (BFV), waist circumference (WC) were examined from healthy volunteers. We investigated the correlation of baPWV with these indicators and also assessed whether baPWV has the potential to predict these indicators. Methods A total of 429 healthy participants were enrolled in this study. Body fat indices, blood pressures, baPWV and blood metabolic indices were measured and recorded. The association of baPWV and indices reflecting body fat and blood pressure, as well as mediation effect were analyzed. Results Three different types of baPWV values were significantly correlated. Mean level of baPWV was an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR, and BFV (exp(β) = 1.011, 1.004, 1.010 and 1.009, respectively, P < .001 for all) but not BMR. As for mediation effects, baPWV positively influenced WC (Total effect = 0.011, P < .001), BMI (Total effect = 0.004, P < .001) and BFV (Total effect = 0.009, P < .001) in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, while baPWV influenced BFR in both direct (Effect = 0.004, P = .018) and indirect way. Conclusions Levels of baPWV correlated with obesity and is an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR and BFV. Besides, baPWV positively associated with WC, BMI and BFV mainly in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, and baPWV associated with BFR in both direct and indirect way

Diaqua(2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-3-ide-4-carboxylato-&#954;2N3,O4)(1,10-phenanthroline-&#954;2N,N&#8242;)manganese(II)

The title compound, [Mn(C5H2N2O4)(C12H8N2)(H2O)2], was synthesized by the reaction of manganese(II) acetate and orotic acid in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. The crystal structure exhibits intermolecular N&#8212;H...O and O&#8212;H...O hydrogen bonds . The Mn coordination environment consists of an N3O3 donor set in an octahedral geometry