Showing papers by "Nursyarizal Mohd Nor published in 2014"

A review on optimized control systems for building energy and comfort management of smart sustainable buildings

Abstract: Buildings all around the world consume a significant amount of energy, which is more or less one-third of the total primary energy resources. This has raised concerns over energy supplies, rapid energy resource depletion, rising building service demands, improved comfort life styles along with the increased time spent in buildings; consequently, this has shown a rising energy demand in the near future. However, contemporary buildings’ energy efficiency has been fast tracked solution to cope/limit the rising energy demand of this sector. Building energy efficiency has turned out to be a multi-faceted problem, when provided with the limitation for the satisfaction of the indoor comfort index. However, the comfort level for occupants and their behavior have a significant effect on the energy consumption pattern. It is generally perceived that energy unaware activities can also add one-third to the building’s energy performance. Researchers and investigators have been working with this issue for over a decade; yet it remains a challenge. This review paper presents a comprehensive and significant research conducted on state-of-the-art intelligent control systems for energy and comfort management in smart energy buildings (SEB’s). It also aims at providing a building research community for better understanding and up-to-date knowledge for energy and comfort related trends and future directions. The main table summarizes 121 works closely related to the mentioned issue. Key areas focused on include comfort parameters, control systems, intelligent computational methods, simulation tools, occupants’ behavior and preferences, building types, supply source considerations and countries research interest in this sector. Trends for future developments and existing research in this area have been broadly studied and depicted in a graphical layout. In addition, prospective future advancements and gaps have also been discussed comprehensively.

Power system harmonics estimation using LMS, LMF and LMS/LMF

Abstract: Recently, in the world wide the use of power electronics devices increases sharply. As a result, harmonic pollution becomes a vital problem than before. Harmonics rotate in the power system network and interfere with the system equipments, disturbing their normal operation which can deteriorate the quality of the delivered power. Therefore, efficient method with low computational time is a critical tool to estimate and quantify the harmonic that can be used in online control and mitigation of harmonics. Least Mean Square (LMS) is simple and popular algorithm that has been applied in many applications, but, noise can affect its performance. This paper presents and compare the performance of Least Mean Square (LMS), Least Mean Fourth (LMF) and a combined (LMS/LMF) in estimation harmonic component for the signal corrupted with noise contain low signal to noise ratio (SNR). The results show that LMF and LMS/LMF have better steady state performance as compared to LMS.

Modeling and analyze a single-phase halbach magnetized tubular linear permanent magnet generator for wave energy conversion

Abstract: Malaysia is a country that is surrounded by numerous oceans that are able to be a renewable energy resource for betterment of human life. This research is proposed to design, model and analyze a portable single-phase linear permanent magnet generator for wave energy conversion (WEC) that is works with the local wave parameters. In comparison with a rotary generator, the linear generator is found preferable due to the direct-drive technology that promises low maintenance and cost. This research proposed three linear permanent magnet generator designs with different types of permanent magnet layout. The results show that proposed permanent magnet configuration is able to provide better flux density as compared to other proposed designs.

Monitoring Heart Rate and Body Temperature Using Wireless Technology (Zigbee)

Abstract: Wireless technology has increasingly emerged as one of the demanding technologies in healthcare industry. Monitoring patients’ condition is a crucial task in any hospital to ensure patients are in good and stable condition. Wireless sensor network is the solution and has been widely introduced in measuring vital signs of patients such as temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and others from remote location. Zigbee Network or accurately known as IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee on the other hand is known to be a low power consumption device with good and stable data transmission range, higher network flexibility and large number of nodes. This work is discussing on integrating heart rate and temperature sensors to a wireless transceiver Zigbee (Xbee) module and is used to measure patients’ conditions from remote location (nurse’s station). Series of tests have been conducted using these devices to measure patients’ heart rate and body temperature for different genders and age group at lying down position. This is to ensure that the devices developed are reliable, stable and producing the same results as conventional devices (thermometer and heart beat reader). Results obtained are very encouraging; the developed devices are producing stable readings and are capable of transmitting information at reasonable distance.

Modeling of a tubular permanent magnet linear generator for wave energy conversion using finite element method

Abstract: This paper presents the modeling process of a tubular permanent magnet linear generator for the wave energy conversion system. Two types of linear generator technology namely the planar and tubular with different on translator, stator and magnet arrangement are identified but due to the high detent force, low flux density and high fabrication cost, tubular excogitation is preferable. Three linear permanent magnet generators with different types of permanent magnet layout have been proposed. Preliminary results for the number of turns and varying speed proportional with induced voltage and open circuit test are demonstrated and discussed are shown to be as expected. Based on the overall findings, the shape of permanent magnet in the excogitation affects the performance of the generator.

Investigation and development of remote vital signs monitoring device using wireless communication

Abstract: Monitoring applications have been deployed throughout the years using either wired or short and long distance wireless technology. The wireless technologies itself have been developing and on increasing trends throughout the years. This study discusses on the comparison on two types of wireless technologies to be deployed in the healthcare industries for monitoring patient's vital signs, which are, heart rate and temperature. RF and Zigbee technologies were used in series of experiments to monitor these vital signs. It was found that the Zigbee technology produced reliable and accurate data with longer transmission range. This study also discusses on development of the device from designing until the printed PCB version. Series of tests were conducted using the variations of parameters and Zigbee technology produces stable and similar output vital signs reading compared to the conventional device.

Optimized intelligent control system for indoor thermal comfort and energy management of buildings

Abstract: Intelligent buildings are important for saving energy and human comfort, which can mainly be achieved with intelligent automated control. Optimized automated control for these buildings is still a challenge to achieve the control target effectively, without disturbing the balance of energy saving and comfort level. Therefore, fuzzy inference model for power consumption and temperature with an intelligent optimizer has been developed in the present work. Power required for actuator system and thermal comfort index are the two control objectives covered for optimized system design. Hybrid Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (HMOGA) has been used to obtain Pareto optimality solutions for multi-criteria problem. The obtained balanced non-dominated solution with heuristic optimization provides enhanced comfort level with optimum power consumption. This is an important factor for up-to-date decision-making (DM) for management of energy and comfort in buildings.

Optimization of iron-cored linear motor with trapezoidal magnet using finite-element analysis

Abstract: This paper deals with the design optimization of iron-cored linear motor with trapezoidal permanent magnets (PMs) configurations. Such motor is a short-stroke, single-phase tubular linear permanent magnet motor (TLPMM). The motor equipped with a quasi-Halbach magnetized moving-magnet armature and stator with a single slot and a single coil. The predicted magnetic field distribution in the airgap, flux-linkage and winding inductance of the proposed design, are already presented in a previous papers. The design optimization of the proposed TLPMM for the leading design parameters has been conducted. The optimal values of the axial length of the magnet at the center to the pole-pitch ratio and the split ratio are found to be 0.64 and 0.52. The efficiencies at these optimal values are 93.13 % and 93.8 %, respectively. Also, the angle of the trapezoidal PMs is optimized, and it is found to be equal 60°. Meanwhile, the losses of the motor, such as iron loss and copper loss are predicted and analyzed. The finite-element analysis (FEA) was successfully implemented for this study.

A novel supervisory control for residential building protection system

Abstract: Electrical power supply interruption due to some temporary faults has been a common problem in residential buildings. This leads to discontinuity of electrical supply to the building. However, power supply continuity is very important, as some of the appliances such as refrigerator, security, aquarium and fire alarm system requires continuous supply to be activated. Generally, when a fault occurs in the system, earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) will trip the circuit and ultimately disrupts power supply for all connected appliances. Therefore, manual power supply restoration has been performed in these buildings. In order to overcome the manual system restoration a novel automated system has been proposed. The paper aims to design and develop a supervisory control system employing local protection system employing Zigbee wireless technology. In addition to that a graphical user interface (GUI) based platform has been made to visualize and detect the faulty MCBs and isolate the fault via wireless Zigbee technology.

Simulation of water tree distribution in medium voltage power cable insulation model in MATLAB/simulink

Abstract: Water tree degradation is categorized as a pre-breakdown mechanism associated with Medium voltage (MV) power insulation failure. It is a slow degradation process, which turns into deterioration of dielectric properties of the cable insulation. The presence of water trees in cable insulation causes the generation of harmonic current components in the loss current. The water tree distribution in varying portions of the cable insulation has been modeled and simulated by utilizing MATLAB/Simulink in this study. The water tree degraded portion in the cable insulation was modeled by utilizing a nonlinear equation. In order to examine the frequency dependence on induced water tree degradation, two different test techniques were utilized in MATLAB/Simulink. Namely, the 3rd harmonic current-based method and the series resonant-based test method. In the first test method, the model was simulated by 50 Hz to 150 Hz by a step increase of test frequency by 25 Hz. The series resonant test method was utilized to test the water tree degraded cable insulation model; the test setup consisted of an inductor (L). The test was implemented by a variable frequency of 0 to 1000 Hz. The results of both test techniques show that the water tree distribution in varying cable insulation lengths can be quantified precisely.

Time Delay Measurement Compensation in Harmonic State Estimation

Abstract: The proliferation of power electronics equipments generates harmonics distortion problem Harmonics have many effects to the power system grid and the main limitation of harmonics is heating of power system devices To monitor and mitigate the harmonics, the source location and the level of harmonics should be known However, harmonic measurements are costly and is not practical to put harmonic measurement in each location in the grid Hence, harmonic state estimation is needed The most common method in harmonic state estimation is singular value decomposition (SVD) A time delay of the measurements can affect the SVD performance, therfore,this paper presents a prediction method based on ARX model and modified normalized least mean square to compensate the time delay measurements The result shows better performance of the proposed method as compared to least mean square