Residential Systems Research Articles

Willingness to pay for solar adoption: Economic, ideological, motivational, and demographic factors

Residential solar energy installations are a critical component of the energy transition. Nonetheless, just a small fraction of all eligible households have installed solar panels. We investigate household willingness to pay (WTP) for a residential rooftop solar system using a stated preference approach and including socio-demographic, ideological, economic, and psychological factors.We implemented an online survey of 580 households in New York State who had not previously adopted a residential solar system. Respondents were presented with hypothetical PV systems with varying upfront costs and monthly savings that allow us to understand discount rates and payoff preferences. This allowed us to explore not only WTP and how it varies across the factors described above, but also how those factors affect discount rates and attitudes towards uncertain future payoffs from the systems. We limit our analysis to New York to control for variation in solar adoption policies from state to state, but these results are broadly generalizable to other US States and, with caveats, to advanced industrialized democracies.We find an average WTP of $7388.5 for installing a residential rooftop solar system. Respondents' WTP is $11.66 in upfront costs for each additional $1 of average monthly savings. We also find substantial heterogeneity in WTP and in trade-offs between upfront costs versus savings. Age, children in households, income, education, motivation, and ideology are all independent factors associated with WTP. We discuss a range of implications for policy and marketing to further increase rates of adoption in the future.

Optimization of residential energy system configurations considering the bidirectional power supply of electric vehicles and electricity interchange between two residences

Electric vehicles (EVs) combined with bidirectional home chargers (vehicle-to-home (V2H) units) and electricity interchange between residences are promising options for the self-consumption of rooftop photovoltaics (PVs) in residences. Furthermore, considering that EVs have large storage capacities, one EV + V2H might support neighborhood-scale electricity storage by electricity interchange between residences, resulting in more cost-efficient self-consumption systems. Therefore, this paper investigates how permitting electricity interchange between residences affects the economically optimal design of distributed energy systems, such as PVs, EVs and V2H units. For this purpose, a mixed-integer linear programming model is developed to optimize the configurations and operation strategies of distributed energy resources (DERs) considering electricity interchange in neighborhoods. V2H units, which supply electricity from EVs to residences, are considered DER options independent of EVs. Furthermore, the optimization results are compared under two scenarios wherein electricity interchange is and is not permitted between two residences. The results indicate that permitting electricity interchange improves the self-consumption rate of PV power while reducing investment in storage facilities. The one influencing factor is sharing one EV + V2H between two residences and effectively utilizing the available storage capacity.

Comparative Analysis of Supervised Classification Algorithms for Residential Water End Uses

AbstractWater sustainability in the built environment requires an accurate estimation of residential water end uses (e.g., showers, toilets, faucets, etc.). In this study, we evaluate the performance of four models (Random Forest, RF; Support Vector Machines, SVM; Logistic Regression, Log‐reg; and Neural Networks, NN) for residential water end‐use classification using actual (measured) and synthetic labeled data sets. We generated synthetic labeled data using Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Networks. We then utilized grid search to train each model on their respective optimized hyperparameters. The RF model exhibited the best model performance overall, while the Log‐reg model had the shortest execution times under different balanced and imbalanced (based on number of events per class) synthetic data scenarios, demonstrating a computationally efficient alternative for RF for specific end uses. The NN model exhibited high performance with the tradeoff of longer execution times compared to the other classification models. In the balanced data set scenario, all models achieved closely aligned F1‐scores, ranging from 0.83 to 0.90. However, when faced with imbalanced data reflective of actual conditions, both the SVM and Log‐reg models showed inferior performance compared to the RF and NN models. Overall, we concluded that decision tree‐based models emerge as the optimal choice for classification tasks in the context of water end‐use data. Our study advances residential smart water metering systems through creating synthetic labeled end‐use data and providing insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various supervised machine learning classifiers for end‐use identification.

A VMD-deep learning approach for individual load monitoring and forecasting for residential buildings energy management

This paper presents a comprehensive solution for Multi-Individual load disaggregation and Multi-individual load Forecasting in residential energy systems. The approach combines Variable Mode Decomposition (VMD) and deep learning algorithms, incorporating feature selection using Random Forest Regressor and parameter optimization through the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). Correlation analysis is used to identify the most relevant Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) for each appliance, while self-correlation is used to determine the past window for forecasting appliances’ usage a day ahead. The robustness of VMD against noise contributes to the improved accuracy of appliance designation. The load disaggregation strategy yields significant results, indicating the high performance of the disaggregation tasks of these models. Specifically, the proposed disaggregation models exhibit an average RMSE and MAPE of 4.10 W and 4.14 %, respectively. Furthermore, we conduct a comparison among three deep learning architectures (GRU, LSTM, 1DCNN) based Multi-Individual load forecasting models, revealing that the GRU-based MILF model outperforms the other two models, it shows an average performance of RMSE and MAPE of 9.54 W and 8.10 %. The research provides valuable insights and a practical solution for accurate load disaggregation and forecasting, contributing to enhanced energy efficiency, cost savings, and sustainable power consumption in residential settings, and give detailed energetic bill with the aim to analyze the occupant consumption behavior, and gives depth insights about power consumption and cost of each appliance and their operation time.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ РОЗРОБКИ ТА ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ АВТОМАТИЗОВАНОГО ЕНЕРГОЕФЕКТИВНОГО КЕРУВАННЯ ТЕПЛОНАСОСНИМИ СИСТЕМАМИ МЕТОДАМИ КОМП’ЮТЕРНОГО ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТУ

The development of energy-efficient indoor management systems, involving the current engineering and technical solutions to control and optimize energy consumption, is both relevant and promising area. This allows addressing the issues of saving energy resources; improving energy efficiency; and strengthening energy independence. The use of geothermal heat pumps and air conditioning systems with heat utilization are the advanced areas for the development of energy-efficient technologies in the construction sector. The paper concerns the study of technical-functional and energy characteristics, and parameters of a residential building heat supply system with integrated automated control means by synthesizing computer-oriented and computer-integrated models of heating and air conditioning systems using a geothermal heat pump and a thermal accumulator which will increase the energy efficiency of the building and optimize the use of thermal energy throughout the year. The object of study is the processes of accumulation, distribution and utilization of thermal energy in heating and air conditioning systems. The subject of the study is computer-aided models of indoor heat supply including a geothermal heat pump, a thermal accumulator and a radiator heating system as well as an air conditioning system with the possibility of heat utilization. The main scientific and practical effect of the obtained results is the development of computer-oriented models of indoor heating and air conditioning systems which, unlike the previously known ones, implement adaptive heat utilization to the heat accumulator for hot water supply needs. Further promising research in the areas will expand and deepen the scientific substantiation of software and hardware solutions aimed at improving the energy efficiency of heat engineering industrial and household facilities and processes.

Enhancing Power Sharing Strategy for Consistent Decarbonized Energy Sources in DC Residential Microgrids

A key issue in the transition to decarbonized energy sources with constant power sources is inaccurate current sharing and voltage quality. The main reason which causes these issues is the inevitable system impedance mismatches. This study addresses this issue by proposing an enhanced power‐sharing strategy that regulates adjustable resistance and compensates for voltage drops across the line impedance at the output of distributed generation converters. The control approach involves analyzing the mathematical relationship between system impedance mismatches and voltage drops in DC residential systems. Utilizing low‐computation proportional‐integral controllers, the secondary current sharing and load voltage controllers regulate converter outputs to compensate for mismatched resistance and voltage, ensuring proper current sharing and load voltage quality across various load conditions. Through the implementation of the proposed scheme incorporating adjustable resistance and voltage shifting terms, both the current‐sharing error and load voltage deviation are gradually reduced to negligible values, while maintaining stable performance in steady‐state conditions, without the need for prior knowledge of system parameters. Simulations and experimental studies are both conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Civic Subjecthood: The Hybridization and Reformulation of Subjecthood and Citizenship in Brunei

ABSTRACT This article examines Brunei’s state formation and development from 1906 until 2023 to demonstrate the hybridization and reformulation of subjecthood and citizenship within the last absolute monarchy in the Asia-Pacific region. The absence of active political parties and calls for a representative government has led most scholars to portray Bruneians as passive subjects of the Sultan. Such a portrayal is inaccurate; Bruneians are both citizens and subjects. The article thus introduces a new category of political membership based on synthesized ideas of subjecthood and citizenship, termed here, “civic subjecthood.” This coexistence is only possible as a result of the British residential system, which was established in the Bruneian Sultanate at the beginning of the twentieth century. The British resident initially created a dual-state apparatus – consisting of the traditional negara and the modern state – to keep the façade of indigenous rule in Brunei. However, the Sultan of Brunei and the traditional ruling class eventually took control of both apparatuses after abolishing the residential system in September 1959. Both apparatuses function to this day, allowing for the coexistence of subjecthood and citizenship in the country.

Air Flow Analysis for Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Heat Exchangers

Due to the increasing popularity of additive manufacturing technologies, more varied and complex shapes of heat exchangers can be produced, that can be optimized to be more compact and efficient. In this paper a triply minimal periodic surface – gyroid structure is designed to study the applicability of such structures in air-to-air heat exchangers used in residential ventilation recuperation systems. Gyroid surface structures are useful to decrease overall heat exchanger size, pressure and increase heat transfer. Several geometry variations with different flow rate values were analysed to compare the efficiency of heat exchanger designs, as well as basic counterflow plate heat exchanger arrangement was analysed, to compare the gyroid designs to conventional methods. To calculate the pressure difference, temperature and heat transfer in each variation, SolidWorks Flow Simulation was used. The results showed that by using gyroid structures, heat exchanger energy transfer can be optimised for required back pressure and heat transfer, while reducing the overall dimensions, compared to conventional heat exchangers. By incorporating low cost, printed thermal recuperators, thermal efficiency of residential buildings can be improved. Suitable materials, manufacturing methods and application limitations are discussed.

Design of anti-theft alarm and fire detection system based on IoT cloud platform

This time for a STM 32 single chip computer as the core of the intelligent home system of anti-theft alarm system for a detailed design, It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the hardware composition, software design and implementation principles of the smart home system, And analyze its advantages and disadvantages, Thus better providing intelligent early warning for human beings, Prevent the emergence of emergencies, Saving the lives and property of the people, The security information of the user can be monitored remotely, It can also turn it off via a button, In the anti-theft mode, You can also use an infrared sensor module installed in the human body to detect whether there is anyone in the home, So as to achieve the purpose of fire and fire prevention and theft. On this basis, a residential intelligent management system based on wireless communication is designed. The OLED LCD screen can display the currently detected temperature and the density of the flue gas, and use the button to set an upper alarm limit. When the detected temperature or smoke content exceeds the upper limit, the LED indicator light will light up and issue an alarm. Also, there is an emergency button to send out a distress signal at any time.

A virtual sensing approach to enhancing personalized strategies for indoor environmental quality and residential energy management

This study presents a consumer-centric approach on Demand-Side Management (DSM) for residential energy systems, aiming to align cost-efficient energy strategies with the individual's preferences on operational time-flexibility for residential electric appliances, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality. The optimization framework innovatively incorporates forecasts of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) index and thermal comfort levels using virtual sensing technology to predict their day-ahead values, which are furtherly integrated as constraints in the optimization problem. A dual-objective approach is employed, balancing the minimization of electricity costs all whilst increasing consumer's satisfaction. The approach underlines the critical role of consumer participation in DSM and illustrates how the integration of smart home technologies can lead to reductions in energy consumption and cost savings. This paradigm not only promotes consumer engagement in energy management but also showcases the potential of intelligent home systems to optimize energy usage while maintaining personalized comfort standards.

Modeling of a PV/Thermal Hybrid Panel for Residential Hot Water System

Abstract Despite the extensive body of research on PV/thermal systems, a gap remains in evaluating their performance in residential settings. This study aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the energy modeling of a PV/Thermal (PVT) hybrid panel that incorporates heat pipe technology. The evaluation is conducted through MATLAB code to assess the system's capability to fulfill the electricity and heating demands of residential buildings. The model's reliability is affirmed by comparing it with experimental data from a PVT panel tested in Sydney, exploring the transient variations in both water heat gain rates and power generation. The model's precision is evident from the percentage of error in the estimated temperatures of the PV panel based on the test results under various weather conditions, which ranged from −8% to 6%. This method was also utilized to determine the overall energy efficiency of the PVT under different climatic conditions. The results reveal that the overall energy efficiency of the proposed PVT panel, on a typical day, is approximately 45%, significantly outperforming traditional PV panels by more than double. Furthermore, the payback period for a typical residential PVT system, providing both hot water and electricity, is found substantially shorter than that of installing separate PV and solar hot water systems, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed hybrid system.

Chasing colonization back: rethinking parks, returning place-names, and restoring buffalo medicine—an interview with Ninna Piiksii, Dr. Mike Bruised Head

In this interview, we hear from influential Blackfoot Elder and Cultural Educator Ninna Piiksii, Dr. Michael Bruised Head. Mike reflects on the colonial naming of national parks and the need to return to Indigenous place-names, examining how we occupy a pivotal moment where park staff are more open to substantive Indigenous engagement and presence within parks, although more needs to be done. Drawing connections across topics that may initially seem discrete, Mike reflects on his experience as a survivor of the Canadian residential school system, colonial dispossession by parks and more broadly, and how Blackfoot restoration efforts—including the return of buffalo or iinnii—can offer paths for healing from these traumas and build a more just, Blackfoot-led future. Through this, Mike asks us to rethink the profound value and potential of conservation, pushing beyond Western understandings. He closes by asking the interviewers to reflect on what motivates them to support Tribal buffalo restoration, turning the tables on the interviewer and interviewee, and reinforcing the importance of connection and responsibility among non-Tribal research collaborators. We open with an introduction to Mike and then turn to hear his words. The interview format reflects a growing trend of expert-interviews-as-articles and Indigenous practices of oral knowledge transmission. We also link to an audio recording of the interview to allow readers to become listeners and hear Mike’s words in full context. The conversation and format are offered in the spirit of opening more space for Indigenous—and particularly Blackfoot—voices, perspectives, and methodologies in conservation scholarship.

Domesticating Biogas – A Viable Alternative to LPG in India

This paper presents a study on implementing a biogas system to replace LPG in Indian households. It focuses on anaerobic digestion of cattle dung and kitchen waste for biogas production. The research includes theoretical exploration, quantitative calculations, project methodology, and design of the system. Key findings show that about 2.65 kg of biomass per day can substitute LPG in an average household, highlighting biogas as a sustainable energy alternative. The study contributes to knowledge on sustainable energy, offering insights for residential biogas systems and future optimization. It promotes a greener, more sustainable future.

Constant static pressure strategy for residential kitchen exhaust system: Deducing control parameters from required exhaust rate and non-distributed data transmission

Roof fans have gradually replaced the non-powered hood as supplementary power to increase exhaust rate in high-rise residential kitchen shafts. However, an effective control strategy for roof fans is lacking. This paper studies the constant static pressure strategy and deduces its control parameters based on required exhaust rate and non-distributed data transmission. First, the static pressure set value (SV) is investigated under the worst exhaust condition, considering variations in shaft heights and measuring positions (MP). Then, an on/off mechanism is set up based on the measured static pressure and the fan frequency when the exhaust rate is adequate. Results show that under the recommended shaft sizes and design concurrent usage rates, the SVs for users' exhaust rate reaching 500 m³/h are −60, −60, and 0 Pa for 10/18/26-floor shafts when the MP is at a shaft's outlet, and roof fans are turned on when the static pressure reaches 100, 90, and 90 Pa and turned off when the fan frequency is below 32, 30, and 22 Hz. The MP at the shafts' outlet can keep the shaft at a slightly negative pressure. Control parameters for specific applications can be obtained through the proposed calculation process. An 18-floor shaft study found that the constant static pressure strategy can achieve 50 % energy savings compared to the constant frequency operation of the roof fan. These findings contribute to reliable control without users' distributed data transmission and to lower energy consumption of the residential kitchen exhaust system.

Residential Micro-CHP system with integrated phase change material thermal energy storage

This paper presents an analysis and experimental investigation of the effect of integrating Phase Change Material (PCM) within a heat exchanger within a Micro Combined Heat and Power (Micro-CHP) system intended for residential applications. A commonly used Micro-CHP layout is replicated in a test rig to characterise the performance of two alternative heat exchanger arrangements. The first is a conventional arrangement where the exhaust gas produced by the prime mover is directed to an air-to-water heat exchanger to heat water and store it in a tank. In the second arrangement, PCM material is encapsulated within specially designed compartments in a heat exchanger to store part of the exhaust thermal energy from the prime mover while heating the water in the storage tank. The time needed to heat the water and discharge heat is compared for both cases, as well as the amount of thermal energy stored during the same operating period. The study also explored the potential to improve the designed unit by using different PCM materials. The test results show that adding 4.7 L capacity paraffin compartments within the heat exchanger extended the discharge time of the hot water by over 400 %, which reflects a marked improvement in the heat storage capacity of the system. This would result in a significant increase in the viable operating period of a CHP system. The one-dimensional analysis revealed that replacing the paraffin with ClimSel C58 PCM can reduce the charging time of the water tank by around 54 % improve the heat storage capacity by factor of 2.35 comparing to Paraffin. The proposed heat exchanger with encapsulated PCM has a potential in other applications such as storage of excess renewable energy or integration with heat pumps to improve matching of supply and demand and thus flexibility of an energy system with integrated intermittent renewables.

Performance analysis of modified residential PV system configuration under mismatch conditions

Partial shading is a prevalent phenomenon with a substantial impact on PV system performance. Various techniques, such as maximum power tracking (MPPT), PV module interconnection, and power electronics-based schemes, have been employed to address these challenges at both the module level and the submodule level. Existing methods face limitations related to the cost of hardware and the complexity of control systems. These limitations hinder the widespread application of current solutions. Also, Module-level techniques though simple and economical provide limited granularity. The choice between these techniques involves a trade-off between complexity, cost, adaptability, and the specific characteristics of the PV system and its operating environment.This paper presents a new hybrid submodule-level partial shading mitigation scheme based on TCT interconnection and differential power processing. The proposed system, emphasizing its role in enhancing overall PV system performance offers a cost-effective, and easy-to-control solution. To compare and validate the performance of proposed hybrid architecture, a practically installed single-phase grid tied central inverter 3 kW residential PV system is considered. This practical PV system is modified to hybrid architecture and the performance parameters such as power generation, mismatch power loss, fill factor, power conversion efficiency and power improvement calculated for different operating conditions. The results show that the modified conventional PV system mitigate the mismatch issue effectively and improves the output performance for any operating condition

Performance evaluation of PID and Fuzzy Logic controllers for residential ORC-based cogeneration systems

Cogeneration systems have been identified as a way to reduce primary energy consumption, especially the ones using fossil fuels. Although this technology has already reached maturity on a medium-to-large scale, it is not very well explored on a micro-scale, especially at a residential level where the market is currently filled with carbon-fueled boilers and combi-boilers. For implementation at a residential level, the organic Rankine cycle has been mentioned as a suitable technology because of its simplicity and thermal/ electrical efficiencies. Despite its performance, one of the most important aspects of these applications is the response time, which is mainly connected to the system’s control. Due to its influence, this study aims to provide insights for developing flexible control strategies and analyze two different control methodologies, a standard PID and a Fuzzy Logic controller, considering the operating conditions of an experimental ORC-based micro-cogeneration test rig.Before being implemented in the test rig, both control methodologies were optimized and tested in a virtual environment in order to avoid the exposure of the test rig to unsafe operating conditions. While both controllers show a reasonable response in operating conditions similar to the ones used in the virtual environment, the Fuzzy Logic approach proved to be more adaptable to changes in the system’s dynamics, which are caused by intrinsic (e.g., unpredicted evaporative phenomena) or external disturbances (e.g., a pressure ratio variation), obtaining an overall better performance. Additionally, the limitations of static PID controllers for complex nonlinear processes, like the ORC, were highlighted by their incapacity to stabilize the system when the organic fluid is diverted from the bypass line to the expansion valve. Conversely, it was concluded that the ability to incorporate expert knowledge and heuristics makes the Fuzzy Logic controller well-suited for ORC systems with uncertain, unstable, and fluctuating behavior.

Techno-economic assessment of grid-connected residential photovoltaic systems considering overvoltage-induced generation curtailment

Grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) systems are continuously installed in worldwide communities, predominantly to reduce electricity bills. However, the rapid growth of distributed PV systems inevitably causes overvoltage in distribution networks. Conventionally, PV curtailment is implemented in a grid-connected inverter to prevent the system from overvoltage. Nevertheless, previous studies have failed to consider PV curtailment caused by overvoltage when conducting techno-economic assessments. Therefore, this study conducts a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of grid-connected residential PV systems, considering overvoltage-induced generation curtailment. A volt-watt curtailment strategy is designed based on a droop characteristic. Simulation studies are conducted using real-world load profiles and electricity tariffs retrieved from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority in Thailand. Furthermore, a typical low-voltage distribution feeder in Bangkok, Thailand, is employed using Thailand’s grid code. Simulation results indicate that the optimal PV size could be reduced by up to 58.33% (depending on the numbers and locations of PV systems) when considering overvoltage-induced generation curtailment, resulting in a profitability reduction of 21.34%. It is concluded that considering overvoltage-induced generation curtailment can accurately determine the PV size, preventing oversizing and overvoltage.

Cooling and heating innovations: exploring the diverse applications of heat pumps

Heat pumps are versatile and energy efficient devices that play a crucial role in modern heating, cooling, and refrigeration applications. This paper provides a concise overview of the diverse applications and benefits of heat pumps across residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors. The paper discusses the principles of heat pump operation, emphasizing their capability to transfer heat from one location to another using thermodynamic processes. The work highlights key applications such as residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, commercial refrigeration, hot water heating, process cooling, and renewable energy integration. The energy efficiency and environmental benefits of heat pumps are also emphasized, showcasing their potential to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to sustainable energy practices. By understanding the broad scope of heat pump applications outlined in this work, researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders can gain insights into the significance of heat pump technology in advancing energy efficiency and addressing climate change challenges.

Fully Symmetrical Hybrid PV Converter With Low Common-Mode Noise

Hybrid converters with multiports (simultaneous DC and AC outputs) are promising solutions to reduce conversion stages from solar energy to various loads, and thereby increasing the utilization of residential PV systems. Considering common-mode noises suppression and high reliability, this paper proposes a fully symmetrical hybrid PV converter concept with two DC ports and one AC port. The proposed converter adopts symmetrical boost impedances at the low-voltage DC port and symmetrical synchronization rectifier switches at the high-voltage DC port. In addition, a symmetrical AC-decoupling inverter, i.e., highly efficient and reliable inverter concept (HERIC), operates as either a boost switch or an inverter to perform DC-DC and DC-AC conversions simultaneously. Combined with a dedicated modulation method with deadtime, the proposed converter has low leakage currents for grid-connected PV applications, low CM noise as a DC-DC converter, and flexible power control capability. Experiments have been carried out on a prototype to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.