Showing papers by "Michele Pastorelli published in 2017"

Discrete-Time Domain Modeling of Voltage Source Inverters in Standalone Applications: Enhancement of Regulators Performance by Means of Smith Predictor

Abstract: The decoupling of the capacitor voltage and inductor current has been shown to improve significantly the dynamic performance of voltage source inverters in standalone applications. However, the computation and pulse width modulation delays still limit the achievable bandwidth. In this paper, a discrete-time domain modeling of an LC plant with consideration of delay and sample-and-hold effects on the state feedback cross-coupling decoupling is derived. From this plant formulation, current controllers with wide bandwidth and good relative stability properties are developed. Two controllers based on lead compensation and Smith predictor design, respectively, are obtained. Subsequently, the voltage regulator is also designed for a wide bandwidth, which permits the inclusion of resonant filters for the steady-state mitigation of odd harmonics at nonlinear unbalance load terminals. Discrete-time domain implementation issues of an antiwind up scheme are discussed as well, highlighting the limitations of some discretization methods. Extensive experimental results, including a short-circuit test, verify the theoretical analysis.

Modeling hourly profile of space heating energy consumption for residential buildings

Abstract: The evaluation of energy consumption for space heating in urban environment is an interesting topic for the issues related to energy and pollution management. In the paper is presented the analysis of measured energy consumption for residential buildings located in the cities of Torino and Reggio Emilia (Italy). In the first analysis, space heating consumptions were correlated with climatic data. In the second analysis, the buildings have been grouped according to their energy signatures considering the observable characteristics (using a Geographical Information System, GIS) and the measured peak of energy request during the day. A correlation is shown between the hourly percentage peak of heat and the daily energy consumption for different outdoor temperatures; specifically, at the same temperature conditions, buildings with high peak of percentage hourly consumptions, show lower values of daily energy consumptions. This may be important to manage the district heating network for an optimization of the extension of the network, the heat storage stations localization or the gradual retrofit policy of buildings in the city.

Photovoltaic solar systems for smart bus shelters in the urban environment of turin (Italy)

Abstract: The paper deals with the transformation of the existing bus shelters for the public transport into smart systems equipped with Wi-Fi stations, USB chargers and Air Quality Control Station. The proposed smart shelters are renewable energy producer since they are equipped with PV modules. The location of the most suitable bus shelters is defined by solar irradiation maps based on a GIS tool. Four solutions are proposed with a cost-benefits analysis.

Hybrid models for the evaluation of energy sustainability in urban areas

Abstract: Urban population in the world accounts for 54%, with 69% in Italy, and it continues to grow (The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, 2015). In this work, energy sustainability has been analysed in urban contexts with high energy consumptions and low availability of renewable energy sources. The sustainable management of energy is a great opportunity in the complex environments of urban areas where the buildings are always an important contributor. Main results of recent research activities, carried out by the authors, are presented with energy-use models for buildings considering statistical bottom-up and top-down models. These models have been tested on about 50 municipalities in the Metropolitan City of Turin comparing the results of bottom-up models (at building scale) with the topdown model at municipal scale using a GIS tool. Finally, new hybrid models have been integrated to consider urban morphology, solar exposition and microclimatic variables of different urban environments. The use of a GIS tool consents to manage and represent buildings data at urban scale.

Photovoltaic facade: Comparison of actual technologies

Abstract: This article aims to establish the economic contribution of a photovoltaic system placed on a facade of a building, replacing traditional elements such as windows and glass-cement walls with active elements. The aim is to compare the behavior of next-generation systems, which favor architectonical integration, with traditional ones. Two novel systems have been taken into account: a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and blue and grey thin film silicon panels. Different generation systems have been tested and compared in terms of efficiency and fill factor.