Efficient and Secure Strategy for Energy Systems of Interconnected Farmers′ Associations to Meet Variable Energy Demand

Blockchain-Enabled Smart Grid Applications: Architecture, Challenges, and Solutions

The conventional electrical grid is undergoing substantial growth for reliable grid operation and for more efficient and sustainable energy use. The traditional grid is now metamorphosing into a smart grid (SG) that incorporates a diverse, heterogeneous blend of operating measures such as smart appliances, meters, and renewable energy resources. With better efficient results and dependability, the SG can be described as a modern electric power grid architecture. The SG is one of the greatest potential advances as a promising solution for the energy crisis. However, it is complex and its decentralization could be of tremendous benefit. Moreover, digitalization and integration of a large number of growing connections make it a target of cyber-attacks. In this sense, blockchain is a promising SG paradigm solution that offers several excellent features. There has been considerable effort put into using blockchains in the smart grid for its decentralization and enhanced cybersecurity; however, it has not been thoroughly studied in both application and architectural perspectives. An in-depth study was conducted on blockchain-enabled SG applications. Blockchain architectures for various applications, such as the synchrophasor applications, electric vehicles, energy management systems, etc., were proposed. The purpose of this article is to provide directions for future research efforts aimed at secure and decentralized SG applications using blockchain.

The Role of Blockchain in Revolutionizing the Agricultural Sector

Since blockchain technology has proven to be effective in the development of a wide range of industries, its use in other fields is also being expanded. Agriculture is one such sector, where blockchain technology is being used to improve farm business operations. Today, several agribusiness firms are utilizing technology to improve food supply chain tracking. For example, Farmers Edge, the world’s leading company that revolutionized the field of digital agriculture through its work in providing advanced artificial intelligence solutions, as well as new opportunities that give agriculture a globally advanced future for all stakeholders, has taken a significant step forward. The issue of blockchain network technology and its applications in agriculture will be discussed in this study, as well as the key advantages that this technology can provide, when employed to make the lives of both producers and consumers easier. In addition, a total of 79 research papers were evaluated, with a focus on the state of blockchain technology in agriculture, related issues, and its future importance, as well as relevant contributions to this new technology and the distributions of this study by different countries.

New Expressions to Apply the Variation Operation Strategy in Engineering Tools Using Pumps Working as Turbines

The improvement in energy saving aspects in water systems is currently a topic of major interest. The utilization of pumps working as turbines is a relevant strategy in water distribution networks consisting of pressurized pipes, using these machines to recover energy, generate green energy and reduce leakages in water systems. The need to develop energy studies, prior to the installation of these facilities, requires the use of simulation tools. These tools should be able to define the operation curves of the machine as a function of the flow rate. This research proposes a new strategy to develop a mathematics model for pumps working as turbines (PATs), considering the modified affinity laws. This proposed model, which can be input into hydraulic simulation tools (e.g., Epanet, WaterGems), allows estimation of the head, efficiency, and power curves of the PATs when operating at different rotational speeds. The research used 87 different curves for 15 different machines to develop the new model. This model improves the results of the previously published models, reducing the error in the estimation of the height, efficiency, and power values. The proposed model reduced the errors by between 30 and 50% compared to the rest of the models.