In this paper, a comparison of the simple firing angle modulation method (FAM) and the more advanced torque sharing function (TSF)-based control of switched reluctance motor (SRM) is presented. The off-line procedure to tailor and optimize the parameters of chosen methods for off-the-shelf SRM is explained. Objective functions for optimization are motor efficiency, torque ripple, and integral square error. The off-line optimization uses a finite element method (FEM) model of the SRM. The model was verified by measurement on the SRM. Simulation results showed that FAM has comparable efficiency to TSF, but has a much higher value of torque ripple. The presented off-line procedure can be used for single or multi-objective optimization.

Becoming a smart city is one of the top priorities in the urban agenda of many European cities. Among the various strategies in the transition path, local governments seek to bring innovation to their cities by encouraging multinational enterprises to deploy their green energy services and products in their municipalities. Knowing how to attract these enterprises implies that political leaders understand the multi-criteria decision problem that the energy sector enterprises face when deciding whether to expand to one city or another. To this end, the purpose of this study is to design a new manageable and controllable framework oriented to European cities’ public managers, based on the assessment of criteria and sub-criteria governing the strategic location decision made by these enterprises. A decision support framework is developed based on the AHP technique combined with an extended version of the hesitant fuzzy linguistic TOPSIS method. The main results indicate the higher relative... [more]

In this paper, a single-phase five-level rectifier with coupled inductors is studied. First, a discrete mathematical model of a single-phase five-level rectifier is created in two-phase(αβ). A traditional single vector finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) algorithm is improved to overcome the problems of a varying switching frequency, the large amount of time needed for calculation, and the inaccurate setpoint of current loop tracking. Then, the objective function of the system is established, and a simple objective function is used instead of an iterative optimization of the traditional FCS-MPC algorithm. At the same time, to eliminate the delay error and to reduce harmonic distortion, deadbeat control technology is introduced. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the improved model predictive current control algorithm not only retains the fast response of traditional model predictive control, but also has the advantages of fixed switching freque... [more]

In an open-winding machine, three-phase stator currents can be controlled such that the input armature currents may contain the third-harmonic current component in addition to the fundamental. Considering this attribute of open-winding patterns, a harmonic current field excitation technique for a wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) is proposed in this paper based on the control of time-harmonic magneto-motive force. Two inverters connected to both terminals of the stator winding are controlled so that the input armature current generates an additional third-harmonic current component. This third-harmonic component generates a vibrating magnetic field that induces a current in the specially designed rotor harmonic winding. The current is supplied as DC current to the rotor excitation winding to generate a rotor field by using a full-bridge diode rectifier in order to achieve brushless operation. The proposed dual-inverter-controlled brushless operation for a WRSM is executed in ANSYS... [more]

In this paper, we present a nonlinear coordinated excitation and static var compensator (SVC) control for regulating the output voltage and improving the transient stability of a synchronous generator infinite bus (SGIB) power system. In the first stage, advanced nonlinear methods are applied to regulate the SVC susceptance in a manner that can potentially improve the overall transient performance and stability. However, as distant from the generator measurements are needed, time delays are expected in the control loop. This fact substantially complicates the whole design. Therefore, a novel design is proposed that uses backstepping methodologies and feedback linearization techniques suitably modified to take into account the delayed measurement feedback laws in order to implement both the excitation voltage and the SVC compensator input. A detailed and rigorous Lyapunov stability analysis reveals that if the time delays do not exceed some specific limits, then all closed-loop signals... [more]

With the continuous application of high-power electronic equipment in aircraft, highly efficient heat transfer technology has been emphasized for airborne applications. In this paper, a thermal management system based on an antifreeze liquid cooling loop and a vapor compression refrigeration loop is presented for high-power airborne equipment in a helicopter. The simulation models of the thermal management system are built in order to study its control strategy for the changing flight conditions. The antifreeze-refrigerant evaporator and air-refrigerant condenser are specially validated with the experimental data. A dual feedforward proportion integration differentiation and expert control algorithm are adopted in the inlet temperature of the cold plate and sub-cooling control of the refrigerant by regulating the compressor speed and the fan speed, respectively. A preheating strategy for antifreeze is set up to decrease its flow resistance in cold day conditions. The control strategy f... [more]

Asynchronous motors are widely used in industry and agriculture because of their simple structure, low cost, and easy maintenance. However, due to the coupling and uncertain factors of the actual operation of the motor, a traditional controller cannot achieve a satisfactory control effect. A linear active disturbance rejection controller (LADRC), featuring good robustness and adaptability, was proposed to improve the control efficiency of a nonlinear, uncertain plant. A linear extended state observer (LESO) is the core part of a L. The accuracy of the observation of state variables and unknown disturbances is related to the control effect of the controller. The performance of a traditional LESO is not high enough, and thus an error differential is introduced by analyzing the principle of LESO to improve its observation performance. The improved LADRC applies to the vector speed control of the induction motor. Additionally, low-speed and high-speed no-load starting, sudden load, electro... [more]

The doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) are prone to certain uncertainties, nonlinearities, and external disturbances. The maximum power transfer from WECS to the utility grid system requires a high-performance control system in the presence of such nonlinearities and disturbances. This paper presents a nonlinear robust chattering free super twisting fractional order terminal sliding mode control (ST-FOTSMC) strategy for both the grid side and rotor side converters of 2 MW DFIG-WECS. The Lyapunov stability theory was used to ensure the stability of the proposed closed-loop control system. The performance of the proposed control paradigm is validated using extensive numerical simulations carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment. A detailed comparative analysis of the proposed strategy is presented with the benchmark sliding mode control (SMC) and fractional order terminal sliding mode control (FOTSMC) strategies. The proposed control sche... [more]

The protection of AC microgrids (MGs) is an issue of paramount importance to ensure their reliable and safe operation. Designing reliable protection mechanism, however, is not a trivial task, as many practical issues need to be considered. The operation mode of MGs, which can be grid-connected or islanded, employed control strategy and practical limitations of the power electronic converters that are utilized to interface renewable energy sources and the grid, are some of the practical constraints that make fault detection, classification, and coordination in MGs different from legacy grid protection. This article aims to present the state-of-the-art of the latest research and developments, including the challenges and issues in the field of AC MG protection. A broad overview of the available fault detection, fault classification, and fault location techniques for AC MG protection and coordination are presented. Moreover, the available methods are classified, and their advantages and d... [more]

In this paper, a decentralized coordinated control method based on multi-agent system is proposed to improve the voltage stability of micro-grid. In lower-level agents, the decentralized control is designed as double-loop controllers for the inverter of each distributed energy resource, including an outer-loop power controller based on droop control and an inner-loop voltage/current controller based on fractional order proportion-integral-derivative (PID). In upper-level agents, the distributed coordinated control is designed to make voltage consensus and proportional power sharing of all distributed energy resources. Since each distributed coordinated control only requires its own and neighboring information, the communication bandwidth can be saved. The simulation results have verified the effectiveness in terms of power sharing, voltage stability, and suppressing circulation current.

In this study, based on the optimal equation m = 0.05 Δ T A c (kg/min) of the variable mass flow rate in the collector loop, an automatic controller with an inverter collector pump for the collector loop of the solar-assisted heating system is designed for these experiments and to then be used for real industry. The pump for the collector loop is an inverter type that is controlled by an embedded controller with Windows, based on C# language, and the change of speed depends on the variation of the mass flow rate through the collector loop. The input of the automatic controller with an inverter collector pump is given by a thermocouple input module that is connected to the embedded controller with the RS-485 communication protocol. In this work, the experiments were carried out on three different days, namely a clear day, an intermittently cloudy day and an overcast day, to evaluate the stability and the precision of the automatic controller, as well as the contribution of the... [more]

In this paper, an adaptive type-2 fuzzy controller is proposed to control the load frequency of a two-area power system based on descending gradient training and error back-propagation. The dynamics of the system are completely uncertain. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network structure is used to extract Jacobian and estimate the system model, and then, the estimated model is applied to the controller, online. A proportional−derivative (PD) controller is added to the type-2 fuzzy controller, which increases the stability and robustness of the system against disturbances. The adaptation, being real-time and independency of the system parameters are new features of the proposed controller. Carrying out simulations on New England 39-bus power system, the performance of the proposed controller is compared with the conventional PI, PID and internal model control based on PID (IMC-PID) controllers. Simulation results indicate that our proposed controller method outperform... [more]

If not properly designed, the adoption of large windows can sometimes have a negative impact on building energy demand. For this reason, aggravated by the outdated building envelope of the healthcare building stock, large fenestration systems are usually avoided in hospitals, especially in old structures. However, with appropriate glazing specifications, the adoption of wider openings can result into significant energy savings, lower costs and strong positive effects on patients and staff well-being. The present study investigates how different window sizes and types of glazing affect heating, cooling and lighting energy demand in a hospital patient room. The objective is to evaluate the energy savings that may be obtained when installing larger windows and to identify the glazing properties allowing one to reach the maximum energy reductions. Simulations were carried out using nine diverse glazing systems, already available on the market, and their energy performance was evaluated in... [more]

A hybrid power system (HPS) is developed for the photovoltaic (PV) powered and tethered multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on the robot operating system (ROS) and verified using an indoor hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test. All the processes, including a UAV flight mode change (i.e., takeoff, hovering, and landing) and power flow control (consisting of PV modules, a LiPo battery pack, and a UAV) are completely automated using a combination of Pixhawk 2.1 and the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (RPi 3B). Once the indoor HIL test starts, (1) the UAV takes off and hovers with a preassigned 10 m altitude at a fixed point and keeps hovering until the voltage drops below 13.4 V ; (2) the UAV lands when the voltage drops below 13.4 V, and the hybrid power controller (HPC) starts to charge the LiPo battery pack using the energy from PV modules; and (3) the UAV takes off when the voltage of the battery pack becomes more than 16.8 V, and the procedure repeats from (1). A PV-powered and teth... [more]

Currently, despite the use of renewable energy sources (RESs), distribution networks are facing problems, such as complexity and low productivity. Emerging microgrids (MGs) with RESs based on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) are an effective solution to control, manage, and finally deal with these challenges. The development and success of MGs is highly dependent on the use of power electronic interfaces. The use of these interfaces is directly related to the progress of SCADA systems and communication infrastructures. The use of SCADA systems for the control and operation of MGs and active distribution networks promotes productivity and efficiency. This paper presents a real MG case study called the LAMBDA MG testbed laboratory, which has been implemented in the electrical department of the Sapienza University of Rome with a centralized energy management system (CEMS). The real-time results of the SCADA system show that a CEMS can create proper energy balance in a LAMB... [more]

This paper aims at developing a novel stability criterion to access the influence of the time-varying delay on the stability of power systems equipped with a proportional-integral (PI)-based load frequency control (LFC). The model of the LFC scheme considering time-varying communication delays is established at first. Then, an improved stability condition related to the information of delay bounds is deduced by constructing an augmented Lyapunov−Krasovski functional and using a matrix inequality, and it is expressed as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for easily checking. Finally, case studies for one-area and two-area LFC systems are carried out to show the relationship between delay margins ensuring the stability and the PI gains of the LFC, and also verify the superiority of proposed stability criterion compared with the previous ones.

Detecting, measuring, and classifying partial discharges (PDs) are important tasks for assessing the condition of insulation systems used in different electrical equipment. Owing to the implementation of the phase-resolved PD (PRPD) as a sequence input, an existing method that processes sequential data, e.g., the recurrent neural network, using a long short-term memory (LSTM) has been applied for fault classification. However, the model performance is not further improved because of the lack of supporting parallel computation and the inability to recognize the relevance of all inputs. To overcome these two drawbacks, we propose a novel deep-learning model in this study based on a self-attention mechanism to classify the PD patterns in a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The proposed model uses a self-attention block that offers the advantages of simultaneous computation and selective focusing on parts of the PRPD signals and a classification block to finally classify faults in the GIS. M... [more]

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of a modular multi-level converter (MMC)-based HVDC link. An overall state-space model is developed to identify the system critical modes, considering the dynamics of the master MMC and slave MMC, their control systems, and the HVDC cable. Complementary to the state-space model, an impedance-based model is also derived to obtain the minimum phase margin (PM) of the system. In addition, a relative gain array (RGA) analysis is conducted to quantify the level of interactions among the control systems of master and slave MMCs and their impacts on stability. Finally, with the help of the results obtained from the system analysis (eigenvalue, phase margin, sensitivity, and RGA), the system dynamic performance is improved.

The problem of cogging torque is due to a magnetic behavior, intrinsic to synchronous machines and due to the presence of permanent magnets themselves. Cogging torque is a significant problem when the servo drive is used for applications where high precision in terms of position control is required. In this paper we present a method of cogging torque reduction by means of a control technique based on mathematical modeling of the cogging phenomenon itself in order to exploit this knowledge directly in the controller design. The mathematical model is inserted in the dynamic model of the synchronous machine in order to exploit the feedback linearization, providing an expression of the control law in which the contribution of the deterministic knowledge of the phenomenon is directly present. The cogging phenomenon physically depends on the angular position of the rotor, as well as the deterministic model we use to define the control vector. This makes it interesting and innovative to deter... [more]

In rooms with underfloor heating (UFH), local on−off controllers most often regulate the air temperature with poor accuracy and energy penalties. It is known that proportional−integral (PI) controllers can regulate most processes more precisely. However, hydronic UFH systems have long time constants, especially in low-energy buildings, and PI parameters are not easy to set manually. In this work, several potential PI parameter estimation methods were applied, including optimizing the parameters in GenOpt, calculating the parameters based on simplified models, and tuning the parameters automatically in Matlab. For all found parameter combinations, the energy consumption and control precision were evaluated. Simpler methods were compared to the optimal solutions to find similar parameters. Compared with an on−off controller with a 0.5 K dead-band, the best PI parameter combination found was with a proportional gain of 18 and an integration time of 2300 s, which could decrease the energy... [more]

This paper presents an application of an Unscented- and a Fuzzy Unscented- Kalman Filter (UKF and FUKF) to the estimation of mechanical state variables and parameters in a drive system with an elastic connection. The cascade control structure incorporating an IP controller supported by two additional feedbacks and suitable adaptation mechanism is investigated in this study. The coefficients of the control structure are retuned on the basis of the value of mechanical parameters estimated by filter. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches (classical and fuzzy) is researched through simulation and experimental tests.

Required functions of a microgrid become divers because there are many possible configurations that depend on the location. In order to effectively implement the microgrid system, which consists of a microgrid controller and components with distributed energy resources (DERs), thorough tests should be run to validate controller operation for possible operating conditions. Power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulation is a validation method that allows different configurations and yields reliable results. However, PHIL configuration for testing the microgrid controller that can evaluate the communication between a microgrid controller and components as well as the power interaction among microgrid components has not been discussed. Additionally, the difference of the power rating of microgrid components between the deployment site and the test lab needs to be adjusted. In this paper, we configured the PHIL environment, which integrates various equipment in the laboratory with a digital r... [more]

A variety of greenhouse gas reduction scenarios have been proposed around the world to ensure sustainable developments and strengthen the global response to the climate change. To cope with this, it is urgently needed to reduce the amount of energy used for the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating (HVAC&R) systems in large buildings. This study discusses the reduction of cooling energy in large office buildings through the minimization of changes in components and equipment, such as heat source equipment and pumps, changes in the layout and operating methods of chilled water circulation pumps, and changes in the temperatures of chilled and condenser water. To do this, this study targeted an entire cooling system consisting of a hydronic system, a chiller, and a cooling tower, and conducted a quantitative analysis of the energy consumption and of the reduction achieved through a change in the pumping system type in the cooling system and a change in the Korean stand... [more]

With the continuous development of wind power capacity, a large number of wind turbines connected by power electronic devices make the system inertia lower, which leads to the problem of system frequency stability degradation. The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control can make wind turbines possess inertia and damping. However, the stochastic dynamic behavior of wind generation results in the stochastic changing of operating condition; this paper presents an adaptive subsynchronous oscillation (SSO) damping control method for the wind generation with VSG control. Firstly, the small signal model of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) with VSG is built, and the model of state space is derived and built. The active power of PMSG is selected as the variable parameter vector to establish a polytopic linear variable parameter system model. Then, based on the hybrid H2/H∞ control method, each vertex state feedback matrix is solved by linear matrix inequality, and a subsync... [more]

The electro-hydraulic composite braking system of a pure electric vehicle can select different braking modes according to braking conditions. However, the differences in dynamic response characteristics between the motor braking system (MBS) and hydraulic braking system (HBS) cause total braking torque to fluctuate significantly during mode switching, resulting in jerking of the vehicle and affecting ride comfort. In this paper, torque coordination control during mode switching is studied for a four-wheel-drive pure electric vehicle with a dual motor. After the dynamic analysis of braking, a braking force distribution control strategy is developed based on the I-curve, and the boundary conditions of mode switching are determined. A novel combined pressure control algorithm, which contains a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) and fuzzy controller, is used to control the brake pressure of each wheel cylinder, to realize precise control of the hydraulic brake torque. Then, a novel tor... [more]