PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power

2014-01-02
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Matt Shipman
matt_shipman@ncsu.edu
919-515-6386
North Carolina State University
Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power Researchers from North Carolina State University and Johns Hopkins University have found that an increase in the use of wind power generation can make the power grid more fragile and susceptible to disruptions. But the researchers didn't just identify the problem – they have also devised a technique for coordinating wind power generation and energy storage in order to minimize the potential for such power disruptions.

Typically, the power flowing through the transmission lines of a power grid suffers from small "oscillations," or deviations from the norm, after a disturbance. Generally, these oscillations are mitigated by means of controllers inside the power generators. However, if the controls are not strong enough, the oscillations may be "sustained," reducing the efficiency of power transfer and posing a threat to the stability of the grid. If not controlled properly, these oscillations can even lead to widespread power outages – such as the 1996 blackout that hit the West Coast of the U.S.

The researchers found that, under certain circumstances, wind power generators can make these oscillations worse. This is because wind farms produce power erratically. After all, the amount of power being produced by wind farms depends on how hard the wind is blowing. Furthermore, the nature of these oscillations strongly depends on where the wind farms are located in the grid.

"To counteract this problem, we have designed a technique that coordinates the activity of controllers inside the wind turbines and battery management systems to even out the flow of power from wind farms into the grid," says Dr. Aranya Chakrabortty, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at NC State and senior author of a paper describing the work.

Specifically, the research team developed several algorithms that match control efforts between wind farms and energy storage facilities. If the power output for the wind farm increases, the surplus can be siphoned off to charge batteries at the storage facility, instead of being dumped directly onto the power grid. Similarly, if the power output at a wind farm declines, the batteries can compensate for the loss and provide power to the grid.

"By matching the behavior of the two controllers, we can produce the desired damping effect on the power flow and restore stable grid behavior," Chakrabortty says.

This issue is particularly important because wind energy is one of the fastest growing sources of renewable energy. In the U.S., the rapid increase in wind farm installations is being accelerated by government mandates and the goal of providing 20 percent of the nation's power needs through wind power by 2020.

### The paper, "Coordinating Wind Farms and Battery Management Systems for Inter-Area Oscillation Damping: A Frequency-Domain Approach," is published online in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. Lead author of the paper is Souvik Chandra, a Ph.D. student at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Dr. Dennice Gayme of Johns Hopkins. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants ECCS 1062811 and 1230788.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

When being called 'incredibly good' is bad for children

2014-01-02
When being called 'incredibly good' is bad for children Study shows inflated praise can harm kids with low self-esteem COLUMBUS, Ohio – Parents and other adults heap the highest praise on children who are most likely to be hurt by the compliments, a new study finds. Researchers ...

Survival rates similar for gunshot/stabbing victims whether brought to the hospital by police or EMS

2014-01-02
Survival rates similar for gunshot/stabbing victims whether brought to the hospital by police or EMS Philadelphia 'Scoop and Run' penetrating trauma victims studied over 5-year period PHILADELPHIA - A new study from the Perelman ...

Study supports a causal role in narcolepsy for a common genetic variant

2014-01-02
Study supports a causal role in narcolepsy for a common genetic variant Results show a remarkable genetic association of almost 100 percent DARIEN, IL – A new study conducted across Europe found an extraordinary association between narcolepsy and a specific ...

Study finds patients give 'broad endorsement' to stem cell research

2014-01-02
Study finds patients give 'broad endorsement' to stem cell research In an early indication of lay opinions on research with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are stem cells made from skin or other tissues, a new study by bioethicists at Johns Hopkins University ...

Hispanic women are less aware of weight and heart disease risk

2014-01-02
Hispanic women are less aware of weight and heart disease risk New Rochelle, NY, January 2, 2014—Minority women tend to be less aware of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) they face by being overweight or obese. The results ...

Study: Open collaboration, which led to Bitcoin, TedX & Wikipedia, likely to grow

2014-01-02
Study: Open collaboration, which led to Bitcoin, TedX & Wikipedia, likely to grow New research in INFORMS Journal shows that open collaboration brings innovation Open collaboration – which has brought the world Bitcoin, TEDx ...

The people's agenda -- America's priorities and outlook for 2014

2014-01-02
The people's agenda -- America's priorities and outlook for 2014 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey reveals the American people's list of key issues that need government attention in the year ahead Chicago, January 2, 2014—The ...

More evidence suggests type 2 diabetes is an inflammatory disease

2014-01-02
More evidence suggests type 2 diabetes is an inflammatory disease New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that macrophages invade the diabetic pancreas, producing large amounts of cytokines that contribute ...

Turning off the 'aging genes'

2014-01-02
Turning off the 'aging genes' Computer algorithm developed by Tel Aviv University identifies genes that could be transformed to stop the aging process Restricting calorie consumption is one of the few proven ways to combat aging. Though the underlying ...

Residual activity 'hot spots' in the brain key for vision recovery in stroke patients

2014-01-02
Residual activity 'hot spots' in the brain key for vision recovery in stroke patients According to study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience Amsterdam, NL, January 2, 2014 – Scientists know that vision restoration training (VRT) can help patients who have lost ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Study shows major health insurance gap for some adopted children

Midwestern butterfly count: Big data yields bad news and clues

New mega RNA virus may hold the key to mass oyster die-offs

Organized scientific fraud is growing at an alarming rate

A new alternative to opioids

Tracing brain chemistry across humanity’s family tree

Job opportunities are more important to refugees from Ukraine than social benefits

Major discovery of Ice Age bones in a Norwegian cave opens a window into the past

Revolutionizing lactation support and outcomes

New review highlights significant need for comprehensive care for gun violence survivors

Crop monitoring system utilizing IoT, AI and other tech showcased at ASABE

Simple algorithm paired with standard imaging tool could predict failure in lithium metal batteries

Can botox be used to alleviate pain in a jaw disorder?

Why “sleeping on it” may improve learning and memory

From faces to feelings: How children learn to read emotions

Pan Feng’s team advances inverse design of catalytic materials with topological AI

Lab to industry: InSe wafer-scale breakthrough for future electronics

August Issues of APA journals feature new research on psychiatric genetics, telehealth prescribing of controlled substances, mental health advocacy, and more

Pioneering AI approach enhances prediction of complex astrochemical reactions

Gigantic, meat-eating dinosaurs didn’t all have strong bites

Researchers discover cause of sea star wasting disease

Less processed diet may be more beneficial for weight loss

New research on colorectal cancer incidence, screening among younger US adults

New therapy outperforms standard treatment in reducing binge eating among veterans

Influenza with and without oseltamivir treatment and neuropsychiatric events among children and adolescents

Oral semaglutide in an East Asian population with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist eligibility among US adolescents and young adults

Residential care increases social participation but gaps remain

Scientists achieve megabase-scale precision genome editing in eukaryotic cells

National Science Foundation renews Brown’s national mathematics institute with $16.5 million

[Press-News.org] Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power