Scheduling method for aggregated photovoltaic-battery systems considering information notified by distribution system operator

In recent years, the aggregation business has gained a lot of attention in Japan. Aggregators will make contracts with customers with photovoltaic (PV) power systems and battery energy storage systems (BESSs) including electric vehicles (EVs) to participate in electricity markets. Aggregators might have to pay electricity supply-demand imbalance charges when generated and consumed energies contracted at the day-ahead supply-demand market are different from those at the current day operation due to distribution network constraints such as voltage and power flow limitations. Therefore, the information on network constraints is very important for aggregators to determine their day-ahead schedules. In this paper, we evaluated the relationship between aggregator supply-demand schedules and the distribution system operation. It was assumed that the reverse power flow limitations due to network constraints are notified to the aggregators by distribution system operator (DSO). Two cases of the aggregators’ schedules of PV systems and stationary BESSs were compared in the simulations. In addition, aggregator strategies for making adequate schedules were evaluated.     

Effect of electron beam radiation on the performance of biodegradable Bionolle-jute composite

To study the radiation effect on the physical, thermal, mechanical and degradable properties of biodegradable polymer Bionolle (chemosynthetic polyester poly(1,4-butylene succinate)), Bionolle films prepared by compression molding process and were irradiated with electron beam (EB) radiation of different doses. Gel content was found to increase with increase of radiation dose. Tensile strength of Bionolle was enhanced when Bionolle film was exposed under 20 kGy radiation. The loss of tensile strength of both unirradiated and irradiated Bionolle is 70% and 8% due to thermal aging at 70°C for 30 days. Both irradiated and unirradiated films of Bionolle were subjected to different degradation test in compost (soil burial), enzyme and storage degradation both in outdoor and indoors conditions. The loss of weight due to soil (compost) degradation test decreased with increase of radiation dose. The loss of weights of irradiated samples were found to be very less within the first three months of compost degradation. After 120 days, tensile strength of the Bionolle films irradiated at 20 kGy and 100 kGy were 68 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, compared to the value (30 MPa) of the unirradiated Bionolle samples. Loss of tensile strength of irradiated Bionolle due to storage degradation like in roof, ground and indoors was minimum compared to unirradiated Bionolle. The weight loss due to enzymatic degradation was found to be decreased with increase of radiation dose. The tensile strength of jute reinforced Bionolle composites (23 wt.-% jute content) irradiated at 20 kGy was found to be higher (22%) than that of an unirradiated composite.     

Crosslinking of cis-1,4-polyisoprene rubber by electron beam irradiation

Various unsaturated polyfunctional monomers were kneaded into cis-1,4-polyisoprene containing fillers under 80°C and then irradiated using an electron beam accelerator to prepare vulcanized rubber with good quality. Results showed that 2G (diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) is the best sensitizer. The optimal tensile strength of vulcanized IR was obtained by using 14 phr 2G and irradiated to 180 kGy. Compared with the sulfur vulcanizate, greater values of tensile strength, elongation at break, and 100% stress were found with the radiation-cured IR. Their Young's modulus and tan σ were similar. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 113–116, 1997     

Solid‐state characterization and the thermal properties of stereoregular poly(vinyl chloride) prepared by urea clathrate polymerization

The solid‐state characterization of highly stereoregular poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) prepared by urea clathrate polymerization was carried out by using various instrumental analyses. The structural differences of PVC appeared most remarkably in solubility to organic solvents, IR, WAXD, and solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR spectra. The value of the glass transition temperature (T_g) was about 90°C, not as high as expected, although its detection was quite difficult. The thermal stability was poor, as evidenced by the easy discoloration of this polymer by heat treatment, which was related to the absence of a termination reaction. Dynamic ESR spectra in the solid state clearly indicate that the radical formation occurs at such a low temperature as 160°C in the initial degradation stage. The degradation characteristics of urea clathrate PVC were critically discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 2820–2825, 1999     

Hydrogel coating of RVNRL film by electron‐beam irradiation

The tackiness properties of radiation‐vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) film surfaces coated by various monomers were investigated in order to define the suitable hydrogels which reduce the tackiness of the film. In this context, different types of monomers, namely, N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP), N,N‐dimethylaminoethylamide (DMAEA), acrylic acid (AAc), n‐butyl acrylate (n‐BA), and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as well as the monomer mixtures were tried with varying degrees of success. Coating the RVNRL film with 80% HEMA/20% n‐BA by irradiation at 80 kGy using a low‐energy electron beam gave a remarkable reduction in the surface tackiness of the RVNRL film. Several other attempts were made such as priming the RVNRL film with acid and aluminum sulfate prior to coating, mixing the aluminum sulfate into the monomer mixtures, and dipping the partially wet RVNRL film into the monomer to enhance the wettability of the monomers with the film. The photomicrographs taken illustrate that the decrease in tackiness with the coating is due to the increase of the surface roughness at an 80‐kGy irradiation dose. The studies also revealed that the reduction in the contact angle and the increase in water absorption of the RVNRL film after irradiation are due to the formation of the hydrogel layer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1421–1428, 1999     

Acceptor Molecule of Granular-bound Starch Synthase from Sweet-potato Roots

In order to elucidate acceptor molecule of starch synthase bound to starch granules, the enzyme from sweet-potato roots was reacted with ADP- and UDP-[¹⁴C]-glucose, and the reaction products were structurally characterized. The radioactivity of the products was released as [¹⁴C]-maltose by β-amylase. The [¹⁴C]-glucose incorporation was found to be mostly in amylopectin component. However, approximately 30 and 20% of total radioactivity transferred from ADP- and UDP-[¹⁴C]-glucose, respectively, were also present in a molecule with a lower molecular weight than that of amylose component. The radioactivity was incorporated into the much longer unit-chains of amylopectin than into the usual chains. These results indicate that starch synthase bound to sweet-potato starch granules transfers glucose from ADP- and UDP-glucose into specific outer chains of amylopectin component, and that the incorporation of the glucose into a short-chain amylose molecule is simultaneously catalyzed by the starch synthetase.     

Encapsulation of sea buckthorn kernel oil in modified starches

Encapsulation of CO₂-extracted sea buckthorn kernel oil and the stability of the products were investigated. Maltodextrin and an emulsifying starch derivative were used for encapsulation by spray drying. Both shell materials significantly increased the storage stability of sea buckthorn kernel oil, even though in maltodextrin capsules 10% of the total oil was extractable from the surface of the capsule. The cornstarch sodiium octenyl succinate derivative capsules contained essentially no surface oil. After 9 wk storage at controlled conditions (20°C, RH 50%), PV of the unencapsulated oil was above 90 meq/kg, whereas in the encapsulated oils, the PV was still around 20 meq/kg. The PV of the encapsulated oil was dependent on the storage conditions. A small increase in temperature (from 20 to 25–30°C) and a significant increase in humidity (from RH 50 to RH 50–70%) decreased the stability of capsules. This was associated with the physical state of the microcapsule matrix and may be linked with glass transition of the wall polymers.     

Self-limiting growth of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> films on a Si(100) substrate using ZrCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> and O<Subscript>2</Subscript> under atmospheric pressure

The ZrO₂ films were deposited onto a Si(100) substrate using an alternate reaction of ZrCl₄ and O₂ under atmospheric pressure. It is found that the growth rate of ZrO₂ film depends on the growth conditions, such as growth temperature, partial pressure of the sources being supplied, and exposure time of the substrate to the gaseous sources. Self-limiting growth of the ZrO₂ was achieved in the range of the growth temperature of 673–923 K. The x-ray diffractogram of the ZrO₂ films showed a typical diffraction pattern assigned to the tetragonal polycrystalline phase. The obtained ZrO₂ films were of smooth and uniform surface. It was found that the [O]/[Zr] ratio of the ZrO₂ films are similar to that of the ZrO₂ bulk.     

GaInP/AlGaInP index waveguide-type visible laser diodes with dry-etched mesa stripes

GaInP/AlGaInP index waveguide-type visible-light laser diodes with dry-etched mesa stripes have been fabricated by Cl/sub 2/ reactive ion beam etching for the first time. The AlGaInP cladding layer, which is normally very difficult to dry etch due to problems with Al oxidation and the low volatility of In and its reaction products, was etched smoothly with high depth accuracy. The etched mesa stripes were buried by metal organic vapour-phase epitaxy without crystal discontinuity at the regrown surface. The threshold current under room-temperature pulsed operation is 35 mA (L=300 mu m), which is almost the same value as that for wet-etched lasers.<>