Research

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17 pages, 18499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design Optimization of a Grid-Tied Hybrid System for a Department at a University with a Dispatch Strategy-Based Assessment

by Md. Fatin Ishraque, Akhlaqur Rahman, Sk. A. Shezan, G. M. Shafiullah, Ali H Alenezi, Md Delwar Hossen and Noor E Nahid Bintu

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su16072642 - 23 Mar 2024

Viewed by 385

Abstract

In this research project, the optimal design and design evaluation of a hybrid microgrid based on solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, batteries, and diesel generators were performed. The conventional grid-tied mode was used in addition to dispatch strategy-based control. The study’s test location was [...] Read more.

In this research project, the optimal design and design evaluation of a hybrid microgrid based on solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, batteries, and diesel generators were performed. The conventional grid-tied mode was used in addition to dispatch strategy-based control. The study’s test location was the loads in the Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering (EECE) department at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST), Pabna, Bangladesh. DIgSILENT PowerFactory was employed to determine the power system-based behaviors (electrical power, current, voltage, and frequency) of the proposed hybrid system, while a derivative-free algorithm was used for the expense, optimal size, and emission assessments. While developing the microgrid, load following (LoF) and cycle charging (CyC) control were employed. The microgrid is supposed to have a 23.31 kW peak load requirement. The estimated microgrid’s levelized cost of energy (LE), its net present cost (NC), its operating cost, and its annual harmful gas emissions were estimated in this work. Additionally, since the microgrid is grid-connected, the amount of energy output that might be exported to the grid was also estimated, which will potentially increase during blackouts. The power system responses found in this study ensure that the various microgrid components’ voltage, frequency, current, and power outcomes are steady within the designated range, making the microgrid practical and robust. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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20 pages, 3609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Introducing Industrial Clusters in Multi-Node Energy System Modelling by the Application of the Industry–Infrastructure Quadrant

by Nienke Dhondt, Francisco Mendez Alva and Greet Van Eetvelde

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2585; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su16062585 - 21 Mar 2024

Viewed by 483

Abstract

To reach climate neutrality and circularity targets, industry requires infrastructure guaranteeing available, accessible, affordable, and sustainable supply of renewable energy and resources. The layout and operation of the required grids are a key topic in energy system modelling, a research field under constant [...] Read more.

To reach climate neutrality and circularity targets, industry requires infrastructure guaranteeing available, accessible, affordable, and sustainable supply of renewable energy and resources. The layout and operation of the required grids are a key topic in energy system modelling, a research field under constant development to tackle energy transition challenges. Although industry is a core player, its transformation and related policy initiatives are not yet fully reflected, resulting in a research gap. The industrial cluster concept, stimulating local cross-sectoral co-operation, circularity, and optimisation, offers untapped potential to improve the spatial representation of industry in energy system models and paves the way for cluster transition research. This paper introduces the Industry–Infrastructure Quadrant to visualise the relationship between industry and infrastructure presence by means of five distinct area categories. A complementary methodology integrates industrial clusters for multi-node selection in energy system models, solely relying on open-source data and cluster algorithms (DBSCAN). A case study applied to Belgium results in ten nodes to represent the territory, accurately reflecting crucial infrastructure elements and future needs whilst improving industry representation in terms of space and composition. The work serves as a first step towards a deeper understanding of the prominence of industrial clusters in sustainable energy systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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18 pages, 6918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Research on the Output Performance of Scroll Compressor for Micro Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage System

by Juan Fang, Yonghong Xu, Hongguang Zhang, Zhi Yang, Jifang Wan and Zhengguang Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15665; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152115665 - 06 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1060

Abstract

Micro compressed air energy storage systems are a research hotspot in the field of compressed air energy storage technology. Compressors and expanders are the core equipment for energy conversion, and their performance has a significant impact on the performance of the entire compressed [...] Read more.

Micro compressed air energy storage systems are a research hotspot in the field of compressed air energy storage technology. Compressors and expanders are the core equipment for energy conversion, and their performance has a significant impact on the performance of the entire compressed air energy storage system. Scroll compressors have the advantages of small size, low noise, light weight, low vibration, long service life, continuous and stable gas transmission, and reliable operation. This article builds a micro compressed air energy storage system based on a scroll compressor and studies the effects of key parameters such as speed, torque, current, and storage tank pressure on the temperature difference, pressure ratio, energy consumption, and efficiency of the scroll compressor. The experimental results indicate that the power consumption of the scroll compressor shows an increasing trend with the increase in current, torque, and gas storage tank pressure. The isentropic efficiency of a scroll compressor shows a decreasing trend with increasing current, torque, and storage tank pressure. The maximum values of power consumption and isentropic efficiency of the scroll compressor are 3427 W and 90.8%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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16 pages, 4177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Gas Recycling of Free-Piston Expander–Linear Generator for Organic Rankine Cycle of Vehicle

by Baoying Peng, Kai Zhang, Liang Tong and Yonghong Xu

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151813993 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 664

Abstract

A (FPE-LG) is a new type of vehicle waste heat recovery device based on an organic Rankine cycle. It is expected to achieve the reuse of vehicle internal combustion engine waste heat and improve the comprehensive utilization rate of energy. To enable the [...] Read more.

A (FPE-LG) is a new type of vehicle waste heat recovery device based on an organic Rankine cycle. It is expected to achieve the reuse of vehicle internal combustion engine waste heat and improve the comprehensive utilization rate of energy. To enable the FPE-LG to recover exhaust gas to a greater extent in practical applications, based on the FPE-LG coupling gas storage tank test platform, the gas is discharged from the expander cylinder. This paper analyzes the influence of differences to the tank volume, intake pressure, intake duration time, expansion duration time and exhaust duration time on piston motion characteristics and gas storage and release time during the cycle, and verifies the feasibility of gas working as a recycling medium. The results showed that the energy storage of lithium batteries increases with the increase of intake pressure, and the energy stored in lithium batteries during gas release is higher than that during gas storage; the intake duration time, expansion duration time and exhaust duration time have little effect on the storage of lithium battery energy during the cycle. When the intake pressure is 0.5 MPa, the volume of the gas tank is 30 L, and the intake duration time, expansion duration time and exhaust duration time are 50 ms, 80 ms and 30 ms, respectively, the maximum actual stroke of the piston can reach 89.592 mm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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29 pages, 8551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Compressors for Small-Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage in Parallel Mode

by Hailong Yang, Yonghong Xu, Hongguang Zhang, Jian Zhang, Fubin Yang, Yan Wang and Yuting Wu

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13164; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151713164 - 01 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1076

Abstract

The Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) system is a promising energy storage technology that has the advantages of low investment cost, high safety, long life, and is clean and non-polluting. The compressor/expander is the core equipment of the CAES system, and its performance [...] Read more.

The Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) system is a promising energy storage technology that has the advantages of low investment cost, high safety, long life, and is clean and non-polluting. The compressor/expander is the core equipment of the CAES system, and its performance has a decisive impact on the overall system efficiency and economic performance. Based on the pneumatic motor, this study proposes and designs a test bench of the CAES system that integrates compression and expansion functions. The off-design operation condition represented by the pressure change in the air tank has an important influence on the efficiency and economy of the CAES system. The effect of key parameters such as air tank pressure, torque, and mass flow rate on the output and efficiency of the compressor is investigated. When the CAES system is operating in energy storage mode, the compressor must continuously deliver gas to the gas storage. The working pressure of the compressor increases with the pressure in the air tank, so the compressor used for energy storage must operate continuously over a wide range of working conditions. The parallel operation mode of the compressor is proposed to improve the working condition range of the compressor torque and current, and improve the isotropic efficiency. When the air receiver pressure is 2.6 bar and the rotational speed is 2850 r/min, the power consumption of the compressor reaches the maximum value of approximately 1233.1 W. This new parallel mode could provide a CAES unit a systematic solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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23 pages, 9213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of a Long Short-Term Memory Transfer Learning (LSTM-TL)-Based Data-Driven Model for Building Energy Demand Forecasting

by Dongsu Kim, Yongjun Lee, Kyungil Chin, Pedro J. Mago, Heejin Cho and Jian Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2340; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032340 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2398

Abstract

Building energy consumption accounts for about 40% of global primary energy use and 30% of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the energy-related factors present in buildings, heating, cooling, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are considered major contributors to whole-building energy use. To improve [...] Read more.

Building energy consumption accounts for about 40% of global primary energy use and 30% of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the energy-related factors present in buildings, heating, cooling, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are considered major contributors to whole-building energy use. To improve the energy efficiency of HVAC systems and mitigate whole-building energy consumption, accurately predicting the building energy consumption can play a significant role. Although many prediction approaches are available for building energy use, a machine learning-based modeling approach (i.e., black box models) has recently been considered to be one of the most promising building energy modeling techniques due to its simplicity and flexibility compared to physics-based modeling techniques (i.e., white box models). This study presents a building energy load forecasting method based on long-term short-term memory (LSTM) and transfer learning (TL) strategies. To implement this approach, this study first conducted raw data pre-processing analysis to generate input datasets. A hospital building type was considered for a case study in the first stage. The hospital prototype building model, developed by the U.S. department of energy (DOE), was used to generate an initial input training and testing dataset for source domain tasks before the transfer learning process. For the transfer learning process in a target domain, a simulation-based analysis was also conducted to obtain target datasets by assuming limited data lengths in different weather conditions. The training and testing procedures were performed using separate cooling and heating periods with and without the transfer learning process for source and target domain tasks, respectively. Lastly, a comparative analysis was carried out to investigate how the accuracy of LSTM prediction can be enhanced with the help of transfer learning strategies. The results from this study show that the developed LSTM-TL model can achieve better performance than the prediction model, which only uses LSTM under different weather conditions. In addition, accurate performance can vary according to different transfer learning methods with frozen and fine-tuning layers and locations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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16 pages, 8496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Flux and Thermal Characteristics of Electrically Heated Windows: A Case Study

by Ruda Lee, Eunho Kang, Hyomun Lee and Jongho Yoon

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 481; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010481 - 03 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

Energy loss through windows can be high relatively compared to other opaque surfaces because insulation performance of fenestration parts is lower in the building envelope. Electrically heated window systems are used to improve the indoor environment, prevent condensation, and increase building energy efficiency. [...] Read more.

Energy loss through windows can be high relatively compared to other opaque surfaces because insulation performance of fenestration parts is lower in the building envelope. Electrically heated window systems are used to improve the indoor environment, prevent condensation, and increase building energy efficiency. The purpose of this study is to analyze the thermal behaviors of a heated window under a field experiment condition. Experiments were conducted during the winter season (i.e., January and February) with the energy-efficient house that residents occupy. To collect measured data from the experimental house, temperature and heat flux meter sensors were used for the analysis of heat flow patterns. Such measured data were used to calculate heat gain ratios and compare temperature and dew point distribution profiles of heated windows with input power values under the changed condition in the operating temperature of the heated glazing. Results from this study indicated that the input average heat gain ratio was analyzed to be 75.2% in the south-facing and 83.8% in the north-facing at nighttime. Additionally, compared to January, reducing the operating temperature of the heated glazing by 3 °C decreased the input energy in February by 44% and 41% for the south-facing and north-facing windows, respectively. Through such field measurement study, various interesting results that could not be found in controlled laboratory chamber conditions were captured, indicating that the necessity of establishing various control strategies should be considered for the development and commercialization of heated windows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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Review

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 1076 KiB

Open AccessReview

Blockchain in the Energy Sector—Systematic Review

by Anna Borkovcová, Miloslava Černá and Marcela Sokolová

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14793; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214793 - 09 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2381

Abstract

The article provides an overview of academic contributions to blockchain technology over the past three years. A large number of practical implementations are proving the versatility of blockchain across industries. Some of these areas are easy to deduce, but for some, the benefits [...] Read more.

The article provides an overview of academic contributions to blockchain technology over the past three years. A large number of practical implementations are proving the versatility of blockchain across industries. Some of these areas are easy to deduce, but for some, the benefits of using blockchain technology may not be obvious. Real applications of blockchain can be found in sectors such as cyber security and the financial sector, but also in various categories of the public sector, healthcare, and industry. This paper focuses on the use of blockchain technology in the energy industry. The paper aims to present the current trends of blockchain in the energy sector and provide a summary of blockchain technology discussed in academia. The research questions are formulated to correspond to the basic goals of the energy sector today. The core of the paper forms a systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines. The output of this systematic review brings an up-to-day insight into the issue and introduces potential areas for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Energy Systems: New Concept, Design, and Optimization)

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