Domestic Power Research Articles

Efficiency evaluation and productivity analysis of complex electric power systems in China: A directional slacks-based network data envelopment analysis approach

The paper introduces a robust methodology for evaluating complex electricity system efficiency, making several contributions. It systematically decomposes the electric power system into various processes, including power generation, transmission, distribution, and power consumption, with parallel sub-processes for production and domestic power consumption. Employing data envelopment analysis (DEA), the paper develops a network directional slacks-based (DSB) model to evaluate the whole system and the internal processes. The model is theoretically proven to be feasible, providing efficiency scores and identifying inefficiencies in the system and its processes. A noteworthy addition is the introduction of the DSB green Luenberger productivity index and its decomposition, offering an analysis of productivity changes in electricity systems. Empirical analysis covering 30 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2019 uncovers the performance variations among provinces and processes, pointing out inefficiencies and changes in technology and efficiency over time. The empirical findings aim to support efforts in enhancing the overall efficiency of China’s interprovincial power system.

Windfall Profit Taxation in Europe (and Beyond)

In 2022, the European Commission introduced, for the first time in its history, a windfall profit tax to be applied on “excessive” profits realized by qualified businesses operating in the “Oil and Gas” sector. Immediately after its implementation, questions arose as to its sustainability and its consistency with constitutional principles of the different member states regulating the domestic power to tax. To assess the consistency with the aforesaid rules, the article samples two countries, inside and outside the EU (Italy and Australia, respectively), and the historical precedents of the matter. Italy has been chosen due to the particularly stringent set of principles regulating the power of the legislature to tax, and Australia has been chosen because of the long-standing experience with superprofit taxes. In most of the scenarios analyzed, one common feature emerged: the complexity in defining the “Extra” nature of the profits and, consequently, the uncertainties in the calculation of the taxable base. In the case of Italy, for instance, the legislator had to intervene in several different moments to fine-tune the taxable base and restore certainty to the tax system. As a conclusion, while the taxation of extra profits should not per se be disregarded, its implementation demands a more robust and precise legal framework together with the understanding that the introduction of such a levy would be a one-way journey for the tax systems: windfall profits taxes would be here to stay.

Experimental investigation on the performance of a micro-ORC system for different operating conditions

The micro-ORC systems are widely considered a reliable solution for domestic power production from renewable sources. The investigation of the optimal operating conditions to maximize system efficiency is an interesting challenge. In this study, a preliminary experimental campaign has been carried out on a biomass-fired micro-ORC system. The system is designed for stationary applications for domestic users, with a gear pump, a scroll expander and R245fa as the working fluid. The performance characterization of the micro-ORC under steady-state conditions has been obtained varying the water flow rate in the condenser at constant pump and expander speeds. The temperature of the hot source (thermal oil) is the maximum achievable in each operating condition. The temperature at the expander inlet and the condenser and evaporator pressure strongly influence the system performance. The increase in water flow leads to a decrease in the condenser pressure and a reduction of the superheating degree of the organic fluid. The system reaches the maximum electric power output of approximately 2565 W with a water flow rate of about 20 l/min. The highest electrical efficiency increases as the refrigerant flow rate decreases and reaches the highest value of 8.1% for the minimum investigated water flow rate.

Developing the fuel and energy complex and energy security of the Russian Federation in the context of reindustrialization

Subject. The article considers the impact of fuel and energy complex on economic development and energy security of the Russian Federation. Objectives. The aim is to identify trends and specific features of Russia’s fuel and energy complex development in conditions of reindustrialization, and to work out practical recommendations for improving its energy security, focusing on elimination of imbalances in the development of extractive and manufacturing industries. Methods. We employed methods of systems analysis and analysis of statistical data. The general scientific method of induction was applied to establish the relationship between the consumption of resources by processing industries and the total internal consumption of energy resources. Results. We performed the analysis of energy consumption by type of economic activity. It established that in the Russian Federation, the ratio of energy consumption by manufacturing industries to total domestic consumption was stable from 2005 to 2021. The focus was on the correlation of energy exports and imports of manufacturing products and related processes increasing the imbalance in the development of extractive and manufacturing industries. We also analyzed the workload of domestic production in three groups: primary resource processing, secondary materials processing and deep materials processing. We offered to consider large-scale implementation of projects in the field of electric power industry abroad with the supply of domestic power engineering equipment as one of powerful incentives for reindustrialization in the field of high-tech industries. Conclusions. The implementation of investment projects related to export of energy engineering products is a powerful incentive for reindustrialization, both in the power engineering industry and in other high-tech industries, creating a multiplicative effect.

Power saving in a central air conditioning system by using multiple PCMs integrated with fresh air path

Decreasing the fresh air temperature before entering the air conditioning (AC) system will have a significant influence on reducing domestic power usage. To obtain a low fresh air temperature, the current work highlights a numerical investigation of an air-phase change materials (PCM) heat exchanger (H.EX.) with AC systems using ANSYS software. The heat exchanger was divided into several cells filled with multiple PCMs (RT-22, RT-24, RT-26). Throughout the day, the outside air passes through the system to decrease its temperature. Also, the PCMs are discharged by the low ambient temperature during the night. A numerical model was established and validated with experimental results from the literature and got a good match. The influences of multiple types of PCMs, outlet air temperature from the system, and the reduction in the cooling coil power were investigated. The outcomes concluded that multiple PCMs have a significant impact in decreasing the fresh air temperature before entering the AC system, compared to a single PCM. The fresh air temperature decreased from 45, 42, and 39 °C to roughly the values of 33, 32, and 31 °C, respectively, by using the air-PCM H.EX. The cooling power decreased by 11.76, and 11.17 % at the fresh air temperature of 45, and 39 °C, respectively, compared to the system without air-PCM H.EX. The proposed design is suggested to integrate with the AC systems.

Structural analysis of wind booster for multistorey vertical axis wind turbine

Wind energy is optimistically looked upon as potent alternative source of energy. Vertical axis wind turbines are developed and commissioned to cater for the large scale and domestic power requirements. The self-starting torque of a vertical axis wind turbine is augmented by using an enclosure known as a wind booster. An innovative wind booster has been designed to improve the self-starting performance of vertical-axis wind turbines. The edifice of the vertical axis wind turbine has to sustain high-magnitude wind gusts during its entire life cycle. The wind boosters should be designed to sustain the anticipated high-magnitude wind gust. In this research work, structural analysis of Wind booster is conducted to analyze deflection and maximum stress. Modal analysis of the wind booster was conducted to understand the behavior of the wind booster at different frequencies. ANSYS-SAMCEF software is used for entire numerical analysis. Von Misses stress model is used to estimate the maximum and minimum stress. The maximum stress induced in vertical deflectors is 4.64 MPa, wherein the maximum defection is 9.75 × 10−3. Analytical and numerical analysis of wind booster deflectors has been done for Von Misses stress and it is found to be in close agreement with other.

Power struggle on subjectivity and foreign policy: a post-structuralist analysis of JDP’s policies towards the United States (2002–2016)

ABSTRACT This article analyses Turkish foreign policy towards the United States (US) during the Justice and Development Party (JDP) era by using a post-structuralist approach. Post-structuralism posits that foreign policy is a political practice reflecting domestic power struggles. Moreover, subjectivities and foreign policy practices are neither universal, objective, nor predetermined, since they are co-constitutive. From this theoretical perspective, the article explores the JDP’s 'foreign policy' discourse on US-Turkish relations, highlighting discursive practices in legitimising specific subjectivities, such as 'conservative' and 'Muslim' ones, as 'inherent' origins of foreign policy conduct. In two phases, 2002–2009 and 2009–2016, it analyses how changes in JDP’s foreign policy preferences towards the US function to legitimise or marginalise particular subjectivities in its power struggle vis-à-vis 'Kemalist' state elites. Ultimately, the article concludes that the JDP’s discourse exhibits a continuity in hegemonising the 'Islamic' subjectivity ascribed to the Turkish population, despite changes in foreign policy decisions.

Development of Methods for an Overhead Cable Health Index Evaluation That Considers Economic Feasibility

To supply stable and high-quality power according to the advancement of industrial growth, electric power companies have performed maintenance of power facilities using various methods. In the case of domestic power distribution facilities, there are limitations in performing diagnostic management on all facilities owing to the large number of facilities; therefore, old facilities are managed using the health index assessment method. The health index assessment comprises only facility operation data and external environmental data and is managed only for four types of distribution facilities including overhead/underground transformers and switchgears. In the case of high voltage overhead lines, there are a large number of wires such as transformers and switchgears connected to the lines, and the ripple effect of power outages is large. However, in Korea, there is no overhead line health index standard. In overseas cases, a health index for overhead lines was developed, but only the material characteristics and surrounding environment of the overhead lines were considered and economic feasibility was not considered. Therefore, in this paper, we developed a health index evaluation methodology for ultra-high voltage overhead lines that considers economic feasibility. In this paper, unlike the existing health index evaluation method that uses only operational data and external environmental data to determine facility performance evaluation and aging replacement standards, we developed an economic health index evaluation methodology that additionally considers failure probability and risk costs. Using the health index assessment methodology developed in this paper, it is possible to expect a reduction in facility operating costs and investment costs from the perspective of the electric power companies through the replacement of old extra-high voltage overhead cables. In addition, from the perspective of consumers, it is expected to increase power reliability and reduce the ripple effect of failure by preferentially replacing equipment with a high probability of failure.

The fight metaphor in translation: From patriotism to pragmatism

Abstract The fight metaphors discussed in this article are linguistic expressions of physical conflict, a revolutionary legacy that still lingers in contemporary Chinese political discourse. This article takes a critical cognitive-linguistic approach to fight metaphors in translation, analysing a dataset comprising the Chinese governmental and Communist Party of China’s congressional reports and their official English-language translations from 2004 to 2020. The discussion highlights conceptual metaphor’s representational role and its ideological potential in discourse, and operationalises the English-based metaphor identification procedure (Steen et al. 2010) for Mandarin texts. Drawing on corpus-based evidence, the article argues that fight metaphors in the source texts (STs) legitimise and consolidate Beijing’s dominance of domestic power by generating positive representations and reproducing patriotic ideology. The translations of those metaphors transform Beijing’s image, assertive in the STs, into a non-aggressive one for the international readership. The target texts (TTs) also reproduce favourable representations from the STs to justify China’s unique political system and to satisfy a pragmatic need – that of constructing positive images for the Chinese authority and China internationally.

Domestic Instability, Global Order and Nepali Foreign Policy

The foreign policy of Nepal is not hindered by a lack of understanding of its principles but rather by the complex relationship between domestic and external factors. In an ideal scenario, Nepal would define its interests clearly and engage with foreign powers in a rational manner to achieve its objectives. For example, if Nepal recognizes the need for foreign aid to improve its infrastructure, it would approach relevant external powers. Before doing so, Nepal would conduct thorough due diligence to assess the benefits of the project and ensure its economic viability. The entire process would be conducted transparently, allowing external actors to receive a similar deal and comprehend Nepal's reasoning. This approach would help Nepal maintain control over foreign influence. Unfortunately, Nepali leaders and policymakers have often treated foreign powers as tools to retain or gain domestic power, and at times, to serve their personal interests. This reliance on foreign powers makes them more dependent and impairs their ability to make decisions in the best interest of the nation. Therefore, it is crucial for Nepali policymakers to take matters into their own hands. The first step is to strengthen domestic unity concerning foreign and security policies, which may require leaders to sacrifice their personal or party interests. The future of Nepali foreign policy hinges on whether these leaders are willing to make such sacrifices.

Analysis of environmental protection management system of power grid enterprises based on green development

Under the development trend of economic globalization, facing the opportunities and challenges brought by the construction and development of countries around the world, how to fully implement the concept of green development, actively build the environmental protection management system of power grid enterprises, and correctly serve the construction of ecological civilization and beautiful China has become the main issue explored by scholars in the power grid industry. Therefore, on the basis of understanding the current situation of environmental protection management of domestic power grid enterprises, this paper, through comparative analysis of the characteristics of environmental management of foreign power enterprises, deeply understand the content of domestic ecological civilization system reform, and finally put forward the construction measures of environmental protection management system of power grid enterprises based on green development.

The Russian Army on the Eve of the Crimean War: Between Myth and Reality

The article is devoted to the problems of the military system of the Russian Empire in the years of the reign of Nicholas I. The subject of the study is the military organization of the Russian Empire in the middle of the XIX century. The object of the study is the Russian army in the Crimean War (1853-1856). The focus is on the organization of the armed forces of the Empire, the training of enlisted and officers, logistics and pensions, as well as military production in the middle of the XIX century. Traditionally, in Russian historiography, the main drawbacks of the military system were called the technical lag of the Russian Empire from the European armies and the serfdom structure of the domestic power During the study of the topic, it was revealed that the issue of armament was not the fundamental reason for the defeat of the empire in the conflict. Soldiers recruited according to the recruitment system could not equivalently resist European armies based on a system of consription or voluntary recruitment. The difficult conditions of service in the army of the Russian Empire in the XIX century, led to the complete depletion of the reserve stock, which was clearly manifested in the years. The Crimean War (1853-1856). In combination with significant shortcomings in the training of private and officer, this led to the absolute hegemony of the Allied army in field battles. Many of these problems were known to the highest military and political leadership of the country, which initiated a number of military reforms to correct them. Nicholas I failed to implement these changes before the outbreak of the Crimean War. Already after the conflict, under the leadership of the Minister of War Milyutin D.A., within the framework of the "Great Reforms of the 1860s", many of these problems were resolved to one degree or another. The study is of a general nature, and this topic requires further detailed study of each of the aspects mentioned in the work.

코로나 팬데믹 이후 국제 유연탄 시장의 변화 및 대응 방안 연구

Bituminous coal is an important energy source with significant ripple effects on domestic power generation and industry. However, it is prone to price fluctuations due to climate change and changes in production capacity in major producing countries. In particular, since the outbreak of COVID-19, international prices have skyrocketed due to the closure of mines and port disinfection measures in major producing countries. This study aims to provide an overview of the international bituminous coal market and find insights focusing on recent decarbonization trends and changes in major exporting and importing countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our suggestions are: First, a diversified purchasing strategy should be established. Second, power generation firms should take advantage of the high ash coal price decrease. Third, firms should use fixed price and variable index-linked contracts. Finally, firms should seek to secure stable and diversified sources of environment-friendly coal.

A Behavioral Assay to Quantify Odor-Guided Thermotaxis with Anopheles gambiae under Semi-Field Conditions.

The African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae is strongly attracted to human body odor and skin temperature. Quantitative behavioral assays suitable for use in semi-field environments with this nocturnal mosquito species are essential to gain improved insights into An. gambiae sensory biology, the mechanistic basis of mosquito attraction to humans, and host preference. In this protocol, we describe steps for engineering equipment for a novel behavioral assay for An. gambiae, which we have termed the odor-guided thermotaxis assay (OGTA). The OGTA uses infrared videography to quantify landings of female An. gambiae on an aluminum platform heated to human skin temperature that can be baited with volatile odorants such as carbon dioxide or human whole body odor. The OGTA facilitates high-content recordings of An. gambiae landing behavior during odor-guided thermotaxis under naturalistic semi-field conditions without the requirement for domestic power.

Experimental Study and 3D Optimization of Small-Scale Solar-Powered Radial Turbine Using 3D Printing Technology

Small-Scale Turbines (SSTs) are among the most important energy-extraction-enabling technologies in domestic power production systems. However, owing to centrifugal forces, the high rotating speed of SSTs causes excessive strains in the aerofoil portions of the turbine blades. In this paper, a structural performance analysis is provided by combining Finite Element Methods (FEM) with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The primary objective was to examine the mechanical stresses of a Small-Scale Radial Turbine (SSRT) constructed utilizing 3D printing technology and a novel plastic material, RGD 525, to construct a SSRT model experimentally. After introducing a suitable turbine aerodynamics model, the turbine assembly and related loads were translated to a structural model. Subsequently, a structural analysis was conducted under various loading situations to determine the influence of different rotational speed values and blade shapes on the stress distribution and displacement. Maximum von Mises and maximum main stresses are significantly affected by both the rotor rotational speed and the working fluid input temperature, according to the findings of this research. The maximum permitted deformation, on the other hand, was more influenced by rotational speed, while the maximum allowable fatigue life was more influenced by rotating speed and fluid intake temperature. Also, the region of the tip shroud in the rotor had greater deflection values of 21% of the blade tip width.

Toward Energy Sustainability—Domestic Power Station, Tariff Acquiescent EMS, and Procedure to Rejuvenate Petrol Scooter Into Electric Scooter for Accelerated Participation of Rural Consumers in Energy Demand Management

Toward Energy Sustainability—Domestic Power Station, Tariff Acquiescent EMS, and Procedure to Rejuvenate Petrol Scooter Into Electric Scooter for Accelerated Participation of Rural Consumers in Energy Demand Management

A novel transactive integration system for solar renewable energy into smart homes and landscape design: A digital twin simulation case study

The use of solar renewable energy in landscape design is becoming increasingly popular as the world strives to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. With the cost of solar energy falling, more and more people are turning to solar as a way to power their homes and businesses. In this article, we will explore the integration of solar renewable energy into landscape design through a case study. Using local photovoltaics along with suitable power storage systems, a household power management system is proposed to optimize the scheduling of demand-responsive appliances. The beta likelihood distribution function for sun irradiance is used to model the unpredictable behavior of photovoltaic energy production in residential power management systems. The PV system was integrated into the building’s existing landscape design by incorporating the system’s components into the existing landscape elements. This included the installation of a large solar array on the roof of the building, as well as the integration of solar panels into the existing garden beds and pathways. The solar array was also connected to the building’s existing electrical system, allowing the building to draw power from the solar array when needed. Among the major contributions of the study would be to optimize the planning of demand-responsive devices within a domestic power management system by using the improved leader particle swarm optimization method (ILPSO). The purpose would be to reduce peak-to-average ratios (PARs) and energy usage costs in the smart home. A number of scenarios are designed and simulated in a digital twin structure for a household user with various initial loads, uninterruptible deferrable, and interruptible deferrable devices using a real-time power cost program to demonstrate the performance of the suggested optimization method. Based on comparisons with various metaheuristics previously documented, the new ILPSO algorithm efficiently optimizes energy usage costs and PARs.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Mercury Exposure from United States Coal-Fired Power Plants.

Hazardous air pollutants emitted by United States (U.S) coal-fired power plants have been controlled by the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) since 2012. Sociodemographic disparities in traditional air pollutant exposures from U.S. power plants are known to occur but have not been evaluated for mercury (Hg), a neurotoxicant that bioaccumulates in food webs. Atmospheric Hg deposition from domestic power plants decreased by 91% across the contiguous U.S. from 6.4 Mg in 2010 to 0.55 Mg in 2020. Prior to MATS, populations living within 5 km of power plants (n = 507) included greater proportions of frequent fish consumers, individuals with low annual income and less than a high school education, and limited English-proficiency households compared to the US general population. These results reinforce a lack of distributional justice in plant siting found in prior work. Significantly greater proportions of low-income individuals lived within 5 km of active facilities in 2020 (n = 277) compared to plants that retired after 2010, suggesting that socioeconomic status may have played a role in retirement. Despite large deposition declines, an end-member scenario for remaining exposures from the largest active power plants for individuals consuming self-caught fish suggests they could still exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose for methylmercury.

Application of Robot Automation Technology Based on Machine Assisted and Artificial Intelligence in Distribution Network Overhead Line Engineering

INTRODUCTION: The development of artificial intelligence technology in the context of the intelligent era shows vigorous vigor and vitality, and artificial intelligence fusion of robotic automation technology can assist manpower to complete all kinds of difficult operations, distribution network overhead line as the current power transmission lines equipped with the main way for domestic power transmission and regional power safety is of great significance. OBJECTIVES: In order to reduce the labor intensity of operators, reduce the occurrence of power outages, and ensure the reliability of power supply, we discuss the application of robotic automation technology of machine-assisted and artificial intelligence in the distribution network overhead line project. METHODS: Distribution network with power operation intelligent robot will grid lines in the wave speed information through the sensor transmission to the computer system, the computer system will grid lines in the wave speed converted to the wave speed of the overhead line, can be mixed lines in the wave speed inconsistent problem to provide a good solution. RESULTS: At the scene of the work, the artificial intelligence distribution network power-carrying operation robot integrating artificial intelligence technology has a good application effect for the wiring in the distribution network overhead line project. CONCLUSION: Robot automation technology incorporates the advantages of artificial intelligence, can rely on sensor systems and computer systems to perceive and identify things, and can autonomously control their own behavior, automated processing of complex actions, with a certain degree of perception, planning and collaborative ability, can be applied to the distribution network overhead line project.

Egypt after the 2011 uprising: the implications of transitional justice in a non-liberal transition

ABSTRACT Analysing transitional justice mechanisms in the non-liberal transition of post-revolutionary Egypt, from the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak to the election of ‘Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi, this article seeks to enhance the understanding of the character of the transition period and the re-establishment of authoritarianism in Egypt, but also to shed light on the implications of the manipulation of transitional justice in order to bolster repressive structures in non-liberal transitions. Based on analysing transitional justice as a contested process whose mechanism and outcomes are shaped according to specific domestic power structures and coalitions, the article argues that the ability of Egypt’s elites, led by the military, to control the transitional justice process and to manipulate it to enhance their power and interests depended on their coercive capacity but was also a product of their ability to utilise the deep gaps among political forces, which had different interests and perceptions regarding transitional justice (reformative or revolutionary) in order to create shifting alliances and agreements on the boundaries of transitional justice and hence affect its outcomes.