scholarly journals Endpoint Use Efficiency Comparison for AC and DC Power Distribution in Commercial Buildings

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5863
Author(s):  
Arthur Santos ◽  
Gerald Duggan ◽  
Stephen Frank ◽  
Daniel Gerber ◽  
Daniel Zimmerle

Advances in power electronics and their use in Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs) in buildings have resulted in increased interest in using low-voltage direct current (DC) power distribution as a replacement for the standard alternating current (AC) power distribution in buildings. Both systems require an endpoint converter to convert the distribution system voltage to the MELs voltage requirements. This study focused on the efficiency of these endpoint converters by testing pairs of AC/DC and DC/DC power converters powering the same load profile. In contrast to prior studies, which estimated losses based on data sheet efficiency and rated loads, in this study, we used part load data derived from real-world time-series load measurements of MELs and experimentally characterized efficiency curves for all converters. The measurements performed for this study showed no systematic efficiency advantage for commercially available DC/DC endpoint converters relative to comparable, commercially available AC/DC endpoint converters. For the eight appliances analyzed with the pair of converters tested, in 50%, the weighted energy efficiency of the DC/DC converter was higher, while, for the other 50%, the AC/DC converter was. Additionally, the measurements indicated that the common assumption of using either data sheet efficiency values or efficiency at full load may result in substantial mis-estimates of the system efficiency.

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongming Zhang ◽  
Zhe Yan ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Jiawei Yao

As the quantity of direct current (DC) load and wireless power transmission (WPT) devices are continuously increasing in building, in order to efficiently utilize renewable energy (which outputs DC power) such as photovoltaic (PV), especially for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV), and regeneration energy from elevators (which also outputs DC power), a novel building power distribution system architecture is explored in consideration of the characteristics of supply and demand-side in this paper. The proposed architecture is a hybrid framework integrated with conventional alternating current (AC) power distribution system, DC power distribution and WPT system. The applied AC and DC hybrid power distribution system has higher conversion efficiency than a single AC power system, which indicates that the former is becoming an important trend of building power distribution. In addition, the results of experimental test in a case study suggest that the proposed architecture can provide fine service for efficient application of renewable energy and regeneration energy in building. The obtained results also can serve as a foundation to promote the development of building power distribution system and related practical application in building.


Author(s):  
Jamal Abdul-Kareem Mohammed ◽  
Arkan Ahmed Hussein ◽  
Sahar R. Al-Sakini

<p>Power distribution network in Iraq still suffers from significant problems regarding electricity distribution level. The most important problem is the disturbances that are occurring on lines voltages, which in turn, will negatively affect sensitive loads they feed on. Protection of these loads could be achieved efficiently and economically using the dynamic voltage restorer DVR when installed between the voltage source and load to inject required compensation voltage to the network during the disturbances period. The DVR mitigates these disturbances via restoring the load voltage to a pre-fault value within a few milliseconds. To control the DVR work, dq0 transformation concept and PID method with sinusoidal pulse-width modulation SPWM based converter had been used to correct the disturbances and thus enhance the power quality of the distribution network. The DVR performance was tested by MATLAB/Simulink with all kinds of expected voltage disturbances and results investigated the effectiveness of the proposed method.</p>


Author(s):  
Olalekan Kabiru Kareem ◽  
Aderibigbe Adekitan ◽  
Ayokunle Awelewa

Electric power is the bedrock of our modern way of life. In Nigeria, power supply availability, sufficiency and reliability are major operational challenges. At the generation and transmission level, effort is made to ensure status monitoring and fault detection on the power network, but at the distribution level, particularly within domestic consumer communities there are no fault monitoring and detection devices except for HRC fuses at the feeder pillar. Unfortunately, these fuses are sometimes replaced by a copper wire bridge at some locations rendering the system unprotected and creating a great potential for transformer destruction on overload. This study is focused on designing an on-site power system monitoring device to be deployed on selected household entry power cables for detecting and indicating when phase off, low voltage, high voltage, over current, and blown fuse occurs on the building’s incomer line. The fault indication will help in reducing troubleshooting time and also ensure quick service restoration. After design implementation, the test result confirms design accuracy, device functionality and suitability as a low-cost solution to power supply system fault monitoring within local communities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveed Ashraf ◽  
Tahir Izhar ◽  
Ghulam Abbas

The suggested single-phase ac-to-ac matrix converter operated with inverting and noninverting characteristics may solve the grid voltage swell and sag problem in power distribution system, respectively. It is also employed as a direct frequency changer for domestic induction heating. The output voltage is regulated through duty cycle control of high frequency direct PWM (DPWM) and indirect PWM (IDPWM) switching devices. The DPWM control switches control the switching states of IDPWM switching devices. The inverting and noninverting characteristics are achieved with low voltage stresses and hence low dv/dt across the high and low frequency-controlled switches. This reduces their voltage rating and losses. The high voltage overshoot problem in frequency step-up operation is also analyzed. The sliding mode (SM) controller is employed to solve this problem. Pulse selective approach determines the power quality of load voltage. The validity of the mathematically computed values is carried out by modelling the proposed topology in MATLAB/Simulink environment and through hardware results.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Leslie Tracy ◽  
Praveen Kumar Sekhar

In this study, a low voltage solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) was implemented for a DC distribution system using commercially available components. The design process of the high-side static switch was enabled through a voltage bias. Detailed functional testing of the current sensor, high-side switch, thermal ratings, analog to digital conversion (ADC) techniques, and response times of the SSCB was evaluated. The designed SSCB was capable of low-end lighting protection applications and tested at 50 V. A 15 A continuous current rating was obtained, and the minimum response time of the SSCB was nearly 290 times faster than that of conventional AC protection methods. The SSCB was implemented to fill the gap where traditional AC protection schemes have failed. DC distribution systems are capable of extreme faults that can destroy sensitive power electronic equipment. However, continued research and development of the SSCB is helping to revolutionize the power industry and change the current power distribution methods to better utilize clean renewable energy systems.


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