Balancing control method by dispersed generators based on H∞ control theory in DC power feeding system

Recently, dispersed generators have been installed in distribution network to supply power to commercial facilities. Renewable energy generation contains output power fluctuations and distributed generator produces sluggish response for power demand. In order to overcome these problems, an ultra capacitor energy storage system is used for compensating the instantaneous power imbalance. However, use of a large capacity ultra capacitor energy system increases system cost. In addition, PPSs (Power Producer and Supplier) that own these generators are supposed to achieve 30-min balancing control for stable supply of electric power. This paper proposes a control system to achieve both 30-min balancing control and interconnection point power flow control by using a fuel cell and an ultra capacitor based on the H_∞ control theory. Besides, remaining storage energy of the ultra capacitor is controlled to be constant to maintain compensation capability. Effectiveness of the proposed control system is verified by using simulation results.     

Balancing control for dispersed generators considering torsional torque suppression and AVR performance for synchronous generators

Electric utility deregulation enabled PPSs (Power Producers and Suppliers) to enter the electricity market. PPSs are supposed to achieve 30‐minute balancing control for stable power supply of electric power. In addition, load rejection and instantaneous voltage drops greatly affect turbine shafting, that is, torsional torque oscillation. Therefore, PPSs must consider a reduction of torsional torque in order to prevent generator shaft damage. This paper proposes a control system which allows the achievement of both 30‐minute balancing control and reduction of torsional torque by using an H_∞ controller. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is validated by using MATLAB. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(1): 16–25, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20868     

Insulin-induced hypoglycemia does not impair the surge of luteinizing hormone secretion in the proestrous rat

Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta were induced to fire in bursts with application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 20 microM) and apamin (100 nM) while recording intracellularly in the rat brain slice. L-Arginine (300 microM), a substrate for nitric oxide (NO) production, increased both the number of spikes per burst and the magnitude of interburst hyperpolarizations. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM), N-nitro-L-arginine, and 7-nitroindazole inhibited NMDA-induced burst firing by reducing the number of spikes per burst. Moreover, L-arginine (100 microM) reversed the inhibition of burst firing produced by L-NAME. These findings suggest that NO facilitates NMDA-induced burst firing in DA neurons.     

Systematic evaluation and analysis for 60-GHz dielectric resonatorscoupled to a microstrip line on a GaAs substrate

This paper presents the first systematic evaluation and analysis of 60-GHz-band TE_01δ-mode cylindrical dielectric resonators coupled to a microstrip line on a GaAs substrate. The loss components of the unloaded Q are analyzed using simple numerical techniques. The distance between the resonator center and the microstrip line which gives the maximum coupling coefficient is found to be approximately 3/5 of the resonator radius, whose ratio is almost constant for all practical cases. The temperature characteristics are also demonstrated and the origins of temperature dependences of the unloaded Q and the coupling coefficient are discussed. An equivalent circuit model for the dielectric resonator coupled to the microstrip line is presented, whose element parameters can express the dependences of the resonant frequency, the unloaded Q, and the coupling coefficient on the structural parameters and the temperature     

Effects of virtual resistor in power electronic converter on subsynchronous oscillation damping

Virtual impedance concept provides the impedance effects without need to put real physically impedance in the circuit. In power system, oscillation will not occur as long as the impedance seen by turbine‐generator set is ‘passive’. In order to ensure the impedance is seen as ‘passive’ by the turbine‐generator set, a series resistor can be placed in the system. This paper proposes implementation of virtual resistor concept in grid connected power electronic converter to replaced the aforementioned series resistor, then analyze its impact on subsynchronous oscillation phenomena. It can be shown that virtual resistor can improve the negative region of converter input admittance. Moreover, it also gives us better damping in system involving grid connected inverter. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Impact of a virtual resistor on the input admittance of a grid‐connected inverter

A grid‐connected inverter offers good operation and controllability; however, there is a risk of local instabilities due to particular control schemes. As long as the input admittance is positive at a particular resonance frequency, the risk of local instability can be suppressed. In this paper, an attempt to improve the input admittance of the grid‐connected inverter (GCI)[vnsn1] using a virtual resistor is proposed. The impact of the virtual resistor on the inverter's passivity is analyzed by observing the input admittance of the inverter. Numerical analysis shows that the employment of the virtual resistor gives better input admittance to the GCI, particularly in the low‐frequency regions. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Estimated impedance islanding detection method for grids with high motor penetration

In the dispersed generation (DG) field, islanding is known as a situation in which those generators are disconnected from the utility feeders and a bunch of local loads being powered by them is isolated. Accordingly, anti‐islanding schemes are used to immediately detect the phenomenon in facilitating the detachment of the DG or adaptively controlling the autonomous operation. Negative‐sequence impedance measurement is considered as a novel method of detecting electrical islands in DG networks. However, in the case of high induction motor penetration, this method might malfunction. Using two‐round impedance measurement, this paper deals with that problem while making typical assessments on how the impedance tolerance values are selected and how these values vary with network configuration. The simulation in PSCAD/EMTDC and experiments validate the methodology. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Recent advances in DFB lasers for ultradense WDM applications

State-of-the-art distributed feedback (DFB) laser modules integrated with a wavelength monitor are presented that provide excellent wavelength stability. By adopting unique and compact configuration, wavelength deviations of as small as a few picometers have been achieved. The laser modules are improved also in the scope of high power, high reliability, and wavelength tunability. Reliability test results of the DFB laser diodes and modules confirm a sufficiently long lifetime of more than 25 years and a small wavelength drift of less than /spl plusmn/3 pm. The developed laser modules are fully applicable to ultradense wavelength-division multiplexing applications with the current narrowest channel spacing of 25 GHz.     

Effect of dietary lard containing higher alpha-linolenic acid on plasma triacylglycerol in rats

It is well known that the consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) decreases the plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) level. The technology of elevating the content of n-3 PUFAs in pig meat has already reached a practical level. In this study, the effects of dietary lard containing higher alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) on plasma TAG were compared with those of normal lard in rats. The rats were fed a diet containing either 10% normal lard or a high linolenic lard for 4 weeks. The plasma and liver TAG levels in the high linolenic lard group were significantly lower than those in the normal lard group. The activity of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) of the liver in the high linolenic lard group was significantly lower than that in the normal lard group. The contents of n-3 PUFAs in hepatic total lipid, TAG fraction, and the phospholipids (PLs) fraction increased in the high linolenic lard group. The results indicate that the high linolenic lard suppressed hepatic FAS activity compared with the control lard, resulting in a lower concentration of plasma TAG. These results also suggest that pig meat containing high LNA may be more nourishing than normal pig meat.     

A Metal-Oxide Surge Arrester model with active V-I characteristics

Generally a model of Metal Oxide Surge Arrester (MOSA) for numerical analysis uses a nonlinear resistance. But actual Voltage-Current (V-I) characteristics of MOSA have a hysteresis loop in the time domain like the i-Φ characteristic of a transformer and frequency dependency. The authors have investigated the relation between the actual V-I hysteresis characteristics obtained by some current waveforms and the static V-I characteristics. From the voltage difference between the above two characteristics, an equation was derived and a new model of MOSA was developed. This model consists of a nonlinear resistance representing the fundamental V-I characteristic, a linear inductance, and a voltage source that depends on the absorbed energy. The calculated results by the proposed model are compared with measurement results by using the waveform of standard impulse current, steep front current, and oscillated current. The accuracy of the model has been confirmed to be satisfactory. The model is expected to be useful to investigate insulation coordination of power systems. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 121 (1): 35–42, 1997