Examining methods for controlling the electricity demand in Kuwait was the main objective and motivation of this researchp roject. The extensiveu se of air-conditioning for indoor cooling in office and large commercial buildings in Kuwait and the Gulf States represents a major part of the power and electricity consumption in such countries. The rising electricity generation cost and growing rates of consumption continuously demand the construction new power plants. Devising and enforcing Demand-SideM anagemen(t DSM) in the form of energye fficient operations trategies was the response of this research project to provide a means to rectify this situation using the demand-side management technique known as demand levelling or load shifting. State of the art demand-sidem anagementte chniquesh ave been examined through the developmenot f a model basedp redictive control optimisations trategyf or an integrateda ndm odulara pproachto the provisiono f ice thermals torage. To evaluate the potential of ice-storage assisted air-conditioning systems in flattening the demand curve at peak times during the summer months in Kuwait, a model of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC) plant was developed in Matlab. The model engaged the use of model based predictive control (MPQ as an optimisation tool for the plant as a whole. The model with MPC was developed to chose and decide on which control strategy to operate the integrated ice-storage HVAC plant. The model succeeded in optimising the operation of the plant and introduced encouraging improvement of the performance of the system as a whole. The concept of the modular ice-storage system was introduced through a control zoning strategy based on zonal orientation. It is believed that such strategy could lead to the modularisation of ice-storage systems. Additionally, the model was examined and tested in relation to load flattening and demonstrated promising enhancement in the shape of the load curve and demonstrated flattened demand curves through the employed strategy. When compared with measured data from existing buildings, the model showed potential for the techniques utilised to improve the load factor for office buildings.

Bakgrund: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka effekten av sju dagars tillskott av betain (2,5 gram/dag) på prestationsförmågan i idrottsspecifika tester för manliga vältränade cykelatleter. Metod: Sex (n=6) manliga testpersoner (genomsnitt ± standardavvikelse ålder, 31,7 ± 10,2 år; längd, 188,2 ± 3,6 cm; kroppsvikt; 82,5 ± 7,6 kg; fettfri massa, 71,6 ± 7,3 kg) genomförde förtester bestående av fem counter movement jumps, fyra stycken 12 s wingate-sprinter med 2,5 minuters aktiv vila följt av fem ytterligare counter movement jumps. De blev sedan indelade slumpmässigt i betain- eller placebogrupper. Första testet etablerade basvärden och eftertest ”1” samt ”2” föregicks med antingen sju dagars tillskott med placebo (2,5 g maltodextrin plus 12,5 mg riboflavin) eller betain (2,5 g trimetylglycin plus 12,5 mg riboflavin). Riboflavin användes för att undanröja den fiskliknande doften som kan uppstå vid tillskott av betain. Doseringen bestod av fyra kapslar per dag till måltid, varav två kapslar intogs på morgonen eller förmiddagen (före träning) och två kapslar intogs på eftermiddagen eller kvällen (efter träning). Vi använde oss av en dubbelblindad, kontrollerad randomisering cross-over design; med en veckas washout mellan placebo och betain. Maximum Peak Power, Average Peak Power, Maximum Average Power, Mean Average Power, Mean Relative Power Drop, Maximum Relative Power Drop, CMJ-Medel och CMJ-Max före och efter sprinterna analyserades med two-tailed t-test 2 och 3 för att jämföra skillnader före och efter intag av tillskott samt skillnaderna mellan grupperna.Resultat: Inga signifikanta skillnader kunde noteras. Konklusion: En veckas tillskott av betain gav inte någon signifikant förbättring jämfört med placebo i hopp- och sprintförmåga samt förmåga att ta ut sig själv maximalt hos aktiva cyklister. Fler studier med framförallt större testgrupper efterlyses för att utvärdera betainets ergogena effekt bland aktiva atleter. / The effect of betaine supplementation on counter movement jumps and sprint performance among male bicycle athletes Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a seven days supplementation regimen with betaine (2,5 grams per day) on counter movement jumps and sprint performance in trained male bicyclists. Method: Six (n=6) male subjects (mean ± standard deviation age, 31,7 ± 10,2 years; height, 188,2 ± 3,6 cm; bodyweight, 82,5 ± 7,6 kg; lean body mass, 71,6 ± 7,6 kg) completed a 21 day study involving five counter movement jumps (no arm swing) followed by 4 consecutive modified 12 second Wingate sprints on a bicycle ergometer with active rest (2,5 minutes) followed by another set of five counter movement jumps. A double blind, controlled randomized cross over design was used and there was a 1 week washout between the supplementation startup for each group. Following pre-testing (baseline) the participants were randomly divided into groups by choosing one of the following supplements: “12” Placebo –2,5 grams of maltodextrine plus 12,5 mg riboflavin or “11” – Active 2,5 grams of trimethylglycine plus 12,5 mg riboflavin. Riboflavin was used so mask the “fishy odor syndrome” effect of high intakes of trimethylglycine that may cause trimethyluria. Daily consumption of capsules was divided into two doses of two capsules each with meals. One dose (two capsules) was consumed in the morning and one dose in the evening. The following variables were analyzed: Maximum Peak Power, Average Peak Power, Maximum Mean Power, Average Mean Power, Maximum Relative Power Drop, Average Relative Power Drop, Mean CMJ-Pre + Post sprints and Maximal CMJ-Pre + Post sprints. Results: None of the parameters showed statistical significance. Conclusion: Our study indicates that seven days of betaine ingestion does not seem significantly improve counter movement jump or sprint capacity in male trained bicyclists. Larger studies are needed to investigate the performance enhancing effects of betaine, especially among high performance athletes.

This thesis introduces a new photovoltaic (PV) system architecture employing low voltage parallel-connected PV panels interfaced to a high voltage regulated DC bus of a three-phase grid-tied inverter. The concept provides several improvements over existing technologies in terms of cost, safety, reliability, and modularity. A novel resonant mode DC-DC boost converter topology is proposed to enable the PV modules to deliver power to the fixed DC bus. The topology offers high step-up capabilities and a nearly constant efficiency over a wide operating range. A reduced sensor maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is developed for the converter to maximize energy harvesting of the PV panels. The reduced sensor algorithm can be generally applied to the class of converters employing pulse frequency modulation control. A ZigBee wireless communication system is implemented to provide advanced control, monitoring and protection features. A testbench for a low cost 500 $W$ smart microconverter is designed and implemented, demonstrating the viability of the system architecture.

This thesis introduces a new photovoltaic (PV) system architecture employing low voltage parallel-connected PV panels interfaced to a high voltage regulated DC bus of a three-phase grid-tied inverter. The concept provides several improvements over existing technologies in terms of cost, safety, reliability, and modularity. A novel resonant mode DC-DC boost converter topology is proposed to enable the PV modules to deliver power to the fixed DC bus. The topology offers high step-up capabilities and a nearly constant efficiency over a wide operating range. A reduced sensor maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is developed for the converter to maximize energy harvesting of the PV panels. The reduced sensor algorithm can be generally applied to the class of converters employing pulse frequency modulation control. A ZigBee wireless communication system is implemented to provide advanced control, monitoring and protection features. A testbench for a low cost 500 $W$ smart microconverter is designed and implemented, demonstrating the viability of the system architecture.

Examining methods for controlling the electricity demand in Kuwait was the main objective and motivation of this researchp roject. The extensiveu se of air-conditioning for indoor cooling in office and large commercial buildings in Kuwait and the Gulf States represents a major part of the power and electricity consumption in such countries. The rising electricity generation cost and growing rates of consumption continuously demand the construction new power plants. Devising and enforcing Demand-SideM anagemen(t DSM) in the form of energye fficient operations trategies was the response of this research project to provide a means to rectify this situation using the demand-side management technique known as demand levelling or load shifting. State of the art demand-sidem anagementte chniquesh ave been examined through the developmenot f a model basedp redictive control optimisations trategyf or an integrateda ndm odulara pproachto the provisiono f ice thermals torage. To evaluate the potential of ice-storage assisted air-conditioning systems in flattening the demand curve at peak times during the summer months in Kuwait, a model of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC) plant was developed in Matlab. The model engaged the use of model based predictive control (MPQ) as an optimisation tool for the plant as a whole. The model with MPC was developed to chose and decide on which control strategy to operate the integrated ice-storage HVAC plant. The model succeeded in optimising the operation of the plant and introduced encouraging improvement of the performance of the system as a whole. The concept of the modular ice-storage system was introduced through a control zoning strategy based on zonal orientation. It is believed that such strategy could lead to the modularisation of ice-storage systems. Additionally, the model was examined and tested in relation to load flattening and demonstrated promising enhancement in the shape of the load curve and demonstrated flattened demand curves through the employed strategy. When compared with measured data from existing buildings, the model showed potential for the techniques utilised to improve the load factor for office buildings.

Fiber based ultrashort pulse laser sources are desirable for many applications; however generating high peak powers in fiber lasers is primarily limited by the onset of nonlinear effects such as self-phase modulation, stimulated Raman scattering, and self-focusing. Increasing the fiber core diameter mitigates the onset of these nonlinear effects, but also allows unwanted higher-order transverse spatial modes to propagate. Both large core diameters and single-mode propagation can be simultaneously attained using photonic crystal fibers. Thulium-doped fiber lasers are attractive for high peak power ultrashort pulse systems. They offer a broad gain bandwidth, capable of amplifying sub-100 femtosecond pulses. The longer center wavelength at 2 ?m theoretically enables higher peak powers relative to 1 [micro]m systems since nonlinear effects inversely scale with wavelength. Also, the 2 [micro]m emission is desirable to support applications reaching further into the mid-IR. This work evaluates the performance of a novel all-fiber pump combiner that incorporates a thulium-doped photonic crystal fiber. This fully integrated amplifier is characterized and possesses a large gain bandwidth, essentially single-mode propagation, and high degree of polarization. This innovative all-fiber, thulium-doped photonic crystal fiber amplifier has great potential for enabling high peak powers in 2 [micro]m fiber systems; however the current optical-to-optical efficiency is low relative to similar free-space amplifiers. Further development and device optimization will lead to higher efficiencies and improved performance.

På grund av den rådande energiomställningen flockar både företag och privatpersoner till mer effektiva och gröna energislag. I många fall är dessa via elnätet, vilket gör det lämpligt att se över hur ett lokalnät påverkas av en sådan ökning av effekt samt om det finns kapacitetsbrist. Syftet är att utreda mängen nya elbilsladdare till 2030, samt undersöka om det finns kapacitetsbrist vid både normalt kopplingsläge samt två reservkopplingslägen. Det ska även undersökas om det finns nyckeltal för olika dimensioneringskriterier. De metoder som används för att uppskatta en framtida toppeffekt i nätet är olika. Den ena antar en homogen ökning samtidigt som den andra baserar sin väntade ökning på antal hushåll, parkeringsplatser och verksamheter i området runtomkring en nätstation. Det blir ganska stor spridning, samt olika slags resultat för de olika kopplingslägena. Utifrån uppskattningarna som gjordes, simulerades den nya högsta effekten för de olika scenarierna och kopplingslägena och därefter beräknades belastningen i kablarna för dessa. Simuleringar visade att det finns kablar i alla scenarierna som inte håller upp till företagets egna mål angående belastning i kablarna. I reservkopplingsläget klarade många kablar heller inte av den högsta strömmen som kan förväntas under högsta lasttimmen utifrån databladet för kablarna. När topplasten ökar, ökar även antalet kablar som blir överbelastade, i scenario 1 blev det många fler jämfört med nuläget och scenario 2. För de normala kopplingsläget gick det nästan alltid att byta ut till grövre kablar för hålla sig under den angivna belastningsgraden av 50$\%$ eller precis ovanför.  För reservkopplingslägena blir det svårare då kablarna måste ha en belastningsgrad under $100\%$ för att inte överlastskydden ska slå till. Där hittades det att byta till grövre kablar inte alltid var bäst då högsta strömmen var högre än den grövsta kabeln som används. Denna högsta strömmen verkar bero på att en slinga ska reservmata fler än en annan slinga. Det kan då vara lämpligt att bygga fler reservslingor som då kan underlätta vid reservmatningsläget. / Given the roaring energy transition, both people and companies want to be ahead of the curve and change to more energy efficient and green energy con- sumption. In most cases these renewable energy have to use the electrical grid, which is why this study focuses on the distribution network in a local electrical grid regarding its capacity. The goal is to estimate and investigate the amount of charging points for electrical vehicles in regards to the available capacity in the network. This is to be done in three different network configurations, which is then to conclude in dimensioning criterias. The three methods used to estimate the increase in top load in the local electrical grid are different. Two of the assumes a linear increase in the top load of every transformer, while the other one is based on the area which the sub- station is placed and estimates according to households, businesses and parking places. Where the top load increase differes between the different scenarios. With the estimations at hand, the different network configurations were simulated and subsquently calculated the load in the cables for the different scenarios. These simulations pointed out that there are cables in every scenario that are not up to par with the companys goal of limiting the load in the network configuration that is normally used. Aswell as not up to par with the cable data sheet in the reserve configuration. As the top load increase the amount of cable above the threshold increased, especially in scenario 1 for the normal configura- tion mode. In most cases in the normal configuration mode changing the cable to a 240mm2 cable would solve the problem. For the reserve configuration mode it was not always that simple, mostly because one trail of cable sometimes back up several other trails. Resulting in a bottle neck between the trails, some of these are not fully up to par, and some of them even have a higher maximum current than what the cables that are used can handle. Which meant that so- mething other than changing cable would be prefered, the best option seems to be increasing the amount of trail that can back up in the reserve configuration

I takt med ökad elektrifiering i samhället står elnätet inför en problematik med kapacitetsbrist. Med anledning av detta finns ett behov av att utveckla en mer flexibel och effektiv användning av elnätet. En del i detta är införandet av effekttariffer, vilket ska skapa incitament för elkunder att sprida ut sin elanvändning och på så sätt avlasta elnätet. Företaget Enequi tillhandahåller ett system med smart styrning och batterilagring vilket kan utföra effekttoppskapning i syfte att reducera effektavgiften. I denna studie granskas två bostäder, belägna i Partille och Sollentuna, vilka båda har ett styrsystem från Enequi installerat. Syftet är att undersöka hur styrningen bidrar till en förändring i effektavgiften hos de båda bostäderna, samt att bedöma systemets prestanda. Resultatet från Partille visar att ägaren under de åtta månaderna systemet varit i drift sparar 259 kronor på effektavgiften, medan ägaren i Sollentuna under tolv månader sparar 865 kronor. Analysen av systemets prestanda visar också att systemet presterar mest optimalt när egenproducerad el är tillgänglig. Systemet bidrar till nätnytta genom att flytta lasten i bostaden från högt belastade timmar till lågt belastade. Brister som har identifierats i prestandan inkluderar problematik med förhöjda effektavgifter under vissa månader. Slutsatsen är att systemet presterar funktionellt trots vissa brister och att det är möjligt att göra besparingar på effektavgiften över tid.

Abstract Although gain-switching is a simple, well-established technique for obtaining ultrashort optical pulses generated with laser diodes, the optical energy in a pulse achievable from commercial structures using this technique is no more than moderate and the ‘spiking’ behaviour seen at turn-on is likely to evolve into trailing oscillations. This thesis investigates, develops and improves laser diodes in order to offer experimentally verified solutions for maximizing the optical energy so as to achieve a peak power of several watts in a single optical pulse of picosecond-range duration in the gain-switching operation regime, and for suppressing the energy located in any trailing pulses to a negligible level relative to the total optical pulse energy. This was addressed by means of either (i) an ultrashort pump current pulse with an amplitude range ~(1–10) A or (ii) custom laser diode structures, both options being capable of operating uncooled at room temperature (23±3°C). For the first solution a unique superfast gallium arsenide (GaAs) avalanche transistor was utilized as a switch in order to achieve an injection current pulse with a duration of < 1 ns, which is short enough to generate only a first optical ‘spike’ when pumping a commercial laser diode. The most promising structure with regard to the second solution was an edge-emitting semiconductor laser having a strongly asymmetric broadened double heterostructure with a relatively thick active layer. Laser pulses with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ~100 ps and an optical energy of >3 nJ but with some trailing oscillations were achieved in experiments employing injection current pulses in the nanosecond range with an amplitude of ≤17 A, generated using inexpensive silicon (Si) electronics. The performance was improved by introducing a saturable absorber (SA) into the laser cavity, which suppressed the formation of trailing oscillations, resulting in a single optical pulse. / Tiivistelmä ”Gain switching” (vahvistuskytkentä) on tunnettu tekniikka lyhyiden (<100 ps) optisten pulssien generoimiseen laserdiodeilla. Kaupallisia laserdiodirakenteita käyttäen optinen energia rajoittuu kuitenkin 10…100 pJ:n tasolle. Tällöinkin, erityisesti suurilla energiatasoilla, optisessa pulssissa ilmenee voimakkaita jälkioskillaatioita. Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkittiin ja kehitettiin kokeellisesti varmennettuja laserdiodilähetinrakenteita tavoitteena saavuttaa >1 nJ:n optisen pulssin energia ja ~100 ps:n pulssinpituus gain-switching -toimintamoodissa. Tavoitteena oli myös minimoida jälkipulssien energia. Tutkimuksen pääsisältönä on kaksi toimintaperiaatetta: Toisessa tekniikassa päähuomio kohdistuu laseridiodin virta-ajuriin, johon kehitettiin elektroniikka, joka kykenee tuottamaan nopeita virtapulsseja laajalla pulssivirta-alueella. Virtapulssin nopeuden kasvattamisen (<1 ns) osoitettiin edistävän gain switching -ilmiötä. Toisena tekniikkana tutkittiin räätälöityä laserdiodirakennetta, joka sisäisen toimintansa perusteella tuottaa dynaamisessa ohjaustilanteessa tehokkaan ja nopean laserpulssin. Kummankin periaatteen osoitettiin toimivan huonelämpötilassa (23±3°C) ilman erillistä jäähdytystä. Ensimmäisessä ratkaisussa käytettiin nopeaa gallium-arsenidi (GaAs) -avalanchetransistoria virtakytkimenä, jolla saavutettiin <1 ns FWHM injektiovirtapulssi 10 A:n virtatasolla. Tällainen virtapulssi on riittävän lyhyt virittämään ”gain switching” -ilmiön nJ-energiatasolla. Lupaavin rakenne toiseksi ratkaisuksi oli reunaemittoiva puolijohdelaseri, jossa epäsymmetrinen aaltoputki ja aktiivinen alue ovat sijoitettu normaalista laserdiodirakenteesta poiketen rinnakkain. Tällä rakenteella voitiin tuottaa ~100 ps levyisiä (FWHM) ja >3 nJ optisen kokonaisenergian omavia laserpulsseja edullisella pii-pohjaisella (Si) elektroniikalla luoduilla 1.5–2 ns:n (FWHM) ≤17 A injektiovirtapulsseilla. Suorituskykyä saatiin edelleen parannettua istuttamalla saturoiva absorbaattori (SA) laserin optiseen onteloon. Tämän osoitettiin vähentävän jälkioskillaatioiden muodostumista.

Dans le contexte énergétique français actuel, deux principaux enjeux émergent. À court terme, des pointes de consommation électrique croissantes sont observées les dernières années pendant la période hivernale. Ces pointes sont fortement liées au chauffage électrique et ont des conséquences économiques, environnementales et sociales importantes. Dans un long terme, des objectifs environnementaux ambitieux ont été fixés au niveau national et européen, nécessitant la technologie de stockage thermique et une gestion efficace de l'environnement bâti. Les Matériaux à Changement de Phase (MCP) ainsi que les dispositifs de type échangeurs thermiques offrent des résultats promettant grâce au stockage thermique et le déplacement des consommations. Dans ce cadre, l’objectif de cette thèse est de développer des solutions de déplacement des consommations énergétiques qui prennent en compte le confort thermique des occupants et la qualité de l’air intérieur. Pour ce faire, deux outils sont nécessaires: un échangeur thermique expérimental (prototype) et un modèle numérique capable de simuler son comportement. L'échangeur contient du MCP macroencapsulé (paraffine) et est conçu de manière à faciliter son intégration dans un système de ventilation. Il a comme but de décaler la consommation due au chauffage électrique vers la période hors pointe. Le dispositif a été caractérisé expérimentalement lors des cycles thermiques complets (charge et décharge) en utilisant une quantité importante de capteurs. Il a ensuite été couplé à une cellule expérimentale, afin de tester des stratégies de contrôle préliminaires. Le modèle numérique est basé sur la discrétisation spatiale et l’établissement du bilan de chaleur des couches considérées, la méthode de la capacité thermique apparente, ainsi que l’utilisation des différences finies. Après validation à l’aide des données expérimentales, le modèle a été utilisé pour optimiser la performance de l'échangeur. Plusieurs paramètres ont été étudiés, y compris les dimensions de l'échangeur, la quantité et les propriétés du MCP, en cherchant la configuration avec le compromis optimal entre la chaleur emmagasinée et le temps nécessaire pour la charge et la décharge. Le modèle numérique a été couplé à un modèle de simulation du bâtiment et un logement de 80m2 a été conçu pour la mise en oeuvre et l'évaluation des stratégies de contrôle, en investiguant différents scénarios sur une période hivernal d’un mois. Les scénarios varient avec une complexité croissante, d'abord en considérant l’effacement énergétique et le confort thermique, ensuite en ajoutant le prix final de la consommation électrique et enfin en prenant compte la qualité de l'air intérieur avec la présence d'une famille de quatre personnes. 6 Cette étude a été menée dans le cadre d'un projet financé par l'Agence National de la Recherche (Stock-Air: ANR-Stock-E) et a également été soutenu par le ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement durable et de l'Energie. / Considering the current French energy context, two major challenges are emerging. In the short term, significant peak power consumption has been observed in the past few years during the winter season. These peaks are strongly linked to electrical space heating and have important economic, environmental and social implications. In the long term, ambitious environmental goals have been set at national and European levels, requiring thermal storage technology and efficient management of the built environment. As part of the solution, Phase Change Materials (PCM) and heat exchanger applications offer promising results through thermal storage and load shifting techniques. Within this framework, the objective of this thesis is to develop load shifting solutions which also take into account the thermal comfort of the occupants and the indoor air quality. To achieve this, two tools were necessary: an experimental heat exchanger unit (prototype) and a numerical model that accurately simulates its behavior. The exchanger contains macroencapsumated PCM (paraffin) and is conceived in a way that facilitates its integration in a ventilation system. It is aimed to shift space heating electrical consumption from peak to off-peak period. The unit was experimentally characterized, using an important amount of sensors through full thermal cycles (charging and discharging) and was coupled to an experimental test cell, which led to the testing of preliminary control strategies. The numerical model is based on the heat balance approach and the apparent heat capacity method, using finite differences for differential equation solution under Matlab/Simulink environment. After validation with experimental data, the model was used to optimize the performance of the exchanger. Several parameters were investigated, including heat exchanger dimensions, PCM quantity and properties, seeking the configuration with the optimal compromise between stored heat and the time needed for the charging / discharging process. The numerical model was coupled to a building simulation model and an 80m2 dwelling was conceived for control strategies implementation and evaluation, by investigating different scenarios over a one- month winter period. The scenarios vary with increasing complexity, first considering load shifting and thermal comfort, then adding the final price of electricity consumption and finally taking into account the indoor air quality with the presence of a four-person family. This study has been conducted within the framework of a project funded by the French National Research Agency (Stock-Air: ANR-Stock-E) and was also financially supported by the French Ministry of Sustainable Development.