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A Modeling Toolkit for Comparing AC and DC Electrical Distribution Efficiency in Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Avpreet Othee

    (Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • James Cale

    (Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Arthur Santos

    (Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Stephen Frank

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Daniel Zimmerle

    (Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Omkar Ghatpande

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Gerald Duggan

    (Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Daniel Gerber

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94550, USA)

Abstract

Recently, there has been considerable research interest in the potential for DC distribution systems in buildings instead of the traditional AC distribution systems. Due to the need for performing power conversions between DC and AC electricity, DC distribution may provide electrical efficiency advantages in some systems. To support comparative evaluations of AC-only, DC-only, and hybrid AC/DC distribution systems in buildings, a new modeling toolkit called the Building Electrical Efficiency Analysis Model (BEEAM) was developed and is described in this paper. To account for harmonics in currents or voltages arising from nonlinear devices, the toolkit implements harmonic power flow, along with nonlinear device behavioral descriptions derived from empirical measurements. This paper describes the framework, network equations, device representations, and an implementation of the toolkit in an open source software package, including a component library and graphical interface for creating circuits. Simulations of electrical behavior and device and system efficiencies using the toolkit are compared with experimental measurements of a small office environment in a variety of operating and load configurations. A detailed analysis of uncertainty estimation is also provided. Key findings were that a comparison of predicted versus measured efficiencies and power losses in the validation testbed using the initial toolkit implementation predicted device- and system-level efficiencies with reasonably good accuracy under both balanced and unbalanced AC scenarios. An uncertainty analysis also revealed that the maximum estimated error for system efficiency across all scenarios was 3%, and measured and modeled system efficiency agreed within the experimental uncertainty in approximately half of the scenarios. Based on the correspondence between simulation and measurement, the toolkit is proposed by the authors as a potentially useful tool for comparing efficiency in AC, DC, and hybrid AC/DC distribution systems in buildings.

Suggested Citation

  • Avpreet Othee & James Cale & Arthur Santos & Stephen Frank & Daniel Zimmerle & Omkar Ghatpande & Gerald Duggan & Daniel Gerber, 2023. "A Modeling Toolkit for Comparing AC and DC Electrical Distribution Efficiency in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-46, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:7:p:3001-:d:1107058
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frank, Stephen M. & Rebennack, Steffen, 2015. "Optimal design of mixed AC–DC distribution systems for commercial buildings: A Nonconvex Generalized Benders Decomposition approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(3), pages 710-729.
    2. Thomas, Brinda A. & Azevedo, Inês L. & Morgan, Granger, 2012. "Edison Revisited: Should we use DC circuits for lighting in commercial buildings?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 399-411.
    3. Gerber, Daniel L. & Vossos, Vagelis & Feng, Wei & Marnay, Chris & Nordman, Bruce & Brown, Richard, 2018. "A simulation-based efficiency comparison of AC and DC power distribution networks in commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 1167-1187.
    4. Joon Han & Yun-Sik Oh & Gi-Hyeon Gwon & Doo-Ung Kim & Chul-Ho Noh & Tack-Hyun Jung & Soon-Jeong Lee & Chul-Hwan Kim, 2015. "Modeling and Analysis of a Low-Voltage DC Distribution System," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Venkata Anand Prabhala & Bhanu Prashant Baddipadiga & Poria Fajri & Mehdi Ferdowsi, 2018. "An Overview of Direct Current Distribution System Architectures & Benefits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Glasgo, Brock & Azevedo, Inês Lima & Hendrickson, Chris, 2016. "How much electricity can we save by using direct current circuits in homes? Understanding the potential for electricity savings and assessing feasibility of a transition towards DC powered buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 66-75.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Frank & Brian Ball & Daniel L. Gerber & Khanh Cu & Avpreet Othee & Jordan Shackelford & Omkar Ghatpande & Richard Brown & James Cale, 2023. "Advances in the Co-Simulation of Detailed Electrical and Whole-Building Energy Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Olivia Graillet & Denis Genon-Catalot & Pierre-Olivier Lucas de Peslouan & Flavien Bernard & Frédéric Alicalapa & Laurent Lemaitre & Jean-Pierre Chabriat, 2024. "Optimizing Energy Consumption: A Case Study of LVDC Nanogrid Implementation in Tertiary Buildings on La Réunion Island," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, March.

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