AC Power Routing System in Home Based on Demand and Supply Utilizing Distributed Power Sources

Tsuguhiro Takuno,Takashi Hikihara,Yutaro Kitamori,Ryo Takahashi

doi:10.3390/en4050717

Tsuguhiro Takuno, Takashi Hikihara + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en4050717

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Apr 26, 2011
Citations: 59	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Kyoto University

Abstract

To help reduce consumption of fossil fuels, renewable, natural and distributed power sources are being adopted. These alternative energy sources inevitably show fluctuations in the amount of output power, frequency, and voltage. The suppression of such fluctuations is a key issue to avoid disturbances in power grids. A similar situation arises as far as the regulation of in-home power flow is concerned. We focus on the quality of supplied and demanded power in particular. In this paper, an in-home power distribution system based on information of power is proposed. The system is developed in order to integrate power dispatch and communication. The experimental results show the feasibility of new flexible and efficient power management approaches.

Highlights

Energy consumption has been steadily increasing year by year over the last decades
Wind turbine generators, and/or fuel cells are installed in addition to commercial power, electricity of different quality is delivered via single in-home power distribution network after conversion
Most home appliances are equipped with switched power supply with power factor correction (PFC) circuit, of which input current keeps in phase with the input voltage

Summary

Introduction

Energy consumption has been steadily increasing year by year over the last decades. In particular, the demand for electrical energy is increasing due to the spread of home electrical appliances. The conditions surrounding the power distribution grid, are not the same as before This is because the outputs of linked natural and renewable sources are strongly affected, for instance, by the weather conditions, which cause fluctuations in quantity, frequency and voltage. The more natural and renewable energy sources are connected to a power grid, the less the quality of frequency and voltage in power flow arises in grids. Spreading renewable and distributed sources among homes implies that houses and buildings are no longer only loads, and power sources producing power flows in the opposite direction toward the main grid. In this situation, it is difficult for power utility companies to keep the balance between demand and supply.

Concept of Power Management

AC Power Routing Apparatus

Experiments

Conclusions