Great portion of today's industry are <em>Adjustable Speed Drives</em> (<em>ASD's</em>) operated in order to fulfill certain processes. When these processes are critical ones or sensitive to voltage disturbances, that might take place due to inserting high load in an area near to the Point of Common Coupling (<em>PCC</em>) of the process or due to a short term outage, few tens of thousands up to millions of dollars will be lost once such interruptions (voltage sags) take place as a result of the process failure. On the other hand, a distorted voltage waveform at the PCC for some sensitive process might malfunction as a result of the high harmonic content of the voltage waveform. Utilities are required to deliver as pure as possible sinusoidal voltage waveform according to certain limits; thus, they might apply fines against the consumers who are responsible for producing high amounts of current harmonics that affect the voltage wave shape at the <em>PCC</em> in order to force them to improve the consumer's load profile by adding filters at <em>PCC</em> for instance. Utilities are charging the consumers who are drawing power at poor power factor as well. <br /><br /> This thesis presents an <em>ASD</em> retrofitted with a dual-functional piece of hardware connected in series to its <em>DC-link</em> that is capable of handling the previously two mentioned problems. In other words, hardware that is capable of providing <em>voltage sag ride-through</em> during the voltage sag conditions on one side, on the other side, during the normal operating conditions, it is capable to mitigate the harmonic contents of the drawn current by the ASD's rectifier and to improve the power factor. <br /><br /> Survey on voltage sag ride-through for ASD's approaches are presented in the literature has been made. Approaches are classified as the topology utilized; first, topologies that utilizes energy storage elements that store energy to compensate the DC-link voltage with during the voltage sags, second, topologies retrofitting the DC-link itself with additional hardware to compensate the DC-link voltage. The first group is capable to provide voltage compensating during the full outages while the second can't. The presented voltage sag ride-through work of this thesis belongs to the second group. <br /><br /> Boost converter has been used as the hardware to compensate the DC-link voltage because of its simplicity and cheap price. An adaptive linear network (ADALINE) is investigated as the detection system to detect the envelope of the input voltage waveform. Once the envelope of the voltage goes below a certain level, the boost converter is activated to compensate the difference between voltage set point and the actual DC-link voltage. Simulation results supporting the proposed configuration are presented. <br /><br /> A third-harmonic current injection approach is utilized in this work in order to achieve <em>total harmonic distortion</em> (<em>THD</em>) mitigation from 32% to 5. 125% (theoretically). Two third-harmonic current injection networks have been investigated; one utilizes a real resistor, the other utilizes a resistor emulator to reduce the energy dissipated. The proposed controller for the resistor emulator does not require a proportional-integral (PI) controller. <br /><br /> As a result of the common devices between the voltage sag ride-through circuitry and the harmonic mitigation one, they can be integrated together in one circuitry connected in series with the DC-link of the ASD. And hence, the dual functionality of the hardware will be achieved. Simulation results supporting the theoretical results have been presented.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 107 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-107).

In this research the problem of incident congestion on surface street networks is addressed. Microscopic simulation is used to simulate incident scenarios on various corridors in the Tampa Bay area. The effect of the three factors, namely, network, speed and signal strategies on the traffic flow is studied. The network performance is based on Highway Capacity Manual specified measures of effectiveness prepared by the Transportation Research Board. Three inherently different city corridors, high, medium and low volume, are used to test the strategies developed. The strategies investigated include varying speed limits during incidents and using pre-timed and semi-actuated signals that respond to real time traffic volumes. The effectiveness measures are total delay in vehicle minutes, average speed in miles per hour and average travel time in seconds. Different facilities on a network include intersections; both signalized and unsignalized, local highways and arterials. The outputs from the simulation model is used to set up a factorial design to study the interaction between network type, signal strategy and speed strategy with the measures of effectiveness being the response variables. This type of corridor analysis is unique and provides decision support for local transportation planning departments for making corridor enhancements. In most city, state or county planning departments road planning is merely based on projected traffic demand using existing static models and does not factor necessary adjustments for incidents. Another unique aspect of this research is that variable speed limits are tested on surface streets. Such a test is not available in the literature. With dynamic message signs, next generation communication networks for traffic signal control and ITS technologies available, it is possible to implement the strategies suggested in this research.

In this dissertation, we present the theory and application of polyspectral signal analysis techniques for interharmonics in shipboard power systems. Interharmonics are generated from various kinds of adjustable speed drives (ASD) in such power systems. ASDs are highly nonlinear devices due to the use of rectifiers and inverters. Since interharmonics can seriously hamper the normal operation of electric ships in many different ways (e.g., excitation of undesirable electrical and/or mechanical resonances, misoperation of control devices, and light flicker), the detection and analysis of interharmonic-related events is a critical issue in assessing power quality in an all-electric ship. Standard signal analysis techniques for regular harmonics are not immediately applicable to interharmonics due to their small amplitude and uncertain frequency of occurrence. Hence, we propose the use of alternative polyspectral analysis techniques such as higher-order spectra (the cross bispectrum/bicoherence) for the detection and analysis of the ASD-generated interharmonics. First, we develop the interharmonic application specific definitions of the cross bispectrum and the cross bicoherence. The statistical characteristics and frequency domain symmetries are also investigated. We apply the modified cross bispectrum to interharmonic detection problems. Due to their small amplitudes, the detection of interharmonics is sensitive to many undesirable factors such as spectral leakage and measurement error. Our analysis results demonstrate that the detection performance of the conventional DFT-based method is seriously degraded in the presence of noise. Hence, we develop a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) interharmonic detector based on the modified cross bispectrum. Our analysis and experimental results show that our method can provide more robust detection performance than conventional methods in the presence of noise. We also develop an ASD condition monitoring method based on the cross bicoherence. The key idea is to diagnose the status of the load side of an ASD from observations made at the source side. In this dissertation, we apply our method to detection and analysis of phase imbalance at the load side of the ASD. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method provides a unique interharmonic signature for detection and classification of asymmetric impedance associated with the phase imbalance. Furthermore, the proposed method shows a more sensitive detection performance compared to the conventional imbalance measurement method, which enables prognosis of potential faults. A novel quadratic phase coupling detector for a single data record with coherent interharmonics is developed. The traditional bicoherence definition fails when its ’phase randomization’ assumption is not satisfied. This assumption is not appropriate for certain applications such as continuous monitoring of rotating machines. Therefore, we propose a novel quadratic phase coupling detector and compare it with previous techniques. It is shown that our detector is superior to previous detectors at high SNRs, and can also address partially coherent cases which previous approaches could not properly address. Flicker issues related to interharmonics are also discussed. We present a newly found limitation of the current IEC flickermeter regarding detecting flicker caused by low frequency interharmonics. We also present observation results of flicker responses of various lamps including light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps. Our observation results confirm that compact fluorescent and LED lamps are sensitive to high frequency interharmonics, although the IEC flickmeter can not detect flicker caused by such interharmonics. Hence, we develop an alternative flicker detection method based on down-up sampling. Our experiment results show that our method can detect flicker regardless of the value of the interharmonic frequencies. Independent of interharmonic topics, we also present our additional achievement involving application of wavelet denoising techniques to network congestion monitoring problems. This was a collaboration with researchers at the Department of Computer Sciences in the University of Texas at Austin, and mainly completed before becoming engaged in the electric ship project. By applying wavelet techniques, we could drastically enhance shared congestion detection performance over previously proposed methods. / text

published_or_final_version / Electrical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Διάφοροι τύποι αιολικών συστημάτων . Έμφαση σε αιολικά συστήματα με ανεμογεννήτριες μεταβλητής ταχύτητας και κυρίως στην επαγωγική μαχανή διπλής τροφοδοσίας . Περιγραφή του ηλεκτρονικού μετατροπέα που χρησιμοποιείται σε αυτού του είδους το σύστημα . Έλεγχος της ισχύος και προσομοίωση για δύο τύπους ελεγκτών , PI και RST . Σύγκριση των αποκρίσεων . Απόκριση PI ελεγκτή για διάφορα κέρδη . / Different types of wind energy systems . Wind energy systems with variable speed wind turbines are studied . The doubly fed induction generator . Description of the power electronic converter which is used . Power control for two regulator types , PI and RST . We compare the dynamic performances . Dynamic performance for different values of the PI regulator parameters .

As South Africa's electricity consumption increases, Eskom is promoting Demand Side Management (DSM) to aid control of both the electricity consumption and its more effective usage, thereby delaying the need to construct new power stations, which pose large economic and environmental problems. Eskom has investigated various DSM strategies, such as load shifting, co-generation, alternative fuels and energy efficient processes, and has targeted the areas of load shifting and energy efficiency as prime areas for energy savings as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to implement. Pumps and fans form a large part of the industrial load. By improving the power usage of these devices with the use of variable speed drives, large energy savings may be achieved. To enable the energy usage of industrial loads to be evaluated, a test bed system which enables a variable speed drive to be loaded with a configurable load, was constructed. The test bed system forms a tool for evaluating and demonstrating the energy savings that are possible, by replacing fixed speed drives with variable speed drives when controlling the flow rate of pumps and fans. Results from the test bed system show that by using variable speed operation of pumps and fans, some energy savings are achievable when compared to existing methods of flow control. The achievable energy savings are dependent on the system properties and the duty cycle of the pump or fan system. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Técnicas como a harmonização da velocidade procuram gerir e controlar o tráfego com base nas condições de tráfego das rodovias em tempo real. A harmonização da velocidade utiliza limites de velocidade variáveis (L.V.V.) para fornecer aos condutores uma velocidade de operação mais apropriada, normalmente inferior ao limite de velocidade estático indicado, em resposta as condições dinâmicas das vias. O L.V.V. tem demonstrado capacidade de melhorar a mobilidade e a segurança nas rodovias. Com isso, modelos de avaliação de risco de colisão em tempo real são frequentemente adotados para quantificar os riscos de ocorrência de colisões em estudos de implantação do L.V.V. Na maioria dos estudos sobre L.V.V., modelos de probabilidade de colisão são adotados apenas para mensurar o desempenho do sistema. Estes algoritmos de controle de L.V.V. não levam em conta o risco de colisões em períodos futuros, e assim não usam impactos do L.V.V. para escolher o plano de controle com relação à segurança. No Brasil, estratégias de harmonização da velocidade não são empregadas. Como as condições de tráfego nas rodovias brasileiras não são homogêneas, e cada faixa de tráfego normalmente possui médias de velocidades, intensidades de fluxo e composições de tráfego diferentes, técnicas como o L.V.V Podem oferecer benefícios ao harmonizar as velocidades entre as faixas e assim retardar o aparecimento de congestionamentos, reduzir o número de ultrapassagens e o risco de colisões. Dessa forma, este trabalho busca avaliar a relação entre as características do tráfego e a probabilidade de ocorrer conflitos entre veículos, para assim desenvolver um modelo matemático capaz de expressar tal relação – usando como estudo de caso um trecho da rodovia BR-290/RS, situada na região metropolitana da cidade de Porto Alegre. Este modelo matemático alimenta um algoritmo L.V.V., empregado em um micro simulador de tráfego, para controlar o tráfego com o objetivo de aumentar a segurança. Resultados indicam que o modelo proposto classificou corretamente 87% dos conflitos efetivamente ocorridos em campo. Os resultados de simulação indicam que o emprego do sistema L.V.V. contribuiu significativamente para a redução da probabilidade de conflitos. Ainda, o L.V.V. aumentou as velocidades médias nos períodos de fluxo elevado, e também reduziu o desvio padrão das velocidades – oferecendo um tráfego mais homogêneo – que contribui para a redução do número de trocas de faixa e, consequentemente, para um aumento da segurança. / Techniques such as speed harmonization seek to manage and control traffic based on road traffic conditions in real time. Speed harmonization uses variable speed limits (VSL) to provide drivers with a more appropriate speed, usually below the stated static speed limit, in response to dynamic road conditions. The VSL has demonstrated its ability to improve mobility and road safety. Thus, real-time collision risk assessment models are often adopted to quantify the risk of collisions occurring in VSL implantation studies. In most VSL studies, collision probability models are utilized only to measure the system performance. These VSL control algorithms do not take into account the risk of collisions in future periods, and thus do not use the VSL impacts to choose the control plan concerning safety. In Brazil, Speed harmonization strategies are not employed yet. As the traffic conditions on Brazilian highways are not homogeneous, and each traffic range usually has different average speeds, flow intensities, and traffic compositions, VSL techniques can offer benefits by harmonizing speeds between lanes, slowing down congestion, reducing the number of overtaking and the risk of collisions.( Continue) Thus, this work seeks to evaluate the relationship between traffic characteristics and the probability of conflicts between vehicles, in order to develop a mathematical model capable of expressing such a relation - using as a case the BR-290/RS freeway, located in the Porto Alegre metropolitan area. This mathematical model will then feed a VSL algorithm, employed in a micro traffic simulator, to control traffic and increase safety. Results indicate that the proposed model correctly classified 87% of the conflicts actually occurred in the field. The simulation results indicate that the VSL contributed significantly to reducing the conflicts likelihood. Even more, the VSL increased the average speeds for high flow periods, and also reduced the standard deviation of speeds - offering a more homogeneous traffic - which contributes for reduction in the number of lane changes and, consequently, to an increase in safety.