Optimal Management and Control of Smart Thermal-Energy Grids

This work deals with the development of novel algorithms and methodologies for the optimal management and control of thermal and electrical energy units operating in a networked configuration. The aim of the work is to foster the creation of a smart thermal-energy grid (smart-TEG), by providing supporting tools for the modeling of subsystems and their optimal control and coordination. A hierarchical scheme is proposed to optimally address the management and control issues of the smart-TEG. Different methods are adopted to deal with the features of the specific generation units involved, e.g., multi-rate MPC approaches, or linear parameter-varying strategies for managing subsystem nonlinearity. An advanced scheme based on ensemble model is also conceived for a network of homogeneous units operating in parallel. Moreover, a distributed optimization algorithm for the high-level unit commitment problem is proposed to provide a robust, flexible and scalable scheme.

New Business Development Strategy of Telecommunication Operators Based on a Smart Energy System

This research studies the case of KT to see how a mobile operator expanded beyond its existing offerings to new smart energy business based on digital technology. Details were analysed specifically on how the business was developed, why the smart energy service was started, and what the success factors were. KT's smart energy business (KT-MEG: KT Micro Energy Grid) utilizes ICT to resolve energy issues such as global climate change and energy consumption growth. It also provides growth opportunities for KT with its KT-MEG platform. The authors analyze that KT was able to leverage sustainability as a new growth engine by developing new businesses to differentiate customer experience, create effective organization structure, and generate business impact in addition to application of latest ICT technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT (internet of things), and big data. The results provide a good guideline for business transformation of ICT firms in the era of Industry 4.0.

A Hierarchical Modeling Framework for Cyber-Physical Micro Energy Grid System

This paper proposes a hierarchical modeling framework for micro energy grid (MEG) from the perspective of cyber-physical integration, including three layers: object layer, integration layer and decision layer. This modeling framework can fully reveal the interplay of the information flow and energy flow in MEG. The energy hub approach is used to uniformly describe the conversion and distribution of different energy sources in the object layer. The state machine is used to describe the characteristics of energy flow and information flow and their dynamic relationships in the integration layer, where the energy flow describes the dynamic balance of energy between the supply side and demand side and the energy changes of each unit in MEG, and the information flow describes the transferring process of each unit’s operating state and the conditions triggering the state transformation. The optimization objective of the decision layer is established based on the actual requirements with optimal operation. The combination of the three-layer model forms the overall model of the MEG. Finally, a typical MEG system is taken as an example to verify the proposed modeling approach, and the results show that the proposed modeling method effectively improves the observability and optimal operation of the MEG.

Treatments of Thermal Neutron Scattering Data and Their Effect on Neutronics Calculations

In the conventional method to generate thermal scattering cross section of moderator materials, only one of the coherent elastic scattering and incoherent elastic scattering is considered in neutronics calculations. For the inelastic scattering, fixed incident energy grid is used in the nuclear data processing codes. The multipoint linearization method is used to refine the incident energy grid for inelastic scattering. We select ZrHx (zirconium hydride) as an example to analyze the effects of the above described treatments on the reactivity of several critical benchmarks. The numerical results show that the incident energy grid has an obvious effect on the effective multiplication factor (keff) of the analyzed reactors; simultaneously considering the coherent and incoherent elastic scattering also affects keff by tens of pcm.

Optimal Dispatch of Multi-Energy Integrated Micro-Energy Grid: A Model Predictive Control Method

In order to reduce the impacts caused by large-scale renewable energy resources accessing the utility grid, the micro-energy grid system, as a natural extension of the microgrid in the energy internet era, is proposed and developed to provide a new solution for the optimal utilization of renewable energy resources. In this paper, a multi-energy integrated micro-energy system is proposed which contains wind, PV, bedrock energy storage, magnetic levitation electric refrigeration, solid oxide fuel cell, solar thermal collector, energy storage, and V2G technologies, and detailed models of the energy generation/conversion/storage devices are formulated. Besides this, the uncertainties of renewable energy resources and cold/heat/electricity loads are considered, and the optimal dispatch problem of the micro-energy system is established from day-ahead and real-time time scales based on a model predictive control method. The day-ahead optimal scheduling aims at economic optimization and guides real-time scheduling, and real-time scheduling utilizes rolling optimization and a feedback correction mechanism to effectively correct the deviation of renewable energy generations and loads at a real-time horizon, which improves the optimization control accuracy, follows the day-ahead dispatch plan, and ensures the economics of real-time scheduling at the same time.

Design of Fast Charging Station with Energy Management for eBuses

The popularity of the eBus has been increasing rapidly in recent years due to its low greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and its low dependence on fossil fuels. This incremental use of the eBus increases the burden to the power grid for its charging. Charging eBus requires a high amount of power for a feasible amount of time. Therefore, developing a fast-charging station (FCS) integrated with Micro Energy Grid (MEG) and hybrid energy storage is crucial for charging eBuses. This paper presents a design of FCS for eBus that integrates MEG with hybrid energy storage with the energy management system. To reduce the dependency on the main utility grid, a hybrid micro energy grid based on a renewable source (i.e., PV) have been included. In addition, hybrid energy storage of batteries and flywheels has also been developed to mitigate the power demand of the fast-charging station during peak time. Furthermore, a multiple-input DC-DC converter has been developed for managing the DC power transfer between the common DC bus and the multiple energy sources. Finally, an energy management system and the controller has been designed to achieve an extensive performance from the fast charging station. MATLAB Simulink has been used for the simulation work of the overall design. Different test case scenarios are tested for evaluating the performance parameters of the proposed FCS and also for evaluating its performance.

Integrating Urban Wind Power in Wellington

<p>The aim of my research is to show that a wind powered, environmentally responsive, energy producing building can be integrated in Wellington’s city centre and produce enough electricity to be economically and environmentally feasible. The building should serve as a positive icon for wind energy and allow a high degree of public interaction to promote and educate the public about the benefits of wind produced energy. With enough energy producing buildings the energy grid can be created directly inside the very cities which require the energy, leaving the picturesque untouched landscapes wind farm free. A building which has the ability to create its own energy also bears the responsibility to maximise its energy efficiency and environmental performance. The building must be environmentally responsive allowing it to respond and adapt to changing weather conditions to maximise performance. The main design goal will be environmental performance, which is the quantity of energy exchanged from external sources required to keep a building at a desirable temperature and allow all of the building’s services to operate fully. These include heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing and lighting.</p>