A welding power source is commonly assimilated to a non-linear load. Arc welding market being in full growth, the resulting harmonic pollution is becoming an increasingly difficult problem to ignore. Therefore, the main purpose of this work is to define and implement the most suitable solution for power factor correction in a welding power source. Due to the high non-linearity of the electric arc, the current controller used to control grid current need to show high robustness. Consequently, this paper focuses on the digitization of a very robust Phase-Shift Self-Oscillating Current Controller (PSSOCC), which only exists in its analog version until then, to carry out this task. After quick descriptions of the entire energy conversion chain and the PSSOCC operation principle, a model of the digital PSSOCC is proposed. Then, the quality and the accuracy of the aforementioned model are evaluated and its operating limits are identified. Afterwards, the behavior of the digital controller is... [more]

The drilling process is complex because unexpected situations may occur at any time. Furthermore, the drilling system is extremely long and slender, therefore prone to vibrations and often being dominated by long transient periods. Adding the fact that measurements are not well distributed along the drilling system, with the majority of real-time measurements only available at the top side and having only access to very sparse data from downhole, the drilling process is poorly observed therefore making it difficult to use standard control methods. Therefore, to achieve completely autonomous drilling operations, it is necessary to utilize a method that is capable of estimating the internal state of the drilling system from parsimonious information while being able to make decisions that will keep the operation safe but effective. A solution enabling autonomous decision-making while drilling has been developed. It relies on an optimization of the time to reach the section total depth (TD... [more]

Decision-making is a crucial and difficult step in the design process of complex systems such as the hybrid powertrain. Finding an optimal solution requires the system feedback. This can be, depending on the granularity of the models at the component level, highly time-consuming. This is even more true when the system’s performance is determined by its control. In fact, various possibilities can be selected to deliver the required torque to the wheels during a driving cycle. In this work, two different design strategies are proposed to minimize the fuel consumption and the cost of the hybrid powertrain. Both strategies adopt the iterative framework which allows for the separation of the powertrain design problem and its control while leading to system optimality. The first approach is based on model reduction, while the second approach relies on improved cycle reduction techniques. They are then applied to a parallel hybrid vehicle case study, leading to important cost reduction in rea... [more]

Fault diagnosis under the condition of data sets or samples with only a few fault labels has become a hot spot in the field of machinery fault diagnosis. To solve this problem, a fault diagnosis method based on deep transfer learning is proposed. Firstly, the discriminator of the generative adversarial network (GAN) is improved by enhancing its sparsity, and then adopts the adversarial mechanism to continuously optimize the recognition ability of the discriminator; finally, the parameter transfer learning (PTL) method is applied to transfer the trained discriminator to target domain to solve the fault diagnosis problem with only a small number of label samples. Experimental results show that this method has good fault diagnosis performance.

The torque mode is more suitable for the direct drive 6 degree of freedom (6-DOF) parallel mechanism than the speed mode that both dynamic coupling and current coupling among motors are easily solved, but its key parameters and dynamic characteristics have never been studied, which are important and are the goals of this paper. First the hydraulic system of the direct drive 6-DOF parallel mechanism is simplified. Then the transfer function of the direct drive hydraulic system with the torque mode is deduced together with that of the speed mode. Finally, comparative experiments are conducted. Results show that the dynamic characteristics of the system with the torque mode which are generally worse than those with the speed mode, are mainly determined by the parameters of the motor-pump second-order element of the transfer function composed of two under-damped second-order elements, proportion differentiation (PD) control strategy and dynamic pressure feedback (DPF) control strategy are... [more]

Electrification of transportation is an effective way to tackle climate change. Public transportation, such as electric buses, operate on predetermined routes and offer quiet operation, zero local emissions and high energy efficiency. However, the batteries of these buses are expensive and wear out in use. The battery ageing is expedited by fast charging and power spikes during operation. The contribution of this paper is the reduction of the power spikes and thus a prolonged battery lifetime. A novel hybrid energy storage system for electric buses is proposed by introducing a flywheel in addition to the existing battery. A simulation model of the hybrid energy storage system is presented, including a battery ageing model to measure the battery lifetime. The bus was simulated during its daily driving operation on different routes with different energy management strategies and flywheel configurations. These different flywheels as well as the driving cycle had a significant impact on th... [more]

With a focus on the problems of active power sharing and voltage deviation of parallel-connected inverters in an islanded micro-grid (MG), in this study, the power-voltage droop controller and the inner voltage regulator are redesigned based on a total sliding-mode control (TSMC) technique. As for the power-voltage droop control loop, a droop control relation error between the active power and the point-of-common-coupling (PCC) voltage amplitude is defined. Then, the TSMC scheme is adopted to reach the new droop control relation, where the active power sharing and voltage amplitude recovery can be achieved simultaneously. Owing to the faster dynamic response and strong robustness provided by the TSMC framework, high-precision active power sharing during transient state also can be ensured without the influence of line impedances. The power allocation error can be improved by more than 81.2% and 50% than the conventional and proportional-integral (PI)-based droop control methods, respec... [more]

In a microgrid connected with both intermittent and dispatchable sources, intermittency caused by sources such as solar and wind power plants can be balanced by dispatching hydro power into the grid. Both intermittent generation and consumption are stochastic in nature, not known perfectly, and require future prediction. The stochastic generation and consumption will cause the grid frequency to drift away from a required range. To improve performance, operation should be optimized over some horizon, with the added problem that intermittent power varies randomly into the future. Optimal management of dynamic system over a future horizon with disturbances is often posed as a Model Predictive Control (MPC) problem. In this paper, we have employed an MPC scheme for generating a hydro-turbine valve signal for dispatching necessary hydro power to the intermittent grid and maintaining grid frequency. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows that grid frequency is mostly sensitive to the turbine v... [more]

In multi-area interconnected power systems (MAIPS), the measurement of all system states is difficult due to the lack of a sensor or the fact that it is expensive to measure. In order to solve this limitation, a new load frequency controller based on the second-order sliding mode is designed for MAIPS where the estimated state variable is used fully in the sliding surface and controller. Firstly, a model of MAIPS integrated with disturbance is introduced. Secondly, an observer has been designed and used to estimate the unmeasured variables with disturbance. Thirdly, a new second-order sliding mode control (SOSMC) law is used to reduce the chattering in the system dynamics where slide surface and sliding mode controller are designed based on system states observer. The stability of the whole system is guaranteed via the Lyapunov theory. Even though state variables are not measured, the experimental simulation results show that the frequency remains in the nominal range under load distur... [more]

A compact and high-efficiency power converter is the main business of today’s power industry for server power applications. To achieve high efficiency with a low-output ripple, an interleaved phase-shift full-bridge (PSFB) converter is designed, built, and tested for server power applications in this study. In this paper, dynamic dead time control is proposed to reduce the switching loss in the light load condition. The proposed technique reduces the turn-off switching loss and allows a wide range of zero-voltage switching. Moreover, the current ripple of the output inductor can be reduced with the interleaved operation. To verify the theoretical analysis, the proposed PSFB converter is simulated, and a 3 kW prototype is constructed. The experimental results confirm that the conversion efficiency is as high as 97.2% at the rated power of 3 kW and 92.95% at the light load of 300 W. The experimental transient waveforms demonstrated that the voltage spike or drop is less than 2 V in the f... [more]

Because of the unpredictable activity of solar energy sources, photovoltaic (PV) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is essential to guarantee the continuous operation of electrical energy generation at optimal power levels. Several works have extensively examined the generation of the maximum power from the PV systems under normal and shading conditions. The fuzzy logic control (FLC) method is one of the effective MPPT techniques, but it needs to be adapted to work in partial shading conditions. The current paper presents the FLC-based on dynamic safety margin (DSM) as an MPPT technique for a PV system to overcome the limitations of FLC in shading conditions. The DSM is a performance index that measures the system state deviation from the normal situation. As a performance index, DSM is used to adapt the FLC controller output to rapidly reach the global maxima of the PV system. The ability of the proposed algorithm and its performance are evaluated using simulation and practical imple... [more]

Due to the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) required for the sustainable distribution system, new voltage control strategy is needed by utilities. Traditional voltage control strategy can not support the increasing number of DERs in a coordinated and scalable manner to meet the operational voltage regulation requirement. Supported by the power electronics converter, the energy storage system can provide fast, smooth, and flexible voltage control services. In this paper, an effective and easy to implement sensitivity-based voltage control strategy is developed for the energy storage system. The developed control strategy is validated using an industrial feeder data in Northwest Washington. The proposed strategy can mitigate the voltage unbalance issue, improve the voltage profile, and correct power factors while supporting sustainable distribution system operation.

The implementation of each function of a battery management system (BMS) depends on sensor data. Efficient sensor fault diagnosis is essential to the durability and safety of battery systems. In this paper, a model-based sensor fault diagnosis scheme and fault-tolerant control strategy for a voltage sensor and a current sensor are proposed with recursive least-square (RLS) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithms. The fault diagnosis scheme uses an open-circuit voltage residual generator and a capacity residual generator to generate multiple residuals. In view of the different applicable state of charge (SOC) intervals of each residual, different residuals need to be selected according to the different SOC intervals to evaluate whether a sensor fault occurs during residual evaluation. The fault values of the voltage and current sensors are derived in detail based on the open-circuit voltage residual and the capacity residual, respectively, and applied to the fault-tolerant control... [more]

In the present scenario the depletion of conventional sources causes an energy crisis. The energy crisis causes load demand with respect to electricity. The use of renewable energy sources plays a vital role in reducing the energy crisis and in reduction of CO2 emission. The use of solar energy is the major source of power in generation as this is the root cause for the development of wind, tides, etc. However, due to climatic condition the availability of PV sources varies from time to time. Hence it is essential to track the maximum source of energy by implementing different types of MPPT algorithms. However, use of MPPT algorithms has the limitation of using the same during partial shadow conditions. The issue of tracking power under partial shadow conditions can be resolved by implementing an intelligent optimization tracking algorithm which involves a computation process. Though many of nature’s inspired algorithms were present to address real world problems, Mirjalili developed t... [more]

Solar field developers include innovative solutions to optimize the energy production of their plants. Simulation tools play a significant role in the design and testing phases as they provide estimations of this yield in different conditions. Transient processes, like passing clouds and solar field start-up, are specifically challenging to optimize and estimate using such simulation tools. Solar fields are subject to high degree of both temporal and spatial variability in the energy input and a detailed estimation can be achieved by simulating subsystems within acceptable time and computational power. Hence, such simulation tools cannot be utilized for tests under realistic operation conditions. The Virtual Solar Field is a computationally efficient simulation tool that allows a detailed transient simulation of parabolic trough solar fields based on single-phase fluids. Using this tool, developers could reproduce a transient test case with exactly the same disturbances to provide fair... [more]

In Poland, special attention is focused on sustainable municipal waste management. As a result, new waste incineration plants are being planned. They are considered to be modern, ecologically friendly, and renewable energy sources. The waste from conventional incineration, which contains hazardous substances, must be disposed of in an appropriate manner. This study used advanced statistical tools, such as control charts, trend analysis, and time series analysis. The analysis was based on the leachability of selected elements and chemical compounds in incineration bottom ashes (IBAs) from the Waste to Energy Plant in Kraków, which were weathered for 2 weeks. The analysis was performed for 34 weeks. The obtained leachability results were compared with the leachability limit values of individual components. Based on the analysis of the control charts, it was found that in the case of selected samples, the leachability limit values for processing outside the plant using the R5 recovery pro... [more]

This paper proposes a multi-objective load dispatch algorithm based on economic predictive control to solve the real-time multi-objective load dispatch problem of biomass heat and power cogeneration. According to the energy conservation law and production process, a real-time multi-objective load dispatch optimization model for heat and power units is established. Then, the concept of multi-objective utopia points is introduced, and the multi-objective load comprehensive objective function is defined to coordinate the conflict between the economic performance and pollutant emission performance of the units. Furthermore, using the online receding optimization characteristics of economic predictive control, the comprehensive objective function of multi-objective load dispatching is optimized online. Then, the fuel rate satisfying the economic performance and pollutant emission performance of the units is calculated to realize the economic performance and environmental protection operatio... [more]

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are omnipresent in modern buildings and are responsible for a considerable share of consumed energy and the electricity bill in buildings. On the other hand, solar energy is abundant and could be used to support the building HVAC system through cogeneration of electricity and heat. Micro-scale concentrated solar power (MicroCSP) is a propitious solution for such applications that can be integrated into the building HVAC system to optimally provide both electricity and heat, on-demand via application of optimal control techniques. The use of thermal energy storage (TES) in MicroCSP adds dispatching capabilities to the MicroCSP energy production that will assist in optimal energy management in buildings. This work presents a review of the existing contributions on the combination of MicroCSP and HVAC systems in buildings and how it compares to other thermal-assisted HVAC applications. Different topologies and architectures for the... [more]

We developed an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850-based centralized protection scheme to prevent single line-to-ground (SLG) faults in the feeders and busbars of ungrounded distribution systems. Each feeder intelligent electronic device (IED) measures its zero-sequence current and voltage signals and periodically transmits zero-sequence phasors to a central IED via a Generic Oriented Object Substation Event message. Using the zero-sequence phasors, the central IED detects SLG faults in feeders and busbars. To achieve centralized protection, angle differences between the zero-sequence currents and voltage phasors are exploited, and their calculation compensates for data desynchronization. The feeder IEDs were implemented using the MMS-EASE Lite library, while the transmitted zero-sequence phasors were calculated based on fault signals simulated by Power System Computer Aided Design / Electro-Magnetic Transient Design and Control (PSCAD/EMTDC). The central IED determi... [more]

A powered longwall mining system comprises three basic machines: a shearer, a scraper (longwall) conveyor, and a powered roof support. The powered roof support as a component of a longwall complex has two functions. It protects the working from roof rocks that fall to the area where the machines and people work and transports the machines and devices in the longwall as the mining operation proceeds further into the seam by means of hydraulic actuators that are adequately connected to the powered support. The actuators are controlled by a hydraulic or electro-hydraulic system. The tests and analyses presented in the developed procedure are oriented towards the possibility of introducing automatic control, without the participation of an operator. This is important for the exploitation of seams that are deposited at great depths. The primary objective was to develop a comprehensive methodology for testing and evaluating the possibility of using the system under operating conditions. The... [more]

The conversion of the electrical energy into the mechanical is usually realized by a motor, power electronics and cascade control. The relative stability (Θ-stability), i.e., the displacement of its eigenvalues of this system is analyzed for a drive with a BLDC motor. The influence of changing the basic parameters of the motor and power supply system on the drive operation is considered. 4th order closed-loop transfer-function of the cascade control is presented, where boundaries of the transfer-function coefficients are used. The cascade system which uncertainty of the resistance, inductance, flux and gain parameters is analyzed. Theoretical calculations for the cascade control, simulations and laboratory tests are included in the article.

This paper presents a comparative evaluation of power electronic control approaches for vibro-acoustic noise reduction in High Rotor-Pole Switched Reluctance Machines (HR-SRM). It carries out a fundamental analysis of approaches that can be used to target acoustic noise and vibration reduction. Based on the comprehensive study, four candidates for control have been identified and applied to the HR-SRM drive to evaluate their effectiveness and identify challenges. These four methods include phase advancing, current shaping based on field reconstruction, and random hysteresis band with and without spectrum shaping. The theoretical background, implementation, and vibro-acoustic noise reduction performance of each method are presented in detail. Comparative studies from simulation and experimental measurements have been used to identify the most effective solution to acoustic noise and vibration reduction in HR-SRM configuration.

In this paper, a digital hydraulic variable control method based on multi-way valve spool displacement feedback is proposed, which combines the advantages of low cost and high reliability of the loader fixed displacement pump hydraulic system, and the distinguished energy saving effect of the loader variable pump hydraulic system. Based on the principle of hydraulic resistance, the mathematical model of flow-pressure of multi-way valve was established. Meanwhile, the theoretical structure of a valve spool suitable for digital hydraulic system was deduced. On this basis, an improvement scheme of the valve spool was proposed in combination with machining feasibility. The simulation model of multi-way valve was established, the correctness of which was verified by experiment with the significance test method, and the valve port parameters of the multi-way valve were optimized by genetic algorithm. The simulation model before and after optimization was analyzed by AMESim software. The simu... [more]

As a result of global energy demand increase, concerns over global warming, and rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels, there is a growing interest in energy system dependence on clean and sustainable energy resources. Attractive power technologies include photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and biomass power. Fuel cells are also clean energy units that substitute power generators based on fossil fuels. They are employed in various applications, including transportation, stationary power, and small portable power. Fuel cell connections to utility grids require that the power conditioning units, interfacing the fuel cells and the grids, operate accordingly (by complying with the grid requirements). This study aims to model a centralised, single-stage grid-tied three-level diode clamped inverter interfacing a multi-stack fuel cell system. The inverter is expected to produce harmonic distortions of less than 0.5% and achieve an efficiency of 85%. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54... [more]

The aggregation of operational active and reactive power flexibilities as the feasible operation region (FOR) is a main component of a hierarchical multi-voltage-level grid control as well as the cooperation of transmission and distribution system operators at vertical system interconnections. This article presents a new optimization-based aggregation approach, based on a modified particle swarm optimization (PSO) and compares it to non-linear and linear programming. The approach is to combine the advantages of stochastic and optimization-based methods to achieve an appropriate aggregation of flexibilities while obtaining additional meta information during the iterative solution process. The general principles for sampling an FOR are introduced in a survey of aggregation methods from the literature and the adaptation of the classic optimal power flow problem. The investigations are based on simulations of the Cigré medium voltage test system and are divided into three parts. The improv... [more]