IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i13p3105-d1420934.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhanced DC Building Distribution Performance Using a Modular Grid-Tied Converter Design

Author

Listed:
  • Patrik Ollas

    (Department of Energy and Resources, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 504 62 Borås, Sweden
    Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden)

  • Torbjörn Thiringer

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden)

  • Mattias Persson

    (Department of Measurement Science and Technology, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden)

Abstract

This work quantifies the techno-economic performance of AC and DC residential building distribution. Two methods, utilising software and hardware configurations, are showcased to improve DC distribution: (i) a novel rule-based battery dual-objective operation (DOO) and (ii) a modular Master/Slave design of the grid-tied converter (GC). Both methods use the GC’s load-dependent efficiency characteristic, eliminating partial-load operation and enhancing energy efficiency. The work uses measured annual PV and load data to evaluate the performance of the methods compared to AC and DC references. The techno-economic analysis includes the annual net electricity bill and monetised battery degradation. The results show that the DOO eliminates GC partial-load operation at the cost of increased battery usage, resulting in marginal net savings. In contrast, the modular converter design significantly reduces losses: −157 kWh/a (−31%) and −121 kWh/a (−26%), respectively, relative to the DC and AC references. For a parametric sweep of electricity price and discount rate, the Lifetime Operating Cost (LOC) comparison shows savings from DC of up to USD 575 compared to AC.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrik Ollas & Torbjörn Thiringer & Mattias Persson, 2024. "Enhanced DC Building Distribution Performance Using a Modular Grid-Tied Converter Design," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3105-:d:1420934
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/13/3105/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/13/3105/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Spiliotis, Konstantinos & Gonçalves, Juliana E. & Saelens, Dirk & Baert, Kris & Driesen, Johan, 2020. "Electrical system architectures for building-integrated photovoltaics: A comparative analysis using a modelling framework in Modelica," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    2. Eskander, Monica M. & Silva, Carlos A., 2023. "Techno-economic and environmental comparative analysis for DC microgrids in households: Portuguese and French household case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    3. Gerber, Daniel L. & Liou, Richard & Brown, Richard, 2019. "Energy-saving opportunities of direct-DC loads in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 274-287.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Vossos, Vagelis & Gerber, Daniel & Bennani, Youness & Brown, Richard & Marnay, Chris, 2018. "Techno-economic analysis of DC power distribution in commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 663-678.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patrik Ollas & Torbjörn Thiringer & Mattias Persson & Caroline Markusson, 2023. "Energy Loss Savings Using Direct Current Distribution in a Residential Building with Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Spiliotis, Konstantinos & Gonçalves, Juliana E. & Saelens, Dirk & Baert, Kris & Driesen, Johan, 2020. "Electrical system architectures for building-integrated photovoltaics: A comparative analysis using a modelling framework in Modelica," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    3. Eskander, Monica M. & Silva, Carlos A., 2023. "Techno-economic and environmental comparative analysis for DC microgrids in households: Portuguese and French household case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    4. Gerber, Daniel L. & Liou, Richard & Brown, Richard, 2019. "Energy-saving opportunities of direct-DC loads in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 274-287.
    5. Hasan Erteza Gelani & Faizan Dastgeer & Sayyad Ahmad Ali Shah & Faisal Saeed & Muhammad Hassan Yousuf & Hafiz Muhammad Waqas Afzal & Abdullah Bilal & Md. Shahariar Chowdhury & Kuaanan Techato & Sittip, 2022. "Comparative Efficiency and Sensitivity Analysis of AC and DC Power Distribution Paradigms for Residential Localities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-52, July.
    6. Gerber, Daniel L. & Nordman, Bruce & Brown, Richard & Poon, Jason, 2023. "Cost analysis of distributed storage in AC and DC microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    7. Castillo-Calzadilla, T. & Cuesta, M.A. & Olivares-Rodriguez, C. & Macarulla, A.M. & Legarda, J. & Borges, C.E., 2022. "Is it feasible a massive deployment of low voltage direct current microgrids renewable-based? A technical and social sight," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    8. Hallemans, L. & Ravyts, S. & Govaerts, G. & Fekriasl, S. & Van Tichelen, P. & Driesen, J., 2022. "A stepwise methodology for the design and evaluation of protection strategies in LVDC microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    9. Gerber, Daniel L. & Ghatpande, Omkar A. & Nazir, Moazzam & Heredia, Willy G. Bernal & Feng, Wei & Brown, Richard E., 2022. "Energy and power quality measurement for electrical distribution in AC and DC microgrid buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    10. Saeed Habibi & Ramin Rahimi & Mehdi Ferdowsi & Pourya Shamsi, 2021. "DC Bus Voltage Selection for a Grid-Connected Low-Voltage DC Residential Nanogrid Using Real Data with Modified Load Profiles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Meshari Alshammari & Maeve Duffy, 2021. "Feasibility Analysis of a DC Distribution System for a 6 kW Photovoltaic Installation in Ireland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    12. Rémy Cleenwerck & Hakim Azaioud & Majid Vafaeipour & Thierry Coosemans & Jan Desmet, 2023. "Impact Assessment of Electric Vehicle Charging in an AC and DC Microgrid: A Comparative Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, April.
    13. Keteng Jiang & Haibo Li & Xi Ye & Yi Lei & Keng-Weng Lao & Shuqing Zhang & Xianfa Hu, 2022. "Energy Efficiency Evaluation and Revenue Distribution of DC Power Distribution Systems in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    14. Hasan Erteza Gelani & Faizan Dastgeer & Mashood Nasir & Sidra Khan & Josep M. Guerrero, 2021. "AC vs. DC Distribution Efficiency: Are We on the Right Path?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-26, July.
    15. 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.
    16. Van den Broeck, Giel & Stuyts, Jeroen & Driesen, Johan, 2018. "A critical review of power quality standards and definitions applied to DC microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 281-288.
    17. Vagelis Vossos & Daniel L. Gerber & Melanie Gaillet-Tournier & Bruce Nordman & Richard Brown & Willy Bernal Heredia & Omkar Ghatpande & Avijit Saha & Gabe Arnold & Stephen M. Frank, 2022. "Adoption Pathways for DC Power Distribution in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    18. Chai, Merlin & Bonthapalle, Dastagiri Reddy & Sobrayen, Lingeshwaren & Panda, Sanjib K. & Wu, Die & Chen, XiaoQing, 2018. "Alternating current and direct current-based electrical systems for marine vessels with electric propulsion drives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 747-756.
    19. Liu, Xueying & Madlener, Reinhard, 2021. "Economic Benefits of Direct Current Technology for Private Households and Peer-to-Peer Trading in Germany," FCN Working Papers 7/2021, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    20. Arthur Santos & Gerald Duggan & Stephen Frank & Daniel Gerber & Daniel Zimmerle, 2021. "Endpoint Use Efficiency Comparison for AC and DC Power Distribution in Commercial Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3105-:d:1420934. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.