NEW METHOD TO ESTIMATE SCALING EXPONENTS OF POWER-LAW DEGREE DISTRIBUTION AND HIERARCHICAL CLUSTERING FUNCTION FOR COMPLEX NETWORKS

A new method and corresponding numerical procedure are introduced to estimate scaling exponents of power-law degree distribution and hierarchical clustering function for complex networks. This method can overcome the biased and inaccurate faults of graphical linear fitting methods commonly used in current network research. Furthermore, it is verified to have higher goodness-of-fit than graphical methods by comparing the KS （Kolmogorov-Smirnov） test statistics for 10 CNN （Connecting Nearest-Neighbor） networks.

Superior Mechanical Behavior and Flame Retardancy FRP via a Distribution Controllable 1D/2D Hybrid Nanoclay Synergistic Toughening Strategy

The incorporation of commercial flame retardants into fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)composites has been proposed as a potential solution to improve the latter’s poor flame resistance.However,this approach often poses a challenge,as it can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the FRP.Thus,balancing the need for improved flame resistance with the preservation of mechanical integrity remains a complex issue in FRP research.Addressing this critical concern,this study introduces a novel additive system featuring a combination of one-dimensional(1D)hollow tubular structured halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)and two-dimensional(2D)polygonal flake-shaped nano kaolinite(NKN).By employing a 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system,this research aims to simultaneously improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties.This innovative approach offers several advantages.During combustion and pyrolysis processes,the 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system proves effective in reducing heat release and volatile leaching.Furthermore,the system facilitates the formation of reinforcing skeletons through a crosslinking mechanism during pyrolysis,resulting in the development of a compact char layer.This char layer acts as a protective barrier,enhancing the material’s resistance to heat and flames.In terms of mechanical properties,the multilayered polygonal flake-shaped 2D NKN plays a crucial role by impeding the formation of cracks that typically arise from vulnerable areas,such as adhesive phase particles.Simultaneously,the 1D HNT bridges these cracks within the matrix,ensuring the structural integrity of the composite material.In an optimal scenario,the homogeneously distributed 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclays exhibit remarkable results,with a 51.0%improvement in mode II fracture toughness(GIIC),indicating increased resistance to crack propagation.In addition,there is a 34.5%reduction in total heat release,signifying improved flame retardancy.This study represents a significant step forward in the field of composite materials.The innovative use of hybrid low-dimensional nanomaterials offers a promising avenue for the development of multifunctional composites.By carefully designing and incorporating these nanoclays,researchers can potentially create a new generation of FRP composites that excel in both flame resistance and mechanical strength.

Hierarchical and distributed demand response control strategy for thermostatically controlled appliances in smart grid

Thermostatically controlled appliances(TCAs)have great thermal storage capability and are therefore excellent demand response(DR) resources to solve the problem of power fluctuation caused by renewable energy.Traditional centralized management is affected by communication quality severely and thus usually has poor realtime control performance. To tackle this problem, a hierarchical and distributed control strategy for TCAs is established. In the proposed control strategy, target assignment has the feature of self-regulating, owing to the designed target assignment and compensating algorithm which can utilize DR resources maximally in the controlled regions and get better control effects. Besides, the model prediction strategy and customers’ responsive behavior model are integrated into the original optimal temperature regulation(OTR-O), and OTR-O will be evolved into improved optimal temperature regulation. A series of case studies have been given to demonstrate the control effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

Cyber-physical Power System Modeling for Timing-driven Control of Active Distribution Network

In a cyber-physical power system, active distribution network(ADN) facilitates the energy control through hierarchical and distributed control system(HDCS). Various researches have dedicated to develop the control strategies of primary devices of ADN. However, an ADN demonstration project shows that the information transmission of HDCS may cause time delay and response lag, and little model can describe both the ADN primary device and HDCS as a cyber-physical system(CPS). In this paper, a hybrid system based CPS model is proposed to describe ADN primary devices, control information flow, and HDCS. Using the CPS model, the energy process of primary devices and the information process of HDCS are optimized by model predictive control(MPC) methodology to seamlessly integrate the energy flow and the information flow. The case study demonstrates that the proposed CPS model can accurately reflect main features of HDCS, and the control technique can effectively achieve the operation targets on primary devices despite the fact that HDCS brings adverse effects to control process.

Hierarchical distributed control for decentralized battery energy storage system based on consensus algorithm with pinning node

A decentralized battery energy storage system(DBESS)is used for stabilizing power fluctuation in DC microgrids.Different state of charge(SoC)among various battery energy storage units(BESU)during operation will reduce batteries’service life.A hierarchical distributed control method is proposed in this paper for SoC balancing and power control according to dispatching center requirement in DBESS.A consensus algorithm with pinning node is employed to allocate power among BESUs in the secondary control whereas in the primary control,the local controller of BESU adjusts output power according to the reference power from secondary control.Part of BESUs are selected to be pinning node for accepting command from dispatching center while other BESUs as following nodes which exchange output power and SoC information with the adjacent nodes through communication network.After calculating reference power of each BESU by adopting consensus algorithm,the power sharing in DBESS is achieved according to their respective SoC of BESUs.Meanwhile,the total output power of DBESS follows the varying requirements of dispatching center.The stability of DBESS is also improved because of having no center controller.The feasibility of the proposed control strategy is validated by simulation results.

Microscopic Observations of the Lotus Leaf for Explaining the Outstanding Mechanical Properties

The leaf of lotus （Nelumbo nucifera） exhibits exceptional ability to maintain the opening status even under adverse weather conditions, but the mechanism behind this phenomenon is less investigated. In this paper, lotus leaves were investigated using environmental scanning electron microscopy in order to illustrate this mechanism. The macro-observations show that the primary veins are oriented symmetrically from leaf center and then develop into fractal distribution, with net-shaped arrangement of the side veins. Further micro-observations show that all the veins are composed of honeycomb micro-tubes viewed from cross section, the inner of micro-tubes are patterned with extended closed-hexagons from vertical section. Different positions of leaf possess diverse mechanical properties by size variation of diameter and inner hexagons of veins, which is theoretically analyzed by building a regular honeycomb model. Specifically, the central area of lotus tends to be stiffer while its margin be softer. These special distribution and composition of the veins mainly account for the distinct behavior of lotus.