Gerard Ledwich

Improvement of Stability and Load Sharing in an Autonomous Microgrid Using Supplementary Droop Control Loop

This paper investigates the problem of appropriate load sharing in an autonomous microgrid. High gain angle droop control ensures proper load sharing, especially under weak system conditions. However, it has a negative impact on overall stability. Frequency-domain modeling, eigenvalue analysis, and time-domain simulations are used to demonstrate this conflict. A supplementary loop is proposed around a conventional droop control of each DG converter to stabilize the system while using high angle droop gains. Control loops are based on local power measurement and modulation of the d-axis voltage reference of each converter. Coordinated design of supplementary control loops for each DG is formulated as a parameter optimization problem and solved using an evolutionary technique. The supplementary droop control loop is shown to stabilize the system for a range of operating conditions while ensuring satisfactory load sharing.

Power Management and Power Flow Control With Back-to-Back Converters in a Utility Connected Microgrid

This paper proposes a method for power flow control between utility and microgrid through back-to-back converters, which facilitates desired real and reactive power flow between utility and microgrid. In the proposed control strategy, the system can run in two different modes depending on the power requirement in the microgrid. In mode-1, specified amount of real and reactive power are shared between the utility and the microgrid through the back-to-back converters. Mode-2 is invoked when the power that can be supplied by the distributed generators (DGs) in the microgrid reaches its maximum limit. In such a case, the rest of the power demand of the microgrid has to be supplied by the utility. An arrangement between DGs in the microgrid is proposed to achieve load sharing in both grid connected and islanded modes. The back-to-back converters also provide total frequency isolation between the utility and the microgrid. It is shown that the voltage or frequency fluctuation in the utility side has no impact on voltage or power in microgrid side. Proper relay-breaker operation coordination is proposed during fault along with the blocking of the back-to-back converters for seamless resynchronization. Both impedance and motor type loads are considered to verify the system stability. The impact of dc side voltage fluctuation of the DGs and DG tripping on power sharing is also investigated. The efficacy of the proposed control arrangement has been validated through simulation for various operating conditions. The model of the microgrid power system is simulated in PSCAD.

Load compensating DSTATCOM in weak AC systems

The paper discusses load compensation using a distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM). It is assumed that the DSTATCOM is associated with a load that is remote from the supply. It is shown that the operation of a DSTATCOM assuming that it is connected to a stiff source in such situations will result in distortions in source current and voltage at the point of common coupling. To avoid this, the DSTATCOM is connected in parallel with a filter capacitor that allows the high frequency component of the current to pass. However, this generates control issues in tracking, as standard controls such as a hysteresis control are not suitable in these circumstances. This paper proposes a new switching control scheme and demonstrates its suitability for this problem. It also proposes a scheme in which the fundamental sequence components of a three-phase signal can be computed from its samples. The overall performance of the proposed scheme is verified using digital computer simulation studies.

A novel fuzzy logic approach to transformer fault diagnosis

Dissolved gas in oil analysis is an well established in-service technique for incipient fault detection in oil-insulated power transformers. A great deal of experience and data in dissolved gas in oil analysis (DGA) is now available within the utilities. Actually, diagnostic interpretations were solely done by human experts using past knowledge and standard techniques such as the ratio method. In this paper, a novel fuzzy logic approach is adopted to develop a computer based intelligent interpretation of transformer faults using Visual basic and C/sup ++/ programming. The proposed fuzzy logic based software as been tested and tuned using over 800 dissolved gas in oil analysis (DGA) case histories. This highly reliable tool has then been utilized in detection and verification of 20 transformer faults. The proposed diagnostic tool is very useful to both expert and novice engineers in DGA result interpretation.

Distributed generation for minimization of power losses in distribution systems

Appropriate size and location of distributed generation (DG) play a significant role in minimizing power losses in distribution systems. This paper represents techniques to minimize power losses in a distribution feeder by optimizing DG model in terms of size, location and operating point of DG. Sensitivity analysis for power losses in terms of DG size and DG operating point has been performed. The proposed sensitivity indices can indicate the changes in power losses with respect to DG current injection. The proposed techniques have been developed with considering load characteristics and representing loads with constant impedance and constant current models, separately. The optimal size and location of DG in a distribution feeder can be obtained through the developed techniques, with minimum effort. The proposed techniques have been tested on a practical long radial system and results are reported. Test results have proven that up to eighty-six percent of real power loss can be reduced with a DG of optimal size, located at optimal place in the feeder

A unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) for simultaneous voltage and current compensation

Abstract The paper discusses the topology and control of a unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) that can be used simultaneously in voltage or current control mode in a power distribution system. In the voltage control mode, the UPQC can force the voltage of a distribution bus to be balanced sinusoids. At the same time it can also perform load compensation resulting in the drawing of balanced sinusoidal currents from the distribution system bus in the current control mode. Both these objectives are achieved irrespective of unbalance and harmonic distortions in load currents or source voltages. We shall discuss a suitable UPQC structure that allows the tracking of reference current and voltage generated to meet the objective stated above. The reference generation scheme along with the switching control scheme is presented in detail. Extensive results of digital computer simulation studies are presented to validate the proposed structure and control.

Droop Control of Converter-Interfaced Microsources in Rural Distributed Generation

This paper proposes new droop control methods for load sharing in a rural area with distributed generation. Highly resistive lines, typical of rural low voltage networks, always create a big challenge for conventional droop control. To overcome the conflict between higher feedback gain for better power sharing and system stability in angle droop, two control methods have been proposed. The first method considers no communication among the distributed generators (DGs) and regulates the converter output voltage and angle ensuring proper sharing of load in a system having strong coupling between real and reactive power due to high line resistance. The second method, based on a smattering of communication, modifies the reference output voltage angle of the DGs depending on the active and reactive power flow in the lines connected to point of common coupling (PCC). It is shown that with the second proposed control method, an economical and minimum communication system can achieve significant improvement in load sharing. The difference in error margin between proposed control schemes and a more costly high bandwidth communication system is small and the later may not be justified considering the increase in cost. The proposed control shows stable operation of the system for a range of operating conditions while ensuring satisfactory load sharing.

Coordinated Control of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Reactive Power and Battery Energy Storage Systems to Improve the Voltage Profile of a Residential Distribution Feeder

Increasing penetration of photovoltaic (PV), as well as increasing peak load demand, has resulted in poor voltage profile for some residential distribution networks. This paper proposes coordinated use of PV and battery energy storage (BES) to address voltage rise and/or dip problems. The reactive capability of PV inverter combined with droop-based BES system is evaluated for rural and urban scenarios (having different \mbi R/X ratios). Results show that reactive compensation from PV inverters alone is sufficient to maintain acceptable voltage profile in an urban scenario (low-resistance feeder), whereas coordinated PV and BES support is required for the rural scenario (high-resistance feeder). Constant, as well as variable, droop-based BES schemes are analyzed. The required BES sizing and associated cost to maintain the acceptable voltage profile under both schemes are presented. Uncertainties in PV generation and load are considered, with probabilistic estimation of PV generation and randomness in load modeled to characterize the effective utilization of BES. Actual PV generation data and distribution system network data are used to verify the efficacy of the proposed method.

Multiple distributed Generators for Distribution feeder Voltage support

Inclusion of voltage support distributed generation (VSDG) can reinforce the feeder voltage of distribution networks, especially in rural/remote areas where voltage dip and frequent blackouts are significant concerns for power utilities. However, installation of multiple distributed generators within a distribution grid system may introduce technical problems in network operation and control, including control interaction and/or voltage instability. This paper addresses the network issues that may occur during multiple VSDG inclusion in the network and presents analytical models and solutions to develop design criteria of VSDG installation in the networks. Voltage sensitivity of lines is investigated and the effect of DG real (P) and reactive (Q) power injections with Q priority is developed for optimal use of VSDG in correcting the network voltage. Interaction among VSDG controllers has been explored and a generalized model is presented to analyze this interaction between any number of VSDGs in the network. The model is tested on a sample VSDG system and test results are presented. The issue of which VSDG must be started recognizing the costs of starting is addressed using an inverse definite minimum time (IDMT) model. A prioritization and coordination scheme for start discrimination of multiple VSDGs is proposed which avoids hunting between multiple generators.

A Hierarchical Decomposition Approach for Coordinated Dispatch of Plug-in Electric Vehicles

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are increasingly popular in the global trend of energy saving and environmental protection. However, the uncoordinated charging of numerous PEVs can produce significant negative impacts on the secure and economic operation of the power system concerned. In this context, a hierarchical decomposition approach is presented to coordinate the charging/discharging behaviors of PEVs. The major objective of the upper-level model is to minimize the total cost of system operation by jointly dispatching generators and electric vehicle aggregators (EVAs). On the other hand, the lower-level model aims at strictly following the dispatching instructions from the upper-level decision-maker by designing appropriate charging/discharging strategies for each individual PEV in a specified dispatching period. Two highly efficient commercial solvers, namely AMPL/IPOPT and AMPL/CPLEX, respectively, are used to solve the developed hierarchical decomposition model. Finally, a modified IEEE 118-bus testing system including 6 EVAs is employed to demonstrate the performance of the developed model and method.