A nearly zero-energy microgrid testbed laboratory: Centralized control strategy based on SCADA system

Currently, despite the use of renewable energy sources (RESs), distribution networks are facing problems, such as complexity and low productivity. Emerging microgrids (MGs) with RESs based on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) are an effective solution to control, manage, and finally deal with these challenges. The development and success of MGs is highly dependent on the use of power electronic interfaces. The use of these interfaces is directly related to the progress of SCADA systems and communication infrastructures. The use of SCADA systems for the control and operation of MGs and active distribution networks promotes productivity and efficiency. This paper presents a real MG case study called the LAMBDA MG testbed laboratory, which has been implemented in the electrical department of the Sapienza University of Rome with a centralized energy management system (CEMS). The real-time results of the SCADA system show that a CEMS can create proper energy balance in a LAMBDA MG testbed and, consequently, minimize the exchange power of the LAMBDA MG and main grid

Intelligent energy management based on SCADA system in a real Microgrid for smart building applications

Energy management is one of the main challenges in Microgrids (MGs) applied to Smart Buildings (SBs). Hence, more studies are indispensable to consider both modeling and operating aspects to utilize the upcoming results of the system for the different applications. This paper presents a novel energy management architecture model based on complete Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system duties in an educational building with an MG Laboratory (Lab) testbed, which is named LAMBDA at the Electrical and Energy Engineering Department of the Sapienza University of Rome. The LAMBDA MG Lab simulates in a small scale a SB and is connected with the DIAEE electrical network. LAMBDA MG is composed of a Photovoltaic generator (PV), a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a smart switchboard (SW), and different classified loads (critical, essential, and normal) some of which are manageable and controllable (lighting, air conditioning, smart plugs operating into the LAB). The aim of the LAMBDA implementation is making the DIAEE smart for energy saving purposes. In the LAMBDA Lab, the communication architecture consists in a complex of master/slave units and actuators carried out by two main international standards, Modbus (industrial serial standard for electrical and technical monitoring systems) and Konnex (an open standard for commercial and domestic building automation). Making the electrical department smart causes to reduce the required power from the main grid. Hence, to achieve the aims, results have been investigated in two modes. Initially, the real-time mode based on the SCADA system, which reveals real daily power consumption and production of different sources and loads. Next, the simulation part is assigned to shows the behavior of the main grid, loads and BESS charging and discharging based on energy management system. Finally, the proposed model has been examined in different scenarios and evaluated from the economic aspect

Ellenberg-type indicator values for European vascular plant species

Aims: Ellenberg-type indicator values are expert-based rankings of plant species according to their ecological optima on main environmental gradients. Here we extend the indicator-value system proposed by Heinz Ellenberg and co-authors for Central Europe by incorporating other systems of Ellenberg-type indicator values (i.e., those using scales compatible with Ellenberg values) developed for other European regions. Our aim is to create a harmonized data set of Ellenberg-type indicator values applicable at the European scale. Methods: We collected European data sets of indicator values for vascular plants and selected 13 data sets that used the nine-, ten- or twelve-degree scales defined by Ellenberg for light, temperature, moisture, reaction, nutrients and salinity. We compared these values with the original Ellenberg values and used those that showed consistent trends in regression slope and coefficient of determination. We calculated the average value for each combination of species and indicator values from these data sets. Based on species’ co-occurrences in European vegetation plots, we also calculated new values for species that were not assigned an indicator value. Results: We provide a new data set of Ellenberg-type indicator values for 8908 European vascular plant species (8168 for light, 7400 for temperature, 8030 for moisture, 7282 for reaction, 7193 for nutrients, and 7507 for salinity), of which 398 species have been newly assigned to at least one indicator value. Conclusions: The newly introduced indicator values are compatible with the original Ellenberg values. They can be used for large-scale studies of the European flora and vegetation or for gap-filling in regional data sets. The European indicator values and the original and taxonomically harmonized regional data sets of Ellenberg-type indicator values are available in the Supporting Information and the Zenodo repository

Preliminary study of an ancient earthquake-proof construction technique monitoring via an innovative structural health monitoring system

The historical and cultural heritage analysis of the Italian territory is of primary importance since this region is one of the richest in the world and can enrich our knowledge in different fields. In fact, in the field of structural engineering, a new discovery was made in Calabria, in the south of Italy. By investigating various architectural treatises related to earthquake-proof constructions, new knowledge was gained through analysing buildings constructed with fictile tubules bricks. Among them is an unprecedented anti-seismic construction technique patented by Pasquale Frezza, which has been widely used in southern Calabria. To prevent the collapse of the attendant structures, an innovative method for monitoring and obtaining the mechanical properties of these structures in real time while minimising the measurement uncertainty is proposed in this paper

Interior lighting control system: a practical case using daylight harvesting control strategy

The adoption of an interior lighting control system could be an efficient solution to reduce the amount of the electrical energy used for the medium and large tertiary and commercial buildings. The adequate regulation of the control system is essential but not simple to identify. The system programmer must do it at the installation start-up of the system. Moreover, during the first period of the life cycle of the system a technical management to monitor and fine-tune the control is necessary. In the research, the interior lighting control system installed into a university classroom is discussed as a case study. The control system is equipped with illuminance sensors that detect the punctual level of illuminance in the area below. A campaign of measurements on the field and simulations by software were carried out with different lighting scenarios. Particular relevance was given to the start-up activity. It consists in the adjusting the modulation of the flux emitted by the lamps in order to guarantee, in every scenario, the minimum average value of illuminance required by standards

An innovative structural health monitoring system for the preliminary study of an ancient anti-seismic construction technique

The Italian historical and cultural heritage is one of the most interesting and great in the world. The study of this heritage patrimony is bringing new discovery in the field of structural science. An ancient anti-seismic structure was discovered in Calabria region. Such structure is based on fictile tubules bricks a still not well studied construction method. In this paper we propose an innovative measurement method to investigate the mechanical properties of this anti-seismic structures

A smart control to operate the lighting system in the road tunnels

The external luminance, the climatic conditions as limpid sky or haze, the road surface wet or dry, the traffic speed and the related safe driver stopping distance, strongly influence the quantity of artificial support light necessary at the entrance of the tunnel. The design of the support lighting system in the road tunnel takes into account the critical conditions for these parameters that determine very high demand of electric power. With the aims to improve the safety and comfort for the drivers, avoiding the excesses of luminance and mitigating the cost and the energetic impact, in the paper is proposed a smart control able to operate and tune automatically the luminous flux emitted by the lighting system according to the input signals of the external luminance, the climatic condition and the traffic intensity

Optimal operation of a real power hub based on PV/FC/GenSet/BESS and demand response under uncertainty

Due to global concerns about environmental issues, renewable energy sources (RESs), such as photovoltaics (PV), Fuel Cells (FC), and wind turbines, play an outstanding role in energy production. Also, other devices are needed to achieve a smart grid. First of all, a Microgrid (MG), as a smart grid, must be equipped by the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) due to its astonishing advantages, such as providing power when RESs are not generating power, power quality improvement, RES integration facilitation, and financial benefits. Secondly, distributed generators should be installed to reduce dependency of MG on the main grid. In this paper, a cost-based mathematical optimization is used to evaluate the optimal amount of imported power from the main grid to the LAMBDA lab MG testbed, which is placed at Sapienza University of Rome. In this regard, this study considers four scenarios based on using different source, including PV array, FC and main grid, for load satisfaction. The LAMBDA lab is considered as a power hub with three optional inputs and an electrical demand in output. In addition, this study considers PV production and load demand as indeterministic parameters and evaluates the problem under uncertainties. As a result, a robust optimization problem is defined, and a powerful optimization function is used to reach the optimal power received from main grid

An innovative Home and Building Automation design tool for Nanogrids Applications

The home and building automation systems evolution, creates the necessity to define new formalities for the clear and univocal description of their functionalities. To describe the operation of such a system, it is necessary therefore to add a further level that keeps in mind the logical connections among devices and their configurations. The addition of this level makes unambiguous the description of the plant functionalities. From the current state of the art it arises the demand of creating a software that allows the home automation system designer to exclusively focus on the logical functionalities of the system, furnishing to the system integrator the general details for the hardware settings. Particularly, the new network implementation details (KNX system, proprietary systems, etc.) will be completely transparent to the designer. The objective is to get a project documentation that is possible to adapt both for KNX home automation systems and for proprietary systems managed by a gateway (Xiaomi or Google Home)