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Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems

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A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 14331

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Dr. George J. Tsekouras

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Guest Editor

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, School of Engineering, University of West Attica, 250, Thivon Avenue, Aigaleo, GR12241 Athens, Greece
Interests: electric machine design; power electronics and power quality in ships and ports; cold ironing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Fotios D. Kanellos

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Guest Editor

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 9, Akrotiri Campus, GR73100 Chania, Greece
Interests: electric power systems; modeling of electrical networks with dispersed generation; design and development of power systems with high res penetration; wind turbine modeling; optimal operation and modeling of all electric ship; wind turbines control, wind turbine autonomous operation and ancillary services to the network; smart grids; microgrids, optimal power management of plugged-in electic vehicles; advanced control methods of flexible loads

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

At present, renewable energy sources (R.E.S., i.e., wind turbines, photovoltaic plants, small hydroelectric plants, geothermal plants, etc.) are applied to power systems mitigating the operation of classical thermal power plants improving the environment and limiting greenhouse gases. However, the R.E.S. growth provokes serious issues on power systems, such as the increase of the fault current level, operation problems on protection systems, power quality issues, power system stability issues, etc. Therefore, research and development activities on the optimal design of power systems with significant penetration of R.E.S. have become exceptionally energetic during the last decade.

Thus, to further spread the technologies and methods related to optimal design of power systems with significant penetration of renewable energy sources, this Special Issue, entitled “Optimal design for renewable power systems”, has been proposed for the international journal Processes, which is an SSCI and SCIE journal (with a growing CiteScore from 2.4 to 3.5). This Special Issue mainly covers original research and studies related to the above-mentioned topics, including but not limited to energy systems (energy system planning; energy system transition; changes in energy demand; energy and electricity markets); automation control systems (process automation and monitoring; artificial neural networks; fault detection and diagnosis; intelligent control systems; system condition monitoring; optimization algorithms;) and so on. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Energy system planning: power system design with R.E.S.; hybrid energy system (with R.E.S., thermal units, etc.); autonomous energy system (i.e., island, ship); optimization algorithms for the power system design.
Energy system transition: design of hydrogen networks, residual cost of oil / natural gas networks, high voltage direct current transmission links for offshore wind parks, etc.
Design of new devices: gas turbines, hydro-turbines, fuel cells, efficient electrical machines, co-generation, etc.
Changes in energy demand: influence of new parameters (i.e., pandemic, Ukrainian crisis), short-term, mid-term, long-term energy/power forecasting (with regressive models, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, etc.); demand side management; energy saving; demand for co-generation; energy storage systems; use of electric vehicles; port electrification (cold ironing).
Energy and electricity markets: new trends in spot pricing; optimal power operation; economic dispatch; smart grids; changes in energy production through the stochastic behavior of R.E.S.
Reliability studies: bottom-up reliability analysis for renewable energy sources; expected loss of load power and of load energy for energy systems.
New technologies for automatic control of renewable energy sources and of energy systems.
Condition monitoring for wind turbines, small hydro-power plants, etc.
Fault detection, diagnosis and protection for power systems with R.E.S.
Control strategy for R.E.S. releasable reserve power.

Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer-review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

We are writing to invite you to submit your original work to this Special Issue, and look forward to receiving your outstanding research.

Dr. George J. Tsekouras
Dr. Fotios D. Kanellos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

renewable energy sources
energy / power systems
optimal methods for design, operation, maintenance, monitoring of energy systems, of R.E.S.
automatic control for R.E.S.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Storage Capacity Configuration Planning Considering Dual Scenarios of Peak Shaving and Emergency Frequency Regulation

by Xiaozheng Chen, Dongliang Nan, Xiaofu Xiong, Hongzhou Chen and Wenqing Ma

Processes 2024, 12(4), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12040743 - 05 Apr 2024

Viewed by 522

Abstract

New energy storage methods based on electrochemistry can not only participate in peak shaving of the power grid but also provide inertia and emergency power support. It is necessary to analyze the planning problem of energy storage from multiple application scenarios, such as peak shaving and emergency frequency regulation. This article proposes an energy storage capacity configuration planning method that considers both peak shaving and emergency frequency regulation scenarios. A frequency response model based on emergency frequency regulation combined with low-frequency load shedding is established, taking into account the frequency safety constraints of the system and the principle of idle time reuse, to establish a bi-level programming model. In the upper-level model, the optimization objective is to minimize the annual operating cost of the system during the planning period, combined with the constraints of power grid operation to plan the energy storage capacity. The lower-level model embeds frequency safety constraints with the optimization objective of minimizing the cost of fault losses. To solve the bi-level optimization problem, the Karush–Kuhn–Tucher (KKT) condition and Big-M method were used to transform the bi-level model into a single-layer linear model. Finally, an improved IEEE RTS-24 system was used for numerical verification. The results show that the method proposed in this article can reasonably plan the capacity of energy storage, improve frequency safety during system operation, and reduce the operating cost of the power grid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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28 pages, 8950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Generation and Transmission Expansion Planning: Nexus of Resilience, Sustainability, and Equity

by Dahlia Byles, Patrick Kuretich and Salman Mohagheghi

Processes 2024, 12(3), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12030590 - 15 Mar 2024

Viewed by 793

Abstract

The problem of power grid capacity expansion focuses on adding or modernizing generation and transmission resources to respond to the rise in demand over a long-term planning period. Traditionally, the problem has been mainly viewed from technical and financial perspectives. However, with the rise in the frequency and severity of natural disasters and their dire impacts on society, it is paramount to consider the problem from a nexus of resilience, sustainability, and equity. This paper presents a novel multi-objective optimization framework to perform power grid capacity planning, while balancing the cost of operation and expansion with the life cycle impacts of various technologies. Further, to ensure equity in grid resilience, a social vulnerability metric is used to weigh the energy not served based on the capabilities (or lack thereof) of communities affected by long-duration power outages. A case study is developed for part of the bulk power system in the state of Colorado. The findings of the study show that, by considering life cycle impacts alongside cost, grid expansion solutions move towards greener alternatives because the benefits of decommissioning fossil-fuel-based generation outweigh the costs associated with deploying new generation resources. Furthermore, an equity-based approach ensures that socially vulnerable populations are less impacted by disaster-induced, long-duration power outages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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28 pages, 7177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Control of an Air Conditioner Powered by PV Energy and the Grid Using a DC Microgrid

by Alberto Martinez-Barbosa, Gerardo Guerrero-Ramirez, Jorge Calleja-Gjumlich, Esteban Guerrero-Ramirez, Manuel Adam-Medina, Carlos Aguilar-Castillo and Jesus Aguayo-Alquicira

Processes 2023, 11(5), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051547 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1043

Abstract

This paper presents the mathematical modeling and control design procedure of the compressor motor of an air conditioner using the energy from a photovoltaic system combined with the power grid in a DC microgrid. A comprehensive model considers the interconnection of the photovoltaic cells with their associated DC/DC converter, the DC bus, the three-phase squirrel-cage induction motor with its driver, the bidirectional DC/AC converter, the output filter, and the power grid. The state-of-the-art showed that a complete mathematical model of the proposed system is unavailable. Therefore, the mathematical model of the system is compared and validated in simulation with a block diagram in the Matlab/Simulink environment. In addition, several control approaches are used in the whole system to track the maximum power point of the photovoltaic cells, obtain a soft start on the machine, control the velocity using the variable frequency drive, regulate the DC bus voltage, and manage the power flow between the DC bus and the power grid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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21 pages, 8651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Selection among Various Three-Phase Four-Wire Back-to-Back (BTB) Converters with Comparative Analysis for Wave Energy Converters

by Chan Roh

Processes 2023, 11(5), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051463 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1007

Abstract

Wave energy converters are attracting attention as an energy source that can respond to climate change. In order to increase the energy efficiency of the wave energy converters, efficient power converters are also required. The efficient converters require operation at a low switching frequency, which increases the weight and volume of the passive components. Therefore, in this paper, the performance of various types of topologies is compared to select the optimal power converter for wave energy converters. In order to cope with the unbalanced operation and unbalanced load of renewable energy, in this paper, the topology of the four-leg type is analyzed centrally. In addition, the analysis was performed by applying the model predictive control that can quickly respond to the rapid energy change of wave energy. In addition, model predictive control was applied to the four-leg converter analyzed in this paper because it is suitable for application to atypical topologies. For performance analysis of various types of topology, the loss and efficiency of each converter were analyzed by applying a loss analysis model, and output current harmonics and leakage current characteristics, capacitor voltage fluctuation rate, etc., were additionally analyzed at various switching frequencies. In conclusion, the three-level four-leg converter showed up to 2.28% and 2.7% higher efficiency under balanced and unbalanced operating conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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24 pages, 11274 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Hybrid Cooling-Based Thermal Management of Containerised Vanadium Flow Battery Systems in Photovoltaic Applications

by Bing Shu, Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, Jie Bao and Ke Meng

Processes 2023, 11(5), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051431 - 08 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1386

Abstract

The integration of industrial batteries with photovoltaic applications is a common practice to charge the batteries using solar energy. Long-duration flow batteries are useful in dealing with the intermittency of renewable energy sources and offer a great opportunity for total fossil fuel replacement. In this study, the effects of different battery operation time and load profiles on the temperature dynamics of a containerised vanadium flow battery system are modelled and simulated for a range of locations and seasons to identify active cooling or heating requirements that might be needed to maintain safe operating temperatures. This paper explores and analyses the stack, tank, and container temperature dynamics of 6 h and 8 h containerised vanadium flow batteries (VFBs) during periods of higher charge and discharge current using computer simulations that apply insulation with passive or active hybrid cooling thermal management where needed to keep the battery temperature within a safe operating range under a range of climate conditions. According to the simulation results, when adopting the hybrid cooling strategy as described in the case study, for a 30 kW–240 kWh VFB system with ambient temperatures fluctuating between 25 °C and 45 °C, the monthly electricity consumption of the air conditioning system, calculated using average power, can be maintained at a relatively low level of approximately 330 kWh. By employing an air conditioning system with an airflow rate of 0.2 m³/s and a suitable thermal management strategy, it is sufficient to keep an 8 h system operating within a safe temperature range when the ambient temperature is between 15 °C and 35 °C. This study presents the first application of our previously developed containerised VFB thermodynamic model to explore the necessity of active cooling or heating in PV (photovoltaic) applications across different geographical locations and seasons. This analysis provides valuable insights for battery designers and manufacturers to understand the performance of containerised battery systems under various climate conditions. Furthermore, this paper is the first to apply this model for simulating 6 and 8 h batteries and to adopt a hybrid thermal management strategy. The simulation data offer guidance on whether active cooling or heating is required for industrialised vanadium batteries with capacities exceeding 6 h. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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Review

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20 pages, 520 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Energy Performance of Buildings for Incentivisation in Energy-Efficient Structures: An Analysis of Secondary Data in Malta

by Joseph Falzon, Rebecca Dalli Gonzi, Simon Grima and Edward Vella

Processes 2024, 12(5), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12050874 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 233

Abstract

High-performance green buildings mitigate the adverse environmental effects of energy consumption and carbon emissions while simultaneously demonstrating that sustainability does not mean compromising utility, productivity, or comfort. We need to address the identified gap in the evolution of energy-efficient structures facilitated in building applications to enhance energy usage without mitigating comfort. The aim of this study was to provide a review of the current methods used to assess energy efficiency in buildings in Malta through secondary data and to supplement this with qualitative data from interviews. The study investigated the importance of certification, compulsory legislation, and regulations implemented by local authorities and the European Union to incentivise energy performance measures. The findings, supplemented with qualitative data from representatives of public entities, show that most participants agreed that the current method of assessing needs requires a complete overhaul in order to promote a proactive approach to sustainable development. Recent public awareness has highlighted the limited understanding of sustainable practices implemented in buildings to capture and conserve energy. However, it is widely recognised that the building industry has significant potential for energy savings, which applies to both new constructions and existing structures, but the current level falls short of what is necessary in Malta. The study findings emphasise the primary energy users and pinpoint the obstacles in the implementation process. In conclusion, the use of software EPRDM, which may be applied to raise the importance of energy performance in building standards, lacks a value-driven focus, resulting in its full utilisation and potential being unexplored. Future applications of this study include the categorisation of old buildings for a possible bid in energy retrofit; campaigns to promote responsiveness; and the utilisation of advanced technological tools, such as DESIGNBUILDER and related software, to enable the simulation of an optimal building envelope. While increased energy efficiency may result in elevated rental and sale prices for buildings, this knowledge, when disseminated to prospective purchasers via the energy performance certificate (EPC) system, can catalyse investments in structures that are more energy efficient for the end user. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

27 pages, 900 KiB

Open AccessReview

Integration of Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles in Power Systems: A Review

by Nikolaos M. Manousakis, Panagiotis S. Karagiannopoulos, George J. Tsekouras and Fotios D. Kanellos

Processes 2023, 11(5), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051544 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7546

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a promising green technology for mitigating environmental impacts. However, their widespread adoption has significant implications for management, monitoring, and control of power systems. The integration of renewable energy sources (RESs), commonly referred to as green energy sources or alternative energy sources, into the network infrastructure is a sustainable and effective approach to addressing these matters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the integration of RESs and EVs into power systems. The bibliographic analysis revealed that IEEE Access had the highest impact among journals. In order to enhance the classification of the reviewed literature, we have provided an analytical summary of the contributions made by each paper. The categorization facilitated the recognition of the primary objectives explored in the reviewed works, including the classification of EVs and RESs, the incorporation of RESs and EVs into power systems with an emphasis on emissions, the establishment of EV charging stations and parking facilities, EV batteries and battery energy storage systems, strategies for managing the integration of RESs with EVs, EV aggregators, and the financial implications. In order to provide researchers with a valuable synopsis of the implementation particulars, the papers were bifurcated into two primary classifications, namely mathematical algorithms and heuristic algorithms. The mixed integer linear programming algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm were commonly utilized formulations in optimization. MATLAB/Simulink was the primary platform used for executing a considerable portion of these algorithms, with CPLEX being the dominant optimization tool. Finally, this study offers avenues for further discourse and investigation regarding areas of research that remain unexplored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Design for Renewable Power Systems)

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