Conversion System Research Articles

Thermal network for breeding blanket analysis and design in fusion reactor

Achieving carbon neutrality in energy production has become crucial and fusion energy is a promising way to a sustainable energy future. Breeding blanket is a critical component of a fusion reactor, ensuring tritium self-sufficiency and heat recovery for power generation. Breeding blanket needs an effective thermal management system as it operates under the high plasma in fusion reactors and the heat generated by the breeding reaction, which should be collected for power conversion. In this study, a thermal circuit model is used to analyze the design of a breeding blanket cooling system; in this model, each component is regarded as a thermal resistance element. Numerical simulations, empirical correlations, and equations are used to compute each resistance element. The thermal circuit results are then integrated into power conversion system using GateCycle for a basic analysis of power generation efficiency of a breeding blanket. Furthermore, we investigated the modified jet impingement design by changing thermal circuit elements to enhance cooling performance. The use of protrusions enhances the thermal performance of the impinging jet by 11 %, contributing to an overall enhancement in system efficiency. These findings could offer valuable insights for advancing the development of efficient, sustainable fusion energy systems.

Thermodynamic and mass analysis of a novel two-phase liquid metal MHD enhanced energy conversion system for space nuclear power source

The higher-efficiency and more lightweight space nuclear power source is one of the most important prerequisites for future deep space exploration. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation is the potential technical route to achieve significant improvement in energy conversion performance, but technology is not yet mature. By combining the characteristics of MHD and closed Brayton cycle (CBC) power generation systems, a novel quasi-Ericsson cycle with performance advantages is proposed in this study. The estimation method for the MHD power generator is refined and the thermodynamic and mass analysis models for the novel system are established. Comparative studies between the LMMHD-CBC cycle and the traditional CBC cycle are conducted under various boundary conditions and internal parameters. The results indicate that the LMMHD-CBC cycle increases the electricity generation per unit mass flow rate of working fluid under the same temperature conditions, thereby achieving a reduction in the specific mass of the power generation system. The LMMHD-CBC system is more suitable in lower reactor temperatures and higher radiator temperature conditions. Within the parameters range considered in this study, the relative reduction in specific mass compared to traditional CBC systems reaches up to 30.84 %.

Synergistic frequency regulation in microgrids: pioneering a controller for seamless integration of wave energy conversion systems

Synergistic frequency regulation in microgrids: pioneering a controller for seamless integration of wave energy conversion systems

Transient Synchronous Stability Analysis of Grid-Following Converter Considering Outer-Loop Control with Current Limiting

With the evolution of modern power systems, inverter-based resources have become increasingly prevalent. As critical energy conversion interfaces, grid-following converters exhibit dynamic performances, presenting challenges for system security and stability. This paper focuses on the transient synchronization stability of converters after disturbances, highlighting differences in mechanisms compared to synchronous generators. Although previous studies on the transient synchronization stability of converters have been conducted, they primarily concentrate on the dynamics of the phase-locked loop, with limited consideration of the effects of outer-loop control. This has created a cognitive bottleneck in understanding the transient synchronization mechanisms of converters. To address these challenges, this paper models a grid-following voltage source converter system, incorporating detailed converter control strategies and current-limiting control. The stability regions of the stable equilibrium point under various fault severities are first analyzed. Then, the impacts of outer-loop control, including PI control and current-limiting control, on transient synchronization are examined. The study systematically elucidates the influence of outer-loop control on the transient synchronization stability of converters. Finally, the validity of the proposed theory is confirmed through simulations conducted in PSCAD/EMTDC.

High Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis for Green Hydrogen Production.

Global warming and energy crises have motivated the development of renewable energy and its energy carriers. Green hydrogen is the most promising renewable energy carrier and will be fundamental to future energy conversion and storage systems. Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) are a promising green hydrogen production technology featuring high electrical efficiency, no noble metal catalyst usage, and reversible operation. This review provides a timely summary of the latest SOEC progress, covering developments at various levels, from cells to stacks to systems. Cell/stack components, configurations, advanced electrode material/fabrication, and novel characterization methods are discussed. Electrochemical and durable performance for each cell/stack configuration is reviewed, focusing on degradation mechanisms and associated mitigation strategies. SOEC system integration with renewable energy and downstream users is outlined, showing flexibility, robustness, scalability, viability, and energy efficiency. Challenges of cost and durability are expected to be overcome by innovation in material, fabrication, production, integration, and operation. Overall, this comprehensive review identifies the SOEC commercialization bottleneck, encourages further technology development, and envisions a future green hydrogen society with net-zero carbon emissions.

Enhancing off-grid wind energy systems with controlled inverter integration for improved power quality

Introduction. Off-grid wind energy systems play a pivotal role in providing clean and sustainable power to remote areas. However, the intermittent nature of wind and the absence of grid connectivity pose significant challenges to maintaining consistent power quality. The wind energy conversion system plays a central role in tapping renewable energy from wind sources. Operational parameters such as rotor and stator currents, output voltages of rectifiers and converters, and grid phase voltage variations are crucial for stable power generation and grid integration. Additionally, optimizing power conversion output through voltage gain analysis in boost converters is essential. Moreover, ensuring electricity quality via total harmonic distortion reduction in inverters is vital for grid compatibility. Goal. Enhancing the power quality of grid-integrated wind energy conversion systems. Methods. The proposed topology is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink with optimized control strategies for enhancing power quality in off-grid wind energy systems. Results. Control strategies with a grid-connected wind energy conversion system yields substantial improvements in power quality. This includes effectively mitigating voltage fluctuations and harmonics, resulting in smoother operation and reduced disturbances on the grid. Practical value. The proposed topology has proven to be extremely useful for off grid-integrated wind system. References 18, table 1, figures 11.

Retraction Note: Optimization of power quality in wind energy conversion system using hybrid modulation

Retraction Note: Optimization of power quality in wind energy conversion system using hybrid modulation

Retraction Note: Optimized deep learning neural network model for doubly fed induction generator in wind energy conversion systems

Retraction Note: Optimized deep learning neural network model for doubly fed induction generator in wind energy conversion systems

Comparative Study on the Performances of a Hinged Flap-Type Wave Energy Converter Considering Both Fixed and Floating Bases

The dynamical modeling and power optimization of floating wind–wave platforms, especially in regard to configurations based on constrained floating multi-body systems, lack in-depth systematic investigation. In this study, a floating wind-flap platform consisting of a flap-type wave energy converter and a floating offshore wind turbine is solved in the frequency domain considering the mechanical and hydrodynamic couplings of floating multi-body geometries and a model that suits the constraints of the hinge connection, which can accurately calculate the frequency domain dynamic response of the flap-type WEC. The results are compared with bottom-fixed flap-type wave energy converters in the absence of coupling with a floating wind platform. Moreover, combined with traditional optimization methods of power take-off systems for wave energy conversion, an optimization method is developed to suit the requirements of floating wind-flap platform configurations. The results are drawn for a specific operation site in the South China Sea, whereas a sensitivity analysis of the parameters is performed. It is found that the floating wind-flap platform has better wave energy absorption performance in the low-frequency range than the bottom-fixed flap-type wave energy converter; the average power generation in the low-frequency range can increase by up to 150 kW, mainly due to constructive hydrodynamic interactions, though it significantly fluctuates from the sea waves’ frequency range to the high-frequency range. Based on spectral analysis, operational results are drawn for irregular sea states, and the expected power for both types of flap-type WECs is around 30 kW, which points to a similar wave energy absorption performance when comparing the bottom-fixed flap with the flap within the hybrid configuration.

Optical investigation on lubricant combustion characteristics under the ammonia-methane premixed environment

The combustion process is an indispensable energy conversion step in modern industry and energy production. Especially in high-performance engines and energy conversion systems, understanding and controlling the combustion process is critical to improving efficiency and reducing environmental pollution. As a key component of mechanical systems, the combustion characteristics of lubricants at high temperatures and pressures have a direct impact on system performance and emissions. This study investigated the combustion characteristics of lubricant films in an ammonia-methane premixed environment using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and Planar Laser-Induced Incandescence (PLII). It focused on the effects of varying ammonia concentrations on the emission of soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the constant volume combustion vessel. Experiments varied the ammonia-to-methane molar ratios, initial oil film thickness, and base oil type to study their influence on the lubricant combustion characteristics. Results indicated that ammonia significantly reduced soot formation by altering the dynamics of NH* and OH* and impacting PAH distribution. For the lubricating oil soot formation factors, the increase of the initial mean oil film thickness was more obvious for the promotion of soot formation, the increase of the unsaturated hydrocarbon content in the oil film also promoted the generation of carbon soot to a certain extent, and the initial flame energy ratio had the least influence on the promotion of soot formation. Overall, the study contributed to the understanding of the formation mechanism of soot caused by lubricating oil in zero-carbon and low-carbon blended atmospheres and provided a new insight into the interaction between nitrogen-containing zero-carbon fuels and large-carbon-number hydrocarbons, which is of great significance for controlling soot emissions from engines under zero-carbon fuel blending.

Model predictive control of multilevel inverter used in a wind energy conversion system application

The rapid growth of renewable energy, particularly wind energy, has significantly contributed to global electricity generation, with global renewable energy capacity reaching an all-time high of 3870 gigawatts (GW) in 2023. However, ensuring high power quality for grid integration remains crucial for wind energy's role as a leading source in the energy transition. This necessitates the development of advanced Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) capable of regulating current, voltage, and frequency to ensure power quality. This work proposes a novel predictive control strategy for multilevel inverters in WECS to achieve a total harmonic distortion (THD) below 5% in the generated electrical power. The proposed predictive control algorithm is presented and implemented in a WECS simulation with a multilevel inverter. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated through simulations using MATLAB/SIMULINK. Our results demonstrate that the predictive control approach outperforms traditional controllers for multilevel inverters in terms of output voltage, harmonic reduction, execution time, and overall WECS control.

Molecular-Level Modification of Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether ketone sulfone) with Polyoxovanadate-Ionic Liquid for High-Performance Proton Exchange Membranes.

In this work, a proton-conductive inorganic filler based on polyoxovanadate (NH4)7[MnV13O38] (AMV) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (EMIM TFSI) was synthesized for hybridization with sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone sulfone) (SPAEKS) to address the "trade-off" between high proton conductivity and mechanical strength. The novel inorganic filler AMV-EMIM TFSI (AI) was uniformly dispersed and stable within the polymer matrix due to the enhanced ionic interaction. AI provided additional proton transport sites, leading to an elevated ion exchange capacity (IEC) and improved proton conductivity, even at low swelling ratios. The optimized SPAEKS-50/AI-5 (50 for degree of sulfonation of SPAEKS and 5 for weight percentage of AI filler) membrane exhibited the highest proton conductivity of 0.188 S·cm-1 at 80 °C with an IEC of 2.38 mmol·g-1. The enhancement of intermolecular forces improved the mechanical strength from 35 to 55 MPa and improved the elongation at break from 17 to 45%, indicating excellent mechanical properties. The hybrid membrane also demonstrated reinforced methanol resistance due to the hydrogen bonding network and blocking effect, making it suitable for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications, which exhibited a power density of 15.1 mW·cm-2 at 80 °C. The possibility of further functionalizing these hybrid membranes to tailor their properties for specific applications presents exciting new avenues for research and development. By modification of the type and distribution of fillers or incorporation of additional functional groups, the membranes could be customized to meet the unique demands of various energy storage and conversion systems, enhancing their performance and broadening their application scope. This work provides new insights into the design of polymer electrolyte membranes through inorganic filler hybridization.

A new approach to instantaneous power based control of DFIG using active disturbance rejection control

This paper presents the design and control of a wind energy converter system that uses a doubly fed induction generator. It introduces a model that incorporates instantaneous active and reactive power as state variables to represent both the stator and rotor sides of the doubly fed induction generator. Subsequently, a linear active disturbance rejection-based control regulator is proposed for the control loops. The parameters of the linear active disturbance rejection controllers (ADRC) are adjusted by two methods: the single parameter tuning approach and the genetic algorithm (GA) method. The performance of the suggested controller is ultimately compared with a tuned proportional-integral (PI) control regulator in the MATLAB environment. In order to examine the performance of the system, various test scenarios are taken into account. These scenarios include different percentages of load change in both sub-synchronous and super-synchronous modes of operation, faults with different fault periods are considered in both modes of operation. The conventional PI controller-based approach requires 35 control cycles to reach steady state under load change conditions and 50 control cycles under symmetrical fault conditions, regardless of whether the system is operating in sub synchronous or super synchronous mode. The single parameter-based tuned ADRC approach only requires 15 control cycles for load change and 20 control cycles for symmetrical fault scenarios. In contrast, for both the load change and symmetrical fault scenarios, the ADRC with GA-based parameter tuning reaches steady state in just 5 control cycles. Furthermore, a case involving wind speed variation is presented to demonstrate the maximum power point tracking capability of the proposed control structure. Similarly, for the robustness test of the control regulator, variations in resistance and inductance are introduced to observe their impact on the response of the control regulators. Finally, a real-time hardware in loop setup is presented to validate the control strategy during the load change in the sub-synchronous mode of operation of the doubly fed induction generator.

On Fatigue Damage-Oriented Through-Life Optimization and Control of High-Power IGCT Converters in Wind Energy Systems

Integrated gate commutated thyristors (IGCTs) are critical components in high-voltage, high-current, and high-power conversion systems, particularly in offshore wind energy systems. However, the working environment of offshore wind energy conversion systems is extremely harsh. In this article, we propose an active damage control approach aiming at enhancing the reliability of the conversion system. By employing electro-thermal modeling for the equipment of the offshore wind energy conversion system, the junction temperature and fatigue damage of IGCT are simulated during the operation process. Using the improved model predictive current control (MPCC) method, active damage control effectively regulates the switching frequency of IGCT. IGCTs are symmetrically distributed on each leg of the converter, so the lifespan of the two IGCTs on each leg is also considered to be similar. This method balances the life of the IGCTs on the three legs of the converter and optimizes their utilization to the maximum extent. These measures effectively enhance the reliability of the conversion system and lower the operation and maintenance cost of high-power IGCT converters. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by co-simulation results by ANSYS and MATLAB/Simulink.

Sustainable management of family life and finance in the context of digital capabilities - data flow dynamics

In recent years, biorefining Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has gained attention as a promising solution to the challenges of waste management and resource shortages, while also advancing sustainability goals. This research focuses on the European Union, analyzing the material flow and sustainability of biorefining systems and evaluating their impact on society, the economy, and the natural environment. The final products of the integrated material recovery processes, including recycling (18.3 %), heavy metals (3.6 %), fiber (1.4 %), hydrogen sulfate (7.4 %), recoverable water (14.8 %), fertilizer (8.4 %), and electric power (0.126 MWH/t MSW), are derived from the combined operations of material recovery facilities, pulverization, chemical conversion, wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), and combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The CHP system recovers energy from sources such as refuse-derived fuel (RDF), other disposable waste, charcoal, and natural gas produced by material recovery facilities, chemical conversion, and anaerobic digestion (AD) systems. Levulinic acid (LA), priced at 52 Euro/t, generates a profit of 220 Euro/t, excluding any subsidies. Potential reductions in carbon dioxide emissions are estimated at 2.5 and 1.4 kg CO2 equivalents per kilogram of levulinic acid (LA) and fertilizer, respectively, and 0.18 kg CO2 equivalents per megajoule of electrical power. This study underscores the importance of sustainable management practices in the context of digital capabilities, emphasizing the data flow dynamics essential for optimizing family life and finance in achieving sustainability.

Unraveling the Mechanism of Covalent Organic Frameworks-Based Functional Separators in High-Energy Batteries.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising porous materials due to their high specific surface area, adjustable structure, highly ordered nanochannels, and abundant functional groups, which brings about wide applications in the field of gas adsorption, hydrogen storage, optics, and so forth. In recent years, COFs have attracted considerable attention in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Specifically, COF-based functional separators are ideal candidates for addressing the ionic transport-related issues in high-energy batteries, such as dendritic formation and shuttle effect. Therefore, it is necessary to make a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of COFs in functional separators. In this review, the advantages, applications as well as synthesis of COFs are firstly presented. Then, the mechanism of COFs in functional separators for high-energy batteries is summarized in detail, including pore channels regulating ionic transport, functional groups regulating ionic transport, adsorption effect, and catalytic effect. Finally, the application prospect of COFs-based separators in high-energy batteries is proposed. This review may provide new insights into the design of functional separators for advanced electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems.

Application and practice of portable bi-directional DC-AC energy storage converter based on second order generalized integrator phase-locked loop and HERIC circuit

In various industries, including the production of new energy and electric vehicles, portable bidirectional converters are crucial for enhancing power supply reliability. In recent years, these converters have become increasingly normal in daily life. Bidirectional converters have not been as popular or have not been used as much due to issues with phase tracking on grids connected to leakage current in the converter system. The essential features and principles of the portable bidirectional energy storage converter proposed in this paper, which is based on a second-order generalized integrator phase-locked loop, are theoretically investigated. Formulas are also generated using small signals to address this issue. PLECS simulation software was used for parameter design and algorithm simulation to test the effectiveness of the phase-locked loop under various operating situations. Therefore, a set of appropriate phase-locked structure models for this circuit was developed. An experimental verification platform was constructed to confirm the accuracy of the design parameters: the front stage uses the H-bridge; the backstage, which uses the front stage, adopts the H-bridge; and the rear stage adopts the topology platform of the HERIC topology + LCL filter circuit. The test data indicates that, the addition of the HERIC topology and soft switching resulted in a 94 % reduction in leakage current and a 1.6 % improvement in efficiency. Analysis and comparison results of the test data confirmed the consistency between the experimental effect and the design parameters, achieving the expected effect and proving the accuracy of the topology and mathematical model. The design methodology and design parameters of this thesis are useful and instructive for similar or related research.

3D-printed multifunctional biomass hydrogel device for controlled photothermal distribution and molecular release

Photothermal therapy based on photothermal conversion has received increasing attention due to its non-invasiveness and low side effects. In this study, a 3D-printed biomass photothermal therapy device was prepared for accurate control of photothermal conversion and molecular release. The prepared black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) showed excellent photothermal performance and antibacterial activity. A temperature-regulated sol-gel reversible system was prepared with konjac glucomannan (KGM), tara gum (TG), BPNSs, and manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles. The sol-gel transition was attributed to the change of interactions of hydrogen bond, and molecular entanglement. Photothermal conversion films with accurate multi-layer and array structures were prepared by 3D printing using the biomass sol-gel conversion system. The photothermal conversion efficiency was regulated by the concentration of BPNSs and MnO2. Under infrared radiation (808 nm, 1 W/cm2) for 5 min, the temperatures of hydrogel films with a MnO2 concentration of 0, 0.5, and 1 % were raised from 25 to 29.3, 61.8, and 90.8 °C, respectively. The accurate temperature distribution induced the controlled release of small active molecules such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) loaded in hydrogels, which was resulted from the changes in the hydrogel structure and the decrease in adsorption energy between polysaccharide and EGCG at high temperatures. This study provides a biomass 3D-printed multifunctional photothermal therapy device and more understanding of the molecular release during photothermal conversion.

Analysis of low-frequency oscillation mechanism and optimal control of impedance on the DC side of a two-stage power conversion system

The two-stage power conversion system (PCS), a cascaded system consisting of bi-directional DC/DC and DC/AC modules, is extensively employed in battery storage systems. However, the cascading of modules may result in a less stable system which is vulnerable to disturbances, especially power fluctuations. In fact, the level of the power or the reversal of the power flow can adversely affect the stability of the cascaded system, resulting in a low-frequency oscillation of the bus voltage. Accordingly, to solve the problem of stability degradation after modules cascading, this paper proposes an active damping control strategy with coordinated control of the capacitor voltage. This strategy can reduce the resonant peak of the output impedance of the source converter and increase the phase of the input impedance of the load converter at the same time, so as to avoid the intersection of impedances, effectively enhance the stable operating range of the cascaded system. Finally, simulations and experiments have been carried out for the verification of the analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed control method.

MCKP: Multi-aspect contextual knowledge-enhanced prompting for conversational recommender systems

Empowering conversational recommender systems (CRSs) with knowledge facilitates the generation of high-quality human-like recommendation proposals to users. Despite substantial endeavors in developing knowledge-based CRSs, they mainly focus on modeling entity knowledge by introducing external data, which cannot sufficiently contribute to understanding complex contextual semantics. Additionally, the source of knowledge relies on external data, ignoring the effective use of original training data, significantly increasing the cost of building efficient CRSs.To tackle the issues above, we explore how to leverage raw dialogue data for modeling and exploiting contextual knowledge to compensate for existing knowledge's shortcomings. Specifically, we first train knowledge generators by constructing multiple standard hybrid prompt templates and answer spaces, which is conducive to perceiving the reasons behind contextual connections from multiple aspects and storing corresponding contextual knowledge. Then, we design answer-guided prompt templates based on the answer space, closing the gap between inference and training of knowledge generators and facilitating the generation of aspect-specific contextual knowledge. Next, we extend our approach by harnessing external knowledge graphs to construct entity knowledge. We propose a local-to-global semantic fusion strategy to fuse knowledge representations from different sources better. Finally, based on the fused knowledge representations, we tailor contextual knowledge-enhanced prompt templates for the CRS to stimulate the reasoning ability of pre-trained language models on dialogue and recommendation tasks. We evaluate the performance of our method on separate evaluation datasets, including the ReDial and the INSPIRED datasets. Based on the Recall, MRR, NDCG, and Distinct evaluation indicators, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in dialogue tasks and recommendation tasks. At the same time, we demonstrate that by constructing an interpretable multi-aspect hybrid prompt template, we can effectively mine contextual knowledge from multiple aspects of dialogue.