1,720,967 research outputs found
State of charge estimation of thermal storages for distributed generation systems
No full textThe aim of this work is the development of three different models to calculate the enthalpy content of a stratified water thermal storage tank from discrete temperature measurements. The difficulty related to enthalpy value evaluation comes from the discrete temperature measurement along the storage (often only 2 to 4 temperatures along the volume height are known): the actual temperature distribution between two subsequent probes is unknown. Three different models based on three different approaches were developed and compared, basing on experimental data. A first model calculates the enthalpy value considering the measured temperatures and the thermal power difference between generation and consumption. The second model uses a mathematical pre-defined temperature shape fitted considering real-time experimental data. The latter model is based on a 1-D physical approach using a multi-nodal method. All the models were validated against the experimental data obtained from the distributed generation laboratory installed in Savona, Italy
Thermoeconomic optimization of an energy hub
No full textThe aim of this paper is to illustrate the operation of a real energy hub that can satisfy both thermal and electrical demands of a generic user. In particular, a specific case study developed around the smart grid of the University Campus of Savona (Italy), which just completed in 2014, is analysed. The grid includes different cogenerative prime movers and a storage system to manage the thermal load demand. Through a time-dependent thermo-economic hierarchical approach developed by the Authors, the work aims at optimizing the management strategy of the different prime movers to satisfy the energy demand, taking into proper account both the energetic and economic aspects. The analysis was carried out considering two different layouts, with and without a conventional stratified thermal storage, to evaluate the impact of this component in the management of the district
Sustainable district development: a case of thermoeconomic optimization of an energy hub
No full textSustainable distric development requires innovative energy use solutions. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the operation of a real energy hub that can satisfy both thermal and electrical demands of a generic user. In particular, a specific case study developed around the smart grid of the University Campus of Savona (Italy), which just completed in 2014, is analysed. The grid includes different cogenerative prime movers and a storage system to manage the thermal load demand. Through a time-dependent thermo-economic hierarchical approach developed by the Authors, the work aims at optimizing the management strategy of the different prime movers to satisfy the energy demand, taking into proper account both the energetic and economic aspects. The analysis was carried out considering two different layouts, with and without a conventional stratified thermal storage, to evaluate the impact of this component in the management of the district
Real-time state of charge estimation in thermal storage vessels applied to a smart polygeneration grid
No full textIn thermal grids and district heating, thermal storage devices play an important role to manage energy demand. Additionally, in smart polygeneration grids, thermal energy storage devices are essential to achieve high flexibility in energy demand management at relatively low cost. In this scenario, accurate evaluation of state of charge of storage vessels based on available measurements is critical. The aim of this paper is to develop and compare three different models for state of charge estimation in stratified water tanks (discrete temperature measurements) and the related application in an experimental polygeneration grid with a real-time management tool. The first model is based on the empirical calculation of the state of charge considering the thermal power difference between generation and consumption, and afterwards correction based on measured temperatures. The second model is a mathematical approach considering a pre-defined temperature shape fitted with experimental data. The latter model is based on a 1-D physical approach using a multi-nodal method forced on the basis of the measured temperatures. The models were compared considering an experimental test performed in the polygeneration laboratory by the Thermochemical Power Group (TPG). As a result of the comparative analysis, the first model was selected for applications in complex polygeneration grids, due to its good compromise between accuracy and computational effort. Several tests were carried out to demonstrate the performance of the empirical approach selected for the thermal storage model and the economic benefit related to the utilization of this vessel. The experimental plant, constituted by two different prime movers (a 100 kW microturbine and a 20 kW internal combustion engine) and a thermal storage tank, was able to demonstrate the performance of a real-time management tool. For this reason, special attention was devoted to the variable cost comparisons. The novelty of this work lies in the development of the real-time management tool coupled with a thermal storage model by considering the simplified modelling approach. This is an essential requisite for complex polygeneration grids including hundreds or thousands of prime movers and thermal storage devices. Additionally, it is important to state that in such cases the required real-time performance could be difficult to obtain. The results, produced with the innovative and flexible experimental rig, demonstrate the positive impact of thermal storage as well as the effective management performance of this quite simple dispatching approach. Another important novel aspect regards this experimental assessment considering both specific 3-h tests andextended conditions typical of a possible real application
Design optimisation of smart poly-generation energy districts through a model based approach
No full textThis paper proposes a time-dependent, thermo-economic hierarchical approach for the analysis of energy districts and smart poly-generation microgrids, in order to determine the optimal size of different prime movers, required to meet the energy demand of a generic user. This approach allows for determining the optimal size for each component of the energy district, as well as defining its most efficient operation management for the entire year, taking into proper account the time-dependent nature of the electrical, thermal and cooling demands, which are the main constraints of the optimisation problem. Additionally, the proposed method takes into consideration both energy performance and operation costs. A specific case study is developed around the smart poly-generation microgrid at the University of Genoa, Savona Campus (Italy), which has been operational since 2013. In the original design, the microgrid includes different co-generative prime movers, renewable generators and a thermal storage system. In a second design an absorption chiller is included to supply the campus’ energy cooling demand. Obtained results allowed identifying the best operation configuration, from a thermo-economic standpoint, for the considered scenario. The proposed method can be easily replicated in different applications and configurations of different smart poly-generative grids
Compressor Instability Analysis Within an Hybrid System Subject to Cycle Uncertainties
No full textThe dynamic modeling of energy systems can be used for different purposes, obtaining important information both for the design phase and control system strategies, increasing the confidence during experimental phase. Such analysis in dynamic conditions is generally performed considering fixed values for both geometrical and operational parameters such as volumes, orifices, but also initial temperatures, pressure. However, such characteristics are often subject to uncertainty, either because they are not known accurately or because they may depend on the operating conditions at the beginning of the relevant transient. With focus on a gas turbine fuel cell hybrid system (HS), compressor surge may or may not occur during transients, depending on the aforementioned cycle characteristics; hence, compressor surge events are affected by uncertainty. In this paper, a stochastic analysis was performed taking into account an emergency shut-down (ESD) in a fuel cell gas turbine HS, modeled with TRANSEO, a deterministic tool for the dynamic simulations. The aim of the paper is to identify the main parameters that impact on compressor surge margin. The stochastic analysis was performed through the response sensitivity analysis (RSA) method, a sensitivity-based approximation approach that overcomes the computational burden of sampling methods. The results show that the minimum surge margin occurs in two different ranges of rotational speed: a high-speed range and a low-speed range. The temperature and geometrical characteristics of the pressure vessel, where the fuel cell is installed, are the two main parameters that affect the surge margin during an emergency shut down
State of Charge Estimation of Thermal Storages for Distributed Generation Systems
No full textAbstractThe aim of this work is the development of three different models to calculate the enthalpy content of a stratified water thermal storage tank from discrete temperature measurements. The difficulty related to enthalpy value evaluation comes from the discrete temperature measurement along the storage (often only 2 to 4 temperatures along the volume height are known): the actual temperature distribution between two subsequent probes is unknown. Three different models based on three different approaches were developed and compared, basing on experimental data. A first model calculates the enthalpy value considering the measured temperatures and the thermal power difference between generation and consumption. The second model uses a mathematical pre-defined temperature shape fitted considering real-time experimental data. The latter model is based on a 1-D physical approach using a multi-nodal method. All the models were validated against the experimental data obtained from the distributed generation laboratory installed in Savona, Italy
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Real-time management solutions for a smart polygeneration microgrid
No full textIn recent years, many different concepts to manage smart distributed systems were proposed and solutions developed. Smart grids and the increasing influence of renewable sources on energy production lead to concerns about grid stability and load balance. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generators coupled with solar or other renewable sources offer the opportunity to satisfy both electric and thermal power economically. Both electric and thermal demand and supply change continuously, and sources such as solar and wind are not dispatchable or accurately predictable. At the same time, it is essential to use the most efficient and cost effective sources to satisfy the demand. This problem has been studied at the University of Genoa (UNIGE), Italy, using different generators and energy storage device that can supply both electric and thermal energy to consumer buildings. Here the problem is formulated as a constrained Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) problem with sometimes conflicting requests that must be satisfied. The results come from experiments carried out on the test rig located at the Innovative Energy System Laboratories (IESL) of the Thermochemical Power Group (TPG) of UNIGE. This paper compares three different control approaches to manage the distributed generation system: Simplified Management Control (SMC), Model Predictive Control (MPC), and Multi-Commodity Matcher (MCM). Control systems and their control actions are evaluated through economic and performance key indicators
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