Eduardo Vega-Fuentes

There is a growing interest of prosumers to engage in energy markets. Transparent and fair participation in transactive energy markets would require power flow tracing (PFT) analysis to assess the feasibility of the transaction, consider the losses incurred and explore if charges for utilisation of assets in the distribution network would be justified. Most PFT methods are based on the proportional sharing principle (PSP) which has not been proved nor disproved so far. In this paper we introduce the experiments carried out to validate the PSP and support PFT by means of digital signal processing techniques (DSP). The approach consisting of a non-stationary disturbance induced on one of the incoming flows into a node and tracing the perturbances in the outflows by means of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is presented. Over 180 tests were performed in a microgrid with different grid forming and grid following sources including synchronous and asynchronous generators and inverter-based resources. The preliminary results using DWT are promising, yielding to an easy identification of the disturbing events. The amount of data gathered will also serve to analyse the behavior of grid forming and grid following sources exposed to dynamic load changes, and to evaluate the usage of DSP techniques for power quality analysis in microgrids as well.

This article presents a two-stage optimization model aiming to determine optimal energy mix in distribution networks, i.e., battery energy storage, fuel cell, and wind turbines. It aims to alleviate the impact of high renewable penetration on the systems. To solve the proposed complex optimization model, a standard variant of the dragonfly algorithm (DA) has been improved and then applied to find the optimal mix of distributed energy resources. The suggested improvements are validated before their application. A heuristic approach has also been introduced to solve the second stage problem that determines the optimal power dispatch of battery energy storage as per the size suggested by the first stage. The proposed framework was implemented on a benchmark 33-bus and a practical Indian 108-bus distribution network over different test cases. The proposed model for energy mix and modified DA technique has significantly enhanced the operational performance of the network in terms of average annual energy loss reduction, node voltage profiles, and demand fluctuation caused by renewables.

There is a growing interest from owners of distributed energy resources (DERs) to actively participate in the energy market through peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. Many strategies have been proposed to base P2P energy trading on. However, in those schemes neither the costs of assets usage nor the losses incurred are so far taken into account. This paper presents a transaction-oriented dynamic power flow tracing (PFT) platform for distribution networks (DNs) implemented in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. It introduces a new transaction model that quantifies the use of the DN, apportions the losses and unlocks a flexible use of the surplus generation enabling that prosumers can adopt simultaneously different mechanisms for participation in energy trading, maximizing renewable energy usage. The platform is also helpful for future distribution system operators (DSOs) to overcome the status invisibility of low voltage (LV) DNs, determine who makes use of the assets, debit the losses on them and explore the effects from new connections. A case study is conducted over the IEEE European LV Test Feeder. The tool provides a clear, intuitive, temporal and spatial assessment of the network operation and the resulting power transactions, including losses share and efficiency of DERs.

Electric vehicles (EV) have gained global attention due to increasing oil prices and rising concerns about transportation-related urban air pollution and climate change. While mass adoption of EVs has several economic and environmental benefits, large-scale deployment of EVs on the low-voltage (LV) urban distribution networks will also result in technical challenges. This paper proposes a simple and easy to implement single-phase EV charging coordination strategy with three-phase network supply, in which chargers connect EVs to the less loaded phase of their feeder at the beginning of the charging process. Hence, network unbalance is mitigated and, as a result, EV hosting capacity is increased. A new concept, called Maximum EV Hosting Capacity (HC $_{max}$ ) of low voltage distribution networks, is introduced to objectively assess and quantify the enhancement that the proposed phase-shifting strategy could bring to distribution networks. The resulting performance improvement has been demonstrated over three real UK residential networks through a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study using Matlab and OpenDSS tools. With the same EV penetration level, the under-voltage probability was reduced in the first network from 100% to 54% and in the second network from 100% to 48%. Furthermore, percentage voltage unbalance factors in the networks were successfully restored to their original values before any EV connection.

In this paper it is described the experience gained in the development and use of CQMIH PLC simulator which uses OMRON Host-Link protocol through RS-232 serial port and can works with analogic and digital I/O. The purpose of this simulator is to simplify the task of debugging code when developing communication applications in an Industrial Computing course.

The proposal of a new bus for the development of embedded systems is presented in this communication. It is based on the use of 2.0 mm pitch connectors which allow simultaneously connecting the cards to a backplane or direct stacking thereof. It is designed specifically for use with free hardware platforms like Arduino, Raspberry or Beaglebone. The proposed strategy allows the use of these I/O boards on various platforms as a host.

International Journal of Electrical Energy (IJOEE)