This paper presents a novel stochastic optimisation approach to determining the feasible optimal solution of the economic dispatch (ED) problem considering various generator constraints. Many practical constraints of generators, such as ramp rate limits, prohibited operating zones and the valve point effect, are considered. These constraints make the ED problem a non-smooth/nonconvex minimisation problem with constraints. The proposed optimisation algorithm is called selftuning hybrid differential evolution (self-tuning HDE). The self-tuning HDE utilises the concept of the 1/5 success rule of evolution strategies (ESs) in the original HDE to accelerate the search for the global optimum. Three test power systems, including 3-, 13-and 40-unit power systems, are applied to compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with genetic algorithms, the differential evolution algorithm and the HDE algorithm. Numerical results indicate that the entire performance of the proposed self-tuning HDE algorithm outperforms the other three algorithms.

This paper presents a concept of fault-location observability and a new fault-location scheme for transmission networks based on synchronized phasor measurement units (PMUs). Using the proposed scheme, minimal PMUs are installed in existing power transmission networks so that the fault, if it occurs, can be located correctly in the network. The scheme combines the fault-location algorithm and the fault-side selector. Extensive simulation results verify the proposed scheme. Index Terms-Fault location, phasor measurement unit (PMU), transmission network.

A new fault detection/location technique with consideration of arcing fault discrimination based on phasor measurement units for extremely high voltage/ultra-high voltage transmission lines is presented in this two-paper set. Part I of this two-paper set is mainly aimed at theory and algorithm derivation. The proposed fault detection technique for both arcing and permanent faults is achieved by a combination of a fault detection index and a fault location index , which are obtained by processing synchronized fundamental phasors. One is to detect the occurrence of a fault and the other is to distinguish between in-zone and out-ofzone faults. Furthermore, for discriminating between arcing and permanent faults, the proposed technique estimates the amplitude of arc voltage by least error squares method through the measured synchronized harmonic phasors caused by the nonlinear arc behavior. Then, the discrimination will be achieved by comparing the estimated amplitude of arc voltage to a given threshold value. In addition, in order to eliminate the error caused by exponentially decaying dc offset on the computations of fundamental and harmonic phasors, an extended discrete Fourier transform algorithm is also presented.

The Gram-positive bacterium Nocardioides sp. strain CF8 uses a membrane-associated monooxygenase (pBMO) to grow on butane. The nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding this novel monooxygenase were revealed through analysis of a de novo assembled draft genome sequence determined by high-throughput sequencing of the whole genome. The pBMO genes were in a similar arrangement to the genes for ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) from the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and for particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) from the methane-oxidizing bacteria. The pBMO genes likely constitute an operon in the order bmoC, bmoA and bmoB. The nucleotide sequence was less than 50% similar to the genes for AMO and pMMO. The operon for pBMO was confirmed to be a single copy in the genome by Southern and computational analyses. In an incubation on butane the increase of transcriptional activity of the pBmoA gene was congruent with the increase of pBMO activity and suggested correspondence between gene expression and the utilization of butane. Phylogenetic comparison revealed distant but significant similarity of all three pBMO subunits to homologous members of the AMO/pMMO family and indicated that the pBMO represents a deeply branching third lineage of this group of particulate monooxygenases. No other bmoCAB-like genes were found to cluster with pBMO lineage in phylogenetic analysis by database searches including genomic and metagenomic sequence databases. pBMO is the first example of the AMO/pMMO-like monooxygenase from Gram-positive bacteria showing similarities to proteobacterial pMMO and AMO sequences.

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