Group decision support system for backbone-network reconfiguration

Modern power system is unprecedentedly vulnerable and the society is exposed to higher blackout risks. Therefore restoration is a key issue to power systems. Reasonable backbone-network reconfiguration is necessary for re-establishing the network and restoring loads quickly. In order to speed up network reconfiguration under security constraints, a group decision support system (GDSS) is developed. A unified data platform based on data warehouse is constructed to resolve inconsistencies of data, information and models. A three-stage restoration strategy and a two-layer restoration path searching method are proposed to establish restoration schemes. Multiple attribute decision-making is implemented to evaluate alternatives and consider various attributes about restoration speed and system security comprehensively. Group decision-making provides an aggregated cardinal ranking of candidate restoration schemes. The GDSS uses expert rules for qualitative analysis and numerical computation programs for quantitative analysis, and it can resolve the semi-structured decision problem of network reconfiguration efficiently. Restoration plan of Shandong power grid is developed with the proposed method and it has been adopted by State Grid Shandong Electric Power Company. Performance results of Shandong power grid of China demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of the method.     

Stability region and radius in electric power systems under sustained random perturbations

Two concepts are proposed to characterize the behavior of stochastic systems under sustained random perturbations in time: Using Lyapunov exponents we define the region where an electric power system can be operated under random perturbations without losing stability; and we characterize the maximum perturbation size that a system can sustain. The proposed methodology is applied to international test systems of nine and thirty-nine buses.     

A novel wavelet transform based voltage sag/swell detection algorithm

This paper proposes a novel sag/swell detection algorithm based on wavelet transform (WT) operating even in the presence of flicker and harmonics in source voltage. The developed algorithm is the hybrid of Daubechies wavelets of order 2 (db2) and order 8 (db8) to detect voltage sag/swell with and without positive/negative phase jumps. The hybrid detection algorithm can detect the start and end times of voltage sag/swell with and without phase jumps within 0.5 ms and 1.15 ms, respectively. The performance of the proposed voltage sag/swell detection method is compared with the results of dq-transformation, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Enhanced Phase Locked Loop (EPLL) based voltage sag/swell detection methods. The good robustness and faster processing time to detect balanced and unbalanced voltage sag/swell are provided using proposed method. With the proposed hybrid detection algorithm consisting of db2 and db8 wavelet functions, a robust sag/swell detection is achieved which can give precise and quick response. The performance of proposed hybrid algorithm is validated and confirmed through simulation studies using the PSCAD/EMTDC analysis program.     

Sequence networks to the calculation of two-simultaneous faults at the same location

The system of symmetrical components (012-system) can be used to simulate symmetrical and asymmetrical operation of power systems. However, the classical literature of Power Systems Analysis does not present one equivalent circuit in 012-system to two-simultaneous faults where there are a single-line-to-ground fault and a bolted line-to-line fault. This paper presents the equations and the new equivalent circuit mentioned. In addition, we present a comparison of results between the proposed approach and the output of the commercial software ANAFAS, which validates the methodology. We find evidence that the new equivalent circuit developed can substitute the equivalent circuits used to calculate a single line-to-ground fault and a bolted line-to-line fault.     

An interpretative structural modeling based network reconfiguration strategy for power systems

The network reconfiguration is an important stage of restoring a power system after a complete blackout or a local outage. Reasonable planning of the network reconfiguration procedure is essential for rapidly restoring the power system concerned. An approach for evaluating the importance of a line is first proposed based on the line contraction concept. Then, the interpretative structural modeling (ISM) is employed to analyze the relationship among the factors having impacts on the network reconfiguration. The security and speediness of restoring generating units are considered with priority, and a method is next proposed to select the generating unit to be restored by maximizing the restoration benefit with both the generation capacity of the restored generating unit and the importance of the line in the restoration path considered. Both the start-up sequence of generating units and the related restoration paths are optimized together in the proposed method, and in this way the shortcomings of separately solving these two issues in the existing methods are avoided. Finally, the New England 10-unit 39-bus power system and the Guangdong power system in South China are employed to demonstrate the basic features of the proposed method.     

Development of high pressure membraneless alkaline electrolyzer

A technology for cyclic generation of hydrogen and oxygen using electrodes made of variable valency material that does not need the use of separating ion-exchange membranes is presented. The technological solution enables to fabricate electrolyzers for uninterrupted producing high-pressure hydrogen with reduced energy intensity of the production. The total work for compressing 1 m³ of hydrogen and 0.5 m³ of oxygen has been estimated. Results of investigation of influence of discrete supply of DC current to the electrolysis cell, in order to improve the processes of gas evolution and to simplify the power systems of the electrolysis plant, have been considered. There is also considered an electrolysis installation equipped with a thermosorption compressor in which LaNi₅ is used as a hydride-forming compound. The comparative characteristics of the developed electrolyzer and the currently used hydrogen generators are given.     

Dynamic energy and mass balance model for an industrial alkaline water electrolyzer plant process

This paper proposes a parameter adjustable dynamic mass and energy balance simulation model for an industrial alkaline water electrolyzer plant that enables cost and energy efficiency optimization by means of system dimensioning and control. Thus, the simulation model is based on mathematical models and white box coding, and it uses a practicable number of fixed parameters. Zero-dimensional energy and mass balances of each unit operation of a 3 MW, and 16 bar plant process were solved in MATLAB functions connected via a Simulink environment. Verification of the model was accomplished using an analogous industrial plant of the same power and pressure range having the same operational systems design. The electrochemical, mass flow and thermal behavior of the simulation and the industrial plant were compared to ascertain the accuracy of the model and to enable modification and detailed representation of real case scenarios so that the model is suitable for use in future plant optimization studies. The thermal model dynamically predicted the real case with 98.7 % accuracy. Shunt currents were the main contributor to relative low Faraday efficiency of 86 % at nominal load and steady-state operation and heat loss to ambient from stack was only 2.6 % of the total power loss.     

Perovskite SrFe1-xTixO3-δ (x < = 0.1) cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Stable and compatible cathode materials are a key factor for realizing the low-temperature (LT, ≤600?°C) operation and practical implementations of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this study, perovskite oxides SrFe_1-xTi_xO_3-δ (x?< = 0.1), with various ratios of Ti doping, are prepared by a sol-gel method for cathode material for LT-SOFCs. The structure, morphology and thermo-gravimetric characteristics of the resultant SFT powders are investigated. It is found that the Ti is successfully doped into SrFeO_3-δ to form a single phase cubic perovskite structure and crystal structure of SFT shows better stability than SrFeO_3-δ. The dc electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties of SFT are measured and analysed by four-probe and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements, respectively. The obtained SFT exhibits a very low polarization resistance (R_p), .01 Ωcm² at 600?C. The SFT powders using as cathode in fuel cell devices, exhibit maximum power density of 551?mW?cm^?2 with open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.15?V at 600?C. The good performance of the SFT cathode indicates a high rate of oxygen diffusion through the material at cathode. By enabling operation at low temperatures, SFT cathodes may result in a practical implementation of SOFCs.     

A study on the thermoelectric properties of ALD-grown aluminum-doped tin oxide with respect to nanostructure modulations

The thermoelectric properties of aluminum-doped tin oxide (ATO) thin films synthesized by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) were studied with respect to the aluminum concentration. The overall aluminum content in each layer was modulated by adjusting the relative number of tin oxide (SnO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) growth cycles, where a sequential process involving n cycles of SnO₂ growth followed by 1 cycle of Al₂O₃ deposition was performed (building up a super-cycle). The electrical conductivity (620 S/cm), free carrier concentration (1.23x10²¹ cm^-3), and power factor (0.49 mW/K²m) increase until their maximum values are reached when the Al content is approximately 1.50 at% of the cations, and decrease as more Al is added in. On the other hand, the Seebeck coefficient decreases monotonically as the Al content increases up to about 2.88 at%, and begins to increase with further Al doping. Here the thermoelectric efficiency is therefore determined primarily by the free carrier concentration, while the Seebeck coefficient appears to be influenced by the overall crystal structure.     

Prediction of Power Consumption in a Mechanically Agitated Gassed Reactor in Viscous Batches

Volumetric mass transfer coefficient, power input, and gas holdup are key parameters in the design of mechanically agitated gas‐liquid contactors. Although the majority of industrial batches are of higher viscosity, reliable transport characteristics correlations for viscous batches are lacking in literature. These correlations are often based on the power input as the scale of energy dissipation. In order to develop reliable power input correlations, its measurements were carried out in a pilot‐plant vessel using multiple impellers of various types and diameters. Power input correlation shapes providing the best match with the comprehensive database are also expected to predict most precisely the impeller power in industrial‐scale vessels.