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The replacement of directly connected synchronous generators with power electronics interfaced generation has led to a decrease in system's inertia posing a significant challenge on frequency dynamics. In isolated systems with reduced inertia predefined limits for renewable penetration and primary reserves are frequently set for dynamic security purposes. This approach might not ensure dynamic security or can prove conservative in certain conditions. Furthermore, these approaches rarely consider the capabilities of inverter based renewable generation to provide frequency services. In this paper, a data driven approach, based on optimal classification trees is proposed to extract, from a detailed dynamic model of the system, the constraints for a frequency dynamic unit commitment formulation. Hence, both dynamic security and optimal exploitation of renewable and conventional units for power production and frequency support can be achieved. The advantages of the proposed method compared to conventional and state of the art approaches in frequency security are validated through dynamic simulations on a realistic model of Rhodes island and IEEE 118. Uncertainties in load demand and renewable generation are dealt by a robust optimization method. Its economic performance, computational overhead and modelling complexity is compared to a stochastic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a highly reliable back-to-back (BTB) power converter is proposed for doubly fed induction generator-based wind turbines (DFIG-WTs). When a power switch open-circuit fault is encountered in either the grid-side converter (GSC) or the rotor-side converter (RSC), a four-switch three-phase (FSTP) topology is formed to avoid using redundant bridge arms, which reduces the power circuit complexity and minimizes the conduction and switching losses. A simplified space vector pulsewidth modulation technique is used to eliminate sector identification and complex trigonometric calculations. In addition, the influence of dc-bus capacitor voltage unbalance on the electromagnetic torque is analyzed in detail. The offset current components are calculated, and they are deducted from the reference values in the modified control strategies to suppress the dc-bus voltage deviation. Moreover, the power loss model of a BTB converter is analyzed in detail, and the efficiency study is performed in various post-fault situations. Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink are carried out to verify the performance of a DFIG-WT based on a FSTP BTB converter. Furthermore, the control hardware-in-the-loop setup with RSC and GSC separately simulated in a digital real-time simulator is applied for experimental verification of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTSs) in the provision of grid services is becoming increasingly important, due to the massive integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and the decommissioning of thermal plants. A comprehensive literature review of grid services offered by FACTS is performed, focusing on the different grid services that they can provide, such as power flow control, reactive power control, voltage control, power quality improvement, harmonic mitigation, improvement of transient stability, and damping of inter-area and intra-area oscillations. These grid services need to be realistically and economically validated in suitable testing environments. A review of relevant standards, guides, and the literature is performed, which covers the entire range from functional specification and factory testing up to the field testing of FACTS. Advanced industry practices, such as controller hardware in the loop (CHIL) testing of FACTS controllers by the manufacturer, and recent trends, such as CHIL testing of replica controllers by the owner, are underlined. Limitations of conventional testing and CHIL testing are explained and the use of power hardware in the loop (PHIL) simulation for FACTS testing is discussed. CHIL and scaled-down PHIL tests on a transmission static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) are performed and a comparison of the results is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of a smart grid with a high share of renewable energy resources introduces several issues in testing power equipment and controls. In this context, real-time simulation and Hardware in the Loop (HIL) techniques can tackle these problems that are typical for power system testing. However, implementing a convoluted HIL setup in a single infrastructure can be physically impossible or can increase the time required to test a smart grid application in detail. This paper introduces the Joint Test Facility for Smart Energy Networks with Distributed Energy Resources (JaNDER) that allows users to exchange data in real-time between two or more infrastructures. This tool enables the integration of infrastructures, exploiting the synergies between them, and creating a virtual infrastructure that can perform more experiments using a combination of the resources installed in each infrastructure. In particular, JaNDER can extend a HIL setup. In order to validate this new testing concept, a coordinated voltage controller has been tested in a Controller HIL setup where JaNDER was used to interact with an actual On Load Tap Changer (OLTC) controller located in a remote infrastructure. The results show that the latency introduced by JaNDER is not critical; hence, under certain circumstances, it can be used to expand the real-time testing without affecting the stability of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]