Value analysis of intermittent generation sources from the systemoperations perspective

The objective of this study is to determine the economic and operational impact on energy cost of incorporating large photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy conversion systems (WECS) into the electric utility generation mix. In most cases, PV and WECS power outputs are subtracted from the utility load with the expectation that conventional generation would meet the residual load. This approach is valid for small penetration levels and/or for PV and WECS facilities connected near load centers, However, several constraints such as thermal generation characteristics, fuel supply and delivery, spinning reserve requirements, and hydro availability are not adequately represented in this process. To determine the optimal value of large-scale PV and WECS applications, a new methodology that would take into account the aforementioned constraints as well as a more global penetration is developed. Results indicate that while high hydro availability increases PV penetration levels, high ramping rates can also significantly increase penetration levels     

Synthesis and analysis of transformer-isolated converters

A systematic and straightforward procedure is developed for the synthesis and analysis of transformer-isolated power converters. The procedure can be used to determine the ranges of duty-ratio over which the transformer-isolated power converters of a given class can be operated without transformer saturation. The procedure can also be used to study the dependence of the power converter switch stresses on duty-ratios. This information is useful in the selection of the transformer-isolated power converter most suitable for a given application and in the design of this power converter with minimum switch stresses, high power density, and low cost     

Swift and Selective Reduction of Nitroaromatics to Aromatic Amines with Ni–Boride–Silica Catalysts System at Low Temperature

Various nitroaromatics are successfully reduced to amines with 100% conversion and selectivity in methanol at low temperature (≈5 °C), by using versatile system of 5% Ni–SiO₂ catalyst and NaBH₄ and in situ generation of Ni boride. The catalytic efficiency of Ni loading (5%, 10% and 15%) with silica or titania as support materials is investigated for reduction of nitrobenzene. The Ni–titania/NaBH₄ system recorded lower conversion and selectivity. The IR studies indicate that silica support does not have free –OH group on its surface. Thus the nickel boride is anchored to the silica to facilitate the catalytic process.     

Impulse breakdown voltages of triggered multistage vacuum gap

Several sealed-off triggered vacuum gaps are connected in series to improve hold-off voltage. The characteristics of impulse breakdown voltage of these series-connected gaps are investigated experimentally. The sum hold-off voltage of series-connected gaps decreases to a unit hold-off voltage when the maximum value of voltage division ratio across the gaps increases to unity. Self-breakdown probability of the series-connected gaps is always higher than that of a single gap under the same conditions. Hence, stage efficiency of the multistage gap decreases with increasing number of stages. Its value is 90 percent with 2-stage gap and 75 percent with 5-stage gap, respectively, under the same voltage division ratio and the same gap length (2.0 mm) in each stage. Triggered breakdown voltage of 2- or 3- stage gap is several hundred volts when all gaps are triggered simultaneously at the peak of the main impulse wave and a working voltage range is nearly 100 percent in this case. The working voltage range decreases with number of stages. Its value is 45 percent with 3-stage gap and 15 percent with 5-stage gap, respectively, when one triggered gap is fired for switching.     

Acidogenic fermentation of blended food‐waste in combination with primary sludge for the production of volatile fatty acids

The performance of a laboratory‐scale anaerobic acidogenic fermenter fed with a mixture of blended kitchen food‐waste and primary sludge from a sewage treatment plant was investigated for the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The operating variables for acidogenic fermentation were kitchen food‐waste content (10 and 25 wt %), hydraulic retention time (HRT: 1, 3 and 5 days), temperature (ambient: 18 ± 2 °C, and mesophilic: 35 ± 2 °C) and pH (varied from 5.2 to 6.7). The experimental results indicated that effluent VFA concentrations and VFA production rates were higher at ambient temperature than at mesophilic conditions. The net amount of VFA with 10 wt % food‐waste increased up to 920 mg dm^?3 with an increase of HRT, but contrasting results (a decrease of 2610 mg dm^?3) were found due to the conversion of VFA into biogas in the case of 25 wt % food‐waste, which increased significantly at HRT of 3–5 days. In terms of biogas composition (CO₂ and CH₄), the organic matter was converted into CO₂ through the oxidative pathway by facultative species at low temperature while mesophilic temperature and optimum pH (6.3–7.8) played a pivotal role in increasing rate of conversion of VFA into biogas by methanogenesis. Rates of VFA production and their conversion are dependent on the food‐waste content in the mixture. Yet, the higher concentration of food‐waste (25% compared with 10%) did not produce VFA proportionally due to the increased rate of conversion of VFA into gaseous products. The maximum VFA production rate (0.318 g VFA_produced g^?1 VS_fed day^?1) was achieved in the 10 wt % food‐waste at ambient temperature and at a 5‐day HRT. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simulation and experimental analyses of electromagnetic transients behaviors of lightning surge on vertical conductors

Simulation of very fast surge phenomena in a three-dimensional (3-D) structure requires a method based on Maxwell's equations, such as the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method or the method of moments, because circuit-equation-based methods cannot handle the phenomena. This paper uses a method of thin-wire representation of the vertical conductor system for the FDTD method which is suitable for the 3-D surge simulation. The thin-wire representation is indispensable to simulate electromagnetic surges on wires or steel frames in which the radius is smaller than a discretized space step used in the FDTD simulation. In this paper, a general surge analysis program named the virtual surge test lab based on the Maxwell's equations formulated by the FDTD method, is used to simulate the surge phenomena of a vertical conductor, including the effects of horizontal wave incidence and vertical wave incidence. Experimental results on the reduced scale model have been presented in order to compare among the simulation results by the FDTD method and the results using numerical electromagnetic code based on the MoM.     

The functional reanimation of paralyzed limbs.

The functional reanimation of paralyzed limbs has been a longstanding goal of neural prosthetic research, but clinically successful applications have been elusive. Natural voluntary limb movement requires four major elements: actuators (i.e., motor units), sensors (i.e., somatosensory afferents), commands (i.e., cerebral cortical activity), and control (i.e., integration of the previous three elements at various levels of the neuraxis). Prosthetic equivalents of each of these elements are, as yet, primitive and often cumbersome to deploy, but new technologies promise substantial improvements for all. This article focuses on one such technology, bionic neuon (BION) modular microimplants, and its relationship to alternative and complementary technologies. The challenge remains to select and integrate them into systems that can be tailored efficiently to the widely disparate needs of patients with various patterns of weakness and paralysis.     

Capacitor coupled converter (C3) for high power DCconversion

The bang-bang controlled capacitor coupled converter (C³) is described in this paper. Due to the converter's inherent commutating property, the C³ can accommodate thyristors as well as high-power gate turn-off switches, due to zero-current switching transitions. The zero-current switching is achieved at no current stress increase, therefore, the topology is considered appropriate for high-power processing. DC and small signal AC models are derived for the bang-bang controlled C³, a design procedure is proposed, and simulation results are discussed. Finally, oscillograms from a proof of principle prototype circuit are presented     

Modelling and controller design of an isolated diesel enginepermanent magnet synchronous generator

A method to analyze the steady-state performance of a stand-alone permanent magnet synchronous generator driven by a diesel engine is presented. The proposed method is based on equivalent d-q circuits and the phasor diagram of such a generator under steady-state conditions. A fixed capacitor-thyristor controlled reactor scheme is used to regulate the generator terminal voltage by controlling the thyristor ignition angle. Furthermore the overall system dynamics are modelled in terms of state variables and control inputs. Based on a reduced order linearized model, digital optimal state and output feedback controllers are designed by minimising a quadratic performance index using the dynamic programming technique. The objective of the controller is to maintain the load voltage and frequency constant under varying load conditions. The controller's effectiveness is assessed by examining the closed-loop system response to sudden load changes