Energies

37 pages, 5114 KiB

Open AccessReview

Intelligent Buildings in Smart Grids: A Survey on Security and Privacy Issues Related to Energy Management

by Alvaro Llaria, Jessye Dos Santos, Guillaume Terrasson, Zina Boussaada, Christophe Merlo and Octavian Curea

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2733; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092733 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5596

Abstract

During the last decade, the smart grid (SG) concept has started to become a reality, mainly thanks to the technical progress achieved in telecommunications, informatics and power electronics, among other domains, leading to an evolution of the traditional electrical grid into an intelligent [...] Read more.

During the last decade, the smart grid (SG) concept has started to become a reality, mainly thanks to the technical progress achieved in telecommunications, informatics and power electronics, among other domains, leading to an evolution of the traditional electrical grid into an intelligent one. Nowadays, the SG can be seen as a system of smart systems that include cyber and physical parts from different technologies that interact with each other. In this context, intelligent buildings (IBs) constitute a paradigm in which such smart systems are able to guarantee the comfort of residents while ensuring an appropriate tradeoff of energy production and consumption by means of an energy management system (EMS). These interconnected EMSs remain the objective of potential cyber-attacks, which is a major concern. Therefore, this paper conducts a survey, from a multidisciplinary point of view, of some of the main security and privacy issues related to IBs as part of the SG, including an overview of EMS, smart meters, and the main communication networks employed to connect IBs to the overall SG. Future research directions towards a security enhancement from both technical and human perspectives are also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cyber Security in Smart Grids)

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14 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Performance Using Unsupervised K-Means Clustering Algorithm

by Daisy Nkele Molokomme, Chabalala S. Chabalala and Pitshou N. Bokoro

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092732 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2193

Abstract

Data aggregation may be considered as the technique through which streams of data gathered from Smart Meters (SMs) can be processed and transmitted to a Utility Control Center (UCC) in a reliable and cost-efficient manner without compromising the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. [...] Read more.

Data aggregation may be considered as the technique through which streams of data gathered from Smart Meters (SMs) can be processed and transmitted to a Utility Control Center (UCC) in a reliable and cost-efficient manner without compromising the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. In a typical Smart Grid (SG) paradigm, the UCC is usually located far away from the consumers (SMs), which has led to a degradation in network performance. Although the data aggregation technique has been recognized as a favorable solution to optimize the network performance of the SG, the underlying issue to date is to determine the optimal locations for the Data Aggregation Points (DAPs), where network coverage and full connectivity for all SMs deployed within the network are achieved. In addition, the main concern of the aggregation technique is to minimize transmission and computational costs. In this sense, the number of DAPs deployed should be as minimal as possible while satisfying the QoS requirements of the SG. This paper presents a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) placement scheme based on the unsupervised K-means clustering algorithm with silhouette index method to determine the efficient number of DAPs required under different SM densities and find the best locations for the deployment of DAPs. Poisson Point Process (PPP) has been deployed to model the locations of the SMs. The simulation results presented in this paper indicate that the NAN placement scheme based on the ageless unsupervised K-means clustering algorithm not only improves the accuracy in determining the number of DAPs required and their locations but may also improve the network performance significantly in terms of network coverage and full connectivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Grids, Microgrid and Active Distribution Networks)

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24 pages, 6102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy as a Factor of Investment Attractiveness of Regions for Agricultural Enterprises

by Hanna Godlewska-Majkowska and Agnieszka Komor

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092731 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2723

Abstract

The aim of the article is to identify and assess the relationship between the investment attractiveness of regions for agricultural enterprises and the energy factor. Classical theories of the location of agriculture emphasise the importance of the market factor. The energy factor has [...] Read more.

The aim of the article is to identify and assess the relationship between the investment attractiveness of regions for agricultural enterprises and the energy factor. Classical theories of the location of agriculture emphasise the importance of the market factor. The energy factor has so far been ignored, despite the global trend related to the increasing importance of production scales and rising energy consumption in agriculture. There are also no methodological proposals that allow a comprehensive assessment of the investment attractiveness of regions for agricultural enterprises, taking into account the leading location factors. The article presents the author’s methodological model based on the weight-correlation method of valorisation of investment attractiveness of regions for economic entities that invest in agricultural production. It contains a sub-aggregate describing the energy factor. This proposal is a contribution to the theory of the location of agriculture in the field of location factor analysis. The developed methodological model is used to explain location decisions of agricultural enterprises at the regional level. Access to energy as well as energy management increase locational advantages and reduce the economic risk of carrying out agricultural activities in economic units, which contributes to an increase in the sustainability of agricultural production. This is especially true in areas dominated in the past by state-owned and cooperative enterprises, which are the dominant group of enterprises in this area after privatization. The proposed methodology was positively verified on the example of Polish regions, as a significant influence of the energy factor on investment attractiveness at the local level was demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Supply within Sustainable Agricultural Production: Challenges, Policies and Mechanisms)

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13 pages, 7674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Digital Delay Compensation Method to Improve the Stability of LCL Grid-Connected Inverters

by Xiaohuan Wang, Senfeng Wang, Shuguang Wang, Chunlai Yang and Xiaojun Zhao

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2730; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092730 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2438

Abstract

Grid-connected inverters are an important part of the connection between distributed power generation units and the large grid, and their stability is the basis for ensuring the safe operation of distributed power generation units. This study found that there is an inherent digital [...] Read more.

Grid-connected inverters are an important part of the connection between distributed power generation units and the large grid, and their stability is the basis for ensuring the safe operation of distributed power generation units. This study found that there is an inherent digital control delay in the three-phase LCL grid-connected inverter system. This characteristic causes the effective range of capacitive current feedback active damping to be reduced, the selection range of the active damping coefficient to be limited, and the phase at the open-loop cutoff frequency to be reduced. In order to reduce the impact of digital delay, this article conducts a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the first-order lead link that can be used as delay compensation, pointing out that its infinite gain when it obtains the optimal compensation effect will bring noise to the inverter system. This paper proposes a method of cascading digital filters for the first-order leading link to suppress its infinite gain. An improved delay compensation link that is more suitable for numerically controlled inverter systems is constructed. Finally, the effectiveness and necessity of the proposed improved delay compensation link are verified by a simulation platform and an experimental platform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids)

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20 pages, 6324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combustion Thermodynamics of Ethanol, n-Heptane, and n-Butanol in a Rapid Compression Machine with a Dual Direct Injection (DDI) Supply System

by Ireneusz Pielecha, Sławomir Wierzbicki, Maciej Sidorowicz and Dariusz Pietras

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2729; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092729 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2883

Abstract

The development of internal combustion engines involves various new solutions, one of which is the use of dual-fuel systems. The diversity of technological solutions being developed determines the efficiency of such systems, as well as the possibility of reducing the emission of carbon [...] Read more.

The development of internal combustion engines involves various new solutions, one of which is the use of dual-fuel systems. The diversity of technological solutions being developed determines the efficiency of such systems, as well as the possibility of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide and exhaust components into the atmosphere. An innovative double direct injection system was used as a method for forming a mixture in the combustion chamber. The tests were carried out with the use of gasoline, ethanol, n-heptane, and n-butanol during combustion in a model test engine—the rapid compression machine (RCM). The analyzed combustion process indicators included the cylinder pressure, pressure increase rate, heat release rate, and heat release value. Optical tests of the combustion process made it possible to analyze the flame development in the observed area of the combustion chamber. The conducted research and analyses resulted in the observation that it is possible to control the excess air ratio in the direct vicinity of the spark plug just before ignition. Such possibilities occur as a result of the properties of the injected fuels, which include different amounts of air required for their stoichiometric combustion. The studies of the combustion process have shown that the combustible mixtures consisting of gasoline with another fuel are characterized by greater combustion efficiency than the mixtures composed of only a single fuel type, and that the influence of the type of fuel used is significant for the combustion process and its indicator values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Fuels for Internal Combustion Engines)

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13 pages, 3461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Investability of PV Systems under Descending Feed-In Tariffs: Taiwan Case

by Chun-Nan Chen and Chun-Ting Yang

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092728 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2768

Abstract

The Taiwanese government has set an energy transition roadmap of 20% renewable energy supply by 2025, including a 20 GW installed PV capacity target, composed of 8 GW rooftop and 12 GW ground-mounted systems. The main trend of feed-in tariffs is downwards, having [...] Read more.

The Taiwanese government has set an energy transition roadmap of 20% renewable energy supply by 2025, including a 20 GW installed PV capacity target, composed of 8 GW rooftop and 12 GW ground-mounted systems. The main trend of feed-in tariffs is downwards, having fallen by 50% over a ten-year period. Predicting the future ten-year equity internal rate of return (IRR) in this study, we examine the investability of PV systems in Taiwan when subsidies and investment costs descend. We have found that the projected subsidies scheme favours investment in small-sized PV systems. Unless the investment costs of medium-sized PV systems fall or subsidies rise over the next decade, investing in medium-sized PV systems will be less attractive. Nonlinear and linear degradation causes slight IRR differences when using higher-reliability modules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Finance in Energy Sectors)

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16 pages, 1691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality and Reliability-Exploitation Modeling of Power Supply Systems

by Marek Stawowy, Adam Rosiński, Mirosław Siergiejczyk and Krzysztof Perlicki

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092727 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3219

Abstract

This article describes the issues related to the analysis of the reliability-exploitation of power supply systems in transport telematics devices (PSSs in TTDs). This paper characterizes solutions, which are applied in supply systems, and describes a PSS in a TTD from a main [...] Read more.

This article describes the issues related to the analysis of the reliability-exploitation of power supply systems in transport telematics devices (PSSs in TTDs). This paper characterizes solutions, which are applied in supply systems, and describes a PSS in a TTD from a main source and a standby one. This enables determining the dependencies denoting the probabilities of the system staying in full ability state, safety threat state, and safety unreliability state. A quality analysis of the PSS in TTD was conducted, and the indicator value of the supply continuity quality was evaluated. This indicator allows the demonstration of continuity quality of power supply (CQoPS) dependency on many quality dimensions, not just reliability. An example demonstrates the calculation of CQoPS factor for both the main and the standby power supply, employing three observations, each influencing the quality. The presented considerations in the field of quality and reliability-exploitation modeling of a PSS can be applied as well in other public utility facilities (including those classified as critical infrastructure). The character of functions performed by critical infrastructure facilities demands an operating continuity of these systems at an appropriate level. The co-first authors of the article once again address the issue of determining CQoPS factor, this time on the basis of modeling using mathematical evidence. TTD is an example in this article, because the presented methods can be used in any kind of system, especially in the power source of critical systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section G: Energy and Buildings)

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28 pages, 2312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Evaluation of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Methods Using Relevant Features and Transfer Learning

by Sarra Houidi, Dominique Fourer, François Auger, Houda Ben Attia Sethom and Laurence Miègeville

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092726 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3003

Abstract

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) refers to the analysis of the aggregated current and voltage measurements of Home Electrical Appliances (HEAs) recorded by the house electrical panel. Such methods aim to identify each HEA for a better control of the energy consumption and for [...] Read more.

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) refers to the analysis of the aggregated current and voltage measurements of Home Electrical Appliances (HEAs) recorded by the house electrical panel. Such methods aim to identify each HEA for a better control of the energy consumption and for future smart grid applications. Here, we are interested in an event-based NILM pipeline, and particularly in the HEAs’ recognition step. This paper focuses on the selection of relevant and understandable features for efficiently discriminating distinct HEAs. Our contributions are manifold. First, we introduce a new publicly available annotated dataset of individual HEAs described by a large set of electrical features computed from current and voltage measurements in steady-state conditions. Second, we investigate through a comparative evaluation a large number of new methods resulting from the combination of different feature selection techniques with several classification algorithms. To this end, we also investigate an original feature selection method based on a deep neural network architecture. Then, through a machine learning framework, we study the benefits of these methods for improving Home Electrical Appliance (HEA) identification in a supervised classification scenario. Finally, we introduce new transfer learning results, which confirm the relevance and the robustness of the selected features learned from our proposed dataset when they are transferred to a larger dataset. As a result, the best investigated methods outperform the previous state-of-the-art results and reach a maximum recognition accuracy above 99% on the PLAID evaluation dataset. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Energy-Cost Analysis of HVAC System for Buildings)

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17 pages, 5704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Directional Bending Performance of 4-Leg Jacket Substructure Supporting a 3MW Offshore Wind Turbine

by Thanh-Tuan Tran, Sangkyun Kang, Jang-Ho Lee and Daeyong Lee

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2725; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092725 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2572

Abstract

A comprehensive investigation of the directional bending performance of a 4-leg jacket substructure, supporting a 3 MW offshore wind turbine, has been carried out in this study. The jacket substructure with a Pratt bracing system which is already installed in the southwest offshore [...] Read more.

A comprehensive investigation of the directional bending performance of a 4-leg jacket substructure, supporting a 3 MW offshore wind turbine, has been carried out in this study. The jacket substructure with a Pratt bracing system which is already installed in the southwest offshore wind farm in South Korea has been chosen as a reference support structure. A numerical model of the 3MW support structure (i.e., tower, transition piece, and jacket structure) is configured, and its structural performances are evaluated under the conditions of (1) extreme environmental loads (Env), (2) critical Design Load Cases (DLCs), and (3) a total of 288 combined load cases (CBs). For the case of Env (i.e., wind, wave, and current loads), loading directions varying from 0° to 360° at intervals of 15° are considered. The DLCs are provided from the 3 MW wind turbine manufacturer, in a 6 × 12 matrix format. The selected 4-leg jacket substructure in this study showed the smallest bending stiffness at the loading angles of 135° and 315° under the condition of Env, and at the loading angles between 105° and 150° under the CBs. From these results, critical bending directionality of the 4-leg jacket substructure is identified. This study also found that the effects of Env loads are not small compared to the total structural responses of the 4-leg jacket substructure which is supporting a 3 MW offshore wind turbine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy)

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15 pages, 2567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gamma-Ray Modified Polymer/Clay Composites: Synthesis, Characterization, and Formulation Optimization Using Multivariate Calculus and Graph Theory

by Ahmed A. Bakhsh

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2724; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092724 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2116

Abstract

To enhance the oxidation strength and crosslinking yield of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), its composites were prepared by mixing 1%, 2%, and 3% (by wt.) of magnesium silicate hydrous (sepiolite) during this study. These composites were irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 [...] Read more.

To enhance the oxidation strength and crosslinking yield of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), its composites were prepared by mixing 1%, 2%, and 3% (by wt.) of magnesium silicate hydrous (sepiolite) during this study. These composites were irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 kGy of irradiation doses in the open air. Subsequent to irradiation, the composites were characterized for updates in structure, oxidation strength, and degree of crosslinking while estimating the values of oxidation index (OI), crosslink density (Gx), and percent crystallinity (Xc), respectively. The reaction of modified sepiolite (SP) on irradiating UHMWPE/SP composites was evident from the origination of peaks at Si-O, O-Si-O, Si-O-Si, and Mg-OH and stretching vibration at 974 cm⁻¹, 1014 cm⁻¹, and 1080 cm⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the moderate negative correlation of OI (−0.46) and strong positive correlation of Gx (0.87) with the absorbed dose, made obvious from correlation analysis, confirmed the effectiveness of SP in enhancing the oxidation strength and crosslink density of UHMWPE. Furthermore, cluster analysis (CA) grouped the composites as low, moderate, and best based on dissimilarities, i.e., oxidation strength and crosslink density, which was further confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA also revealed that the OI, Gx, and absorbed dose were the active variables for this best group. After confirming the effectiveness of SP (as an active filler for enhancing the oxidation strength and crosslink density of UHMWPE) and recognizing the OI, Gx, and absorbed dose as active variables, the next step was to determine the necessary minimum amount of SP concentration and radiation dose required for the composite that outperforms all others. For this, a parametric graph theory and matrix approach was employed to rank the composites of the best group, revealing that the UHMWPE/SP composite with 1% (by wt.) of Si₁₂O₃₀Mg₈(OH)₄(H₂O)₄·8H₂O and irradiated with 50 kGy of irradiation dose was the most suitable choice of all existing alternatives tested in this study. Although this is the first attempt, to the best of our knowledge, where a smart approach using multivariate calculus and decision-making tools was utilized for figuring the best UHMWPE composite formulation along with appropriate treatment dose, the results and methodology could be extended for any polymer of industrial scale, such as those used in medical implants, defense armor, bulletproof jackets, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thermoplastic Composites)

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13 pages, 2407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fault Tracking Method for Relay Protection Devices

by Qing Chen, Xiaotong Zhou, Mengxuan Sun and Xiaotong Zhang

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2723; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092723 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2903

Abstract

A method of fault tracking for relay protection devices is presented in this paper. Fault tracking means that after the failure of relay protection devices, the anomalies and warning information are obtained through data-mining technology, and then, the fault tracking algorithm is used [...] Read more.

A method of fault tracking for relay protection devices is presented in this paper. Fault tracking means that after the failure of relay protection devices, the anomalies and warning information are obtained through data-mining technology, and then, the fault tracking algorithm is used to find the cause of failure. Let us take microcomputer protection as an example: Firstly, the common failure symptoms and the prior probability of failure causes can be collected through empirical field data. Then, the concept of an event set is proposed; thus, the causes set and the symptoms set of failure can be created. According to the causal relationship between the causes set of failure and symptoms set of failure, the reasoning chain and the corresponding Bayesian network model are built. Then, the probability of failure causes can be obtained through backward reasoning to continue the tracking analysis of failure causes for relay protection devices. Since the data used in modeling are all from statistics, this method has strong applicability and represents a simple and reliable method for the timely determination and elimination of failure in a power system. Full article

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18 pages, 10629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Comparison of Solar-Powered Hydrogen Closed-Cycle System Capacities for Selected Locations

by Evgeny Solomin, Shanmuga Priya Selvanathan, Sudhakar Kumarasamy, Anton Kovalyov and Ramyashree Maddappa Srinivasa

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2722; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092722 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2563

Abstract

The exhaustion of fossil fuels causes decarbonized industries to be powered by renewable energy sources and, owing to their intermittent nature, it is important to devise an efficient energy storage method. To make them more sustainable, a storage system is required. Modern electricity [...] Read more.

The exhaustion of fossil fuels causes decarbonized industries to be powered by renewable energy sources and, owing to their intermittent nature, it is important to devise an efficient energy storage method. To make them more sustainable, a storage system is required. Modern electricity storage systems are based on different types of chemical batteries, electromechanical devices, and hydrogen power plants. However, the parameters of power plant components vary from one geographical location to another. The idea of the present research is to compare the composition of a solar-powered hydrogen processing closed-cycle power plant among the selected geographical locations (Russia, India, and Australia), assuming the same power consumption conditions, but different insolation conditions, and thus the hydrogen equipment capacity accordingly. The number of solar modules in an array is different, thus the required hydrogen tank capacity is also different. The comparison of equipment requires building an uninterrupted power supply for the selected geographical locations, which shows that the capacity of the equipment components would be significantly different. These numbers may serve as the base for further economic calculations of energy cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar PV, Thermal, Concentrator and Hybrid Power Systems)

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18 pages, 17043 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation Method of Production Pressure Differential in Deep Carbonate Reservoirs: A Case Study in Tarim Basin, Northwest China

by Haoyang Weng, Jingen Deng, Chunfang Zhang, Qiang Tan, Zhuo Chen and Wei Liu

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2721; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092721 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1957

Abstract

Deep and even ultra-deep petroleum resources play a gradually increasing and important role with the worldwide continuous advancement of oil and gas exploration and development. In China, the deep carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are regarded as the key development areas due [...] Read more.

Deep and even ultra-deep petroleum resources play a gradually increasing and important role with the worldwide continuous advancement of oil and gas exploration and development. In China, the deep carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are regarded as the key development areas due to their huge reserves. However, due to the unreasonable design of production pressure differential, some production wells suffered from severe borehole collapse and tubing blockage. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to optimize a more practical method for predicting the critical production pressure differential. The commonly used analytical methods with different failure criteria for predicting production pressure differential were summarized. Furthermore, their advantages and disadvantages were analyzed. A new numerical model is established based on the finite element theory in order to make the prediction of production pressure differential more accurate. Additionally, both analytical and numerical methods were applied to evaluating the production pressure differential of deep carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, and the results were discussed compared with field data. In addition, a series of laboratory tests, including porosity and permeability measurements, electron microscope scanning, XRD for mineral analysis, uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength test, etc., were carried out by using the collected carbonate cores from formations deeper than 7000 m to obtain the input parameters of the simulation such as the rock properties. The experimental results showed that the carbonate rocks exhibited a remarkable brittleness and post-peak strain softening. The calculation results revealed that the Mogi-Coulomb criterion is slightly conservative; however, it is more suitable than other criteria to evaluate pressure differential. Furthermore, it has been confirmed by the field data that the finite element numerical method can not only reveal the instability mechanism of the wellbore but also predict the critical production pressure differential accurately. Unfortunately, the on-site operators sometimes require a more convenient way, such as an analytical method, to figure out the pressure differential, even though the evaluation of the numerical method is more accurate. Therefore, the discussion in this paper can provide a basis for the operators to determine the production pressure differential flexibly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Interdisciplinary Studies for Sustainable Mining)

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25 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Geometry of Toothed Segments of the Innovative KOMTRACK Longwall Shearer Haulage System on Load and Slip during the Travel of a Track Wheel

by Krzysztof Kotwica, Grzegorz Stopka, Marek Kalita, Dominik Bałaga and Michał Siegmund

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2720; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092720 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2631

Abstract

Longwall shearers operating in the underground mine workings move along the longwall face along the conveyor troughs. The haulage system, which is made up of two kinematic pairs in the form of track wheels installed in shearer movers, cooperating with the toothed route [...] Read more.

Longwall shearers operating in the underground mine workings move along the longwall face along the conveyor troughs. The haulage system, which is made up of two kinematic pairs in the form of track wheels installed in shearer movers, cooperating with the toothed route built in the conveyor’s throughs, is responsible for moving the shearer. The currently used solutions of longwall shearers’ haulage systems do not ensure proper cooperation of the track wheels with toothed segments, which results in failures and breakdowns in the operation of the longwall systems, causing significant financial losses. Rigid solution of the gear components used is the reason. The solution of the flexible toothed segment, allowing it to adapt to the longitudinal and transverse curvature of the AFC (armored face conveyor) route during cooperation with the track wheel, was developed as part of the research project jointly implemented by KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Łukasiewicz Research Network–Cracow Institute of Technology, Specodlew Innovative Foundry Company and Polish Mining Group Inc., co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (contract no. POIR.04.01.04-00-0068/17). The general design and principle of operation of the suggested KOMTRACK system is given. The results of the comparative simulations and analyses are presented. The load and slip values during the cooperation of the track wheels with the standard and new suggested toothed segment were estimated. The effectiveness of cooperation in the shearer movement along a disturbed conveyor route was also compared. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The IMTech 2021 Innovative Mining Technologies)

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18 pages, 3116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neural Networks in the Diagnostics Process of Low-Power Solar Plant Devices

by Stanisław Duer, Jan Valicek, Jacek Paś, Marek Stawowy, Dariusz Bernatowicz, Radosław Duer and Marcin Walczak

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2719; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092719 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

The article presents the problems of diagnostics of low-power solar power plants with the use of the three-valued (3VL) state assessment {2, 1, 0}. The 3VL diagnostics is developed on the basis of two-valued diagnostics (2VL), and it is elaborated on. In the [...] Read more.

The article presents the problems of diagnostics of low-power solar power plants with the use of the three-valued (3VL) state assessment {2, 1, 0}. The 3VL diagnostics is developed on the basis of two-valued diagnostics (2VL), and it is elaborated on. In the (3VL) diagnostics, the range of changes in the values of the signals from the 2VL logic was accepted for the serviceability condition: state {1_2VL}. This range of signal value changes for logic (3VL) was divided into two signal value change sub-ranges, which were assigned two status values in the logic (3VL): {2_3VL}—serviceability condition and {1_3VL}—incomplete serviceability condition. The state of failure for both logics applied of the valence of states is interpreted equally for the same changes in the values of diagnostic signals, the possible changes of which exceed the ranges of their permissible changes. The DIAG 2 intelligent system based on an artificial neural network was used in diagnostic tests. For this purpose, the article presents the structure, algorithm and rules of inference used in the DIAG intelligent diagnostic system. The diagnostic method used in the DIAG 2 system utilizes the method known from the literature to compare diagnostic signal vectors with the reference signal vectors assigned. The result of this vector analysis is the metric developed of the difference vector. The problem of signal analysis and comparison is carried out in the input cells of the neural network. In the output cells of the neural network, in turn, the classification of the states of the object’s elements is realized. Depending on the condition of the individual elements that make up the object, the method is able to indicate whether the elements are in working order, out of order or require quick repair/replacement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenge and Research Trends of Artificial Neural Network)

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23 pages, 7331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seven-Level Inverter with Reduced Switches for PV System Supporting Home-Grid and EV Charger

by Ahmed Ismail M. Ali, Mahmoud A. Sayed and Ahmed A. S. Mohamed

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2718; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092718 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3518

Abstract

This paper proposes a simple single-phase new pulse-width modulated seven-level inverter architecture for photovoltaic (PV) systems supporting home-grid with electric vehicle (EV) charging port. The proposed inverter includes a reduced number of power components and passive elements size, while showing less output-voltage total [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a simple single-phase new pulse-width modulated seven-level inverter architecture for photovoltaic (PV) systems supporting home-grid with electric vehicle (EV) charging port. The proposed inverter includes a reduced number of power components and passive elements size, while showing less output-voltage total harmonic distortion (THD), and unity power factor operation. In addition, the proposed inverter requires simple control and switching strategies compared to recently published topologies. A comparative study was performed to compare the proposed inverter structure with the recent inverter topologies based on the number of components in the inverter circuit, number of components per output-voltage level, average number of active switches, THD, and operating efficiency as effective parameters for inverter performance evaluation. For design and validation purposes, numerical and analytical models for a grid-tied solar PV system driven by the proposed seven-level inverter were developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The inverter performance was evaluated considering grid-integration and stand-alone home with level-2 AC EV charger (3–6 kW). Compared with recently published topologies, the proposed inverter utilizes a reduced number of power components (7 switches) for seven-level terminal voltage synthesis. An experimental prototype for proposed inverter with the associated controller was built and tested for a stand-alone and grid-integrated system. Due to the lower number of ON-switches, the inverter operating efficiency was enhanced to 92.86% with load current THD of 3.43% that follows the IEEE standards for DER applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid Environment)

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26 pages, 2090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing Digital Economy and Society in the Light of the Issue of Digital Convergence of the Markets in the European Union Countries

by Ryszard Borowiecki, Barbara Siuta-Tokarska, Jolanta Maroń, Marcin Suder, Agnieszka Thier and Katarzyna Żmija

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2717; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092717 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5453

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to present the development of digital economy and society in the Countries of the European Union in the light of the digital convergence of these markets. The analysis was based on the data on the Digital [...] Read more.

The main objective of the paper is to present the development of digital economy and society in the Countries of the European Union in the light of the digital convergence of these markets. The analysis was based on the data on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) from 2015 and 2020. Empirical studies have been conducted in two stages. First, basic measures of time series dynamics were used to determine the dynamics of changes in index values. On the other hand, in order to classify countries in terms of similarity of value and structure of the DESI, a cluster analysis was used as one of the basic methods of the so-called unsupervised statistical grouping. The studies presented confirm that the levels of indicators and the dynamics of changes in their value at the level of the synthetic DESI indicator, and in the five underlying areas of analysis, vary despite the fact that almost all are pro-growth, including for isolated clusters of EU-28 countries. When analyzing the DESI synthetic index and its components, it was concluded that there is generally an increase in convergence between the EU-28 countries in terms of the level of development of the digital economy and society, as well as in four components: Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of Internet Services and Digital Public Services. The Integration of Digital Technology area was the only one where increasing polarization of results was observed. The added value of the paper is to fill the research gap in research on the digital convergence of markets in the Countries of the European Union. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Organizations in Power Markets Applications for Industry 4.0)

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25 pages, 9227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Surface Parameterization Method for Optimizing Radial Impeller Design in Fuel Cell System

by Wei Li, Jisheng Liu, Pengcheng Fang and Jinxin Cheng

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2716; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092716 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2272

Abstract

The aerodynamic performance improvement of radial impellers is of positive significance to improve the overall performance of hydrogen fuel cell systems (FCS). Our team proposes a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) surface parameterization method for the global automatic optimization of radial impeller aerodynamics. The MDOF surface [...] Read more.

The aerodynamic performance improvement of radial impellers is of positive significance to improve the overall performance of hydrogen fuel cell systems (FCS). Our team proposes a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) surface parameterization method for the global automatic optimization of radial impeller aerodynamics. The MDOF surface parameterization is characterized by fewer variables, construction ease, smoothness, good flexibility, and blade strength maintenance. In this paper, a radial impeller for a 100-kW fuel cell stack is optimized, showing the isentropic efficiency increase of 0.7%, the flow rate increase of 3.77%, and the total pressure ratio increase of 0.37%. The results revealed that the performance of the optimized radial impeller significantly improved, verifying the validity and reliability of the proposed novel design optimization method and providing technical support and methodological research of radial impeller aerodynamic optimization for hydrogen FCS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electric Propulsion and Energy Generation Systems)

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16 pages, 2294 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Nonlinear Electromechanical Coupling in Magnetic Levitation Energy Harvester

by Krzysztof Kecik and Marcin Kowalczuk

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092715 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2714

Abstract

This paper investigates the possibility of converting vibrations to electricity. A numerical and an experimental study of a magnetic levitation harvester are proposed. The system can be highly efficient when the electrical parameters are correctly tuned. Mechanical and electrical interaction of the harvester [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the possibility of converting vibrations to electricity. A numerical and an experimental study of a magnetic levitation harvester are proposed. The system can be highly efficient when the electrical parameters are correctly tuned. Mechanical and electrical interaction of the harvester is described by an electromechanical coupling. Fixed value, linear and nonlinear electromechanical coupling models are presented and compared. It has been shown that the nonlinear electromechanical coupling model is more suitable for higher oscillations of the magnet. The obtained results show that nonlinear resonance and recovered energy can be controlled by the simple configuration of the magnet coil position. The recovered energy from the top branch is significantly higher, but this solution is much harder to obtain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Frequency Vibration-Based Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters)

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12 pages, 5737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Concentrated Optics for Ambient Perovskite Solar Cells

by Maria Khalid, Anurag Roy, Shubhranshu Bhandari, Senthilarasu Sundaram and Tapas K. Mallick

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2714; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092714 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4304

Abstract

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered an effectual way to enhance photovoltaic (PV) properties, leading to low-cost and high efficiency. PSCs have experienced rapid improvement in the last ten years. The device’s energy production increases extensively in the presence of concentrated [...] Read more.

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered an effectual way to enhance photovoltaic (PV) properties, leading to low-cost and high efficiency. PSCs have experienced rapid improvement in the last ten years. The device’s energy production increases extensively in the presence of concentrated light. The use of concentrated optics in solar cells has spurred the PV industry towards tremendous research. Incorporating the concentrated optic into the PV system as a concentrated PV (CPV) means it can capture light effectively and operate at increased efficiencies under concentrated irradiance. This work addresses an initial assessment of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of the ambient PSCs by externally integrating concentrated optics. Significantly, the concentrated optics exhibit ~90% of the PCE enhancement under the solar irradiance of 400 W/m², whereas 16% of the PCE increase was observed when the solar irradiance changed to 1000 W/m². During optics integration, a considerable elevation of short-circuit current predominately facilitated the overall efficiency enhancement of the PSC. A systematic PV parameters effect on the optic integration on PSCs was further scrutinized. Therefore, this work signifies a possible way to alleviate the PCE of carbon-based PSC using concentrated optics. This work focuses on integrating CPVs into PSCs, preventing PSC stability and scalability issues, with light conditioning techniques. Full article

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14 pages, 5399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Simulation of High-Speed Induction Motor

by Maria Dems, Krzysztof Komeza, Jacek Szulakowski and Witold Kubiak

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092713 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

In the drives of high-speed devices, such as a blood centrifuge, dynamic states also play an important role in terms of the time and quality of the tests performed. The article presents the application of modified equations resulting from the mathematical model of [...] Read more.

In the drives of high-speed devices, such as a blood centrifuge, dynamic states also play an important role in terms of the time and quality of the tests performed. The article presents the application of modified equations resulting from the mathematical model of an induction motor to model dynamic phenomena during motor start-up, both with mains supply and with frequency start-up. The applied solution considers the phenomenon of current displacement in the rotor bar and the phenomenon of saturation. The comparison of the obtained results with the experiment shows that the method is sufficiently accurate. The obtained results can also be extended to higher power machines and to modeling other dynamic states. Full article

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13 pages, 4877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A VSG-Based Coordinated DC Voltage Control for VSC-HVDC to Participate in Frequency Regulation

by Tianwen Zheng, Laijun Chen, Yan Guo, Wei Wei, Bo Zhou and Xinwei Sun

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092712 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

In this paper, a coordinated DC voltage control strategy is proposed based on the VSG (virtual synchronous generator) method for the VSC-HVDC transmission system to participate in the frequency regulation of the connected weak grid. The voltage and power control capability of the [...] Read more.

In this paper, a coordinated DC voltage control strategy is proposed based on the VSG (virtual synchronous generator) method for the VSC-HVDC transmission system to participate in the frequency regulation of the connected weak grid. The voltage and power control capability of the VSC-HVDC is explored to attenuate the rate of change of frequency and to diminish the deviation of frequency. This is realized by the coordinated control of DC voltages at both the sending and the receiving ends with the VSG method. A small-signal model is established to investigate the dynamics of the control system. A tuning method for the selection of control parameters is also discussed in detail. The validity and superiority of the proposed control strategy are tested in the scenarios of sudden load changes and short circuit faults. Full article

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18 pages, 1953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of Climate/Energy Targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy by the EU Member States

by Barbara Kryk and Małgorzata Klaudia Guzowska

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2711; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092711 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3572

Abstract

The most important goals on the Europe 2020 Strategy contained were the climate/energy goals, which determine the achievement of other targets of the strategy. The aim of the article is to evaluate the implementation of the climate/energy targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy [...] Read more.

The most important goals on the Europe 2020 Strategy contained were the climate/energy goals, which determine the achievement of other targets of the strategy. The aim of the article is to evaluate the implementation of the climate/energy targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy by the EU Member States in 2010 and 2019 and to compare the results achieved by them. To measure them, a basic set of indicators was used for this purpose, which the authors supplemented with additional indicators. The evaluation was done using the taxonomic and zero-unitarization method. They made it possible to integrate all indicators. Moreover, the added value in relation to other studies is: the use of individual indicators, instead of general ones obtaining additional information about the internal structure and nature of the implementation of multidimensional groups of targets and focusing solely on the achievement of climate/energy targets. The achieved results not only reflect the progress of the Member States in achieving the climate/energy targets and the differences in the level of achieving objectives between countries, but they are also discussion on future strategic objectives, their indicators and necessary directions for a further community climate/energy policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Energy, Environment and Well-Being)

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28 pages, 43260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Neural Network-Inspired Matrix Formulation of Chemical Kinetics for Acceleration on GPUs

by Shivam Barwey and Venkat Raman

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2710; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092710 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3471

Abstract

High-fidelity simulations of turbulent flames are computationally expensive when using detailed chemical kinetics. For practical fuels and flow configurations, chemical kinetics can account for the vast majority of the computational time due to the highly non-linear nature of multi-step chemistry mechanisms and the [...] Read more.

High-fidelity simulations of turbulent flames are computationally expensive when using detailed chemical kinetics. For practical fuels and flow configurations, chemical kinetics can account for the vast majority of the computational time due to the highly non-linear nature of multi-step chemistry mechanisms and the inherent stiffness of combustion chemistry. While reducing this cost has been a key focus area in combustion modeling, the recent growth in graphics processing units (GPUs) that offer very fast arithmetic processing, combined with the development of highly optimized libraries for artificial neural networks used in machine learning, provides a unique pathway for acceleration. The goal of this paper is to recast Arrhenius kinetics as a neural network using matrix-based formulations. Unlike ANNs that rely on data, this formulation does not require training and exactly represents the chemistry mechanism. More specifically, connections between the exact matrix equations for kinetics and traditional artificial neural network layers are used to enable the usage of GPU-optimized linear algebra libraries without the need for modeling. Regarding GPU performance, speedup and saturation behaviors are assessed for several chemical mechanisms of varying complexity. The performance analysis is based on trends for absolute compute times and throughput for the various arithmetic operations encountered during the source term computation. The goals are ultimately to provide insights into how the source term calculations scale with the reaction mechanism complexity, which types of reactions benefit the GPU formulations most, and how to exploit the matrix-based formulations to provide optimal speedup for large mechanisms by using sparsity properties. Overall, the GPU performance for the species source term evaluations reveals many informative trends with regards to the effect of cell number on device saturation and speedup. Most importantly, it is shown that the matrix-based method enables highly efficient GPU performance across the board, achieving near-peak performance in saturated regimes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Data-Driven Modeling of Turbulent Combustion and Engine Combustion Dynamics)

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25 pages, 2155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Consumption in a Distributional Warehouse: A Practical Case Study for Different Warehouse Technologies

by Konrad Lewczuk, Michał Kłodawski and Paweł Gepner

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2709; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092709 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 11308

Abstract

Energy consumption by distribution warehouses has become an essential component of green warehousing and research on reducing the carbon footprint of supply chains. Energy consumption in warehousing is a complex and multilayered problem, which is generally considered in the literature in relation to [...] Read more.

Energy consumption by distribution warehouses has become an essential component of green warehousing and research on reducing the carbon footprint of supply chains. Energy consumption in warehousing is a complex and multilayered problem, which is generally considered in the literature in relation to its detailed components, not as part of comparative studies. In this article, the authors consider six cross-sectional variants of warehouse technology, from manual to fully automatic, and analyze the energy consumption of a warehouse in various configurations. A methodology for estimating storage space and determining energy consumption is proposed. The energy balance of the warehouse variants includes energy for material handling equipment operation, energy consumption for building maintenance (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), and energy generated by the photovoltaic system on the roof. Then, the operational costs of the variants are estimated and, on their basis, an automation index is determined. The index allows for a comparative analysis of energy consumption and the mechanization and automation of a warehouse. It is shown that a significant part of the energy is spent on maintaining a warehouse building, especially in the case of facilities with a low degree of automation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section G: Energy and Buildings)

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14 pages, 2653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iodide Electrolyte-Based Hybrid Supercapacitor for Compact Photo-Rechargeable Energy Storage System Utilising Silicon Solar Cells

by Magdalena Skunik-Nuckowska, Patryk Rączka, Justyna Lubera, Aleksandra A. Mroziewicz, Sławomir Dyjak, Paweł J. Kulesza, Ireneusz Plebankiewicz, Krzysztof A. Bogdanowicz and Agnieszka Iwan

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2708; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092708 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2879

Abstract

The one of the most important issues in constructing light-harvesting photovoltaic (PV) systems with a charge storage element is its reliable and uninterrupted use in highly variable and weather-dependent conditions in everyday applications. Herein, we report the construction and applicability evaluation of a [...] Read more.

The one of the most important issues in constructing light-harvesting photovoltaic (PV) systems with a charge storage element is its reliable and uninterrupted use in highly variable and weather-dependent conditions in everyday applications. Herein, we report the construction and applicability evaluation of a ready-to-use portable solar charger comprising a silicon solar cell and an enhanced energy hybrid supercapacitor using activated carbon electrodes and iodide-based aqueous electrolyte to stabilise the PV power under fluctuating light conditions. The optimised electrode/electrolyte combination of a supercapacitor was used for the construction of a 60 F/3 V module by a proper adjustment of the series and parallel connections between the CR2032 coin cells. The final photo-rechargeable device was tested as a potential supporting system for pulse electronic applications under various laboratory conditions (temperature of 15 and 25 °C, solar irradiation of 600 and 1000 W m⁻²). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security - Sociological and Technical Aspects and Innovations)

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24 pages, 14973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Point-of-View Energy Loss Analysis in a Refuse Truck Hydraulic System

by Luis Javier Berne, Gustavo Raush, Pedro Javier Gamez-Montero, Pedro Roquet and Esteban Codina

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2707; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092707 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2284

Abstract

In recent years, much research has focused on reducing the power consumption of mobile hydraulic machines due to rising fuel costs, regulations on combustion engine emissions and the need to reduce the size and weight of the storage devices in hybrid drives. Current [...] Read more.

In recent years, much research has focused on reducing the power consumption of mobile hydraulic machines due to rising fuel costs, regulations on combustion engine emissions and the need to reduce the size and weight of the storage devices in hybrid drives. Current approaches to improve the energy efficiency of a hydraulic system can be classified into four basic groups: reduction of the energy demand, recovery of part of the supplied energy (ERS systems), regeneration of part of the supplied energy and reuse of the recovered and regenerated energy (hybrid systems). Today’s mobile hydraulic systems are often complex, perform different tasks and work under different load conditions, which makes it difficult to analyse energy losses. A study of the energy losses of a hydraulic system from different points of view, such as an energy balance for a complete machine cycle, an analysis of the individual cycle phases and a power analysis for the different operation quadrants of the actuators, can give an global picture of the energy losses, being very useful to rate its energy efficiency, identify main power losses and decide which of the different energy-saving techniques to apply. This paper describes the data collection process, its analysis from various points of view and the summary of the results in easy to understand charts as useful tools to identify and quantify the main energy losses. Only system architecture losses are considered. Losses in the ICE engine or the electric motor, hydraulic pump losses and mechanical losses are outside the scope of this study. Full article

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15 pages, 2170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Model of Support for the Decision-Making Process, While Organizing Dredging Works in the Ports

by Adam Kaizer and Tomasz Neumann

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2706; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092706 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2698

Abstract

The aim of the research was to create a decision-making model, which would be able to support planning, organizing and conducting the dredging works in the port area. The proposed solution is a multiple element system which enables to verify, in a comprehensive [...] Read more.

The aim of the research was to create a decision-making model, which would be able to support planning, organizing and conducting the dredging works in the port area. The proposed solution is a multiple element system which enables to verify, in a comprehensive way, the majority of the aspects determining the quality and the time of dredging enterprise realization. The paper presents an original approach to the decision-making process during the organization of dredging works, using the computer program. In order to achieve the main goal of the study, the conditions of dredging works were considered. Furthermore, the factors that have an influence on the schedule of the project were evaluated and algorithms, as well as process organization schemes, were developed. If it is not enough, the decision models corresponding to the discussed issue were analysed and the computer program was created. And last but not the least, the proposed project and equipment were verified using a simulation model. While creating this model, the method of multiple criteria AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) decision support was used. Moreover, the mass service model with the priority queue regulations, the expert study, and statistical analysis of the traffic flow, were provided. The model was developed in reliance to multiple criteria studies, based on the opinions of multinational experts. These enabled to adjust each element of the system in accordance with various locations. As a result of the research, the following thesis has been proven, that detailed analysis of the conditions of dredging works and taking into account the received conclusions enables to reduce the costs and shorten the time of dredging projects realizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Control for Future Systems)

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17 pages, 1543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Power of Electricity: How Effective Is It in Promoting Sustainable Development in Rural Off-Grid Islands in the Philippines?

by Lorafe Lozano and Evelyn B. Taboada

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2705; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092705 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 10244

Abstract

Electrification plays a crucial role in the advancement of rural communities but establishing its impact to the communities’ sustainable development remains a challenge. This paper presents a pragmatic framework for assessing how electrification affects sustainable development at the grassroots level with eight indicators [...] Read more.

Electrification plays a crucial role in the advancement of rural communities but establishing its impact to the communities’ sustainable development remains a challenge. This paper presents a pragmatic framework for assessing how electrification affects sustainable development at the grassroots level with eight indicators in the economic, technical, social, and environmental dimensions highlighted. An exploratory factor analysis approach is applied to determine how these dimensions contribute to the community’s overall sustainable development. The framework is applied in two islands in the Philippines of less than 500 households and varying electrification levels. Results indicate that Gilutongan Island, which has less than 24-h electricity access rarely find productive uses of electricity and still make use of conventional fuels for lighting. Meanwhile, Cobrador Island, which has 24-h access see improvements in almost all aspects, although they are slightly burdened by the unaffordability of tariffs. This means that islands with limited hours for electricity access rarely experience positive impacts to their socioeconomic development while the opposite is true for islands with longer access. The framework can be a useful tool for decision- and policy-makers to assess electrification in rural off-grid communities and to streamline efforts in helping these communities achieve sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing Challenges of Low-Carbon Energy Transition)

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3 pages, 151 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Introduction to the Special Issue on Data-Intensive Computing in Smart Microgrids

by Herodotos Herodotou

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2704; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092704 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1666

Abstract

Microgrids have recently emerged as the building block of a smart grid combining distributed renewable energy sources, energy storage devices, and load management in order to improve power system reliability, enhance sustainable development, and reduce carbon emissions [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Intensive Computing in Smart Microgrids)

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