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33 pages, 8840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wireless Sensor Network Energy Model and Its Use in the Optimization of Routing Protocols

by Carolina Del-Valle-Soto, Carlos Mex-Perera, Juan Arturo Nolazco-Flores, Ramiro Velázquez and Alberto Rossa-Sierra

Energies 2020, 13(3), 728; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en13030728 - 07 Feb 2020

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 3982

Abstract

In this study, a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) energy model is proposed by defining the energy consumption at each node. Such a model calculates the energy at each node by estimating the energy of the main functions developed at sensing and transmitting data [...] Read more.

In this study, a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) energy model is proposed by defining the energy consumption at each node. Such a model calculates the energy at each node by estimating the energy of the main functions developed at sensing and transmitting data when running the routing protocol. These functions are related to wireless communications and measured and compared to the most relevant impact on an energy standpoint and performance metrics. The energy model is validated using a Texas Instruments CC2530 system-on-chip (SoC), as a proof-of-concept. The proposed energy model is then used to calculate the energy consumption of a Multi-Parent Hierarchical (MPH) routing protocol and five widely known network sensors routing protocols: Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), ZigBee Tree Routing (ZTR), Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), and Power Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information Systems (PEGASIS). Experimental test-bed simulations were performed on a random layout topology with two collector nodes. Each node was running under different wireless technologies: Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy, and LoRa by WiFi. The objective of this work is to analyze the performance of the proposed energy model in routing protocols of diverse nature: reactive, proactive, hybrid and energy-aware. Experimental results show that the MPH routing protocol consumes 16%, 13%, and 5% less energy when compared to AODV, DSR, and ZTR, respectively; and it presents only 2% and 3% of greater energy consumption with respect to the energy-aware PEGASIS and LEACH protocols, respectively. The proposed model achieves a 97% accuracy compared to the actual performance of a network. Tests are performed to analyze the consumption of the main tasks of a node in a network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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16 pages, 2521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Tariff for Day-Ahead Congestion Management in Agent-Based LV Distribution Networks

by Niyam Haque, Anuradha Tomar, Phuong Nguyen and Guus Pemen

Energies 2020, 13(2), 318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en13020318 - 09 Jan 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2328

Abstract

Capacity challenges are becoming more frequent phenomena in residential distribution networks with new forms of loads, distributed renewable energy resources (RES) and price-responsive applications. Different types of demand response programs have been introduced to tackle these challenges through iterative changes in price and/or [...] Read more.

Capacity challenges are becoming more frequent phenomena in residential distribution networks with new forms of loads, distributed renewable energy resources (RES) and price-responsive applications. Different types of demand response programs have been introduced to tackle these challenges through iterative changes in price and/or contractual participations based on incentives. In this research, a dynamic network tariff-based demand response program is proposed to address congestion problems in low-voltage (LV) networks. The formulation takes advantage of the scalable architecture of the agent-based systems that allows local decision making with limited communication. Energy consumption schedules are developed on a day-ahead basis depending on the expected cost of overloading for a number of probable scenarios. The performance of the proposed approach has been tested through simulations in the unbalanced IEEE European LV test feeder. Simulation results reveal up to 82% reduction in congestion on a monthly basis, while maintaining the quality of supply in the network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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17 pages, 374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variable Renewable Energy and Market Design: New Products and a Real-World Study

by Hugo Algarvio, Fernando Lopes, António Couto, Ana Estanqueiro and João Santana

Energies 2019, 12(23), 4576; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12234576 - 30 Nov 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2745

Abstract

Most existing energy markets (EMs) were not designed to take into account an active participation of variable renewable energy (VRE). This situation results typically in imbalances and substantial costs in balancing markets. Such costs are reflected both in the energy and the VRE [...] Read more.

Most existing energy markets (EMs) were not designed to take into account an active participation of variable renewable energy (VRE). This situation results typically in imbalances and substantial costs in balancing markets. Such costs are reflected both in the energy and the VRE parts of the consumer tariffs. Both appropriate market products and new elements of market design may largely facilitate the large-scale integration of VRE in EMs. Accordingly, this article presents a new bilateral energy contract and introduces two new marketplaces that can contribute to reduce the imbalances resulting from VRE producers. It also presents a study conducted with the help of an agent-based tool, called MATREM. The results indicate a significant decrease in the imbalances and the associated costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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15 pages, 3130 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Reactive Power Management Considering Stochastic Optimization under the Portuguese Reactive Power Policy Applied to DER in Distribution Networks

by Tiago Abreu, Tiago Soares, Leonel Carvalho, Hugo Morais, Tiago Simão and Miguel Louro

Energies 2019, 12(21), 4028; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12214028 - 23 Oct 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2614

Abstract

Challenges in the coordination between the transmission system operator (TSO) and the distribution system operator (DSO) have risen continuously with the integration of distributed energy resources (DER). These technologies have the possibility to provide reactive power support for system operators. Considering the Portuguese [...] Read more.

Challenges in the coordination between the transmission system operator (TSO) and the distribution system operator (DSO) have risen continuously with the integration of distributed energy resources (DER). These technologies have the possibility to provide reactive power support for system operators. Considering the Portuguese reactive power policy as an example of the regulatory framework, this paper proposes a methodology for proactive reactive power management of the DSO using the renewable energy sources (RES) considering forecast uncertainty available in the distribution system. The proposed method applies a stochastic sequential alternative current (AC)-optimal power flow (SOPF) that returns trustworthy solutions for the DSO and optimizes the use of reactive power between the DSO and DER. The method is validated using a 37-bus distribution network considering real data. Results proved that the method improves the reactive power management by taking advantage of the full capabilities of the DER and by reducing the injection of reactive power by the TSO in the distribution network and, therefore, reducing losses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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23 pages, 3296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Campus: An Experimental Performance Comparison of Collaborative and Cooperative Schemes for Wireless Sensor Network

by Carolina Del-Valle-Soto, Leonardo J. Valdivia, Ramiro Velázquez, Luis Rizo-Dominguez and Juan-Carlos López-Pimentel

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3135; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12163135 - 15 Aug 2019

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3929

Abstract

Presently, the Internet of Things (IoT) concept involves a scattered collection of different multipurpose sensor networks that capture information, which is further processed and used in applications such as smart cities. These networks can send large amounts of information in a fairly efficient [...] Read more.

Presently, the Internet of Things (IoT) concept involves a scattered collection of different multipurpose sensor networks that capture information, which is further processed and used in applications such as smart cities. These networks can send large amounts of information in a fairly efficient but insecure wireless environment. Energy consumption is a key aspect of sensor networks since most of the time, they are battery powered and placed in not easily accessible locations. Therefore, and regardless of the final application, wireless sensor networks require a careful energy consumption analysis that allows selection of the best operating protocol and energy optimization scheme. In this paper, a set of performance metrics is defined to objectively compare different kinds of protocols. Four of the most popular IoT protocols are selected: Zigbee, LoRa, Bluethooth, and WiFi. To test and compare their performance, multiple sensors are placed at different points of a university campus to create a network that can accurately simulate a smart city. Finally, the network is analyzed in detail using two different schemes: collaborative and cooperative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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23 pages, 6139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Optimal Energy Management System for Real-Time Operation of Multiagent-Based Microgrids Using a T-Cell Algorithm

by Fatima Zahra Harmouch, Ahmed F. Ebrahim, Mohammad Mahmoudian Esfahani, Nissrine Krami, Nabil Hmina and Osama A. Mohammed

Energies 2019, 12(15), 3004; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12153004 - 03 Aug 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

The real-time operation of the energy management system (RT-EMS) is one of the vital functions of Microgrids (MG). In this context, the reliability and smooth operation should be maintained in real time regardless of load and generation variations and without losing the optimum [...] Read more.

The real-time operation of the energy management system (RT-EMS) is one of the vital functions of Microgrids (MG). In this context, the reliability and smooth operation should be maintained in real time regardless of load and generation variations and without losing the optimum operation cost. This paper presents a design and implementation of a RT-EMS based on Multiagent system (MAS) and the fast converging T-Cell algorithm to minimize the MG operational cost and maximize the real-time response in grid-connected MG. The RT-EMS has the main function to ensure the energy dispatch between the distributed generation (DG) units that consist in this work on a wind generator, solar energy, energy storage units, controllable loads and the main grid. A modular multi-agent platform is proposed to implement the RT-EMS. The MAS has features such as peer-to-peer communication capability, a fault-tolerance structure, and high flexibility, which make it convenient for MG context. Each component of the MG has its own managing agent. While, the MG optimizer (MGO) is the agent responsible for running the optimization and ensuring the seamless operation of the MG in real time, the MG supervisor (MGS) is the agent that intercepts sudden high load variations and computes the new optimum operating point. In addition, the proposed RT-EMS develops an integration of the MAS platform with the Data Distribution Service (DDS) as a middleware to communicate with the physical units. In this work, the proposed algorithm minimizes the cost function of the MG as well as maximizes the use of renewable energy generation; Then, it assigns the power reference to each DG of the MG. The total time delay of the optimization and the communication between the EMS components were reduced. To verify the performance of our proposed system, an experimental validation in a MG testbed were conducted. Results show the reliability and the effectiveness of the proposed multiagent based RT-EMS. Various scenarios were tested such as normal operation as well as sudden load variation. The optimum values were obtained faster in terms of computation time as compared to existing techniques. The latency from the proposed system was 43% faster than other heuristic or deterministic methods in the literature. This significant improvement makes this proposed system more competitive for RT applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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16 pages, 981 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Using Agent-Based Customer Modeling for the Evaluation of EV Charging Systems

by Tobias Rodemann, Tom Eckhardt, René Unger and Torsten Schwan

Energies 2019, 12(15), 2858; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12152858 - 25 Jul 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3375

Abstract

The development of efficient electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requires a modeling of customer behavior at an appropriate level of detail. Since only limited information about real customers is available, most simulation approaches employ a stochastic approach by combining known or estimated customer [...] Read more.

The development of efficient electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requires a modeling of customer behavior at an appropriate level of detail. Since only limited information about real customers is available, most simulation approaches employ a stochastic approach by combining known or estimated customer features with random variations. A typical example is to model EV charging customers by an arrival and a targeted departure time, plus the requested amount of energy or increased state of charge (SoC), where values are drawn from normal (Gaussian) distributions with mean and variance values derived from user studies of obviously limited sample size. In this work, we compare this basic approach with a more detailed customer model employing a multi-agent simulation (MAS) framework in order to investigate how a customer behavior that responds to external factors (like weather) or historical data (like satisfaction in past charging sessions) impacts the essential key performance indicators of the charging system. Our findings show that small changes in the way customers are modeled can lead to quantitative and qualitative differences in the simulated performance of EV charging systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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Review

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31 pages, 1193 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Application of Ontologies in Multi-Agent Systems in the Energy Sector: A Scoping Review

by Zheng Ma, Mette Jessen Schultz, Kristoffer Christensen, Magnus Værbak, Yves Demazeau and Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3200; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en12163200 - 20 Aug 2019

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5958

Abstract

Multi-agent systems are well-known for their expressiveness to explore interactions and knowledge representation in complex systems. Multi-agent systems have been applied in the energy domain since the 1990s. As more applications of multi-agent systems in the energy domain for advanced functions, the interoperability [...] Read more.

Multi-agent systems are well-known for their expressiveness to explore interactions and knowledge representation in complex systems. Multi-agent systems have been applied in the energy domain since the 1990s. As more applications of multi-agent systems in the energy domain for advanced functions, the interoperability raises challenge raises to an increasing requirement for data and information exchange between systems. Therefore, the application of ontology in multi-agent systems needs to be emphasized and a systematic approach for the application needs to be developed. This study aims to investigate literature on the application of ontology in multi-agent systems within the energy domain and map the key concepts underpinning these research areas. A scoping review of the existing literature on ontology for multi-agent systems in the energy domain is conducted. This paper presents an overview of the application of multi-agent systems (MAS) and ontologies in the energy domain with five aspects of the definition of agent and MAS; MAS applied in the energy domain, defined ontologies in the energy domain, MAS design methodology, and architectures, and the application of ontology in the MAS development. Furthermore, this paper provides a recommendation list for the ontology-driven multi-agent system development with the aspects of 1) ontology development process in MAS design, 2) detail design process and realization of ontology-driven MAS development, 3) open standard implementation and adoption, 4) inter-domain MAS development, and 5) agent listing approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Agent Energy Systems Simulation)

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