An energy trading system with consideration of CO2 emissions

Abatement of CO₂ emission is one of the most important issues in the 21st century regarding preservation of the earth environment. This paper addresses a utility operations planning problem for distributed energy management systems (DEMSs), where we are to obtain optimal plans that minimize both costs and CO₂ emissions. A DEMS consists of multiple entities that seek their own economic profits. In this paper, we give a mathematical formulation of the utility operations planning problem for each entity, and propose an energy trading market, which utlizes a multi‐attribute auction protocol in order to deal with both a price and a CO₂ emission rate. Experimental results show that collaboration among entities through the market provides a more profitable plan for each entity and abatement of CO₂ emission is also achieved. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(4): 54–63, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley. com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20418     

Feature extraction of one‐step‐ahead daily maximum load with regression tree

In this paper, a new efficient feature extraction method is proposed to handle the one‐step‐ahead daily maximum load forecasting. In recent years, power systems become more complicated under the deregulated and competitive environment. As a result, it is not easy to understand the cause and effect of short‐term load forecasting with a bunch of data. This paper analyzes load data from the standpoint of data mining. By it we mean a technique that finds out rules or knowledge through large database. As a data mining method for load forecasting, this paper focuses on the regression tree that handles continuous variables and expresses a knowledge rule as if‐then rules. Investigating the variable importance of the regression tree gives information on the transition of the load forecasting models. This paper proposes a feature extraction method for examining the variable importance. The proposed method allows to classify the transition of the variable importance through actual data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 156(2): 43–51, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20104     

Application of unified voltage analysis for high‐ and low‐voltage distribution systems by power flow calculation using indication method between nodes

It has been noted that the voltage of connection points rises according to the reverse power flow when grid‐connected photovoltaic systems are concentrated in distribution systems in residential areas. When this happens, the photovoltaic system may control the power generation output to maintain a suitable voltage for the connection point. Designing a demand area power system aiming at free access to a distributed power supply for energy‐effective practical use requires a precise understanding of this problem. When analyzing photovoltaic systems mainly connected to low‐voltage systems, we looked for a method of analysis in which the high‐voltage systems and the low‐voltage single‐phase three‐wire systems are unified. This report concerns use of the indication method between nodes using power flow calculation, for the purpose of developing a technique of analyzing unified high‐voltage systems and low‐voltage single‐phase three‐wire systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 147(3): 49–62, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10255     

Preparation of cationic polystyrene latexes in the absence of emulsifiers

Preparation of cationic polystyrene latexes has been investigated in the absence of emulsifiers. It is clarified that a stable latex can be obtained by using 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride as initiator (initiator process). The latex seems to be stabilized with the fragments of the initiator chemically bound to the surface of particles. More stable latexes can be obtained by copolymerizing cationic monomers such as dialkyl aminoethyl methacrylates (copolymerization process). The stability of these latexes may predominantly be attributed to cationic monomers chemically bound to the surface of particles. Stable latexes with high solids content can be obtained by using the two-step polymerization technique in the copolymerization process. The particle formation process in the initiator process and the copolymerization process is discussed.     

Preparation of Pb(Zr,Ti)03 Through the Use of Cupferron

An organic chelation reagent, cupferron, was used to coprecipitate Ti⁴⁺ andZr⁴⁺. After the materials were fired, they were mixed with PbO powder and fired again at high temperatures to obtain Pb(Zr,Ti)0₃ (PZT). It was confirmed that this method is useful for the preparation of homogeneous PZT having no compositional fluctuations. No coexistence range of the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases was observed in the PZT compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary.     

High-field dielectric properties of polyethylene in the high-temperature region

Nonpolar polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene are widely used as insulation materials, often under conditions involving strong electric fields and high temperatures. Under these conditions, the conduction loss due to DC-like carrier transport may give rise to a high-field AC dissipation factor (tan δ). This paper describes the high-field dielectric properties of polyethylene films at frequencies from 50 to 400 Hz and temperatures from room temperature to 100°C, as measured with a new type electrode design developed by the authors. In the high-temperature region, the AC dissipation current waveform at 50 Hz was also measured. At room temperature, the electric-field dependence of tan δ is almost unaffected by the frequency of the applied field. But at high temperatures and strong electric fields, tan δ tends to have a large field dependence and to be almost inversely proportional to the frequency. Thus the AC conductivity becomes independent of the frequency of the applied field in the region of strong fields and high temperatures. A theoretical analysis shows that the high-field dielectric loss is governed by two processes, namely, the dielectric relaxation loss inherent to the AC field and the DC-like carrier transport loss that becomes prominent in the high-temperature region, where AC dissipation current waveform becomes significantly nonsinusoidal.     

Kinetics of aspartame precursor synthesis catalysed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase

Elastase isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO 3455 was found to be an efficient protease to catalyse the synthesis of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-aspartyl-phenylalanine methyl ester, the precursor of the dipeptide sweetener, aspartame. The influence of methanol as a cosolvent in this synthetic reaction was investigated. It was found that the synthesis of the dipeptide precursor was most efficient in 25% (v/v) methanol, pH 7·0 at about 25°C for a reaction time of about 3 h. However, the activity of the enzyme was greatly reduced in 90% methanol. The values of K and k₂ for N-benzyloxycarbonyl-aspartic acid were 0·17 mol dm^?3 and 11·9 mol dm^?3 s^?1 respectively.