Optimization of the power flow in a smart home

Abstract

With the IT technology, the traditional power grid is being upgraded to the smart grid (SG) with two-way communication and power flow between utilities and customers. In addition, SG includes new technologies in distributed energy generation (DEG) and distributed energy storage (DES), advanced measurement and sensing, controls, cyber security, consumer-side energy management, and environment protection. Thus, it shows the advantages in efficiency, reliability, and security. A smart home is a mini power system with the renewable energy resources and the local energy management. Therefore, the emission and the power consumption can be reduced while the system efficiency will be improved. In this paper, particle swarm optimization is used to manage the power flow in a smart home with the objectives in the minimum cost and maximum comfort. Results from two homes with different size of PV systems are compared and discussed. The PV size for a stand-alone home is determined.