IT Switching Research Articles

Voltage Control for a Loop Distribution System with Renewable Energy Sources

This paper describes and verifies a voltage control for a loop distribution system. The proposed method adopts SCADA system based on voltage data from IT switches, which are sectionalizing switches with sensor installed at 6.6kV distribution line. The proposed voltage control combines centralized control of a LRT and autonomous control of decentrally-allocated RESs. The tap change control of LRT takes the major role of the proposed voltage control. It is the extended type of LDC method which is generally adopted, and minimizes voltage deviations based on voltage data from each IT switch. The output power control of RES additionally and autonomously supports the voltage control when the voltage violation from the upper limit is unavoidable. The reactive power control in the vacant capacity of RES's inverter mainly works, and the active power control works when not enough. In order to check the validity of the method, the experimental simulations using an analog distribution system simulator are carried out. This study is supported by a specially-promoted research grant of Power Academy in 2009 from the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan.

Exploring bloggers' switching toward microblogging

PurposeBuilt upon the push–pull–mooring framework, this study explores the factors that affect user switching from blog to microblogging. Low social presence is posited to form the push effect of blog, whereas larger referent network size and relative ease of use work together to shape the pull effect of newly emerging microblogging. Furthermore, adopting the status quo bias theory and habit literature as theoretical lens, affective commitment, switching costs and habit are regarded as important sources of inertia. Inertia is presumed to play a key role in mooring effects because it negatively affects switching intention and attenuates the main effects of pull and push factors. More importantly, the effects of affective commitment, switching costs and habit on switching intention are fully mediated through inertia.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study of 239 users who use blog and microblogging services concurrently was conducted in China.FindingsOur findings indicate that low social presence pushes bloggers away, whereas relative ease of use pulls them to the microblogging. Affective commitment, switching costs and habit are important sources of inertia. In the context of this study, inertia fully mediates the relationship between habit and switching intention, and only partially mediates the effect of affective commitment and switching costs on switching intention. Furthermore, inertia negatively moderates the relationships between social presence, relative ease of use and switching intention.Originality/valueThis study expands our understanding of online service switching mechanism, and identified key factors in IT switching, such as social presence, affective commitment and inertia. We believe that these mechanisms and key factors are not necessarily limited to online services, but are largely applicable to other contexts in which people interact with technology. This study builds a useful foundation for future research.

Is the Time Ripe? How the Value of Waiting and Incentives Affect Users’ Switching Behaviors for Smart Home Devices

Product-related and market-related uncertainties often cause users to defer from switching to new IT devices. There is a value of waiting (VoW) for users because waiting allows them to collect more information. At the same time, many IT switching decisions are increasingly complex due to increased connectivity and the resulting interdependencies between jointly used devices. Therefore, switching decisions for connected devices not only need to consider the new device in isolation, but must also account for the potential benefits from internally or externally connecting the device with other devices. Although crucial for users and providers alike, existing models cannot explain whether and when users switch in such connected environments. We focus on connected Smart Home Devices (SHDs) and simulate users’ actual switching timing based on a real options model which combines switching and deferral concepts in a context-specific setting. We examine how Smart Home Network (SHN) density influences switching and how providers can use incentives to accelerate switching to foster product diffusion. The findings show an accelerating effect of connectivity and a deferring effect of uncertainty on actual switching timing. We also learn that SHD providers should focus more on immediate than on delayed incentives to promote product diffusion, since the latter can also have undesired effects. Interestingly, external connectivity has almost no influence on decision timing in scenarios with highly dense SHNs, leading to further key implications for SHD providers.

Investigating user switching intention for mobile instant messaging application: Taking WeChat as an example

Post adoptive IT use is an important research topic in information systems field, mainly including sustained behaviours and switching behaviours. While there are a great number of studies on users’ continuance intentions for diversified IT, users’ IT switching behaviours are less studied. This research attempts to identify the features of users IT switching behaviours. We introduce a migration theory from social network perspective to explore the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing users’ switching intention in the context of mobile instant messaging (MIM) application. In particular, we develop a model that examines the role of networks, deprivations and trusts on MIM users’ switching intentions to WeChat in China. A survey research method is utilized to test this model and hypotheses. We found that functional deprivation, monetary deprivation and personal innovativeness could positively influence users’ switching intentions. Networks of obligation was found to have no significantly direct influence on switching intentions, but fully mediated by functional and monetary deprivations. However, trust transferred from MIMs provider has no significant effect on switching intentions. The findings are believed to theoretically contribute to further understand users’ IT switching behaviours and yield some practical implications for designers and managers in MIM providers and their products propaganda.

Switching Toward Cloud ERP

This paper aims to develop a research model to explain managers' intentions to switch toward cloud based ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning). Indeed, as cloud computing is considered as a true revolution in Information Technologies field, ERP market is shaping toward more cloud based solutions. However, since cloud computing is presented as a risky alternative, cloud ERP adoption may faces reticence from managers. On the other hand, thanks to the benefits of such system associated to the known difficulties of On-Premises ERP, some managers would rather be motivated to switch to the cloud solution. Thus, from the proposed research model we attempt to present factors that influence managers' intentions to switch toward cloud ERP. By considering IT switching as a particular form of IT adoption, we based our literature review on Theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify the determinants of switching. This review also allowed us to integrate the expected switching benefits and risks as antecedents and the personal innovativeness as a moderating factor. To contextualize our research model, we performed semi-structured interviews in four Saudi Small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The use of Nvivo 10 to codify and analyze the interviews content combined to a deep analysis of previous researches helped us to improve the research model by adding two additional factors: “top management support” considered as the main determinant of intentions and “satisfaction with actual system” as an important antecedent linked closely to switching.

Evaluation of Voltage Control Effect for Data Acquisition Period Length from SCADA with IT Switches

Measured data from IT switches are utilized in order to control voltage in Japanese distribution systems with photovoltaic generation systems. However, length of period from the data measurement to the data acquisition from IT switches by SCADA affects voltage control ability in a distribution automation system. In this paper, the effect of the length of the data acquisition period for voltage control by LRT and SVR is evaluated through numerical simulations in a distribution system model. Furthermore, the optimal length of the data acquisition period is determined according to PV penetration rate.

User switching of information technology: A theoretical synthesis and empirical test

As competing technological choices emerge in the marketplace, an inevitable consequence is user switching from one IT product or service to another. However, we know very little of this phenomenon or the key drivers of user switching. We examined the reasons for IT switching by proposing a model that synthesized and extended current theories of IT acceptance and customer satisfaction. We believed that IT switching was driven by user dissatisfaction with an incumbent product or service and the fact that the customer was aware of the availability of a potentially superior product or service. Further, to explain differential switching patterns across an adopter population, we posited personal innovativeness as an individual difference variable that moderated the effect of user dissatisfaction and relative advantage of a new IT on users’ switching intention. Our model was empirically validated using a longitudinal survey of web browser switching among student subjects. We hope that our study will generate researchers’ interest in an understudied area of research and that the model will serve as a starting point for furthering our understanding of IT switching.

Load Management using Heat-Pump Water Heater and Electric Vehicle Battery Charger in Distribution System with PV

AbstractThis paper proposes a new load management method using Heat Pump Water Heater (HP-WH) and Electric Vehicle Battery Charger (EV-BC) in a distribution system with a high penetration of Photovoltaic generation system (PV). The proposed method implements a classification of the controllable loads (HP-WH, EV-BC) by distribution section and optimizes operation modes of the classified controllable loads. A distribution section enclosed with two or three IT switches, which are sectionalizing switches with sensors, is defined as a load management cluster, and a large number of controllable loads in a distribution feeder are classified into three clusters. All the customers with controllable loads determine beforehand two operation modes which achieve the satisfactory convenience and energy conservation; one is a nighttime consumption pattern and another is a daytime consumption pattern. Distribution System Operator (DSO) can collect the customers' information such as address codes and operation plans, and ...

The Role of Habit in Post-Adoption Switching of Personal Information Technologies: An Empirical Investigation

Unlike technology users in business organizations, users of personal information technologies are usually not bound to specific products and have the freedom to switch from one product to a substitute. As a unique and widespread product level post-adoption behavior, IT user switching has not garnered sufficient attention in the current literature. Prior research has suggested that a consumer’s decision to switch follows careful reasoning on three distinct groups of factors: push, pull, and mooring. Given the highly routinized nature of post-adoption IT use, we draw from research on habit in social psychology and post-adoption user behavior literatures, and argue that users’ habit plays a critical role in post-adoption IT switching. Specifically, we posit that the habit of using the incumbent product both contributes to the mooring effects during the formation of intention to switch, and moderates the relationship between intention and switching. We tested our hypotheses on a sample of 414 users presented with a choice of switching their Web browsers. Our findings confirm the direct influence of potential switchers’ habit on switching intention, and the interaction between habit and switching intention on switching. Our overall model explains 55 percent of total variance in users’ intention to switch and 23 percent of total variance in user switching. This study advances the theoretical and empirical understanding of post-adoption technology switching, valuable to both researchers and practitioners.

センサ開閉器から得られる計測情報を活用した配電系統の電圧推定・制御手法の提案と実験的検証

センサ開閉器から得られる計測情報を活用した配電系統の電圧推定・制御手法の提案と実験的検証

再生可能エネルギー電源が連系された配電系統のループ化と集中型電圧制御の適用効果の実験的検証

The line voltage control in a distribution network is one of the most important issues for a penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). A loop distribution network configuration is an effective solution to resolve voltage and distribution loss issues concerned about a penetration of RES. In this paper, for a loop distribution network, the authors propose a voltage control method based on tap change control of LRT and active/reactive power control of RES. The tap change control of LRT takes a major role of the proposed voltage control. Additionally the active/reactive power control of RES supports the voltage control when voltage deviation from the upper or lower voltage limit is unavoidable. The proposed method adopts SCADA system based on measured data from IT switches, which are sectionalizing switch with sensor installed in distribution feeder. In order to check the validity of the proposed voltage control method, experimental simulations using a distribution system analog simulator “ANSWER” are carried out. In the simulations, the voltage maintenance capability in the normal and the emergency is evaluated.

Determination of the optimal control parameters of voltage regulators installed in a radial distribution network

AbstractThis paper presents a new computation method to determine simultaneously the optimal parameters of several voltage regulators such as the load‐ratio control transformer (LRT) and step voltage regulator (SVR) installed in a radial distribution network. The proposed method determines a combination of their control parameters by minimizing the weighted sum of deviations of line voltage from the upper and lower voltage limits and the amounts of voltage violations by referring to the stored data measured by IT switches, which are sectionalizing switches with sensors installed in the distribution feeder. The optimization algorithm is based on particle swarm optimization (PSO), which is one of the nonlinear optimization methods, by using the concept of swarm intelligence. In order to confirm the validity of the proposed method, numerical simulations are carried out on a distribution network model. © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.