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Voltage rise caused by high levels of distributed generation is manifesting as voltage regulation challenges for many electricity network service providers. In this environment it would be ideal to reduce supply voltage magnitudes, however, many network operators are hesitant to do so due to concerns related to consumer appliance performance at reduced supply voltage magnitudes. Voltage regulation requirements are defined by network standards and network service providers must ensure voltages remain within specified limits. Through an evaluation of domestic appliance performance when supplied at various voltage magnitudes, this paper examines the impact of varying voltage levels on residential appliances. Equipment energy demand, operation and actuation were monitored for each applied voltage magnitude. While no equipment failures were recorded, appliance behaviour varied significantly with applied voltage magnitude. Individual appliance conservation voltage reduction (CVR) factors have also been established. The results highlight the importance of good voltage regulation and provide substantiated appliance performance figures for future studies. The outcomes of this paper allow electricity network service providers to understand the implications of supply voltage magnitude on domestic appliance performance, whether it be understating of the impact of higher voltage magnitudes caused by distributed generation or implications of reducing voltage magnitudes to provide headroom for distributed generation integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutral grounding method is one of the crucial technologies used to ensure the safe and stable operation of distribution networks. With the development of power electronics-based devices, the application of highly controllable inverters to grounding systems has become a new research direction. In this review paper, based on the summary and analysis for the research status, the flexible grounding system is systematically classified according to its control strategy and structure. And then, the following core technologies are summarized: faulted line selection, current component detection, high-resistance ground identification, ground parameter measurement, neutral point voltage control, and fault location. Subsequently, deficiencies of flexible grounding systems are summarized from the following four perspectives: reliability, accuracy, speed, and stability. Finally, some discussions and recommendations for future development and research direction are presented. Especially, the reliability-enhanced hybrid grounding system that combines active inverters and low resistance for high-resistance ground faults is recommended. This paper provides a systematic literature review of the crucial technologies for flexible grounding systems and can be used as a technical reference for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the frequency oscillation problem in a parallel-inverter-based grid-connected system. Angular frequency interactions between inverters and the grid exhibit various numbers of complicated characteristics that seriously threaten the connected power system's stable operation. This paper proposes a unified frequency oscillation method analysis to investigate the oscillation problem in a multi-VSG grid-connected system. In this method, the power control model of each grid-connected inverter is equivalent to a two-terminal network by analogy method, which can be described as a “current source” connected in parallel with a reciprocal of “admittance” and then joined in series with a joint of “admittance.” Next, considering the influence of grid impedance, the model of the whole grid-connected system is established to reveal the mechanism of multi-VSG angular frequency oscillation. Subsequently, the influence factors of frequency oscillation and its variation law are analyzed through transfer functions, which provide an essential theoretical method for solving the frequency oscillation problem in the current multi-inverter grid-connected engineering application. Finally, we validate the effectiveness and correctness of the small-signal model and the frequency oscillation characteristics by building the MATLAB/Simulink simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-circuit response of inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) is not adequately represented in many conventional protection studies. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of IIDG behavior during grid faults and proposes a more accurate reduced-order parameterized short-circuit current (RPSC) model of inverters. Typical inverter components are thoroughly investigated to identify those that play dominant roles during faults. The paper shows that the current limiter is the dominant factor for the steady-state fault-current of inverter; while the inverter filter along with the severity of the voltage disturbance largely determine the initial transient spike of inverter fault current. The proposed model is low-order and can be used in large scale simulations. The parameters of the proposed RPSC model can be extracted from laboratory experiments without requiring proprietary manufacturer information. The proposed fault-current model is analogous to the well-known synchronous machine model that segregates the inverter fault current into subtransient, transient, and steady-state fault currents. Experimental and simulation tests are presented to validate the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel single-stage doubly grounded transformerless inverter configuration which can buck-boost the output voltage is proposed in this paper. In this transformerless inverter configuration grid neutral is directly connected to PV panel negative rail which suppresses/eliminates the PV leakage currents. In addition, the tracking of maximum power point is possible for wide variation of weather conditions due to buck-boost voltage capability of inverter. Moreover, the proposed inverter topology has symmetrical operation in both half cycles hence injects negligible DC offset current in to the grid. Here the symmetrical operation of inverter is achieved due to one inductor is used for both half cycles of the grid. The proposed topology is realized using five switches, two of which work at 50 Hz and remaining three switches at high frequency which reduces overall semiconductor losses. Further, the proposed inverter topology is controlled through a newly developed modulation technique and possible working modes are analyzed and described thoroughly. For performance validation, the experimental analysis of grid connected proposed inverter is performed on a 1 kVA system and results show that proposed inverter feeds power in to the grid with lesser THD while achieving greater efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The voltage rise problem due to the reverse power flow is one of the main obstacles to expanding the photovoltaic systems (PVSs) in distribution networks. In this paper, a decentralized control method for coordinated control of on-load tap changer (OLTC) transformers and PV inverters, is proposed for the voltage regulation of radial distribution networks. In this method, the allowable voltage range is divided into several zones, and appropriate corrective actions are adaptively taken according to each zone. To reduce the tension on the OLTC, first, the reactive power capability of the PV inverters is employed for the voltage regulation, and if it is insufficient, OLTC is used as the last solution. In this regard, the unused capacity of PV inverters is utilized for the reactive power compensation, considering the grid codes reactive power requirements. Furthermore, decentralized control based on a signaling method is used for coordination between OLTC and PVSs, which eliminates the need for communication links. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by the simulation results for the IEEE 33-bus distribution network, and the impact of different reactive power control methods on the number of OLTC operation is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of inverter-based resources is growing rapidly around the globe. During a fault, the behavior of inverter-based resource is very different from a traditional synchronous machine based generation. As the penetration of inverter-based resources increases, there is an urgency for the industry to understand their behavior so that these resources can be accurately modeled and their impact on various protection schemes can be studied in detail. This path begins with standardizing the response of inverter-based resources to a fault. Additionally, this paper discusses issues with modeling inverter-based resources in a short circuit model which is developed for systems dominated by synchronous machines and finally a need for further research to understand impacts on traditional protection schemes as inverter-based resources continue to displace traditional generation. This paper does not offer solutions however, it is intended to encourage further study by industry professionals toward development of solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverter-based resources respond differently than synchronous generation sources during power system faults, challenging line protection reliability. To understand the reliability challenges, Sandia National Laboratories and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) led a collaborative study with four inverter manufacturers (mix of Type 3 Wind, Type 4 Wind, and PV Solar) and two North American protective relay manufacturers. As part of this study, an electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) with “real-code” models representing inverter firmware was used to investigate the protective relay response to faults on the modeled power system with the different inverter types. The currents and voltages obtained from the study were then played back through line relay hardware with settings typical of systems with conventional generation. The protective relays exhibited the expected reliability challenges but provided insight into the behavior of inverter-based resources during power system faults. In this paper, we share some of the challenging cases with the responses of the different line protection schemes. Using insight from the various event records, Part II of this paper shows how relay settings can be modified to obtain a substantial improvement in reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exploits smart inverters of distributed energy resources (DERs) for the mitigation of fault-induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR). According to the IEEE Standard 1547-2018, smart inverters with voltage ride-through and var injection capabilities are promising technologies for mitigating FIDVR. This paper quantitatively investigates the effectiveness of smart inverters for FIDVR from a system-wide perspective. It shows that the penetration of smart inverters and induction motors are important factors affecting mitigation success. In addition, the over-voltages at the end of FIDVR due to load disconnections can be prevented with coordinated control of DERs and automated switching capacitors. The control scheme of smart inverters used for FIDVR is extended from the distributed volt/var droop control to include low- and high-voltage ride-through capabilities. The IEEE 13-bus feeder, the 8500-node test feeder, and the IEEE 390-node low-voltage network test system are used to illustrate the impact of DER penetration. For example, one can determine the residential air conditioner penetration level (for a given system at certain DER penetration level) that makes a system susceptible to FIDVR. The effects of solar intermittency are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commutation failures (CFs) including repetitive CFs (RCFs) are frequently occurring faults in line commutated converter based high voltage direct current (LCC-HVDC) systems. Consequently, sending end system will suffer transient voltage disturbances (TVD) with a characteristic of “first reduce then rise and may repeat”. Due to the complex interaction process of TVD, the electromagnetic process behind this phenomenon cannot be easily explained, which imposes great challenges on the development of mitigation strategies. Given this, this paper provides a deep insight into the mechanism and the impact factors of the TVD caused by CFs and RCFs. The numerical relationship between the transmitting power and the TVD is derived. Research results revealed that the transient process after fault can be segmented into five stages. In each stage, the control interactions among HVDC controllers and power interactions at the PCC are analyzed. Besides, we discussed the TVD under RCFs in detail. Several indices are further proposed to facilitate the characterization of the TVD, and main control loops of HVDC that have impacts on the characteristics of TVD are thereby studied. Finally, the mathematical relationship between wind farm power and the TVD is derived to quantify the impact of wind farms on the TVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid high voltage direct current systems utilized for bulk-power transmission have recently attracted more attention. The overhead lines (OHLs) are mainly used for the implementation of such systems due to their outstanding economic advantages. However, OHLs are vulnerable to temporary faults, jeopardizing the safe and reliable operation of the network. The resiliency to the line faults is of considerable significance to the power transmission. This paper proposes a fault property identification strategy based on the Pearson correlation coefficient for the LCC-MMC hybrid HVDC system which can differentiate temporary and permanent faults. To achieve this, a voltage signal is injected into the faulty line by decreasing the firing angles of the LCC-based rectifier. Based on the established OHLs model and the injected signal, an estimated backward travelling wave can be accurately calculated. The fault property is identified by comparing the wave difference of the real backward travelling wave and the estimated backward travelling wave. The proposed strategy has a high accuracy since all influencing factors including the fault resistance, fault distance, and line parameters have been taken into account. Finally, to verify the efficacy of the proposed algorithm, several simulations have been performed using PSCAD/EMTDC. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively distinguish the fault property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault response of an inverter based resource (IBR) is dictated by its control scheme, making it markedly different from the response of a synchronous source. This has led to misoperation of distance relays when fed by IBRs. Published literature is mostly focused on changing the control design of inverters, but this approach is not practical, as these controls are proprietary and beyond the reach of utilities. To resolve this issue, this paper proposes a method for a source-agnostic distance relay that works in time-domain. Using only single ended measurements, the relay detects, classifies and locates any fault on the line it monitors. The method does not require any polarization technique. It is shown to work for unbalanced lines of any length, for transmission or distribution system with any number (even 100%) of IBRs, is immune to load encroachment, decaying dc offset and prefault currents. With very limited communication, it is also shown to be immune to fault resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety of converters is key to the stable operation of AC/DC hybrid power grids after AC faults. Thyristor valve current is a direct manifestation of the converter observability, but there are no measuring elements inside the converter, so the thyristor valve current can be reflected only indirectly through external electrical quantities. This paper proposes a virtual measurement scheme based on the temporal features of the converter terminal current. First, under the action of the trigger pulse, the polarity characteristics of the AC current and temporal features between the valves are utilized to predictive estimate the valve state. Then, when commutation failures occur and the bypass paths form, the conduction state of valve is constructed based on the relationship between AC and DC current. Last, when the valve is to be shut-off in the bypass path, the blocking state of the valve is corrected based on the unidirectional conductance characteristics of the valve. According to the above analysis, combined with the topological current equation of the converter, the valve current can be calculated in the whole process. Through the simulation of the different valve states and bypass paths and analysis of the field record data, the results show that the valve current can still be accurately calculated based on the virtual measurement scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancements in smart grid technologies had brought forth the prospect of self-healing distribution grid through intentional islanding, aided by the steadily rising penetration of inverter-based distributed generations (IBDGs). Adaptive protection is the key enabler for this resilient grid architecture. For cost-effectiveness, overcurrent relays (OCRs) with adaptive features had been proposed, often with the sensitivity problem due to low short-circuit current magnitude from the IBDG taken into consideration and largely addressed. However, apart from this widely discussed sensitivity problem, there is an underlying issue on selectivity of the OCR which is frequently disregarded when designing an adaptive overcurrent protection scheme for IBDG dominated microgrid. This selectivity problem is mainly caused by the current diversion to load during fault, which is often disregarded when performing OCR grading for a conventional grid. In this paper, this selectivity problem of the OCR is discussed in depth through a comparative study of conventional grid and a modern IBDG dominated grid. The coordination time interval margin violations problems are demonstrated through theoretical calculations and real-time hardware-in-the-loop experiments. This research aims to provide better insights into the selectivity problem as a step towards achieving a cost-effective yet reliable overcurrent-based adaptive protection for IBDG dominated microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascading commutation failure (CF) caused by the reactive power interaction between HVDC is one of the new forms of cascading failures in multi-infeed HVDC systems. However, the concept and mechanism of cascading CF have not been explained clearly, and few studies have been devoted to control strategy for cascading CF mitigation considering reactive power interaction. In this paper, the cascading CF is defined and novel coordinated control strategy for cascading CF mitigation is proposed. Firstly, the mechanism of cascading CF in multi-infeed HVDC systems is analyzed. Then influence degree of HVDC on the power system stability is evaluated considering both active power impact and reactive power interaction, based on which novel coordinated commutation failure prevention as well as voltage dependent dc current order limiter is developed to mitigate cascading CF. Simulation results based on CIGRE HVDC benchmark model in PSCAD/EMTDC verify the effectiveness and advancement of proposed strategy on cascading CF mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most microgrid protection schemes found in published literature suffer from a lack of generality in that they work well for the assumed topology, including type and placement of sources. Other generic protection schemes tend to be too complicated, too expensive, or both. To overcome these drawbacks, a topology-agnostic, scalable, and cost-aware protection based on fundamental principles that work in the presence of high penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) is developed and tested in this paper. The protection system also implements stable automatic reconfiguration of the healthy sections of the system after clearance of fault, thus increasing resilience by self-healing. To achieve this ambitious goal, stable inverter models are developed that operate in unbalanced networks in grid-connected and islanded modes, even with 100% IBRs, share power without conflicting controls, and can ride through faults while limiting fault currents. The scheme is tested for primary and backup protection and reconfiguration on the IEEE 123-node feeder in grid-connected and islanded modes with 15 IBRs connected to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new passive Islanding detection approach for the Inverter Interfaced Distributed Generators (IIDGs) operating under different control modes. First, a novel index is formulated using Root Mean Square (RMS) value of the voltage and the frequency information, acquired at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) of the target DG. The index is then post-processed by estimating the number of peaks and valleys $(N_{p_{k}-v})$ in a cycle using the sliding window concept, which indicates the occurrence of an event. Finally, the nature of the event, i.e., Islanding or non-Islanding, is decided by exploiting the two statistical features viz., Square of RMS $(S_{RMS})$ of $N_{p_{k}-v}$ and Average Crest Factor $(ACF^{m})$ of the proposed index. The performance of the proposed method (P-IDM) is demonstrated through comprehensive studies in PSCAD/EMTDC for the single-bus and IEEE 34-bus Active Distribution System (ADS). Also, the real-time validation is performed for the IEEE 34-bus using Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) setup comprising of Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) and dSPACE1104. The simulation and hardware results for different test systems indicate that the proposed scheme, being generic in nature, sustains its efficacy under various interface controls of IIDGs. Finally, a comparative assessment with the other existing Signal Processing (SP) based passive methodologies shows the supremacy of the proposed method in terms of accuracy and faster detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the harmonics interaction plays a vital role in causing commutation failure (CF) in an ultra HVDC (UHVDC) system with hierarchical connection, it has not been sufficiently considered in previous work. In this paper, the electric interaction among the inverter valves of the UHVDC system with hierarchical connection during receiving system fault transient process is demonstrated. Moreover, the mechanism of CFs in UHVDC system with hierarchical connection is also investigated via the analysis of harmonics interaction. After the AC fault occurs, the appearance processes of the local commutation failure (LCF) and concurrent commutation failure (CCF) are divided into several stages and interpreted by schematic diagrams. And the characteristics of each stage are also concluded. In addition, a coordinated CF prevention scheme based on harmonics and DC current detection is proposed to mitigate the CFs in UHVDC system with hierarchical connection. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified via a $\pm 1100$ kV UHVDC transmission system under various short circuit ratio values and AC-side coupling strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new voltage support (VS) strategy for photovoltaic (PV) systems based on voltage sensitivity analysis to enhance the dynamic voltage stability (DVS) of islanded microgrids (MGs). Every network contains different characteristics. In particular, MGs have unique features compared to utility grids such as high resistance to reactance ratio (R/X). Consequently, injection of both active and reactive current is likely to improve the DVS of the islanded MG. Therefore, instead of engaging the entire capacity to reactive current injection which is performed in conventional voltage support strategy, both the active and reactive current is injected in the proposed strategy. On contrary, without considering the fact that each network contains distinctive characteristics, other strategies with both active and reactive current injection provide fixed active and reactive current which are uniform for all networks. To convey the network distinctive features on VS strategy, voltage sensitivity subject to active and reactive current injection is used in the proposed strategy. As a consequence, unlike other fixed active and reactive current strategies, the proposed strategy provides unique combination of active and reactive current for every network. The concept and derivation of the proposed strategy is clearly described. Network sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the voltage sensitivity coefficients. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is theoretically demonstrated and also compared with other strategies. Case studies are carried out on two different islanded MGs. The results show that the proposed voltage support strategy is capable of enhancing the DVS of islanded MGs by mitigating a possible instability, and by restoring the voltage faster than other strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Line-commutated converters are extensively used as the interface between ac grids and classic HVDC systems. At the inverter side, commutation failure of switches is one of the most common faults that can pose threats to the system operation. Practical and reliable study of such phenomena relies on accurate and efficient converter models for simulations. Recently, a parametric average-value model (PAVM) has been presented for ac–dc rectifiers, which considers the internal faults of the converter. In this paper, the PAVM methodology is extended to the dc–ac inverter systems, including the commutation failure of switches. The proposed PAVM also augments an automatic fault detection technique to determine the faulty switches. Using comprehensive simulation studies, the developed model is verified to accurately predict the commutation failure of switches and reconstruct the waveforms consistent with the detailed switching models of inverters while being computationally more efficient. The proposed PAVM is envisioned to be an efficient and accurate asset for simulation of HVDC systems and inevitable when faults of switches need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different harmonic mitigation techniques have been utilized in grid-connected inverters to suppress the effect of grid voltage distortion on the output current of these inverters. In practice, to scale up the injected current into the grid, a set of parallel grid-connected inverters are often utilized rather than a single high-power inverter in solar Photovoltaic or motor drive systems. Conventional Point of Common Coupling (PCC) feedforward approaches have been used for harmonic rejection of multi-parallel grid-connected inverters. However, these methods need to implement a separate feedforward scheme for each individual inverter. In this paper, a novel full PCC voltage feedforward strategy is proposed to reduce the cost investment, which is implemented only in one of the grid-connected inverters. The proposed strategy is based on cancelling the total parallel admittance of the system by adding a virtual negative admittance to the target inverter. It is shown that the proposed scheme causes no instability issue on the system since it does not affect the system phase margin. To verify the efficiency of the proposed strategy against emitted harmonics from the grid, simulations and experiments on a system with two parallel single-phase grid-tied inverters are performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance and directional elements are widely used in power system protection. One of the used essential signals, having a substantial impact on proper operation, is polarizing voltage. During faults close to a protection relay, memory filters can be used to ensure the availability of this voltage. A basic assumption of these memory filters is that during a fault only an amplitude of a measured voltage changes rapidly and other parameters change very slow. The assumption is correct in power systems with an overwhelming share of traditional rotating generators. However, today, more and more energy sources are connected to power systems through inverters. Algorithms implemented in inverters can control parameters of output voltage so that they can be changed rapidly without any inertia. Therefore, a source of robust polarizing voltage is needed to ensure proper operation of distance and directional elements. The paper presents a method of a reference signal generation based on phase-locked loop (PLL). The algorithm consists of PLL with an adaptive notch filter, and elements adding inertia to the generated signal. The reference signal can be used as a polarizing voltage in protection elements. The paper describes all elements of the algorithm and presets operational tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strength concept is an important tool for voltage stability evaluation of emerging hierarchical-infeed LCC-UHVDC (HIDC) systems. However, the complex inter-inverter interactions in such systems have caused significant difficulties for the strength assessment. This makes the accuracy of earlier strength assessment indices limited due to empirical analysis rather than rigorous theoretical reasoning. Thus in this paper, the hierarchical-infeed voltage interaction factor (HVIF) index is firstly utilized to quantitatively depict the complex inter-inverter interactions in HIDC systems. The use of the HVIF enables these interactions to be effectively incorporated into the subsequent strength assessment by proposing the hierarchical-infeed interactive effective short-circuit ratio (HIESCR) strength index. The critical HIESCR (CHIESCR) defined to delineate the voltage stability limit also evaluates to consistently 1.0 such that the distance between the HIESCR and CHIESCR is naturally an accurate stability margin. Since the HIESCR is developed based on the rigorous theoretical reasoning, it is more accurate than earlier indices for voltage stability evaluation. Moreover, the parametric dependence analysis of the HIESCR versus various system parameters and rated operation variables is conducted. This offers a comprehensive perspective for better understanding of the strength variation characteristics. Finally, case study in the modified IEEE 118-bus system validates the HIESCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges in the protection of the Inverter-Based Microgrids (IBM) is fault detection. Inverter-based resources have limited fault current; they also adopt different control schemes which make their fault current analysis and estimation more complex. These features make the traditional protection schemes inapplicable in IBMs. In this paper, two parameters are introduced and a protection scheme is proposed based on the introduced parameters to protect feeders and Distributed Generators (DGs) in IBMs. In the proposed scheme, in each sampling window, the last samples of the current waveform are predicted and the difference between the actual samples and the predicted samples are obtained; the voltage phase angle shift between the present and the past sampling windows is also computed; using these parameters and by introducing a new relay characteristic based on Mahalanobis distance the fault is detected in IBM. The effectiveness of the proposed protection scheme is verified through the simulation and experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal protection coordination is usually solved for the original network topology with all lines, loads, and generation intact. However, power grids may experience contingencies due to transient events, e.g., generation or line outages. Low fault currents of inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) necessitate a sensitive and reliable protection scheme. This paper proposes a protection scheme for islanded microgrids powered by droop-based IIDGs. The protection scheme utilizes virtual impedance-fault current limiters to limit IIDGs fault currents and achieve protection coordination. A two-stage method for optimal protection coordination (OPC) of directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) is devised. In Stage I, relays short-circuit currents are calculated. Then, constraints on the operation times of primary and backup DOCRs are formulated for the islanded topology and each possible topology following an N-1 contingency. Lastly, in Stage II, the OPC problem is formulated as a constrained nonlinear programming problem and solved to obtain the optimal DOCRs settings. A radial test microgrid that is part of a Canadian urban distribution system is used to ensure the success of the proposed OPC method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behind-the-meter battery energy storage is used to mitigate non-dispatchability of customer-owned renewable sources. While serving their owners’ objectives, their underutilized capacities can be used to provide grid services to justify their cost. However, the integration of these resources extends the size and complexity of the network operation problem, imposing a processing burden on the central control system. In this paper, an agent-based distributed control framework is proposed that enables utilizing of the underutilized behind-the-meter capacities. In this framework, while the prosumer agents initially schedule their resources for daily cost management, a local customer aggregator agent performs day-ahead active and reactive power control on the underutilized behind-the-meter batteries to provide multiple grid services. A novel grouping algorithm is developed based on voltage sensitivity and a modified $k$ -means clustering method to assign customer groups to the local agents and establish the network subsystems. Mixed-integer linear programming is used to model and solve multiple optimization problems. The proposed framework is applied to the 123-bus distribution network. The simulation results show its effectiveness in terms of complexity and optimality, compared to the central control approach in allocating the unused behind-the-meter resources for two common industry needs: network bottleneck congestion relief and grid-edge voltage support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid LCC/VSC cascaded HVDC (HC-HVDC) scheme, in which the LCC is adopted as rectifier, and one LCC in series with multiple paralleled VSC based MMCs is adopted as inverter, combines the advantages of both LCC and VSC-MMC technologies. Presently, a HC-HVDC project is planned to deliver the hydro power from Baihetan to Jiangsu in China. One of the major challenges is to suppress the DC overcurrent issue of VSC-MMCs especially under commutation failure condition of LCC at inverter side. Based on Baihetan-Jiangsu project under construction, the model of HC-HVDC system is developed in PSCAD/EMTDC. In the system, the rectifier employs a dual 12-pulse LCC, while the inverter adopts a hybrid scheme, i.e., one LCC converter in series with three paralleled VSC-MMC converters. This paper addresses the main cause and feature of the DC overcurrent, then proposes an overcurrent suppression control method for HC-HVDC system based on fuzzy clustering and identification approach. And the system transient performances with the proposed control approach are evaluated under AC fault conditions. The results show that the proposed approach can not only suppress the DC overcurrent following the commutation failure to a certain extent, but also improve the post-fault recovery performance of the overall system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new pilot protection scheme for AC line connected to LCC-HVDC inverter based on composite-mode model is proposed. First, taking commutation failure into consideration, 1-mode and 2-mode equivalent instantaneous models of inverter in different operating conditions are built. Second, according to the equivalent instantaneous inductances of inverter in different combinations of operating conditions, the equivalent models of inverter are summarized into 4 operation states. Then, the 1-mode and 2-mode equivalent models are combined to establish the composite-mode model of AC/DC hybrid system. And then, using multi-time section information, the instantaneous inductances of backside composite-mode model are calculated. Thus, protection criterion is constructed on the difference between composite-mode models of in-zone faults and that of out-of-zone faults for fault locating. Finally, RT-LAB simulation tests show that, the proposed method offers high sensitivity and reliability, unaffected by commutation failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the local and concurrent commutation failures (LCF and CCF) are concerned threats to the secure operation of multi-infeed LCC-HVDC (MIDC) systems, which will be largely impacted by the voltage stability. However, this impact has not been clearly revealed yet by earlier works due to the lack of the related analytical evaluation method. Thus in this paper, the analytical evaluation method related to the LCF and CCF with the voltage stability in MIDC systems is firstly proposed considering the complicated inter-inverter interactions. This is realized by deriving the analytical expressions of the LCF and CCF immunity indices (LCFII and CCFII) as the functions of the voltage stability factor (VSF) based on the system quasi-steady-state model. Moreover, the proposed method is used to clearly evaluate the impact of the voltage stability on the LCF and CCF by comprehensively conducting the parametric dependence analysis of the LCFII, CCFII, and VSF versus various system parameters and operation variables. The analysis results indicate that in some certain situations, increasing the voltage stability of MIDC systems however imposes an unexpected negative impact on the LCF and CCF. Finally, the simulation results of the PSCAD/EMTDC program based on a tri-infeed LCC-HVDC system validate the theoretical developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new three-phase to five-phase transformer, with a 30-pulse AC–DC converter for power quality improvement in vector-controlled induction motor drive. Here, three isolated transformers (T1, T2, and T3) are used and each transformer is designed to convert three-phase AC-supply into five-phase AC supply, to achieve ten-pulse AC–DC conversion. A unique configuration and angle among these three transformers is designed in such a way that the resultant input current of this transformer shows 30 pulses in it. A hybrid multilevel inverter is proposed in this paper, which is cascading a three-level neutral point clamped inverter with a two-level voltage source inverter to drive an induction motor (IM). A modified level shifted carrier-based sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation and a 3rd harmonic injection techniques are utilized to modify the modulating signal, to enhance the fundamental magnitude, and to reduce the harmonics than traditional technique. The responses of proposed medium voltage induction motor drive (MVIMD) are evaluated by simulating in MATLAB-Simulink. The proposed MVIMD performance is then verified using a scaled down laboratory prototype under various operating conditions such as steady state, starting, load perturbation, speed control, field weakening, varying load conditions, and over a wide speed range of IM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new series capacitor based frequency scan method to assess the subsynchronous resonance risk including induction generator effect (IGE) and subsynchronous control interaction (SSCI). Most existing frequency scan methods are generator based and calculate the impedance as viewed from the neural bus of the study generator. In this paper, the generator-based frequency scan method is discovered to be inadequate or inapplicable to deal with a cluster of inverter-based generation resources under some circumstances. The proposed method scans the impedance as viewed from the series capacitor to assess the IGE/SSCI risk. With nearby inverter-based generation resources modeled by their frequency-dependent impedances, the proposed method is capable of assessing the IGE/SSCI risk for a cluster of inverter-based generation resources. The electromagnetic transient simulation was conducted to validate the proposed method. The proposed method also successfully demonstrates the nonlinear impact of the number of in-service units on the SSCI performance for a cluster of inverter-based generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverter transformers are one of the key components in a PV plant and their operating patterns are considerably different from that of transformers in a substation. Moreover, these transformers experience higher level of harmonics generated by the inverters. Therefore, investigating the ageing profile of the inverter transformer is a timely requirement. In this paper, the ageing of inverter transformers in a medium-scale solar PV plant is studied by utilizing various real-time measurements including load current, top-oil temperature (TOT), ambient temperature, moisture in top oil, solar irradiance and individual current harmonics. An updated moisture-dependent thermal model (MDTMH), with consideration of current harmonics is developed to estimate the hot-spot temperature (HST). The influence of weather conditions, which directly determine the load current of inverter transformers on the loss of life (LOL) of an inverter transformer is also investigated. Furthermore, the effect of current harmonics levels on the inverter transformer's HST and LOL is explored. Finally, comparisons of HST and LOL of inverter transformers connected to PV arrays with three different tracking technologies, i.e., fixed-tilt, single-axis and Dual-axis PV arrays are performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronverters are inverters that imitate the behavior of synchronous generators to enhance the dynamics of renewable energy sources (RESs) powering microgrids. However, the synchronverter's inrush currents during faults could reach intolerable levels. Limiting the synchronverter's fault currents could obstruct protection relays from identifying faulted phase(s) during unbalanced faults, and hence, jeopardizing selective phase tripping (SPT). This paper unveils the root causes behind the deviation in phase selection that hinder SPT in microgrids powered by synchronverters. Virtual-impedance fault current limiters (VI-FCLs) are proposed for synchronverters to ensure accurate SPT by commercial relays and limit their sequence and DC inrush currents. Based on a short-circuit analysis, the positive- and negative-sequence VI-FCLs, as well as the active-to-reactive power ratio of synchronverters, are regulated to enable SPT and protect synchronverters from inrush currents. Simulation results using PSCAD/EMTDC ensure the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme in enabling reliable SPT in microgrids with synchronverters. The efficacy of the proposed scheme is assured by examining various fault types, a wide range of fault resistances, and the grid-connected and islanded modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travelling wave (TW) fault location has been widely utilized for high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission lines, which is proven to have a higher accuracy than conventionalpower frequency data based fault location. However, as known, the performance of travelling wave-based fault location (TWFL) principles is often challenged by several factors including fault location, fault initial angle, fault resistance as well as frequency dependency of HVAC transmission lines. In this context, this paper proposes a novel off-line TW fault location principle for transposed HVAC transmission lines to address the robustness against those uncertain factors. Firstly, the frequency-dependent characteristic of HVAC transmission lines is analyzed. Then upon that, a novel TW fault location principle is proposed, which consists of two important components: i) arrival time detection of TW and ii) accurate frequency calculation of TW. Eventually, simulations are carried out on a 500 kV AC transmission system using PSCAD/EMTDC to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method and itsrobustness against different fault types, resistances, locations, initial angles and noises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-inverter microgrid systems, particularly those with loop topology, offer higher power supply reliability and robustness compared to conventional radial distribution systems. In meshed systems, communication-less protection schemes have proved to be ineffective for multi-inverter microgrids due to bidirectional power flow, and limited and controlled fault currents generated by the voltage source converters interfacing the energy source to the network. This makes communication-assisted line protection schemes preferable for such systems despite the necessity for communication means. While these protection schemes are effective, their reliability depends much on the communication availability. This requires a back-up communication path in case the main one fails bringing up the cost issue that hinders their uptake. This paper proposes a novel and low-cost line protection based on directional blocking strategy that can operate as a main as well as a back-up protection to any protection scheme using communication means between the line terminals. As the main, it requires low-bandwidth communication system. As a back-up, it would share the same communication means with the main one and use those of the healthy lines when the faulted line's fails. Thus saving the cost of back-up communication system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utility engineers, professionals from regulatory agencies, manufacturers and researchers have discussed if high-frequency distortions produced by rooftop photovoltaic generators are a general power quality concern for distribution systems. In this context, this paper presents the results of an extensive research to investigate the emission and propagation characteristics of such high-frequency distortions. Analytical and theoretical analyses, computer simulations, laboratory experiments and field measurements revealed that high-frequency distortions emitted by rooftop photovoltaic inverters are produced with a voltage source characteristic. As a result, the equivalent grid impedance limits and attenuates significantly the high-frequency distortions injection and propagation into the distribution systems. Moreover, the front-end, low-pass filters found in many home appliances also contribute with such attenuation by sinking part of the high-frequency distortions. In summary, the results indicate that these distortions are unlikely to become a generalized power quality concern, so that the front-end filters commonly available for such devices, when properly designed, are enough to deal with this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the estimation of parameters of a Thevenin equivalent in an AC grid. We consider the practically relevant case of measurements coming from a grid-connected inverter. Our focus is on non-intrusive measurements, as we postulate and later experimentally observe transients that occur in normal operation as the primary source of information. We notice that even during quiet, after work hours there are typically enough variations in the grid to enable successful convergence of our procedure. For completeness, we also consider the artificial case of no external variations and show that injection of very small current perturbations suffices for convergence. Our procedure is based on real-time monitoring of the estimated determinant of the regression matrix. Regression matrix properties are also used to evaluate the integrity of the estimates and to initiate a brief sequence of perturbation in rare cases of the exceptionally restful grid. The estimation algorithm is simple enough to be implementable on standard industrial controllers, yet robust and reliable in terms of speed of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directional, phase-selection, and distance elements of a relay are prone to misoperation in the presence of inverter-based resources (IBRs). To address these problems, modifications of relay elements as well as new control schemes for IBRs have been proposed in the literature. These methods focus mainly on addressing the misoperation of only one of the above relay elements. The available solutions that are based on a new control system focus only on the negative-sequence current loop. Thus, they work only for unbalanced faults. This paper proposes a comprehensive dual current control scheme for IBRs during all types of faults such that all of these relay elements operate correctly. The proposed method controls the IBR to operate as a voltage source behind a virtual impedance in the positive-sequence circuit, and a single impedance in the negative-sequence circuit, thereby emulating the phase angles of a synchronous generator's (SG's) fault current. The proposed method also maximizes the active, and reactive current generation of the IBR during faults, and emulates the incremental sequence current magnitudes of an SG. The proposed method does not require altering the relay elements. Moreover, correct operation of the relay elements is achieved regardless of the fault type, resistance, and location. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through not only simulation studies, but also hardware-in-the-loop testing of commercial relays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new multi-objective control strategy for inverter-interfaced distributed generation (IIDG) to ensure its safe and continuous operation under unbalanced voltage sags. The proposed control strategy can effectively improve the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability, reduce active power oscillations, and limit overcurrent simultaneously, which are marked as the most important control objectives of IIDG during unbalanced voltage sags. The advanced voltage support scheme, which utilizes positive sequence component, is firstly proposed to maximize the LVRT capability of IIDG during unbalanced voltage sags. Then, to ensure the safety of IIDG, the active power oscillation suppression and current limitation algorithm are designed individually. Based on the control algorithms of such objectives, the multi-objective control method, including scenario classification and reference current determination, is then presented to achieve such three objectives under various system conditions simultaneously. Finally, case studies and evaluations based on MATLAB/Simulink are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strength is an important concept in planning studies for voltage stability analysis of hybrid multi-infeed HVDC (HMIDC) systems, which include both VSC- and LCC- HVDC links. However, the accuracy of earlier strength indices is very limited because they are developed by the empirical reasoning rather than rigorous theoretical derivation. In this paper, a virtual single-infeed model of HMIDC systems is firstly established utilizing the reduced-order equivalent nodal assessment of the inverter bus current-voltage equations. While incorporating the inter-inverter interactions, the virtual model is a strict dual-bus equivalent of the original complicated multi-infeed model. This enables easier and simpler analysis to be implemented. Secondly, the virtual model is employed to propose the hybrid multi-infeed interactive effective short-circuit ratio (HMIESCR) strength index for HMIDC systems by the rigorous theoretical derivation. Compared to earlier indices, the HMIESCR can depict the voltage stability much more accurately. This is because the critical HMIESCR (CHMIESCR) indicative of the stability limit is explicitly and solely evaluated to 1.5 according to the PV sensitivity based stability criterion, while the critical values of earlier indices are ambiguous. Finally, case studies by extensive numerical simulations on the classical hybrid four-infeed HVDC system validate the HMIESCR along with good robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, distribution system planning studies mainly focused on steady state and quasi-steady state analysis, with limited attention paid to dynamic analysis. This paper develops three-phase, electromechanical models for both grid-forming and grid-following inverters, and integrates them into an open source, three-phase distribution network solver, thereby enabling dynamic simulation of large-scale, three-phase unbalanced distribution systems with high penetration of inverter-based DERs. The proposed inverter models are validated against electromagnetic simulation and field test data from the CERTS/AEP microgrid testbed, and simulated in an islanded 5252 node distribution system in the GridLAB-D simulation environment. Simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed inverter models for large-scale distribution system analysis. Study results show that compared to traditional grid-following inverters, the high penetration of grid-forming inverters can improve the voltage and frequency stability of islanded distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a line-commutated converter based high-voltage direct-current (LCC-HVDC) system, the inverter control system usually includes constant extinction angle (CEA) controller, constant current (CC) controller, current error controller (CEC), and voltage-dependent current order limiter (VDCOL). However, the interaction influence of multiple controllers may cause repetitive commutation failure (CF). For this purpose, this paper deeply investigates the mechanism and the influencing factors of repetitive CF caused by controller interaction. It is found that the lower limit value of CEA controller can affect the control switching process and thus the probability of repetitive CF. Besides, the minimum gamma measurement (MGM) unit prevents the system from acquiring the real extinction angle in time, which results in the DC current fluctuation during the recovery process. Moreover, the probability of control-induced repetitive CF is much higher when the HVDC inverter is connected to a weak AC system or the AC fault is not serious but not cleared in time. Based on the above analyses, an improved control method is proposed for recovery performance improvement, which is mainly realized by modifying the lower and upper limits of the CEA controller during recovery. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify the theoretical analyses and the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 and 2018, bulk power system (BPS) connected solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters tripped after grid disturbances in South California, causing large-scale power loss. One cause of PV tripping is subcycle overvoltage experienced by PV inverters when the grid suffers voltage dip and PVs enter into momentary cessation. This paper examines the underlying mechanism of the subcycle overvoltage dynamics. A dq-frame analytical model is built for a PV grid-integration system with a focus on the grid side converter (GSC) and grid interaction. PV's dc circuit dynamics and controls are ignored. Eigenvalue analysis indicates that two modes cause the subcycle overvoltage. The modes are associated with shunt compensation, grid electromagnetic dynamics, and PV inverter controls. Furthermore, a more insightful explanation of subcycle overvoltage is offered relying on s-domain admittance models. The dq-frame admittance is derived for the PV viewed from the point of common coupling (PCC). A circuit model relying on the derived admittance can demonstrate subcycle overvoltage due to momentary cessation. Impacts of grid strength, phase-locked-loop (PLL) parameters and converter current control parameters are all examined. It is found that the inherent LC dynamics due to shunt compensation and grid inductance are the main dynamics that can cause overvoltage, and momentary cessation excites overvoltage dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AC fault ride-through and support capability of line commutated converter based high voltage direct current (LCC-HVDC) have significant influence on the safe operation of power system. The ability of phase locked loop (PLL) to synchronize with the voltage phase under AC faults would affect the recovery performance of LCC-HVDC systems. This paper analyzes the influence of the conventional PLL on the subsequent commutation failure (SCF) of LCC-HVDC systems and points out that the conventional PLL has some problems such as slow dynamic response, significant frequency fluctuation, and coupling of phase and frequency detection under fault conditions. A novel PLL is proposed to address the problems. Cascade delayed signal cancellation operators are combined with a mathematical filter, forming a hybrid pre-filter to extract fundamental positive sequence voltage for the PLL. To reduce the fluctuation of PLL's frequency during AC faults, the estimated frequency is fixed when the fault is detected by a fault detector. As a consequence, the decoupling between phase detection and frequency detection is realized, and the proposed PLL's dynamic response performance is enhanced. Simulation results show that the proposed PLL can provide accurate phase reference for the DC control system and reduce the probability of SCFs of LCC-HVDC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the resonance problem in a parallel-inverter-based grid-connected system. Harmonic interactions between inverters and the grid exhibit various number of complicated characteristics that threatens the system stability and power quality. In this paper, a method of harmonic resonance analysis is proposed to investigate the resonance problem in a multi-inverter grid-connected system based on resonance modal analysis (RMA) and participation factor (PF) calculations. Initially, an impedance-based analytical approach is employed and expanded to an electricity distribution network that is dominated by multiple inverters with LCL filters and proportional resonant controllers. Then, the RMA is introduced to investigate the resonant interactions among inverters and the grid. Specifically, harmonic resonance characteristics are addressed through transfer functions and the proposed method considering variation of inverter number, different inverter combinations, and critical system components. Finally, time domain simulations on the PSCAD/EMTDC platform are presented. The case study results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, clearing of DC faults in a hybrid multi-terminal HVDC transmission system consisting of line commutated converters (LCCs) and voltage source converters (VSCs) implemented using half-bridge modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology is investigated. While the hybrid HVDC system has several possible configurations, this paper focuses on two of them: 1) a half-bridge MMC-HVDC link piggy-backing on the transmission line of a LCC-HVDC link and 2) LCC-HVDC link tapped by half-bridge MMC inverters. The proposed dc fault recovery strategy employs a high rating series diode valve placed at each VSC inverter pole to block fault currents; AC circuit breakers to isolate the faulty VSC rectifier pole; and force retardation applied at LCC rectifier to extinguish the arc. Detailed simulations demonstrate fast fault recovery performance with the proposed fault recovery procedure. In the case where a single transmission line is shared by the LCC and VSC links, the VSC rectifier is subjected to considerably high current for a period of few hundreds of milliseconds, and the ac side voltage dips momentarily. During a single pole fault, interrupting power flow on the healthy pole of VSC rectifier may be necessary to maintain smooth operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiation of ac fault may lead to the commutation failure, and the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system is still confronted with the risk of subsequent commutation failure (SCF) during recovery process prior to the fault clearance. In this paper, the mechanism of subsequent commutation failure is investigated through the analysis of controller response and ac-dc interaction under the symmetrical and asymmetrical faults. According to the modulation theory, a switching function method based on the line-to-line voltages is introduced to depict the voltage transfer characteristics of converters under asymmetrical faults. The early warning criterion and its corresponding early warning system for the subsequent commutation failure (SCF-EWS) are developed by taking the risks of controller regulation and the variations of electrical quantities into account. For the purpose of suppression, an emergency advance control strategy against the subsequent commutation failure (SCF-EAC) is also presented. The analysis and the proposed schemes are verified by the CIGRE benchmark model that is shipped with the PSCAD/EMTDC software under different fault conditions, and the simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating solar generation brings about unique challenges in power system protection. Previous studies have found inverter-based resources featuring distinct fault responses compared to conventional generators. The reduction in fault current magnitude and lack of negative and zero sequence currents can fundamentally impact the way that the power system is protected. This letter studies the negative-sequence current injection from transmission-connected solar farms. Using field recorded data, this letter reveals the negative-sequence current injection behaviors of solar farms by analyzing how inverters respond to faults. In addition, the paper studies how the negative-sequence current can impact negative-sequence directional elements used in protective relays. The response of protective relays’ is evaluated by replaying field events using actual relay settings applied on conventional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the essential reason for subsequent commutation failures (SCFs) in high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, and accordingly proposes a novel adaptive extinction angle recovery (AEAR) control strategy to prevent SCFs. Firstly, based on the changes of the inverter control mode after the first CF, the interaction process of inverter control loops is divided into 3 stages and analyzed in detail. It is found that the control aim of DC current is ambiguous in stage 2, causing the output of current error control (CEC) to persist above zero. In stage 3, however, the CEC output drops rapidly, leading to an uncontrolled status of extinction angle and bringing the risk of SCFs. Furthermore, the precondition for the control mode switching is derived. On the basis of that, an AEAR control strategy is proposed. By adopting an adaptive extinction angle reference, the proposed scheme maintains the inverter at the constant extinction angle (CEA) mode after the first CF. Thus, the uncontrolled status of extinction angle can be avoided. The problem of SCFs due to improper inverter control interactions is also able to be fixed at the root. Simulation results show the validity of the analysis and the superiority of the proposed control strategy in preventing SCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faults on the alternating current (AC) transmission lines could cause commutation failures of nearby line-commutated converter-based high-voltage direct-current (LCC-HVDC) systems, which in turn, may challenge the fault detection of AC systems. To address this issue, this paper proposes a fast fault detection method based on instantaneous active power and fault variation component to alleviate the impacts of commutation failures and reactive power compensation while mitigating the dead zone problem. Upon that, an integral-based differential protection algorithm is presented to enhance reliability. Simulations are carried out on a real hybrid AC/DC system in North China with different fault locations and resistances to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, we further validate the proposed method by leveraging on-site recorded fault data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]