Statutory Limits Research Articles

放棄人類胚胎“14天限制” 的倫理反駁

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.
 This article explores prominent arguments in favor of and against extending the current 14-day statutory limit on the maintenance of human embryos. I discuss the history of the 14-day limit and the reasons behind the decision to opt for a compromise between competing moral views. I then argue that the ISSCR's guidelines for extending the 14-day limit are not a valuable tool, despite their potential to contribute scientific knowledge. The importance of respecting the 14-day rule should be acknowledged by ethics committees in the current research ethics climate of mainland China.

TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES FROM CRUDE OIL SPILL

Total suspended particulates emitted during crude oil spill were investigated using laboratory simulation experiments. This was with a view to establishing the toxicity potentials of emitted particulates. Climatic and spill media conditions similar to those obtainable in real life were created in an environmental chamber and the total particulates emitted during spills involving three crude oil samples of Nigerian origin were measured with Quick Take sampler. The toxicity potentials of the emitted particulates were subsequently determined by dividing the 24- hour averaging period concentrations of the particulates by the statutory limit. The statutory limits used were those of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV), World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). For temperatures between 15 ºC and 35 ºC and spill media (over fresh water, sea water and soil), the extrapolated 24 – hour averaging period concentrations ranged between 186.79 – 584.28 μgm-3, 186.98 - 584.48 μgm-3 and 247.40- 350.21 μgm-3 for sample A; 183.44 – 571.99 μgm-3, 183.63 -572.19 μgm-3 and 244.05-337.92 μgm-3 for sample B and 178.41 – 566.96 μgm-3, 178.61 - 567.16 μgm-3 and 332.89- 280.60 μgm-3 for sample C. The observed TSP concentrations breached the WHO (lower limit) and World Bank limits at all temperatures and over all spill media and consequently the toxicity potentials exceeded 1.0 which were indications of hazards to human health. The study concluded that particulate emissions during crude oil could be high enough to pose threats and suggested adequate protection for cleaning up workers.

Prediction of PM2.5 concentrations in Malaysia using machine learning techniques: a review

Particulate matter (PM), an air pollutant that is detrimental to breathing, is either emitted or formed ambiently. The exposure of respiratory system towards PM2.5, the fine particles of 2.5 micrometres diameter, causes complication for health. Thus, developing pollution control strategies requires the prediction of PM2.5concentrations. Advancement of technology and computer science knowledge, machine learning (ML) algorithms are used for highly accurate prediction of air pollutant concentrations. Recently, air quality in Smart Cities of Malaysia has been getting worse due to industrialization, emissions from private motor vehicles, and transboundary haze pollution. Therefore, the forecasting of PM2.5emissions to ensure they are within the statutory limits becomes necessary. Several machine learning methods have been implemented in existing research to predict air pollution concentrations in comparison to PM2.5. However, very few studies have used ML techniques to predict air quality in Malaysia when compared with global studies. Hence, to create awareness on the ML techniques and promote further research in this area, this study reviews and highlights most of the existing ML techniques for the prediction of PM2.5.

Distribution Network Reliability and Efficiency Enhancement Using Distributed Generation

The Nigerian power sector is faced with many challenges such as: generation deficit, inefficiency and power loss over lengthy transmission and distribution lines, contribution to greenhouse gas emission, weak and dilapidated transmission and distribution infrastructure, dependence on fossil fuels, insufficient power. Efforts should be put in place by relevant authorities to improve the power sector. With the distribution network being the closest to the final consumer, efforts should be made to make it more efficient. This study therefore aims at improving the performance of poor distribution network using Distributed Generation (DG), optimally placed and sized in the network. The Asaba, 2 X 15MVA, 33/11kV injection substation in Asaba, Delta state of Nigeria consisting of Anwai road feeder and SPC feeder radiating outwardly from this injection substation was the focus of this study. Relevant data collected from Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) was used to carry out load flow study. The simulation and analysis of the result and injection of photovoltaic (PV) DG of Asaba injection substation distribution network using Newton-Raphson iteration technique in ETAP 12.6environment to ascertain the overall performance of the network under base loading condition was modelled from a drawn detailed single line diagram of the network. DGs were optimally placed in specific buses in the network using loss sensitivity analysis. The result revealed that prior to DG placement in the network, only 10.4% of the buses were within statutory voltage limit (394.25V – 435.75V or 0.95p.u – 1.05p.u) and 89.6% of the load buses in the network violated the statutory voltage limit and high losses (active and reactive) of 1329.08kW and 2031kVar. After the optimal placement of DG, the active and reactive power losses on the network reduced by 57.5% and 70.7%. While the voltage profile improved by 94.8%, thereby increasing the capacity, reliability and efficiency of distribution network.

Power Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement in Electrical Power Distribution Networks Using Static Var Compensators

<p class='IJASEITAbtract'>Rising demand for electrical power due to the global technological advancement has brought so many challenges such as instability of voltage, huge power loss, and unstable power factor on the distribution network. This work applied Static Var Compensator (SVC) to the power distribution network of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, to study its effect on active power loss reduction and voltage profile improvement of the network. The bus voltage, power, and the current flowing through the selected feeders were measured and recorded accordingly for analysis. Test network parameters like route length, transformer parameters, and maximum power flow were obtained from Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The distribution network was then modeled and simulated with and without SVC in NEPLAN software environment. The simulation results of the power flow and voltage stability analyses of the network without SVCs showed that some distribution lines were overloaded and that the network parameters were not within the statutory tolerable limits of 0.95 p.u. and 1.05 p.u. nominal voltage. There was 9.73% reduction in the active power loss when SVCs were incorporated into the test network. The voltage stability curve showed an increase in distribution network capacity from an initial steady-state of 150% to 263% of the total active load when the SVCs were incorporated. Hence, the need to normalize the network by applying SVCs to all the buses with very low voltages. This work will assist the power distribution supply companies in making some informed decisions in reducing power losses on their networks.

Spatial risk assessment of radiocesium contamination of edible mushrooms – Lessons from a highly frequented recreational area

The radioactive contamination of edible mushrooms increases human health hazards, especially in high mushroom collection intensity areas. Today only coarse-scale data with low spatial resolution are available, which prevents us from predicting human risk. To reduce the risk for human health, we need spatially explicit recommendations at landscape-scale. We used the Bavarian Forest National Park, a famous mushroom hunting location in Europe, as a model system. We aimed to increase the predictability of the contamination of the two most prominent mushroom species, bay boletus (Imleria badia) and ceps (Boletus edulis), and provide an efficient evidence-based risk assessment at landscape-scale. We revealed a high and a low 137Cs-activity impact area based on soil samples, which is also reflected by the mushroom species. 137Cs-activity of Imleria badia is about five times higher than the contamination of Boletus edulis; with one-third of the Imleria badia samples being over the statutory limit. The difference of contamination between species is more pronounced in the high-impact area. Elevation is a strong predictor in contrast to orientation of slopes. In high-impact areas, mushrooms showed higher 137Cs-activities at lower elevations. Soil analysis revealed that the maximum of the 137Cs-activity is still in the organic layers, indicating further mushroom contamination. We recommend using only Boletus edulis in the low-impact area for diet. We suggest that Boletus edulis bear a lower health risk than Imleria badia due to lower 137Cs-activities. Nevertheless, we need more landscape-scale studies to assess the 137Cs contamination risk for humans. Studies are primarily important in high-impact areas, which can be roughly identified by using soil contamination maps. The focus should be on high accumulating mushroom species like Imleria badia. Our study can serve as a blueprint to rapidly assess human health risks caused by radioactive contamination in landscapes intensively used by mushroom collectors.

Phycoremediation of pollutants from secondary treated coke-oven wastewater using poultry litter as nutrient source: a cost-effective polishing technique.

This article focuses on the phycoremediation of pollutants from secondary treated coke-oven effluent through a green and economical route. A microalgal sample was collected and identified as a consortium of Chlorella sp. and Synechococcus sp. The culture cost was reduced by using poultry litter extract as supplementary material to BG-11 medium. Since the major pollutants present in real secondary treated coke-oven wastewater are phenol, ammoniacal-N (NH4+) and cyanide, several matrices were designed with these three major pollutants by varying their initial concentrations such as phenol (2-10 mg/L), cyanide (0.3-1 mg/L) and NH4+ (100-200 mg/L), termed as simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater. Maximum removal was observed with individual solutions of phenol (4 mg/L), cyanide (0.6 mg/L) and NH4+ (175 mg/L), while maximum removal in simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater was observed at higher concentrations of phenol (8 mg/L) and cyanide (0.8 mg/L) and the same concentration of NH4+ (175 mg/L). A consortium was found effective to meet statutory limits of pollutants. Kinetic model was developed for predicting growth of consortium and observed that the poultry litter extract-enriched BG-11 medium showed higher values of maximum specific growth rate (0.56 per day) and carrying capacity (1,330 mg/L) than that in BG-11 medium only.

Monte Carlo analysis for solar PV impact assessment in MV distribution networks

The rapid penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in distribution networks has imposed various implications on network operations. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the stochastic nature of PV generation and load demand to address the operational challenges in future PV-rich distribution networks. This paper proposes a Monte Carlo based probabilistic framework for assessing the impact of PV penetration on medium voltage (MV) distribution networks. The uncertainties associated with PV installation capacity and its location, as well as the time-varying nature of PV generation and load demand were considered for the implementation of the probabilistic framework. A case study was performed for a typical MV distribution network in Malaysia, demonstrating the effectiveness of Monte Carlo analysis in evaluating the potential PV impacts in the future. A total of 1000 Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to accurately identify the influence of PV penetration on voltage profiles and network losses. Besides, several key metrics were used to quantify the technical performance of the distribution network. The results revealed that the worst repercussion of high solar PV penetration on typical Malaysian MV distribution networks is the violation of the upper voltage statutory limit, which is likely to occur beyond 70% penetration level.

Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate and Misalignment: The Sierra Leone Perspective

This paper estimates the equilibrium real effective exchange rate and determine the level of exchange rate misalignment in Sierra Leone, for the period 1980 to 2018. The paper utilizes the behavioral equilibrium exchange rate methodology within the Johansen maximum likelihood framework to estimate the long run equilibrium real effective exchange rate. The unit root test result shows that all the variables are integrated of order one, whilst the cointegration test establishes the existence of one cointegrating vector as evidenced by both the Trace and Maximum Eigen Statistics. The normalized long run results reveal that openness, government expenditure and money supply were the most significant determinants of the real effective exchange rate in the long run. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the real effective exchange rate experienced sustained deviation from the long run equilibrium real effective exchange rate during the study period, with episodes of overvaluation and undervaluation. Specifically, the real effective exchange rate was overvalued by 3.69 percent during the period between 1980-1985; undervalued by 1.8 percent between 1986-1997, and overvalued by 0.9 percent between 1998-2004, Thus, the paper reveals episodes of misalignment of the real effective exchange rate. Based on these findings, the study recommends that, the monetary authorities should ensure stability of the exchange rate and maintain price stability, through sterilization of capital flows as well as contain money growth within the statutory limit.

Estimation of Optimal Speed Limits for Urban Roads Using Traffic Information Big Data

The use of an inconsistent speed limit determination method can cause low speed limit compliance. Therefore, we developed an objective methodology based on engineering judgment considering the traffic accident rate in road sections, the degree of roadside development, and the geometric characteristics of road sections in urban roads. The scope of this study is one-way roads with two or more lanes in cities, and appropriate sections were selected among all roads in Seoul. These roads have speed limits of the statutory maximum speed of 80 km/h or lower and are characterized by various speeds according to the function of the road, the roadside development, and traffic conditions. The optimal speed limits of urban roads were estimated by applying the characteristics of variables as adjustment factors based on the statutory maximum speed limit. As a result of investigating and testing various influence variables, the function of roads, the existence of median, the level of curbside parking, the number of roadside access points, and the number of traffic breaks were selected as optional variables that influence the operating speed. The speed limit of one-way roads with two or more lanes in Seoul was approximately 10 km/h lower than the current speed limit. The existing speed limits of the roads were applied uniformly considering only the functional road class. However, considering the road environment, the speed limit should be applied differently for each road. In the future, if the collection scope and real-time collection of road environment information can be determined, the GIS visualization of traffic safety information will be possible for all road sections and the safety of road users can be ensured.

Highly variable soil dissipation of metaldehyde can explain its environmental persistence and mobility

There are increasing concerns about the hazard posed to drinking water resources by persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances in the environment. For example, the extensive use of metaldehyde-based molluscicide to control slug populations in agricultural fields has frequently led to pollution of surface waters and contamination of drinking water at levels exceeding the statutory limit. Regulatory environmental fate assessments and studies in the literature did not predict that metaldehyde would be persistent in the environment, contrary to observations from monitoring schemes. To understand the reasons for this disparity, this study conducted a suite of degradation experiments, covering different soil types and environmentally realistic conditions in Northern Europe, and generated a distribution of DT50 values for metaldehyde to examine whether degradation rates are underestimated by current risk assessments. The results were found to vary, showing DT50 values ranging from 3.0 to 4150 days, which indicated that metaldehyde had the potential to become persistent. Lack of prior metaldehyde exposure, high moisture content, low temperature, and locally high metaldehyde concentration under pellets were identified as high-risk conditions for low pesticide biodegradation in UK soils.

The disposition principle in civil proceedings

Shtefan A. The disposition principle in civil proceedings. The disposition (from the Latin «dispono» — to dispose) in the most general sense in the legal context means the ability to act at own discretion, to independently choose the direction of their behavior within the limits established by law. In different branches of law, the disposition has its own specific features but its basis is always that the subject of the relevant legal relationship is endowed with a certain freedom of choice in the exercise of their rights and independently disposes of them.The dispositive nature of civil proceedings has the following elements:1) civil proceedings in the case are based on the fact that its occurrence is possible only by virtue of the application of the person concerned to the court. The only grounds for initiating proceedings in the case is the submission of the application of the interested person in accordance with the requirements established by lawand in accordance with the procedure established by law;2) the court considers civil cases within the requirements stated in the case which include the requirements stated in the main claim, in a counterclaim, and in a third party claim;&#x0D; 3) consideration of civil cases is carried out solely on the basis of evidence submitted by the parties to the case or required by the court in cases provided by law. The main burden of filling the case with evidence rests with the parties to the case, and the court assists them in obtaining evidence by demanding it only in casesestablished by law;4) the party to the case, as well as the person who has legal capacity and in whose interests the claim is filed, disposes of their rights in relation to the subject matter of the dispute at their own discretion. This rule covers only procedural, not substantive rights, and applies only to rights relating to the subject matter of the dispute. In addition, the possibility of discretion of the party to the case in relation to their procedural rights on the subject matter of the dispute is allowed to the extent provided by procedural law;5) the court engages the relevant body or person that has the right to protect the rights, freedoms, and interests of others if the actions of the legal representative are contrary to the interests of the person he represents. In case of discrepancy between the interests of this person and the actions of his legal representative, the court is authorized to involve a body or person who is legally entitled to protect the rights, freedoms, and interests of others to participate in the case;6) the collecting of evidence in civil cases is not the obligation of the court except in cases established by procedural law. The court should not act in this direction instead of an inactive party to the case; the mandatory authority of the court to collect evidence is due to the direct indication of in which cases and what evidence is collected by the court itself;7) the court has the right to collect evidence relating to the subject matter of the dispute on its own initiative only in cases where it is necessary to protect minors or minors or persons who have been declared incompetent or whose capacity is limited, as well as in other cases provided by procedural law.The disposition as a basis of civil proceedings determines the only possible condition for the process of consideration of the case — the application of the interested person to the court, the limits of consideration of the case — stated by the interested person requirements, the basis of the case — evidence submitted by the parties or demanded by the court. The disposition also means the freedom of the party to dispose of their procedural rights in relation to the subject matter of the dispute, the absence of any obstacles to the implementation of such an order at its discretion. This freedom is not absolute and it has the statutory limits. Such limits are necessary for the effective functioning of the civil procedural form, in particular, the observance of reasonable time limits for civil cases and the prevention of abuse of procedural rights.Key words: disposition, disposition principle, civil proceedings

Insurance claims in Uganda: A Critical Analysis of the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act Cap 214

“Insurance is an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table” (Bierce, 1911)A total of 9,000 people lost their lives in road accidents in the last three years according to the recent Traffic Police reports while the 2017 Ministry of Works and Transport reported that at least 10 people die every day due to bodaboda-related accidents. Kiva (2018, p. 4). This is in addition to a big number of individuals who have suffered bodily injuries in road accidents and who are not usually tracked. Taking the case study of the Gaagaa bus accident which took place along Kiryandogo road, the government of Uganda compensated the families of the accident victims with shs.5,000,000/= (Five Million Uganda Shillings Only) and shs.3,000,000/= (Three Million Uganda Shillings only) for the relatives of deceased and injured victims respectively. Surprisingly, there is no indication that the motor vehicles involved in this accident were government-owned or uninsured as to entitle victims involved to compensation from the government. Besides, the amount compensated was above the statutory limit of shs.150,000/= (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Uganda Shillings) inclusive of costs incidental to the judgment!!!The dilemma of third-party insurance compensation policy is embedded in the fact that there is a big number of victims who are not compensated as there are also many policyholders who have not benefited from the cover because they have not caused or been involved in an accident. This calls for a critical analysis of the insurance claims in Uganda in light of the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act Cap 214 to address this injustice.This article presents the current legal framework for compensation against the insured. It analyses the challenges of insurers with the said legal framework. It recommends among others the amendment of S.39 of the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act Cap 214 to establish a compensation policy that can benefit policyholders and to establish a Motor Insurance Information Centre which can facilitate the third-party suits against insurers. Keywords: Third-party, Insurance, Compensation, Indemnity. DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/110-04 Publication date: June 30 th 2021

Modelling and Simulation of 330 KV, 600 MW Shiroro Substation in the DIgSILENT Environment for Integration of Hybrid Solar PV – Hydro System to Improve Power Supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja from Shiroro, Nigeria

This research paper focuses on modelling and simulation of 330 KV, 600 MW Shiroro Substation in the DIgSILENT Environment for the integration of Hybrid Solar PV – Hydro System to improve power supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, Nigeria. A hybrid energy system is a system that combines multiple types of energy generations to satisfy the demand of the users effectively and efficiently. The Solar Photovoltaic (PV)/Hydro hybrid system consists of electrical energy generated from solar PV and hydro energy. Effect of environmental issues, reduction of fossil fuels in addition to its high cost have actively encouraged interest in great integration of renewable energy sources in power systems. This work capitalized on the possibilities of harnessing commercial solar energy and feeding it to the National grid through a nearby 330 KV substation at Shiroro Dam. The simulation is carried out in DIgSILENT (Power factory) environment. The Shiroro 16 kV, 330 kV, 600 MW Transmission Lines are modelled, and results of simulations of the five bus bars (Jebba, Shiroro, Gwagwalada, Katampe and Kaduna) voltages directly connected to Shiroro Network are: 331.8kV, 331.7 kV, 329.3 kV, 325.6 kV and 332.2 kV, respectively. All the values are within the Operational and Statutory Limits of the National Grid Code.

The Modelling and Simulation of 330 KV, 600 MW Shiroro Substation in the DIgSILENT Environment for Integration of Hybrid Solar PV – Hydro System to Improve Power Supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja from Shiroro, Nigeria

This research paper focuses on modelling and simulation of 330 KV, 600 MW Shiroro Substation in the DIgSILENT Environment for the integration of Hybrid Solar PV – Hydro System to improve power supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, Nigeria. A hybrid energy system is a system that combines multiple types of energy generations to satisfy the demand of the users effectively and efficiently. The Solar Photovoltaic (PV)/Hydro hybrid system consists of electrical energy generated from solar PV and hydro energy. Effect of environmental issues, reduction of fossil fuels in addition to its high cost have actively encouraged interest in great integration of renewable energy sources in power systems. This work capitalized on the possibilities of harnessing commercial solar energy and feeding it to the National grid through a nearby 330 KV substation at Shiroro Dam. The simulation is carried out in DIgSILENT (Power factory) environment. The Shiroro 16 kV, 330 kV, 600 MW Transmission Lines are modelled, and results of simulations of the five bus bars (Jebba, Shiroro, Gwagwalada, Katampe and Kaduna) voltages directly connected to Shiroro Network are: 331.8kV, 331.7 kV, 329.3 kV, 325.6 kV and 332.2 kV, respectively. All the values are within the Operational and Statutory Limits of the National Grid Code.

An exploration of the impact of ethanol diluent on breath alcohol concentration in patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy.

This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the impact of paclitaxel chemotherapy on breath alcohol in an Irish population. Patients attending the Oncology Day Unit at Beaumont Hospital were invited to participate on the day of their treatment. The brand of paclitaxel used was Actavis Pharma Inc and contained 6mg/mL paclitaxel in 50% Ethanol/ 50% Cremophor EL. Breath alcohol concentration was measured using the AlcoSense ™ Breathalyser on three separate visits. The primary end-point was the number of patients who were above the legal threshold for drink driving in Ireland. In total, 50 patients were recruited. 36 (68%) were female. The most common diagnosis was breast cancer (56%). Ten (20%) patients had metastatic disease and 4 (8%) had liver metastases. The mean paclitaxel dose administered was 118mg. The mean amount of ethanol infused was 7.7g. 27 patients had a detectable breath alcohol level on at least one visit. The mean breath alcohol concentration was 2mcg/100mL or 0.02mg/L of breath. The maximum concentration of ethanol in exhaled breath was 11mcg/100mL or 0.11mg/L which is 50% of the statutory limit for drink driving in Ireland. A weak correlation was observed between ethanol concentration in exhaled breath and the total amount of ethanol administered. Although no patient exceeded the general limit for drink driving in Ireland, three (6%) participants had a breath alcohol concentration above the threshold for professional, learner or novice drivers. Although definitive conclusions are limited by relatively small numbers, it seems unlikely that weekly paclitaxel infusions pose any significant risk to patients driving.

Harmonic Analysis of a Third Rail Systems: A Case Study in Malaysia

Harmonic distortion is one of the most important power quality issues in third rail electrification systems. The use of rectifiers and inverters in the third rail system can inject a significant amount of harmonic distortion to the electrical network. This paper aims to investigate the harmonic distortions for a DC urban third rail system at various operating conditions. The electrical network of Mass Rapid Transit Line 2 (MRT 2) Malaysia is modelled using ETAP software. The model had considered the effect of the inter-phase transformer in the 12-pulse rectifier. The current injection method is used to measure harmonic distortion at Point of Common Coupling (PCC) at the 132 kV and 33 kV buses. A normal and degraded operating conditions of power supply are investigated. From the simulation results, it is found that the 11th and 13th order harmonics have exceeded the statutory limit at 33 kV network for the normal operating condition. For the degraded operating condition, only the 11th harmonic order has exceeded the statutory limit. Keywords: Harmonic Distortion; DC Urban Rail; Various Operating Conditions

Arsenic accumulation, speciation and bioavailability in rice cultivated in arsanilic acid exposed soil

The present study used various amounts of P-arsanilic acid (AsA) in pot experiments to evaluate the effects of AsA on arsenic (As) accumulation, speciation and meanwhile using the in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model to evaluate the bioavailability of As in rice. The results indicated a linear relationship between As in rice and As in soil, and at 75 mg AsA/kg of soil, As content in rice exceeded the statutory permissible limit of 0.2 mg As/kg dry weight in China. Speciation studies indicated that inorganic As (Asi), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were the main As species in rice. Bioavailability of As experiment indicated that As uptake and transport amount by Caco-2 cells increased with increasing As accumulation in rice. In general, the content of AsA in soil reached or exceeded 75 mg/kg, which is not suitable for growing rice.

Fair-Optimal Bilevel Transactive Energy Management for Community of Microgrids

The inappropriate mechanism designs for demand response (DR) in the community of microgirds (CoMGs) may cause massive problems, such as increase of consumers&#x2019; costs, rebound peaks, and thereby lack of optimality in the network. In this article, a bilevel energy management system (EMS) is proposed to tackle the challenges associated with DR programs for CoMGs. The current structure successfully models users&#x2019; behavior and dissatisfaction in the first level of optimization to develop best DR program for each of them. Moreover, in the second level, power system constraints are taken into account to prevent voltage and current deviation from their statutory limits. Each user is assumed to be part of a microgrid (MG) whose operation is controlled and optimized through its local EMS in the first level. On the other hand, the overall operation of all MGs is delegated to the whole system operator, which acts as the central EMS (CEMS) in the second level. An iterative transactive energy management method is proposed by CEMS to fairly limit the excess power of the MGs one day ahead for voltage and current regulation. The obtained results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed structure in preventing discomfort issues, voltage deviation and creation of the rebound peaks in the system.

Coordinated charging and discharging control of electric vehicles to manage supply voltages in distribution networks: Assessing the customer benefit

Increased worldwide uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs) accentuates the need for developing coordinated EV charging and discharging methods that mitigate detrimental and sustained under-voltage and over-voltage conditions in distribution networks. In this paper, a centrally coordinated EV charge-discharge scheduling method is proposed, referred to as Network-aware EV Charging (and Discharging) N-EVC(D), that takes into account both EV customer economics and distribution grid constraints. Specifically, N-EVC(D) is designed to maintain quasi-steady-state feeder voltages within statutory power quality limits, while minimizing EV customer operational costs associated with: (1) purchasing (or otherwise being compensated for delivering) electricity on a time-of-use tariff; and (2) battery degradation due to frequent charging and discharging. The optimization problem for N-EVC(D) is formulated as a quadratic program, with voltage constraints to limit voltage variability across a radial distribution feeder, and individual EV constraints to satisfy heterogeneous EV charge requirements. In N-EVC(D), each grid-connected EV follows an operator-specified battery schedule that is obtained by solving the proposed quadratic program. A receding horizon implementation is also proposed to support near-real-time N-EVC(D) operations while accommodating non-deterministic EV arrivals and departures. The benefits of N-EVC(D) are assessed by means of numerical simulations carried out on an IEEE test feeder populated with a real-world dataset of residential load collected from households within an Australian distribution network. The simulation results confirm that N-EVC(D) mitigates non-compliant voltage deviations that would otherwise occur when voltage constraints are not enforced. Compared to uncoordinated EV charging, N-EVC(D) offers a 92% – 111% reduction in the operational costs incurred by EV customers.