Hydro-Québec

About: Hydro-Québec is a government organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Electric power system & Dielectric. The organization has 2596 authors who have published 4433 publications receiving 100878 citations.

Discharge rate and energy loss in helium at low frequencies

Abstract: Experimental data are presented on the discharge rate and energy loss behaviour in helium between metallic-electrodes at atmospheric pressure. For gaps less than 0.15 mm, the discharge rate is found to be a linear function of the apparent voltage; however, with gaps exceeding 2.5 mm irregular step-like variations in the discharge rate occur. A method is developed for determining the heat energy relased by single spark discharges. It is found that the power loss arising from both spark and pseudo-glow discharges exhibits a linear variation over the lower apparent voltages, with a saturation effect manifesting itself at the higher values.

Safe Operation of DFIG-Based Wind Parks in Series-Compensated Systems

Abstract: Subsynchronous control interaction (SSCI) is the interaction between the power-electronics control and the series-compensated transmission system that occurs at frequencies below the system nominal frequency. SSCI may occur between the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) control system and the series-compensated transmission line, to which the wind park (WP) is connected. Not only do the DFIG control system parameters, but also the WP operating conditions have a significant impact on SSCI. In this paper, the impact of WP operating conditions and DFIG control system parameters on SSCI is analyzed in detail. Guidelines are presented for modifying the DFIG control system parameters to ensure safe operation and acceptable transient responses due to faults. This paper also examines the accuracies of various analytical tools used for SSCI problem identification and proposes a new frequency scan analysis approach for accurate prediction of potential SSCI problems.

A Power Oscillation Damping Control Scheme Based on Bang-Bang Modulation of FACTS Signals

Abstract: In this paper, we develop a new damping control scheme for FACTS devices, using bang-bang modulation of FACTS signals. The scheme is used to attenuate quickly the system's most dominant mode which is identified using online Prony analysis. An analysis framework to evaluate the robustness of the control schemes to changes in operating conditions and to time-delay is also proposed. Simulation results on various test systems show that following large disturbances, the proposed control scheme is very effective to mitigate the power system critical modes of oscillation. Furthermore, the problem of control interactions is completely avoided with the proposed control scheme.

Restoration of the transepithelial potential within tissue-engineered human skin in vitro and during the wound healing process in vivo

Abstract: Normal human epidermis possesses a transepithelial potential (TEP) that varies in different parts of the body (10–60mV). The role of TEP in normal epidermis is not yet identified; but after skin injury, TEP disruption induces an endogenous direct current electric field (100–200mV/mm) directed toward the middle of the wound. This endogenous electric field could be implicated in the wound healing process by attracting cells, thus facilitating reepithelialization. However, little is known on the restoration of the TEP during human skin formation and wound healing. In this study, the variations in TEP and Na+/K+ ATPase pump expression during the formation of the epithelium were investigated in vitro using human tissue-engineered human skin (TES) reconstituted by tissue engineering and in vivo with a porcine wound healing model. Results showed that TEP undergoes ascending and decreasing phases during epithelium formation in TES as well as during wound repair within TES. Similar results were observed during in vivo reepithelialization of wounds. The ascending and decreasing TEP values were correlated with changes in the expression of Na+/K+ ATPase pump. The distribution of Na+/K+ ATPase pumps also varied according to epidermal differentiation. Taken together, these results suggest that the variations in the expression of Na+/K+ ATPase pump over time and across epidermis would be a determinant parameter of the TEP, dictating a cationic transport during the formation and restoration of the epidermis. Therefore, this study brings a new perspective to understand the formation and restoration of TEP during the cutaneous wound healing process. This might have important future medical applications regarding the treatment of chronic wound healing.