Norma Anglani

Electricity Smart Meters Interfacing the Households

The recent worldwide measures for energy savings call for a larger awareness of the household energy consumption, given the relevant contribution of domestic load to the national energy balance. On the other hand, electricity smart meters together with gas, heat, and water meters can be interconnected in a large network offering a potential value to implement energy savings and other energy-related services, as long as an efficient interface with the final user is implemented. Unfortunately, so far, the interface of such devices is mostly designed and addressed at the utilities supervising the system, giving them relevant advantages, while the communication with the household is often underestimated. This paper addresses this topic by proposing the definition of a local interface for smart meters, by looking at the actual European Union and international regulations, at the technological solutions available on the market, and at those implemented in different countries, and, finally, by proposing specific architectures for a proper consumer-oriented implementation of a smart meter network.

Opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. pulp and paper industry

LBNL-46141 E RNEST O RLANDO L AWRENCE B ERKELEY N ATIONAL L ABORATORY Opportunities to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry N. Martin, N. Anglani, D. Einstein, M. Khrushch, E. Worrell, and L.K. Price Environmental Energy Technologies Division July 2000 This work was supported by the Climate Protection Division, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098.

Impact of the modularity on the efficiency of Smart Transformer solutions

Due to the possibility to drastically reduce the Solid State Transformer (SST) volume and weight, its use is becoming a reality in traction and wind power plant applications, while, in the electric distribution system, it is still considered futuristic. A SST, with managerial role in the electric distribution grid, is generally called Smart Transformer (ST). Unfortunately the low efficiency, the low reliability and the high cost still act as barriers for its widespread use in the real world. This paper focuses on the impact of a modular design, by benchmarking different ST topologies. Moreover, the paper provides guidelines on how to choose the semiconductor modules and assessments on how the choice affects the efficiency of the ST.

Model predictive control: First application of a novel control strategy for adjustable speed drive compressors

The stabilization of pressure fluctuation is of paramount importance in the management of compressed air systems. In a multi compressor room where load/unload controlled machines can operate along with adjustable speed ones (ASD), the latter usually operate with a set point activation level which lays in between the upper and the lower thresholds of the network operating pressure. By keeping such set point as low as possible, further savings in energy consumptions can be achieved. The presented work deals with the application of a new strategy for the control of an ASD screw air compressor. This strategy-if compared with a PI strategy- can reduce pressure swings, consequently the AS compressor set point, while ensuring the network pressures requirements. To the utmost, such value can be set equal to the lowest network operative pressure. The above objective is pursued by controlling the ASD screw compressor with a model predictive control scheme (MPC). The comparison with a PI regulated control shows the potential of MPC both from a pressure stabilization standpoint and, slightly, also from an energy saving standpoint. For a comprehensive implementation of the control scheme, forecasting techniques need to be applied to assess end-users air requirements: this topic, though, is not investigated in the current work.

Analyzing the impact of renewable energy technologies by means of optimal energy planning

Energy planning through optimization techniques is not a new concept, although different new models have been proposed and used over the last 30 years. Top down versus bottom up models have been analyzed to characterize the studied context, according to the final scopes. Improvements have been added while making (i) the models bigger and (ii) more complicated to catch more details and to understand the interconnections amongst energy systems and infrastructures, technologies, resources, environmental factors and the effect of certain (energy) policy actions. The most interesting, from an engineering standpoint, are the bottom-up technology-based models, although from an economic point of view they are considered to evolve in an excessive ideal way, rather than that of a top down model. Bottom up models are able to catch all the aspects of the energy conversion: from fuels (fossil or renewable) to electricity or to thermal and/or cooling energy demand, through different technologies. Shortly, from the need of energy services to the availability of the supply aiming at the least cost of the system. In this paper an application of the Standard Markal model of an European area of half a million people is illustrated. The aim is to provide those information that are missed in bigger National models, when coming to underpin which local actions are the most performing to achieve energy and environmental local targets (also known as burden share). The role of green tags is also investigated. Electricity and heating demands over 30 years are the exogenous variables, while the choice of conversion technologies and energy carriers supply are the endogenous variables. Constrains and environmental targets, to partially achieve the 2020 European commitment, are also discussed to explain the proposed scenarios results.

Improving energy management of electrically driven air compressors through real-time scheduling techniques

This paper presents a control method for a structured compressed air network, fed by a single fixed speed, electrically driven, compressor. A set of suitably controlled valves intercept air at the desired pressure level. The overall system efficiency improves and a reduction in the pressure dynamics is obtained. The target is achieved by applying real-time scheduling techniques to the management of air compression, seen as an energy service. The system and its dynamics are modeled as a Real-Time Physical System (RTPS), i.e., in terms of real-time parameters and constraints. This modeling approach allows the use of a real-time scheduling algorithm to generate the sequence of opening/closing actions. The control action is applied to the activation/deactivation of valves, delivering air to networks operating at different pressure levels. The outcome is the reduction of energy consumption by centralizing the air production and by properly manage the feeding of each pneumatic network. Several smaller compressors are replaced by one single bigger fixed speed compressor, having a better efficiency, while guaranteeing the desired service level to the end-users. A theoretical case study with three different networks, operating at roughly 7, 8 and 13 bar gauge is proposed and energy savings of 6% are achieved. Limits and extensions in the application of the theory, as well as future developments, are also identified.

Energy smart meters integration in favor of the end user

Digital meters (electricity, gas, water, heating and cooling energy) play a crucial role within the Smart Grid environment. The paper will address the issue of their employment in two ways: i) the different type of counters, each at different stages in their digital implementation, should be able to exploit their computing and communication capabilities to achieve a complete integration of measurements and information, in order to provide a comprehensive energy assessment and added value compared to individual devices, ii) their use and their deployment should be evaluated not only in relation to the possible advantages for distributors and utilities, but also with special attention to the end user and the community, given the key role of the final consumer in achieving energy efficiency. To this aim, the paper will present the latest technological developments of the meter types and will propose a design methodology (architecture and protocols) that makes their integration possible and profitable.

The role of electricity in energy efficiency power conversion: a MarkAl application for energy planning

Energy saving technologies based on the use of electricity are in many cases an alternative to thermal energy from fuels. They are lighting, electrical drives, heat pumps, microwave, induction heating, mechanical recompression of vapor, distributed control system in industry and buildings, energy storage, renewable energy sources, electric and hybrid vehicles, smart grid applications. A wider use of these technologies is supported by the continuous increase of utility plant efficiency up to 60% combined with climate change awareness.

Optimized energy management system to reduce fuel consumption in remote military microgrids

This paper presents an optimized energy management system (OEMS) to control the microgrid of a remote temporary military base featuring the diesel generators, the battery energy storage system (BESS) and photovoltaic panels (PV). The information of the expected electric demand is suitably used to improve the sizing and management of the BESS. The OEMS includes power electronics to charge the batteries from either the PV source or the diesel generators, it can function as a current source when it is supplementing the power from one of the generators or as a voltage source when it is the sole source of power for the loads. The novelty in the overall optimization procedure lies (i) in using Special Ordered Sets (SOSs) for the semicontinuous function handling and (ii) in integrating economic evaluations, by properly taking into account how the size of BESS affects its charge/discharge cycle, thus the lifetime. Results from optimization are employed by the OEMS to coordinate the energy sources and match the critical and non critical loads with the available supply. Fuel savings of « 30% (and « 50% adding the PV source) can be achieved with respect to the already improved, but not optimal, solution of a previous work.

Energy conversion technologies benefiting from local policy actions: The role of distributed generation

Distributed generation can play an important role in the complex portfolio of environmental and climate friendly technologies. Both renewable sources-fueled and fossil-fueled power plants show potentials to increase the overall efficiency of energy systems therefore to mitigate their impact: policy makers have learnt of their importance and now, at local level, the situation seems the opposite of just few years ago. An increasingly number of new renewable biomass power plant permits are filled out and submitted to local authorities, leaving them with the new dilemma whether or not to grant all of them. Few are the (local) energy plans that are so dynamic to manage this new rush, whereas incentives need to be tuned up accordingly. Optimization techniques is not a new concept, although different new models have been proposed and used over the last 30 years. Top down versus bottom up models have been analyzed to characterize the studied context, according to the final scopes. Improvements have been added while making (i) the models bigger and (ii) more complicated to catch more details and to understand the interconnections amongst energy systems and infrastructures, technologies, resources, environmental factors and the effect of certain (energy) policy actions. In this paper an application of the Standard Markal model of an European area of half a million people is illustrated. The aim is to provide few clear indexes when coming to underpin which local actions are the most performing to achieve energy and environmental local targets with respect to conversion technologies. A careful description on how the electricity demand is assessed is also reported. The role of green tags is investigated. Constrains and environmental targets, to partially achieve the 20–20–20 European commitment, are also discussed to explain the proposed scenarios results.