Uninterrupted Electricity Supply Research Articles

Electricity and Biofuel Production from Biomass in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward

Nigeria currently produces less energy required for uninterrupted electricity supply. This situation has led to an energy crisis that is adversely affecting every sector of the economy. An exploration of energy contributions from different sources could help address the energy crisis in Nigeria. This paper aims at promoting the commercial availability of electricity from biomass in Nigeria. The biomass potentials identified include conventional crops, agricultural residues, tertiary residues; forest residues; energy crops; grasses and aquatic weeds including algae. Conversion of biomass to bioenergy can be achieved through anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis or esterification. Although the prospects are bright, challenges facing bioenergy in Nigeria, include inadequate information on feedstock; uncomprehensive research and development capacity; poor policy formulation and implementation; poor regulatory framework, poor investment climate and poor access to technology. An integrated approach is recommended to include the establishment of Nigerian Biofuel Corporation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement and a Nigerian Network on Bioenergy.

Determining wind energy resources in Turkmenistan

THE PURPOSE. Studying the complex issues associated with providing consumers who are away from the central power supply system with environmentally safe renewable energy source, i.e. conversion of wind energy into electrical energy and uninterrupted supply of electricity to consumers. In this area, one of the complex issues is to determine the wind energy resources in the area where it is planned to install a wind farm.The article deals with the determination of wind energy resources in Turkmenistan. Using databases obtained from meteorological stations over several years, calculations of wind energy resources by region are carried out. This will quickly and in detail analyze the wind energy potential in a particular area to assess the choice of capacity of the projected wind turbines, with the aim of ensuring sustainable development of the region and the reliability of electricity supply.METHODS. In order to estimate the wind energy resources in the area it is necessary to determine the average wind speed per year. In this research work the average annual wind speeds obtained from meteorological stations installed in different regions of Turkmenistan were used. These data were compared with the actual data obtained from the 2 kW wind power plant installed at the research site of the State Energy institute of Turkmenistan and the relevant graphs were built. The results of the obtained data can be used for optimal selection of wind power plant locations and assessment of wind energy resources of the region. RESULTS.As a result of the calculations, wind energy reserves in the region and for the regions of Turkmenistan were determined, as well as the optimal locations of wind farms.Using the technical characteristics of a 2kW wind power plant, the average annual electricity output of a wind power plant of different capacity is determined.With the correct definition of wind energy potential, there is an opportunity to solve energy, economic, environmental and social issues of the country. And also there is an opportunity to mitigate climate change on the basis of wind energy installations, and their resources, environmental benefits, goals and objectives on the scientific methodological basis in the field of wind energy for implementation of state programs for energy conservation in Turkmenistan and energy supply of the region.CONCLUSIONS. On the basis of the carried out scientific work the wind energy resources and technical potentials of wind power plants in the territory of Turkmenistan were determined and the database for compiling the wind energy cadastre was created.

Energy crossroads and prioritization of energy choices: the case of India

AbstractFor countries like India, energy policy challenge lies in planning for a national energy portfolio which ensures uninterrupted supply of affordable electricity while reducing carbon emissions with the least socio‐economic impediments like land acquisition. This study illustrates prioritization of seven major energy alternatives for power generation on the basis of their direct and dynamic land requirements, generation cost, carbon emission and reliability of generation. Detailed data of typical power plants in India are used, and the energy sources are then ranked using the MCDM TOPSIS technique in five different scenarios of policy focus. Results indicate that (i) India needs to focus more on gas‐based generation to phase out coal and gradually transition to a cleaner energy path and (ii) among renewables, solar is a clearer choice over wind in terms of both cost and land requirement per tonne of carbon abatement.

Utilization and Effectiveness of ICT as Agricultural Information Delivery System in Thakurgao, Bangladesh

The study was conducted in Thakurgaon sadar Upazila to determine farmers’ perception of the extent and factors of ICTs effectiveness in transferring farming information. A total of 250 people who were already been taken services from different ICT center was selected as sample respondents following a random sampling technique. Primary data were collected using a predesigned interview schedule. Findings revealed that 57.2% of the respondents contacted with Union Digital Center while 38.8% contacted with government own ICT center AICC (Agricultural Information and Communication Center) for their farming-related information. Majority (79.2%) of the respondents opined that they have utilized ICTs moderately to highly whereas three-fourth of the respondents found ICTs moderately to extremely effective in transferring farming technology. Uninterrupted electricity supply, high speed of internet, providing regular training on ICTs, skilled staff and technicians for ICTs and provision for repairing ICT tools are being perceived as significant factors of ICTs effectiveness. Near future, ICT may offer a great opportunity to facilitate the flow of information and technology service delivery to the rural people of Bangladesh.

Linking socio-economic aspects to power system disruption models

Increasing reliance on uninterrupted electricity supply against emerging threats such as climate change and cyberattacks calls for higher resilience of societies against power disruptions. A better understanding of social and economic impacts during these disruptions would be important for planning of resilience improvements. However, traditional energy system models rarely include these aspects. This paper presents an integrated framework containing a geospatial power system operation model, capable of emulating system component failures and restoration according to environmental conditions, with a link to spatial social and economic values such as population, economic activity, critical services and facilities. The framework was applied for analyzing the effects of uncontrolled and controlled power outages for two windy winter weeks in Finland. This case illustrated how controlled optimization could reduce the societal costs of such outage by shifting power shortage to regions where such costs are lower and in part by shifting the costs to other factors.

Анализ динамической характеристической кривой системы электроснабжения автомобилей

Units of modern cars require an uninterrupted supply of electricity of the required quality, therefore, the prompt determination of the technical condition of the power supply system (SE) is an urgent task. During the operation of the car, there is a dynamic redistribution of electricity consumed for the needs of consumers between the car generator and the storage battery (AKB). The efficiency of the balance of electricity on board the car is influenced not only by the power of consumers, the mode of movement of the car, weather and climatic factors, but also by the technical condition of the generator and battery, however, insufficient attention has been paid to this. It has been established that the currents of the generator, the field winding and the battery, as well as the voltage of the on-board network, can serve as indicators of the technical condition of the vehicle’s ESS. The purpose of the article is to develop typical loading modes of a vehicle’s solar cell and a technique for their modeling in laboratory conditions. The leading method for solving this problem is fixing the ESS parameters using an analog data recorder with variations in the load current and the generator rotor speed. In the course of the experiment, the loading modes were changed in the order of increasing the generator rotor speed. The nature of the change in the parameters of the solar cell in the case of a working generator and a charged battery has been determined. The efficiency of the solar cell can be indirectly estimated by the ratio of the areas limited by the charging and discharging currents of the battery of the dynamic characteristic curve. With a load current of 10 A, the energy supplied by the battery generator exceeds the energy consumed for the work of consumers. When the load current increases to 15 A, the energy balance shifts towards the discharge part. The experimentally established dependences of the change in the parameters of the solar cell with variations in the load and speed modes of operation can be considered a scientific novelty. The practical significance of the research carried out is to increase the reliability of diagnosing SE based on the analysis of indicators of its technical condition. Further research will be aimed at determining changes in the parameters of the vehicle’s ESS in the process of occurrence and development of generator and battery malfunctions.

RETRACTED: Paving towards Strategic Investment Decision: A SWOT Analysis of Renewable Energy in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, being a developing country, needs an uninterrupted electricity supply to sustain and expand economic growth. The government’s strategic vision of 2021 and the international commitment under the Paris Agreement has meant to attract new capital investments for renewable electricity generation by diversifying energy blends, ranging from natural gas to more reliable coal technologies and renewable energy. To understand the practical implementation of such policies, this paper explores the key factors of the renewable energy (RE) sector of Bangladesh. This research has adopted the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis method to examine the RE market and to understand the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) to attract new investments. For the analysis purposes, data were collected from extant literature and semi-structured interviews from the RE experts in Bangladesh. This study bears significance as it empirically reflects the government’s vision and strategy on RE development and analyzes its challenges and recommends accordingly. The analysis of the study reveals that the regulatory framework, tax haven/exemption, higher tariff, and presence of government guarantee are the major strengths to draw foreign investment. On the contrary, land acquisition, lack of coordination and collaboration among government authorities, administrative procedures, corruption, and access to local finance turns out to be the key weaknesses to consider while investing in this sector. In terms of the external factors, increasing energy demand, increasing global awareness of climate change, and decreasing cost of RE setup equipment act as potent opportunities; while the dominance of fossil fuel and discontinuity of energy policies should be taken as threats that can hinder the flow of investment in this sector. Hence, in order to attract sustainable FDI in the RE sector, several key areas need to be strengthened in the short, medium, and long-term. These are: (i) regulations on non-discriminatory treatment to foreign investors; (ii) control of corruption; (iii) protection of intellectual property rights; and (iv) coordination and collaboration between ministries.

DISASSEMBLABLE VACUUM CHAMBER AS AN INNOVATIVE TEST STAND DESIGNED FOR RESEARCH ON IMPROVING THE OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS OF POWER SWITCHING APPARATUS

Polish power industry is characterized by outdated elements and in poor technical condition. This applies mainly to overhead lines operating at medium and high voltage (MV and HV) levels. Moreover, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) requires the Distribution System Operators to supply electricity with specified parameters, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to end users. Failure to meet these conditions results in specific financial penalties. In connection with with the above, there is a strong need to upgrade the existing electricity grids using modern equipment. The article presents an innovative, original research position based on the so-called dismountable vacuum chamber, which allows to conduct research on improving the performance of modern switching equipment used in Smart Grid networks. The article also presents the results of the electric strength tests of the inter-contact break in order to confirm the correctness of operation of the described test stand.

Secure data analytics for smart grid systems in a sustainable smart city: Challenges, solutions, and future directions

A smart city requires an intelligent infrastructure to improve the quality of life with sustainable environment for its citizens. There is an exponential demand for efficient, secure, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity supply, so there is a need for an intelligent grid, which uses Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to optimize the generation, circulation, and ingestion of electricity. Thus, Smart Grid (SG) acts as an intelligent grid, which plays an important role in the overall growth of any smart city. Further, the Big Data (BD) generated from SG, provides noteworthy information that could significantly benefit different applications of SG, such as demand response and load profiling. However, an insecure technique for decision-making may lead to the breach of SG data where hackers gained full access to consumer data. On the contrary, a secure technique for decision-making can provide satisfaction to all the stakeholders, including consumers and utility providers. Motivated from these facts, this paper presents a comprehensive literature survey and analysis of state-of-the-art proposals for Secure Data Analytics (SDA) in the SG system. However, to achieve SDA for the SG systems is one of the critical tasks. The existing research and development endeavors not fully exploited the SDA in the SG system. In this paper, we discuss the distinctive nature of SDA and its complexity over the SG data. A detailed taxonomy abstracted into a novel process model, which highlights various research challenges such as secure data collection and preprocessing, secure load data processing and storage, load prediction, load management and analysis, data security and privacy issues, and data communication. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate the process model.

Benchmarking of a distributed-memory, high-order discontinuous finite element flow solver on a shared-memory parallel architecture

High-order numerical schemes implemented on high-performance parallel computers are of special interest for contemporary numerical simulations, especially in computational fluid dynamics. In this study, first, a high-order parallel flow solver is presented for some test cases of aerodynamic simulations. The flow solver is based on a discontinuous Galerkin finite element method on arbitrary grids with different orders of polynomial approximation for solving the compressible flow model. Second, the distributed-memory parallel implementation of the flow solver is benchmarked on a shared-memory multicore system. A distributed-memory parallel application can be executed on shared-memory architectures by assuming that each of the parallel processes assumes separate memory address space, although all are present in a common memory bank. This approach can offer an effective measure to address several issues related to limited resources, especially for uninterrupted electric supply. The scalability of the parallel application is analyzed by varying the problem workload per process for the test cases. For some test cases in the present study, over 90% parallel efficiency per process is also observed. The performance of the distributed-memory program on the shared-memory architecture establishes suitability and robustness of the approach for small to medium scale problems, at least.

Wind energy potential assessment for KPT with a comparison of different methods of determining Weibull parameters

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate wind power potential of site using wind speed, wind direction and other meteorological data including temperature and air density collected over a period of one year. Design/methodology/approach The site-specific air density, wind shear, wind power density, annual energy yield and capacity factors have been calculated at 30 and 10 m above the ground level (AGL). The Weibull parameters have been calculated using empirical, maximum likelihood, modified maximum likelihood, energy pattern and graphical methods to determine the other dependent parameters. The accuracies of these methods are determined using correlation coefficient (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE) values. Findings The site-specific wind shear coefficient was found to be 0.18. The annual mean wind speeds were found to be 5.174 and 4.670 m/s at 30 and 10 m heights, respectively, with corresponding standard deviations of 2.085 and 2.059. The mean wind power densities were found to be 59.50 and 46.75 W/m² at 30 and 10 m heights, respectively. According to the economic assessment, the wind turbine A is capable of producing wind energy at the lowest value of US$ 0.034/kWh. Practical implications This assessment provides the sustainable solution of energy which minimizes the dependence on continuous supply of oil and gas to run the conventional power plants that is a major cause of increasing load shedding in the significant industrial and thickly populated city of Pakistan. Also, this will minimize the quarrel between the local power producer and oil and gas supplier during the peak season. Social implications This wind resource assessment has some important social implications including decreasing the environmental issues, enhancing the uninterrupted supply of electricity and decreasing cost of energy per kWh for the masses of Karachi. Originality/value The results are showing that the location can be used for installing the wind energy power plant at the lower cost per kWh compared to other energy sources. The wind energy is termed as sustainable solution at the lowest cost.

POWER ENGINEERING PROBLEMS OF THE FRONT-LINE AREAS OF CENTRAL OF RUSSIA IN 1941–1945

The article studies the main problems of the power engineering of the front-line areas of the centre of Russia during World War II. The details of the evacuation of power plant equipment from the centre of the country to the Urals and Siberia, the organisation in the front-line zone of uninterrupted supply of electricity to the army and industrial enterprises, and the power plants recovery on the territory liberated from the enemy are shown. The problems and diffi culties in the work of labour collectives, such as providing power plants with fuel and workforce are pointed out. The main ways to overcome them are analysed. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the fi rst time an attempt is made for comprehensive, multi aspect study of the work of the branch in 1941-1945. The most important factors contributing to the organisation of the uninterrupted operation of energy facilities are elicited. Among them is a patriotic upsurge; the advantage of planned, policy-based methods for managing the industry; tightening, in accordance with the martial laws, labour legislation; the employment of prisoners of the Gulag of the NKVD of the USSR in the construction of power plants; achievements of scientists, inventors and innovators of production. The range of issues requiring further scientifi c study is determined.

Elderly care through unusual behavior detection: A disaster management approach using IoT and intelligence

This article attempts to provide a minimal disaster management framework for the elderly who are living alone. Elderly people are generally vulnerable to hazards and emergency situations. The proposed framework aims at developing an Internet of Things (IoT)-based intelligent, protective ecosystem for elderly that calls for help in emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, home fires, volcanic eruptions, and storms. This disaster system makes use of a range of calamity sensors in conjunction with in-house activities of the elderly subject. In the case of mishappening, the disaster relief authorities, community members, and other stakeholders will be instantly informed. All these sensors are powered through an uninterrupted electricity supply system, which will continue to work even in the case of power outages. The work carried out in this article is deeply inspired by the need to have holistic platforms that ensure a low-cost, robust, and responsive disaster alert system for the elderly (DASE) in place. Our objective is to overcome many of the shortcomings in the existing systems and offer a reactive disaster recovery technique. Additionally, this article also incorporates the need to take care of numerous important factors, for instance, the elderly individual's limited physical and cognitive limitations, ergonomic requirements, spending capacity, etc.

The scenario of e-education in covid-19 pandemic: A study on some selected Colleges of Bangladesh

The study is based on primary data collected from 30 (thirty) students, 10 (ten) online tutors, and 10 (ten) administrators of 5 (five) renowned colleges in Jashore area of Bangladesh. This paper tries to analyze their responses towards the 5 (five) distinctive variables such asfamily environment, online related costs, nature of the devices, online platforms, and related challenges of the education running in the dangerous virus called Covid-19 crisis.Findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents belong in a peaceful and calm atmosphere at home that is essential for conducting e-education, people are moderately interested to spend money on e-education purposesand amazingly habituated with mobile technology for performing their e-education during lockdown for the Covid-19 period. The study also depicted that Facebook Live is amore popular eeducation platform followed by the Zoom platform during the current pandemic situation. Based onresponses of the respondents the study identified that online tutors, learners, and administrators are unable to perform better in the e-education platform due to frequent load-shading, poor networking, operating error, and accessing error. The study suggests that concerned officials must practice easily operated online teaching mechanism, used a simple handled platform, ensure the uninterrupted electricity supply, issue a cost-effective internet package, enhance the speed of the networking system, and arrange online conferences occasionally with the participation of respective persons, etcto achievethe better scenario of e-education during the new normal situation.Small sample size and minor sample units are the major limitations of this study, thus further research is recommended to conduct focusing on large sample size as well as the representative sample units.

Investigation of Various Parameters of Dual Fuel Engine Using Biomass Waste – Producer Gas as an Induced Fuel

Due to various shortcomings of the transmission of electricity in rural areas, the concept of rural electrification is gaining popularity these days. Many small-scale biomass-based gasifier-engine systems are installed in the villages in order to provide an uninterrupted and cheap supply of electricity for various kinds of everyday requirements. In the present work, an optimized downdraft biomass gasifier is used to produce the producer gas from three different biomass materials viz. Sugarcane bagasse, cotton stalks and wood chips. These biomass materials are used in two different combinations viz. 1:1 ratio of sugarcane bagasse & wood chips; 1:1 ratio of cotton stalks and wood chips. The composition of gas produced from both the samples shows that the cotton stalks and wood chips generate a gas with higher calorific value as compared to the one produced using sugarcane bagasse and wood chips. These gases are used to run a dual fuel CI engine. The comparative investigation of various parameters, i.e. performance, emission and noise characteristics of a modified dual fuel engine is done, by running the engine on pilot fuel mode as well as on dual fuel mode using two different samples of producer gas. The maximum diesel replacement of ∼54% is observed with a ∼5% loss in brake thermal efficiency in the case when cotton stalks and wood chips are used as raw materials. The NOx emissions were reduced by ∼70% with a slight increase of ∼3 dB in the noise levels of the engine.

Storage System for Solar Plants

Power supply to consumers, especially in remote areas, is often subject to emergency power outages. This leads to numerous problems such as the breakdown of household appliances and electronics, the inability to provide vital functions in homes and special institutions, and production failure. Also, grid companies sometimes cannot efficiently provide energy to private consumers due to insufficient capacity of the power grid. This journal discusses the use of power plants on alternative energy sources and systems of accumulation of electric energy connected to renewable energy sources. Such systems can be used in parallel with the existing electric power grid, as well as directly by autonomous consumers. This journal also describes the possibility of providing electric power to individual consumers using solar panels in combination with a system of accumulator batteries. The process of charge–discharge of capacitive batteries in the photovoltaic module–battery system is studied in order to increase the efficiency of low-power autonomous power plants. Studies show an increase in the efficiency of the system designed for the individual consumer by 30%, as well as the possibility of uninterrupted operation. The proposed model of the combined photovoltaic and storage system avoids the problems associated with emergency power outages. More importantly, for various Russian Federation regions that are neither close to the generating facilities nor have reliable uninterrupted electricity supply, the presented system can significantly extend both the time of efficient use of energy resources and the service life of the equipment.

Simulation of a Hybrid Power Generation System (A Case Study of Oke Eda, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria)

Demand for energy is increasing day by day in our society due to increasing number of residence and industries. Meeting this demand has been a major challenge for utility providers (power providers) over the years, which crippled our economy in the power sector. This project presents a study and a deep exploit of renewable energy source such as solar, wind, biomass, and other forms of renewable energy. The design of a complete hybrid renewable power system model for day to day load demand of Oke eda in Akure city using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) and MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) is a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and proprietary programming language developed by MathWorks / Simulink, the sources of powers are photovoltaic (solar module) and diesel generator and the storage systems are batteries. The sizing, optimization and economic estimation of the model systems were performed using HOMER (hybrid optimization model for electric renewable) software and simulated using MATLAB. In addition, a comparison between the two different suggested power system configurations is illustrated in details. The control system handles the operations of the hybrid system by switching between the PV system and the diesel system and is intended to maximize the use of renewable system while limiting the use of diesel generator, which is allocated only when the demand cannot be met by the PV system. This project presents a review of renewable energy potentials in Nigeria to be tapped for useful and uninterrupted electric energy supply and provides a detailed analysis of the Quantum of electricity supply to Oke Eda, Akure and how to supplement for those lose hours in power supply (i.e. hours lost to power outage) via the combination of solar energy and diesel generator to augment for 20 hours of power unavailability in the community.

Hybrid power plants as an alternative to fit pumped-storage hydro in Brazilian electricity sector regulatory framework

Alternative sources of electricity have been growing recently despite their intermittence, which makes it impossible for these sources to guarantee constant and uninterrupted supply of electricity. Energy storage systems, such as pumped-storage (PS) power plants, can help to mitigate the intermittence of these sources. In Brazil, intense growth of intermittent sources has led the generation sector to high exposure to the spot market. Thus, Brazilian electricity sector has recently turned its attention to energy storage methods as a way of diminishing such exposure. However, Brazilian electricity-sector regulatory framework is not prepared for energy storage systems remuneration. This paper proposes a regulatory framework to insert hybrid electric generation units composed of PS and intermittent sources in Brazilian energy market. A linear optimization model exemplifies the operation of such system by minimizing costs for 1 day. The model was tested in three different scenarios, allowing comparison of operational costs and other aspects of the operation. The results demonstrate how a PS can help covering peak demand by storing energy to be used at moments when generation from intermittent sources is not sufficient. In the proposed regulatory framework for hybrid plants, expenses with spot market purchases can be diminished either by completely avoiding it or by purchasing only during lower demand level periods.

Micro Hydropower System Design for Gua Kelam Electricity Supply

Sufficient and uninterrupted electricity supply is one of the main factors to develop the country. Today, electricity can be generated using a variety of sources, whether from non-renewable sources as well as renewable resources. To generate electrical power, Malaysia can't rely entirely on non-renewable resources such as petroleum and coal as these are finite resources which are experiencing depletion around the world. Electricity generated from renewable sources such as water, particularly from micro hydropower systems is considered the cheapest and most environmentally friendly source of electrical energy. Based on the reconnaissance study conducted, the streams of flowing water in Gua Kelam have the potential to yield about 34.29 kW of electricity power, based on the head height of 27 m and flow rate 0.216 m3/s. In this paper, a model for an ordinary micro hydropower facility has been proposed. It links various electromechanical equipment consisting of a hydraulic turbine governor, and a synchronous generator. The modeling was executed to design a micro hydropower system as an alternative source of supply of electricity to Gua Kelam, Perlis. The proposed model was tested by placing a three-phase fault to earth for the purpose of testing the reliability of the system. With the selection of an appropriate control system, the proposed model is very suitable for the development of micro hydropower system at a potential site such as Gua Kelam.

Financial Performance of selected Units in Indian Power Sector: A Comparative analysis

The role played by power sector of India towards the development of Indian economy can never be ignored. The growth of the industrial base of the country has strong roots in the form of contribution made by the power sector of India. Thanks to LPG, the Indian grid system is now connected to the neighbouring countries which resulted into cross-border transaction of electricity in the form of imports and exports. In 2014 the Government of India launched a scheme, namely “Power to all”, to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity. The recent changes enhance the significance of Indian power sector. In the last decade some studies have been carried out to analyse the financial performance of Indian power sector. Most of the studies were based on data related to only one company. However, the results of the studies were contradictory in nature. Further, no study was conducted in the recent past to compare the financial performance of different units of this industry. In order to bridge the gap the present study was carried out in which all major dimension of financial performance of NTPC Ltd., NHPC Ltd., Tata Power, Reliance Infra. related to the period 2001–02 to 2015–16 were analysed and compared. Relevant statistical measures were used in appropriate places to conduct the study.