2025
Authors
Carvalhosa, S; Ferreira, JR; Araújo, RE;
Publication
ENERGIES
Abstract
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates, residential buildings-particularly multi-dwelling structures-face increasing challenges to electrical infrastructure, notably due to conservative sizing practices of electrical feeders based on maximum simultaneous demand. Current sizing methods assume all EVs charge simultaneously at maximum capacity, resulting in unnecessarily oversized and costly electrical installations. This study proposes an optimized methodology to estimate accurate coincidence factors, leveraging simulations of EV user charging behaviors in multi-dwelling residential environments. Charging scenarios considering different fleet sizes (1 to 70 EVs) were simulated under two distinct premises of charging: minimization of current allocation to achieve the desired battery state-of-charge and maximization of instantaneous power delivery. Results demonstrate significant deviations from conventional assumptions, with estimated coincidence factors decreasing non-linearly as fleet size increases. Specifically, applying the derived coincidence factors can reduce feeder section requirements by up to 86%, substantially lowering material costs. A fuzzy logic inference model is further developed to refine these estimates based on fleet characteristics and optimization preferences, providing a practical tool for infrastructure planners. The results were compared against other studies and real-life data. Finally, the proposed methodology thus contributes to more efficient, cost-effective design strategies for EV charging infrastructures in residential buildings.
2025
Authors
Elhawash, AM; Araújo, RE; Lopes, JAP;
Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
Abstract
Maintaining frequency stability is one of the biggest challenges facing future power systems, due to the increasing penetration levels of inverter-based renewable resources. This investigation experimentally validates the frequency provision capabilities of a real Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyser (HE) using a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) setup. The PHIL consists of a custom 3-level interleaved buck converter and a hardware platform for real-time control of the converter and conducting grid simulation, associated with the modelling of the future Iberian Peninsula (IP) and Continental Europe (CE) systems. The investigation had the aim of validating earlier simulation work and testing new responses from the electrolyser when providing different frequency services at different provision volumes. The experimental results corroborate earlier simulation results and capture extra electrolyser dynamics as the double-layer capacitance effect, which was absent in the simulations. Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) and Fast Frequency Response (FFR) were provided successfully from the HE at different provision percentages, enhancing the nadir and the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) in the power system when facing a large disturbance compared to conventional support only. The results verify that HE can surely contribute to frequency services, paving the way for future grid support studies beyond simulations.
2025
Authors
Touati, Z; Araújo, R;
Publication
IFAC-PapersOnLine
Abstract
2025
Authors
Elhawash, M; Araújo, RE; Lopes, A;
Publication
2025 IEEE Kiel PowerTech
Abstract
This paper presents a new power chain and its control scheme that provides highly flexible low voltage ride through (LVRT) capabilities for power converters that feed the stack of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzers. It introduces an intermediate power stage with a new adaptive feedforward controller, that isolates the electrolyzer stack from grid-side disturbances. An RMS model of the whole solution is developed and validated. The system was developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK and PLECS environments. Furthermore, the system was tested in DC and AC grids by subjecting it to a fault reducing the input voltage magnitude down to 0.2 pu. The system demonstrated its ability to ride through the fault whilst maintaining the power set-points and supply quality at the electrolyzer stack connection point. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
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