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This paper presents a novel power flow control system for a remote military microgrid with hybrid energy storage. A combination of batteries and supercapacitors (SCs) is managed by the novel control system to increase the battery life by redirecting the higher frequency current that would have to flow in the battery if SCs were not present. This paper offers a practical solution to manage the SC current and ensure that the SCs are never overcharged or commanded to support the system when they are discharged to the lower operating limit chosen. The new controller allows the independent selection of the low-pass filter parameter and the number of SCs. By making the most out of these two degrees of freedom, we investigate different configurations, identifying the one achieving the highest cash flow for the overall system. Modeling, simulations, and experimental verification are presented and linked to the sensitivity analysis of the economics of the military microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of induction motors (IMs) with variable frequency drives for industrial process control and automation has necessitated the need to evaluate their energy efficiency in the presence of voltage and current harmonics. As the determination of IM efficiency is becoming mandatory in many countries, there is a need to develop a testing approach that eliminates inaccuracies due to the operator. This paper presents an automated efficiency testing procedure developed to mitigate the adverse effect of varying technical skill and competence levels of testing personnel on efficiency test results. This is a particularly useful development considering the recently proposed IEC/TS 60034-2-3 methodology which specifies identical tests between sinusoidal supply and converter operation. A comparison of several manual and automated efficiency tests on a 55-kW IM highlighted improvements in repeatability, correlation, and temperature variation due to the latter. In addition, the advanced data acquisition and computation capability of the measurement device used in the developed test rig provides an excellent platform to investigate the dynamic operation of IM drives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uneven power loss distribution among the semiconductor devices is one critical issue of the three-level neutral-point clamped converter. Besides, different operating conditions will result in different loss distribution profiles. The case with low power factor and high modulation usage, which is common in the static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) application, has not been paid much attention to in the literature. In this paper, the power loss distribution under this condition is discussed. And a novel carrier-based modulation technique is proposed to balance the power loss distribution and reduce the power loss in the most stressed device. In addition, an active neutral-point (NP) voltage balancing control strategy is also proposed based on the proposed modulation scheme. Simulation and laboratory results are presented to verify the performances of the proposed modulation technique in power loss redistribution and NP voltage control. Its influence on the output current harmonic performance is also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new battery management system (BMS) for a series string of battery cells. The proposed control structure is based on the duality of the adaptive droop control theory used in dc micro-grid connected sources. An adaptive virtual admittance is used in this paper similar to the virtual resistance control structure used with dc micro-grid connected sources. The virtual admittance value is adjusted according to the associated state of charge for every connected battery cell. The presented BMS control structure yields higher reliability compared to the conventional ones due to its decentralization features and its communication-less ability. Thus, balanced power-sharing is realized among the connected battery cells during charging/discharging conditions. The stability of the proposed control is analyzed using the small signal model. The proposed BMS control structure is validated using simulation results and an experimental prototype for three connected battery cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a single-phase ac–dc–ac converter composed of a transformer and two three-leg converters connected in series. The proposed converter allows to supply the load with a voltage with constant amplitude and frequency, and to operate with the grid current with low harmonic distortion and high power factor. In addition, the converter can be used to mitigate fundamental overvoltage and voltage harmonics at the grid. The system model, regions of operation, a power flow analysis, and a method to regulate the dc-link voltages using the voltage vector redundancies are given. In the first version of this paper, two pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques (including space vector PWM) and a control system were provided. The proposed topology is compared with two conventional systems in terms of operation range, harmonic distortions, and semiconductor losses. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the feasibility of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved hybrid unified power flow controller (IHUPFC) is developed in this paper to control the power flow and increase the utilization rate of the existing transmission lines. The IHUPFC is composed of an improved “Sen” transformer (IST) and a small capacity unified power flow controller (UPFC). After a detailed introduction of the structure and voltage regulation performance of the IST, this paper derives the capacity relationship between the IST and the UPFC. Then, this paper introduces the technology of the IHUPFC in power flow regulation and transmission capability improvement. Besides, the advantages of the IHUPFC in performance and structure are analyzed. The IST has simpler structure and larger power flow control area than a “Sen” transformer, and the IHUPFC provides a continuous active and reactive power flow control. Simulation and experiment studies are used to verify the practicability and superiority of the IHUPFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the damping ability of point of common coupling (PCC) voltage feedforward is analyzed in order to improve the stability of current control, in which interference with an LCL filter of a battery energy storage system (BESS) and synchronous inductance of a diesel generator is considered in a stand-alone microgrid. A BESS can be charged by a diesel generator when the state of charge of the battery bank is significantly insufficient and where the BESS operates with constant current constant voltage control and the diesel generator provides constant voltage constant frequency control. In this case, large synchronous when the diesel generator is in a steady state may severely cause the instability of current control. The stability analysis should be required to guarantee the paralleled operation between BESS and diesel generator. An equivalent circuit model of the diesel generator is needed to perform these processes. To bring availability of analysis, this paper considers a simple equivalent circuit model considering synchronous inductance in the steady state, and it has very large inductance corresponding 1 per unit. The resonance issue is attenuated by the damping ability of PCC voltage feedforward where it is possible to improve the stability by appropriately adjusting the gain of the voltage feedforward. The effects of the synchronous inductance and the feedforward loop are analyzed in the s-domain and z-domain. The gain of the voltage feedforward is determined to be 0.2 and 0.4 based on stability analysis. To verify the validity of the damping effect of PCC voltage feedforward, a demonstration site is constructed and the stability is verified through simulation and experiment with a full model, and total harmonic distortion of current is improved to 2.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a step-out distance of 161 km and a design power of 55 MW, Martin Linge offshore gas field will be the longest ac submarine cable power supplying an entire offshore oil and gas platform from the shore. This field development comprises a platform with a jack-up rig and a floating storage offloading unit. This paper discusses the criteria that have been considered to select a power-from-shore concept instead of an offshore gas turbine power plant, which is the current practice in the offshore oil and gas industry. Since in a first approach, for such a long step-out distance, the choice of power from shore would be to select a dc transmission line, this paper discusses the design and the main technical challenges of this long step-out ac transmission development. Finally, the system approach that is required for the development of the onshore and offshore parts of the project is described. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) are playing a pivotal role in the power sector with potential applications, such as interfacing renewable energy sources with the grid and several industrial drive applications. MLIs with a smaller number of switching devices are more promising due to their compact size, reduced cost, and higher efficiency compared with their traditional counterparts. This paper, therefore, presents a new three-phase seven-level inverter. This topology is a combination of two cascade-connected two-level voltage-source inverters (VSIs) and H-bridge cells with flying capacitors (FCs). This paper presents the operating principle and the balancing technique for the dc-link capacitors and FCs. The generation of various output voltage levels and the limitation of the sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation control for FC voltage balancing is also presented. The number of components in the proposed circuit configuration and their voltage ratings are considerably lower compared with the recently proposed topologies. The behavior of the proposed circuit configuration is first assessed with simulation studies and is then tested with a laboratory prototype. The simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed topology and the voltage balancing technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy blockchain is a distributed Internet protocol for energy transactions between nodes of a power system. Recent applications of the energy blockchain in microgrids only consider the energy transactions between peers without considering the technical issues that can arise, especially when the system is islanded. One contribution of the paper is, thus, to depict a comprehensive framework of the technical and economic management of microgrids in the blockchain era, considering, for the first time, the provision of ancillary services and, in particular, of the voltage regulation service. When more PV nodes are operating in the grid, large reactive power flows may appear in the branches. In order to limit such flows, a reactive optimal power flow (R-OPF) is solved, setting the voltage at the PV buses as variables within prescribed limits. Each PV generator will thus contribute to voltage regulation, receiving a remuneration included in the transaction and certified by the blockchain technology. For showing how this system can work, a test microgrid, where some energy transactions take place, has been considered. For each transaction, the R-OPF assigns the reactive power to the PV buses. The R-OPF is solved by a glow-worm swarm optimizer. Finally, the paper proposes a method for remuneration of reactive power provision; this method, integrated into the blockchain, allows evaluating the contribution to voltage regulation and increases the transparency and cost traceability in the transactions. The application section shows the implementation of a Tendermint-based energy transaction platform integrating R-OPF and the earlier cited technical assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a neutral-point deviation and ripple compensating control method applied to a three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) converter. The neutral-point deviation and its harmonic components are analyzed with a focus on the average current flowing through the neutral-point of the dc link. This paper also proposes a control scheme compensating for the neutral-point deviation and dominant harmonic components under generalized unbalanced grid operating conditions. The positive and negative sequence components of the switching functions and ac input currents are employed to accurately explain the behavior of three-level NPC converter. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the validity of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a robust nonlinear decentralized control scheme for islanded dc microgrids, where the main control objectives are to achieve the desired voltage at the common dc bus and to maintain the power balance. The proposed control scheme uses the partial feedback linearization scheme to simplify the dynamical models of different components in dc microgrids. In this paper, the dc microgrid includes a solar photovoltaic unit, a fuel cell system, and a battery energy storage system along with dc loads. The robustness of the proposed controller against parametric uncertainties is ensured by the parameter, appearing in the control inputs as unknown, which is then estimated through adaptation laws. The inherent noise decoupling capability of the feedback linearization scheme is used to provide robustness against external disturbances in dc microgrids. The performance of the proposed controller is evaluated on a dc microgrid through simulation and experimental studies in order to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness under different operating conditions, while considering the effects of parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. Simulation results are also compared with an existing proportional-integral controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed electrical drives normally require converters capable of high-frequency operation. For this reason, converters based on SiC mosfets have been spreading in this field. Nevertheless, the problems caused by the high dv/dt imposed by SiC mosfets, like the premature failure of the motor winding insulation and the electromagnetic interference generation, are drawing more and more attention of the experts of this sector. In fact, these issues can deeply affect the system reliability and, hence, can represent a limiting factor for all those applications where the continuity of operation is the highest priority. To avoid the use of SiC mosfets in the most sensitive applications, this paper presents a solution, which consists of a Si-insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)-based inverter fed by a Si-IGBT-based dc/dc converter performing a suitable dc voltage regulation. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to prove that a stable operation of a high-speed drive can be guaranteed through the proposed converter configuration. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed solution, experimental results on a laboratory setup have been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing interest in solid-state transformers (SSTs) as a future replacement for conventional distribution transformers as it is able to provide ancillary services in addition to step-up/step-down of voltages. In SSTs, a common topology used in the ac–dc stage is the cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel converter. This paper proposes a novel dual-model predictive control method for the CHB multilevel converter with faster dynamic response, improved harmonic performance, and voltage balancing of the CHB cells. The primary model enables conventional control over source current and output voltages, whereas the secondary model is able to generate the reference source current through power modeling, which eliminates the need for a proportion-integral (PI) controller, thus resulting in faster dynamic response. A Luenberger-based observer is also implemented to estimate the dc load current in each CHB cell. The second-order harmonic notch filter and the CHB cell dc voltage balancing cost function aim at improving the performance of the source current and CHB cell dc voltages, respectively. The proposed control techniques are then validated under steady-state and transient conditions through simulation and experiment with a laboratory prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, voltage-source converter (VSC)-based high-voltage dc (HVDC) transmission systems have gained more attention. In this paper, a control method for a modular VSC-based HVDC transmission system with high-frequency isolation referred to as high-frequency isolated modular converter is proposed. In the high-frequency isolated modular converter configuration, several floating dc capacitors in all three phases are connected in series, and voltage balancing control of these floating dc capacitors is required. In this paper, an appropriate control structure with the capacitor voltage balancing controller is proposed. The proposed control scheme consists of three layers to control terminal dc bus voltage and balance dc capacitor voltages of each building block. Detailed PSCAD simulation results are presented to evaluate the performance of high-frequency isolated modular converter. Controller hardware-in-the-loop simulation of the high-frequency isolated modular converter is also performed by real-time digital simulator (RTDS), and RTDS results are presented to verify the control structure. Finally, laboratory-scale experimental results are presented to validate the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The emulation of virtual resistance finds various applications in the power processing industry. This paper proposes a novel notion of adaptive sliding mode based loss free resistor (ASLFR). This is achieved by allowing the input power of the power-out power-in (POPI) system to vary, in order to accommodate the load demands. In this paper, the concept is illustrated for power-factor correction (PFC) applications. The ASLFR is used to achieve the dual purpose of harmonics-free rectification along with excellent system response under load and line transients. The scheme serves itself as an efficient single-stage PFC solution. A generic mathematical formulation of the scheme is presented, which can be used for different converters. Then on, a boost topology, operating in continuous conduction mode, is chosen to demonstrate theoretical developments and to showcase the effectiveness of the scheme. The robustness of the proposed controller to any line or load variation is established. A fast voltage recovery with almost no undershoot/overshoot is achieved at transients by using the proposed controller. Additionally, a qualitative analysis is provided to demonstrate the expediency of the proposed ASLFR. The theoretical claims are well supported by simulation as well as experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an algorithm for detection, classification, and characterization of voltage sags and swells in electricity networks using three-phase voltage ellipse parameters. The proposed method employs the instantaneous magnitude of three-phase voltage signals in three axes, which are separated from each other by 120 ^\circ . Thus, the resultant rotating vector, namely, the three-phase voltage vector, traces an ellipse. Then, the parameters of the ellipse, which include minor axis, major axis, and inclination angle, are used to develop the proposed algorithm for classification and characterization of voltage sags and swells. The proposed method is validated using real data of the IEEE working group and some measured real data of the Belgian transmission grid. The method is further tested for the sags and swells generated due to balanced and unbalanced faults at different buses, in test distribution networks (radial and mesh type) embedded with distributed generation and in a practical distribution network of Australia. This paper also demonstrates the proposed algorithm as a real-time sag/swell monitoring tool. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with a hybrid energy source consisting of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, two storage devices, and a load. Generally, this type of source constitutes of nonisolated dc–dc converters. In order to have galvanic isolation for safety reasons and a high voltage ratio, we introduce another system based on the use of three-port isolated dc–dc converters. The storage device can be either a battery or a supercapacitor. This paper presents a control strategy for the hybrid source and includes a global efficiency analysis of power sharing between modules. The proposed system is validated through different simulation results. Additionally, some experimental results are given for the single module operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active power distribution network operation with the integration of various renewable distributed generations (DGs), storage units, and dynamic loads are attracting a lot of interest due to substantial benefits in maximizing the penetration of available renewable energy resources (RES). However, the risk of voltage violation in the active distribution system (ADS) is exacerbated due to increasing penetration of DGs. It has become a bottleneck to maximize the DG penetration into the system. This bottleneck can be handled by effective voltage regulation and reactive power support into ADS. Nowadays, power electronic devices are frequently used for voltage and reactive power support over the conventional approaches. In this paper, an approach to maximize the penetration of RES, such as solar, wind, etc., into ADS by maximum utilization of existing solar photovoltaic inverters (SPVI) in the system is presented. Optimal utilization of SPVI may enhance the voltage stability of the ADS and wind power penetration into the system. The proposed SPVI control approaches are depended on active power generation of solar photovoltaic (SPVG), rating and capability of SPVI, and required reactive power in the ADS. In this paper, the problem of maximum penetration of RES is formulated as an optimal power flow embedded nonlinear optimization problem subject to the physical limitations of the SPVI. The results of the analysis performed on an IEEE 33 bus system show that the proposed SPVI control strategies can improve the voltage profile of the ADS with minimization of curtailment of wind power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel power flow control strategy, combined with an economic analysis, for an energy management system (EMS) involving a hybrid energy storage. The EMS operates a remote microgrid and directs the power flow to either batteries or supercapacitors to increase the life of the batteries. This paper demonstrates how the use of supercapacitors increases the lifetime of the batteries and ultimately how it affects the economics of the system. The proposed EMS controller also compensates for the 120-Hz ripple on the dc bus. Modeling, simulations, and experimental verification are presented together with the procedure to perform the assessment of the battery lifetime, according to the tuning parameters of the controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents theoretical and experimental discussions on low-voltage-ride-through operation of a modular multilevel single-delta bridge-cell (SDBC) inverter intended for utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. Modern grid codes require grid-tied inverters to provide dynamic grid support during grid-fault events by injecting reactive current. This paper discusses decoupled positive- and negative-sequence reactive-current control, focusing on asymmetric voltage sags with imbalanced magnitude and phase relationships. The main objective is to present a feedforward control method based on calculation of the zero-sequence current required for achieving power balance during normal and grid-fault conditions. Moreover, this paper demonstrates a practical method that minimizes overcurrent stress in the three inverter clusters by adjusting active power drawn from PV arrays. Experimental results on a three-phase 12.6-kVA system prove that the SDBC inverter is capable of seamlessly operating through asymmetric voltage sags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pump-back test is widely adopted in the industry for characterizing and qualifying high-power converters. One popular pump-back test configuration is to tie the dc links of two converters together and circulate the current through the inductor connected between the ac terminals. In this configuration, one of the converters operates in the voltage mode to generate the virtual grid and the other converter regulates the circulating current, where hysteresis control could be applied. However, the switching characteristics of hysteresis control are unique due to the pulsewidth modulation type voltage being the virtual grid. This paper contributes to analyzing the switching frequency characteristics of the hysteresis control in this pump-back test configuration. The switching frequency tracking phenomenon is revealed and reported in this paper for the first time. Theoretical analysis, simulation validation, and experimental demonstration are provided to support the major conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the various aspects involving the research and development of smart grids. Discussed are applications, from large grid renewable integration, wide-area monitoring, protection, and control systems to microgrids. Load scheduling and power balance, communications issues, understanding customer behavior, large-area protection, and distribution control are only some aspects of the challenge of making power grids more robust and more intelligent. The potential complexity of such smart grids requires careful study and analysis before actual realization. This paper explains how such challenges are addressed using real-time simulation technologies in different laboratories around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a theoretical and experimental discussion on a modular multilevel triple-star bridge-cell converter with focus on mitigating the capacitor-voltage fluctuation contained in each bridge cell. A new control method proposed in this paper is characterized by properly superimposing both common-mode voltage and circulating currents in the whole speed range. Moreover, this paper optimizes the amplitude and frequency of the superimposed common-mode voltage on the basis of theoretical analysis, thus resulting in minimizing the voltage fluctuation. The optimized control method makes both voltage fluctuation and cluster-current amplitude smaller than do the existing methods. Experimental waveforms obtained from a three-phase downscaled system using a 370-V, 15-kW, 75-Hz, six-pole, permanent-magnet synchronous motor verify good start-up performance from a standstill to the rated speed, keeping both capacitor-voltage and cluster current within acceptable levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel open-winding brushless doubly-fed reluctance generator (OW-BDFRG) with dual two-level converters in order to reduce the converter rating and switching frequency for large-scale wind turbine applications. The new converter topology is equivalent to a three-level converter directly connected to the control winding of typical BDFRG. The OW-BDFRG system with this topology structure requires lower converter rating and switching frequency, and has a more flexible control mode, better operation performance, and fault redundancy capability. For the OW-BDFRG, this paper also proposes a new control scheme combining direct power control (DPC) with sliding mode variable structure (SMVS) control to implement the power tracking. The voltage-vector switching table of DPC is redesigned according to the error signals of active and reactive powers of the power winding, as well as the sector location of control winding flux. The active and reactive powers of the OW-BDFRG can be directly decoupled and independently controlled by properly selecting the switching voltage vectors. The novelty of this paper lies in an OW-BDFRG topology driven by dual two-level converters to improve the system characteristics, and the use of SMVS control to improve the DPC accuracy and robustness to parameter variations. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed system is verified through simulation and experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an input voltage sensorless control algorithm for three-phase active boost rectifiers. Using this approach, the input ac-phase voltages can be accurately estimated from the fluctuations of other measured state variables and preceding switching state information from converter dynamics. Furthermore, the proposed control strategy reduces the input current harmonics of an ac–dc three-phase boost power factor correction (PFC) converter by injecting an additional common-mode duty ratio term to the feedback controllers’ outputs. This additional duty compensation term cancels the unwanted input harmonics, caused by the floating potential between ac source neutral and dc link negative, without requiring any access to the neutral point. A 6-kW (continuous power)/10-kW (peak power) three-phase boost PFC prototype using SiC-based semiconductor switching devices is designed and developed to validate the proposed control algorithm. The experimental results show that an input power factor of 0.999 with a conversion efficiency of 98.3%, total harmonic distortion as low as 4%, and a tightly regulated dc-link voltage with 1% ripple can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper depicts an accident that happened in 2010 in a Brazilian chemical plant. A combination of different events, installations, and commissioning errors coupled with equipment failures involving the primary substation resulted in catastrophic failure. A single-phase failure of a 138-kV disconnect switch, during closing, initiated events and phenomena that resulted in a complete plant shutdown. This paper will walk the reader through the events, forensics analysis, and power system analysis that allowed the authors to identify what happened, how it happened, and what to do to prevent it from happening again. This paper will show how the anatomy of the problem, involving equipment failure, single-phase arcing, switching transients, overvoltage, capacitive coupling, transferred surge voltages, ungrounded system, transient overvoltage due to an arcing ground fault on an ungrounded system, insulation coordination, flashover, and lack of adequate surge protection, all of which resulted in a catastrophic failure of an arc resistant switchgear and a potentially serious arc flash incident. The research followed some steps that will be commented on here as well as the lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever growing penetration of distributed generation (DG) in a distribution network has a profound impact on network protection and stability. Traditional protection schemes and algorithms need to be extensively investigated as more and more DGs get introduced into the network. The current version of IEEE Standard 1547 does not present a comprehensive solution for fault current detection in the presence of various kinds of DGs. Power electronic inverter-based DGs (IBDGs) are of special concern in distribution network protection as they are often incapable of providing sufficient fault current and their controllers play a principal role in the DG behavior. In this paper, the effects of voltage and current controllers for IBDGs on industrial and commercial power system protection schemes are investigated. It is shown that the inverter control mode has a direct impact on its fault current levels and duration. A simplified distribution network model with IBDG operating under voltage and current control modes was tested to verify the effects of these controllers. This paper also proposes an adaptive relaying algorithm to detect the faults in the presence of IBDGs with various types of controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall electric energy conservation and improvement in electrical energy efficiency has been a topic of interest to the electric power industry for long time, since 40% of total primary energy used is in the form of electricity. There are many facets to the energy conservation and/or energy efficiency techniques. Energy conservation by voltage reduction popularly called “CVR” has recently gained some momentum, in particular, to reduce the peak demand. This is also an integral part of the discussion in the future smarter grid technology. This paper addresses the pros and cons of the CVR application including a thorough literature search, practical applications, and a quantifiable measure of its actual amount of energy saving from utilities and the cost associated with it. It is expected that this paper will serve as a foundation to all practicing engineers addressing the issue of CVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of an electrical drive to continue operation without tripping in spite of short-duration voltage sags or power supply interruptions is known as power failure ride-through capability. Critical production processes in industries require the drives to smoothly ride-through during momentary power interruptions. The reliability of the drive is dependent on the maximum duration for which a total power supply failure can be tolerated without process interruption. This paper presents a method to extend the duration of the ride-through in voltage-source-inverter-fed vector-controlled induction motor drives with a front-end diode bridge rectifier. The proposed method minimizes the losses in the system during the ride-through, thereby enabling a longer ride-through duration. The method only requires a modification of the control software and hence is easy to implement. This paper also briefly describes two conventional methods used for ride-through and compares the proposed method with the conventional methods to clearly bring out its advantage. Simulation study using MATLAB/PLECS verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. Hardware implementation of the method on a 30-kW induction machine indicates an extension of up to 34% in the ride-through duration with the proposed method, as compared with the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved dc-link voltage balancing algorithm for a three-level neutral-point-clamped inverter by considering phase current direction. Detailed studies on the effects of change in load current direction on the dc-link capacitor voltages are presented. A maximum value of power factor is numerically derived, above which it affects the capacitor voltage balancing capability. Compared with the previously presented research work, the inputs to the space-vector pulsewidth-modulation block are the three phase currents and the difference between the two capacitor voltages. Depending on the states of the two dc-link capacitor voltages and phase current direction, redundant voltage vector sequences are selected. The selected vectors keep the capacitor voltage deviations within 5% of the total dc-link voltage. Two zero switching vectors (i.e., PPP and NNN) are also removed from all subsectors of the earlier proposed strategy, which one used to produce higher common-mode voltages. Detailed simulation and experimental results are presented in this paper for a 6.0-kW surface permanent-magnet synchronous machine. Both the simulation and experimental results show the required performance of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operational availability of mining shovels is the focus of this paper. The hypothesis is that energy quality is responsible for the frequent shutdowns of the shovels. Previous engineering studies have highlighted a large presence of harmonics and reactive power in the mine loop electric system. A common solution proposed was to use a combination of active filters, larger mobile substations, shorter mining cables, and equipment location constraints. The aim of this paper is to produce a precise diagnosis of the source and nature of the energy quality issues. Mine loop electric quality monitoring, system modeling, equipment technologies, and shovel's histograms are considered. Results are measured against IEEE standards and shovel's voltage regulation susceptibility. With the diagnosis, the goal was to produce a reliable cost-effective solution. Different alternatives are crosschecked with this paper proposal. The solution presented provides energy quality well within the shovel's susceptibility and improves energy efficiency. The lower energy consumption pays the investment required and is currently under construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European directive “Clean Energy for All Europeans” depicts for 2030 a new scenario for low-voltage distribution grids, where each end user will have the right to trade energy and offer demand response in the electrical market either individually or in aggregation with others. This creates a new perspective for renewable energy sources (RESs) and energy storage systems (ESSs), which become key elements to allow end users playing a substantial role in the electrical market. While many distributed RESs are already in place in low-voltage grids, the ESSs are still in infancy and will become a crucial asset of future microgrids. The optimal selection of ESS ratings and location within an energy network is still an open problem, and its solution can impact considerably the grid performance and return of investment for energy sources and distribution infrastructure. This paper presents a general methodology to select the best location and ratings of energy storage units complying with the needs of local area energy networks. The aim is to support end users and aggregators to plan their investments and operate the grid so as to attain the role and functionality envisioned by the European directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operating principle of the clamp circuits like clamping diodes and flying capacitor in three-level LLC converter is different from other three-level converters, because the mean value of the resonant tank current is always zero and pulse-frequency modulation control is generally used instead of pulsewidth modulation control. And the converter with only the clamping diodes or flying capacitor is difficult to realize voltage balance. In this paper, the characteristics of the three-level LLC converter with single clamp circuit are first analyzed. Then, the operation principle of the hybrid-clamped circuit under the unbalanced voltages on input capacitors is described with the mode analysis, based on which the mechanism for voltage autobalance is elaborated and the effects of two clamp circuits are derived. Then, the design of the clamping diodes and the flying capacitor is also involved. Finally, a three-level LLC converter prototype is built and the experimental results verify the validity of the theoretical analysis and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grid-connected voltage source converter is used to control the flow of active power from renewable energy sources with several functionalities, such as harmonic mitigation, reactive power compensation, and power factor improvement. The reference current calculation and its accuracy decide the performance of the control algorithms during harmonic disturbances. Fundamental signal extraction techniques are utilized to overcome the disturbances present in the system voltage and current. This paper presents a novel orthogonal current decomposition control for load current decomposition into active and reactive components. These current components are obtained through character of orthogonal vector in the inner product space. The block diagram of the proposed technique is implemented with the help of adder, multiplier, and windowed integrator. Phase voltage and load current for each phase are used as inputs to this functional diagram for getting desired fundamental active current signal. Subsequently, adjustable dc-link voltage control is also presented to diminish the switching losses in the converter and to avoid the false tripping of the grid-connected system during susceptible grid conditions. The proposed control technique is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and verified through developed hardware prototype using ARM Cortex M4-based microcontroller (STM32F407VGT6) using Waijung environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load power sensitivity to voltage changes continuously in the distribution grid due to the increased variability of the load demand (e.g., electric vehicles charging) and generation production (e.g., photovoltaic). Classical sensitivity identification methods do not respect the fast dynamics of such changes: they require long data history and/or high computational power to update the load sensitivity. The proposed online load sensitivity identification (OLLI) approach is able to identify the load sensitivity in real time (e.g., every minute). This paper demonstrates that the OLLI can be achieved not only with the advanced smart transformer metering system but also with commercial industrial metering products. It is shown that OLLI is able to identify correctly the load sensitivity also in the presence of noise or fast stochastic variation of power consumption. The industrial metering-based OLLI application has been proven by means of a power-hardware-in-loop evaluation applied on an experimental microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel grid synchronization method with bumpless start that requires minimal computational load and can selectively track the positive sequence of the grid voltage in an unbalanced and distorted three-phase weak grid. Only 12 floating-point operations are required to obtain the in-phase and quadrature components that define a synchronous frame which tracks the positive sequence of the grid voltage. Contrary to a phase-locked loop (PLL), the presented scheme does not require to measure any ac voltages. Therefore, this sensorless method is particularly suited for weak-grid conditions, in which the voltage at the point of common coupling may contain significant noise and can experience larger deviations from the grid voltage (compared to a strong grid) due to the voltage drop in the weak grid impedance. The error in the estimated phase depends on the accuracy of the plant model. If the LCL filter parameters are known, then both the proposal and a PLL-based scheme result in the same steady-state error. Experimental results show the advantages of the proposal compared to a moving average filter PLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel low-cost speed sensorless control technique for a permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor (PMa-SynRM). A robust adaptive speed (RAS) observer is designed for estimating the rotor speed and position, respectively. The RAS observer estimates the PMa-SynRM speed and position from the back electromotive force space-vector determination without voltage sensors by using the reference voltages issued from the current controllers instead of the actual ones. The novelty of the proposed RAS estimation technique is the adaptation of the feedback error of the actual values. Thus, the proposed observer structure promises a higher degree of robustness against PMa-SynRM parameter changes in the sensitivity analysis presented in this paper. The dynamic model and experimental realizations of the proposed control technique are introduced. A 6-kW PMa-SynRM drive test setup is constructed including a dSPACE 1104 board as the control heart of the proposed system. The hardware-in-the-loop Typhoon HIL 402 device is used to experimentally emulate the PMa-SynRM and the inverter connected to a dSPACE MicroLabBox. The proposed RAS observer robustness is evaluated using a HIL model and experimental results under different conditions. A comparative experimental analysis between the proposed RAS and Luenberger observers has been performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an operational cost-based approach for battery energy storage management. In this approach, the operation value is derived to optimally manage one battery application—photovoltaic (PV) capacity firming or PV smoothing. The proposed approach is an optimization framework that augments a PV smoothing algorithm where the battery is used to smooth the output of intermittent PV farm. The objective of the optimization framework is to provide maximum operational benefits for the battery. To this end, first, a formal method is developed that finds the operational benefits which is then demonstrated using a field verified electro-magnetic transient (EMTP) model of a real-world feeder. Second, the positive effect in the operation of the feeder is quantified in terms of monetary value. It is demonstrated that the knowledge of monetary value can provide better operational benefits of energy storage applications such as PV smoothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the bilateral operation of a transformer-less H-bridge inverter as a power flow controller and fault current limiter in low-voltage distribution network. A novel control strategy has been developed to initiate and activate the H-bridge inverter to control the power flow at point of common coupling (PCC). On the other hand, the H-bridge inverter operation like a short-circuit current limiter during grid disturbance event and its smooth reinsertion after fault clearance have also been clarified. Besides, an island mode control strategy incorporating synchronization controller, and proper coordination with flip flops have been implemented in order to synchronize the microgrid with the main grid before reclosing the circuit breaker. The results confirm: The effectiveness and feasibility of the novel control methodology in activating the real power flow; the inverter capability of minimizing the short-circuit current during fault and the successful resynchronization of the microgrid voltage source inverter (VSI) and the H-bridge inverter to the main grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutral-point voltage-balancing control is a critical issue of a neutral-point-clamped converter. The conventional control strategy is to inject the specific zero-sequence voltage to regulate the redundant vector, but it is unacceptable to the three-phase four-wire system. This paper provides a neutral-point voltage-balancing control by the dipolar modulation, and the control freedom of the zero-sequence voltage is flexible. Therefore, the proposed method is suitable for both three-phase three-wire and three-phase four-wire systems. Besides, the proposed method improves the control dynamic in a reactive power system. The proposed neutral-point voltage-balancing control is verified by the mathematical analysis and experimental results. The control dynamic, power loss estimation, and the output current performance are analyzed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper will present a new approach that is advantageous to medium-voltage (MV) distribution design configurations for large industrial and power distribution system configurations [specifically main-tie-main (MTM)] for large industrial and power station installations. Sixty years of traditional low-cost design approaches (typical MTM and operated with open tiebreaker) are re-evaluated to demonstrate that traditional low capital cost design may miss improvement opportunities. Those opportunities can be major capital expenditure reduction, power quality improvement, MV motor soft starter deletion, and improved system stability to name a few. Many designers may not have considered the component interrelationships and/or their tradeoffs when in an integrated system. The designer and/or user should consider the advantages of higher short-circuit capacity (SCC) systems by integrating fault current limiters and MV switchgear. Utilizing higher SCC systems permits power system designer optimization opportunities not possible before using conventional design methods. This paper will provide documentation of substantial savings of capital investment and energy under higher SCC conditions. The savings in one system component will offset another's increased cost. An obvious benefit of stiffer systems is ease of direct-on-line starting of large motor-driven compressor trains. The future need for motor soft starters minimizing system impact will be challenged. This paper may change fundamental system design methodology for system designers by removing several performance tradeoffs. This paper, in its original version, was previously presented at the 2010 IEEE/IAS/Petroleum Chemical Industry Conference. It was expanded with new sections for the 2017 IEEE/Industry Applications Society (IAS)/Pulp, Paper Forestry Industries Conference to include pre-emptive prefault adjustable power quality and multisourced networked power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An industrial medium voltage (MV) system usually consists of multiple power sources such as utility tie transformers and generators. These are normally low-resistance grounding as shown in Fig. 1 . When a ground fault occurs at the generator stator, ground currents from its own neutral circuit and external power sources will flow into the fault and cause damages to the stator winding. The IEEE Generator Grounding Working Group issued a guideline for generator grounding practices, which recommends using a hybrid grounding system to minimize the ground fault damage induced by its own neutral grounding source. This paper will evaluate the total ground fault damages based on the arcing power energy to derive a maximum MV system ground current that would limit the ground damage to 1800 kW-cycle or 30 kJ as the minimum arcing power energy damage as suggested by Conrad and Dalasta [10]. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dynamic control over real and reactive power flow is one of the key areas of concern for the modern grid. Traditional FACTS-based devices have proven to be too costly and complex to achieve any significant market penetration. Modifying existing transmission assets to make them controllable may be a cost-effective method of increasing the grid controllability. Controllable network transformers (CNTs) have been theoretically shown to be an effective real and reactive power flow controller. However, the CNT is shown to produce unwanted third harmonic voltages and currents in the system, which must be handled. In this paper, the use of a hybrid active filter (HAF) is proposed for this purpose. This paper discusses the approach for design and control of such an integrated CNT-HAF system. It is shown that the integrated CNT-HAF system can also mitigate system unbalance, apart from providing four-quadrant control capability. Furthermore, this paper also presents experimental results of an integrated CNT-HAF system, rated at 200 kVA and 2400 V. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Multilevel converters are a proven solution for medium-voltage and high-power applications, including renewable energy conversion. Developing 6.6-kV converters is a key goal for the wind turbines industry. Considering the voltage rating of commercially available semiconductors, five-level converters are necessary to reach 6.6 kV. The five-level active neutral-point-clamped converter (5L-ANPC) is one of the most advantageous topologies among five-level multilevel converters. This paper presents a new 5L-ANPC topology that overcomes the features of the previously employed 5L-ANPC topology. Along this paper, the properties and working principle of this new 5L-ANPC are explained. Finally, the validity of the new converter is validated via simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ac-to-ac power conversion becomes increasingly important in applications such as grid power control and motor control, demand for a plug-and-play converter has increased. Traditional voltage-source-inverter-based ac-to-ac power converters such as the back-to-back converter require dc-link capacitors that limit their reliability or significantly increase their size and cost. This paper examines a plug-and-play concept for achieving ac-to-ac power conversion via the direct-ac/ac power electronic building block (AC-PEBB). The AC-PEBB is a compact self-contained cell requiring no intermediate energy storage. It can be used in a variety of ac/ac power electronic applications such as matrix converters and controllable network transformers. This paper details the design of an 800-V 100-A AC-PEBB prototype to be used in a 13-kV 1-MVA application. Successful test results using several AC-PEBBs in a variety of configurations are demonstrated at up to 11 kV and 600 kVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the direct compensation of the switching interval error of the effective voltage vectors by the dead time of a pulsewidth modulation voltage source inverter (PWM-VSI). The output voltages of a three-phase PWM-VSI are distorted and have voltage errors from the dead time to avoid the shoot-through of inverter arms and the time delay of the gate drive. Voltage distortion increases the harmonics of the output voltages and decreases control performance. This paper presents a simple and direct compensation technique to solve this problem in a three-phase VSI. The practical switching output voltages are determined by the dc-link voltage, the switching signals of each phase, the dead time, the time delay, and the current polarities of each phase. For these reasons, output voltage errors are not constant. In order to analyze the dead-time effect in the actual switching voltages of each phase, the practical switching voltages in a sampling period of a space vector PWM (SVPWM) method are calculated according to the current polarity. In the calculation, the dead time, the time delay of devices, and the voltage drops on power devices are included to consider nonlinear voltage distortion. From these practical switching voltages during the switching intervals in a sampling period, the average output voltages of each phase can be derived, and the output voltage errors between the voltage commands and the average output voltages of each phase are obtained. The SVPWM switching intervals of each phase can be derived by the average output voltages that are calculated according to the current polarity and nonlinear voltage distortion to compensate for the output voltage errors. With the simple detection of the current polarity, the practical errors of the switching intervals of each phase can be compensated by the addition of the compensated switching time. Simulation and experimental results validating the proposed compensation method are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular multilevel converter (MMC) is believed the most competitive solution for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission using voltage source converters. Circulating current suppressing strategies based on proportional resonant (PR) controllers are widely used in MMC. This kind of strategies can effectively eliminate all the circulating current components in MMC-HVDC. Unfortunately, it can result in dc-line voltage ripples under unbalanced grid conditions, and thus, deteriorates system performance and stability. Moreover, its existing control model may not exactly reveal the inherent characteristic of MMC, and consequently blocks the further understanding and application. To solve these two problems, first, this paper builds a new and effective control model for this strategy. Second, based on the new model, this paper studies the relationship between circulating current reference value and submodule capacitor voltage, modulation index, and arm current to correct and improve the current understanding of this control strategy. Finally, three improved strategies based on PR controllers are proposed. These improved control strategies can eliminate both circulating current and dc-line voltage ripples, which greatly enhance the fault ride-through capability of MMC-HVDC without adding extra control cost or the number of controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an experimental discussion on an adjustable-speed electrical drive fed by a modular multilevel triple-star bridge-cell (TSBC) converter. The TSBC converter is suitable for medium-voltage high-power motor drives with regenerative braking. However, it suffers from capacitor-voltage fluctuation that becomes more serious as the motor frequency gets closer or equal to the supply frequency. This paper presents a practical solution of it with an acceptable increase in all the nine cluster currents. The solution is characterized by a motor-magnetizing-current controller that makes a significant contribution to theoretically eliminating the low-frequency component contained in each capacitor voltage. Experimental waveforms, which are obtained from a three-phase downscaled model rated at 400 V and 15 kW, verify exhibit satisfactory start-up performance from a standstill to the rated motor frequency that is equal to the supply frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified-virtual-space-vector-based dc-link voltage balancing strategy is proposed in this paper for a three-level inverter. In the proposed strategy, the summation of the three-phase currents for virtual vector needs not to be zero and it also keeps the two capacitor voltages balanced with wider range of load variations. The duty cycles for all the power switches are also derived in this paper using a nearest three-voltage vector scheme. Due to the reduced use of the medium voltage vectors, the proposed control strategy can considerably decrease the neutral-point voltage fluctuation for lower power-factor-based loads as well. Detailed simulation and experimental studies are also carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed system with a dc-link voltage balancing strategy with permanent magnet synchronous machine. Voltage and current harmonic distortions are also presented with change in modulation index. A Dspace-based real-time operating system is used for real-time implementation with a 6.0-kW surface permanent magnet synchronous motor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]