Ion Etxeberria-Otadui

A Stationary Reference Frame Grid Synchronization System for Three-Phase Grid-Connected Power Converters Under Adverse Grid Conditions

Grid synchronization algorithms are of great importance in the control of grid-connected power converters, as fast and accurate detection of the grid voltage parameters is crucial in order to implement stable control strategies under generic grid conditions. This paper presents a new grid synchronization method for three-phase three-wire networks, namely dual second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) frequency-locked loop. The method is based on two adaptive filters, implemented by using a SOGI on the stationary αβ reference frame, and it is able to perform an excellent estimation of the instantaneous symmetrical components of the grid voltage under unbalanced and distorted grid conditions. This paper analyzes the performance of the proposed synchronization method including different design issues. Moreover, the behavior of the method for synchronizing with highly unbalanced grid is proven by means of simulation and experimental results, demonstrating its excellent performance.

New Optimized PWM VSC Control Structures and Strategies Under Unbalanced Voltage Transients

Control structures and strategies have a critical influence on a power electronic converters behavior during disturbances. Most of the previous works in the field of pulsewidth modulation voltage-source converter (VSC) operation under unbalanced conditions propose dual vector controllers with dc bus voltage optimization strategies, which have been proven to be well adapted for rectifier applications. In this paper, two major contributions are made. On the one hand, a new optimized operation strategy based on exchanged power maximization is proposed for vector control structures, which permits the extension of optimized operation to other VSC applications (e.g., flexible alternating current transmission system and distributed generation interfaces). On the other hand, a scalar control structure is proposed based on resonant controllers, together with three adapted optimized operation strategies, namely: 1) dc bus voltage optimization; 2) power exchange maximization; and 3) a hybrid strategy (an intermediary mode between the other two strategies). Their main advantage is their simplicity and the lack of real-time symmetrical component extraction techniques. This scalar controller and the proposed optimized operation strategies are compared to conventional vector controllers. It is proven through experimental analysis that the proposed scalar controller offers very good performances with simpler structures and bigger flexibility in terms of operation modes.

Real-Time Analysis of the Transient Response Improvement of Fixed-Speed Wind Farms by Using a Reduced-Scale STATCOM Prototype

As the total number of installed wind farms is far from being negligible, an upgrading of their technology is essential to fulfil new interconnection requirements. Power electronics are considered to be a key technology to accomplish this task. In this paper the use of a STATCOM for the improvement of the ride-through capability of fixed-speed wind farms is analyzed. Critical aspects like STATCOM rating and control are analyzed. A modified STATCOM controller is proposed, based on the series combination of a power factor control loop and a voltage regulation loop, which permits an optimized behavior of the wind farm both in normal and fault conditions. The contribution of the STATCOM is analyzed by means of Hybrid real-time tests (with a reduced-scale physical prototype) and offline (full scale) simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC. The study highlights the great contribution of STATCOMs to the transient behavior of fixed-speed wind farms and the importance of an appropriate control strategy choice on the performance and rating of the device

Evaluation of Storage Energy Requirements for Constant Production in PV Power Plants

This paper analyzes the minimum energy capacity ratings that an energy-storage (ES) system should accomplish in order to achieve a defined constant power production in a photovoltaic (PV) power plant. ES is a key issue for the further integration of intermittent and stochastic renewable energy sources, which are not currently dispatchable due to their dependence on real-time weather conditions, as is the case of PV technology. This paper proposes and describes an energy management strategy (EMS) for operating PV power plants with ES in the future. The goal of this EMS is to endow these power plants with a constant production that can be controlled and hence traded on electricity markets. This paper presents simulated results on the percentage of time throughout the year during which a large-scale PV+ES plant operates properly with different ES ratings and according to different configurations of this EMS. Finally, a test bench was developed, and experimental results validating this EMS were obtained.

A Single Synchronous Frame Hybrid (SSFH) Multifrequency Controller for Power Active Filters

Conventional integration-based controllers, such as the multisynchronous PI and the multiresonant controllers, are well adapted for multifrequency-current-control applications. The first controller involves multiple reference frames, while the second one operates in a static frame using multiple resonant regulators. This paper presents a hybrid type of controller, called a single synchronous frame hybrid (SSFH) controller, which combines both features: It operates in an SSF mixing conventional PI and resonant controllers. A detailed design criterion for the SSFH controller is presented based on a frequency-response approach. Digital-implementation aspects (such as computation delays) and the phase margin of the system are taken into consideration during the design process. The SSFH and the multiresonant controllers are compared considering various criteria such as the computational load and the performances in terms of transient and steady-state response. It is concluded that the SSFH controller is a very interesting and execution time-saving structure for heavily distorted multifrequency applications, which is especially adapted for balanced or slightly unbalanced cases

Global Loss Evaluation Methods for Nonsinusoidally Fed Medium-Frequency Power Transformers

Medium-voltage conversion systems, such as traction and grid-connected converters, are continuously evolving toward higher power densities. Consequently, volume, weight, and material reductions are becoming major design issues, which lead the research focus toward high-/medium-frequency isolated power conversion systems. An optimized design of these conversion systems requires a detailed transformer-loss evaluation considering both copper and core losses. This paper presents a simple and flexible methodology to analyze global medium-frequency transformer losses in an isolated DC-DC converter fed by general nonsinusoidal waveforms. Various loss evaluation approaches are considered, pointing out their validity and limitations by means of finite-element simulations and experimental tests.

Photovoltaics in Microgrids: An Overview of Grid Integration and Energy Management Aspects

The microgrid vision contains several aspects, and a commonly admitted one is a portion of grid with its own means of production and energy flow controls. Photovoltaic (PV) generation is geographically the most distributed means of electricity production. In this sense, the integration of PVs in microgrids seems natural. The intermittency of PV generation can be compensated not only by using energy storage technologies but also by demand-side management and exchanges with other power networks: the main grid and surrounding microgrids. Many aspects still have to be investigated in the fields of power electronics, information communications technologies (ICTs), protections, and power quality (PQ) issues, to make this association a reality.

Evaluation of different strategies for series voltage sag compensation

Power quality (PQ) is one of the most important issues of modern electrical distribution. Power electronics can play a very significant role in the correction of PQ problems. This paper deals with the evaluation of different control strategies applied to a dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) for the mitigation of voltage sags. The objective is to analyse the influence of the chosen strategies on subjects such as the energy storage capacity or the inverter rating. First Matlab-Simulink/PSB has been used to test the characteristics of the different chosen compensation techniques. Then the simulation results and conclusions have been experimentally validated in a 10 kVA rated DVR. The paper shows the most important aspects that should be taken into account for the choice of a compensation algorithm for a specific application.

Optimization of an experimental hybrid microgrid operation: Reliability and economic issues

In this paper a hybrid microgrid system, composed of RES (Renewable Energy System) and CHP (Combined Heat and Power) systems together with a battery based storage system is presented. The microgrid is accompanied by a centralized energy management system (CEMS) in order to optimize the microgrid operation both in grid-connected and in stand-alone modes. In grid-connected mode the optimization of the economic exploitation of the microgrid is privileged by applying optimization techniques. In stand-alone mode, management functions are applied to improve the reliability of the facility by means of islanding operation capability. The optimization analysis has been carried out in simulation while the reliability improvement of the microgrid operation has been analyzed in simulation and proven experimentally.

Enhanced experimental PV plant grid-integration with a MW Lithium-Ion energy storage system

In this paper an enhanced experimental photovoltaic (PV) plant configuration including a storage system and a centralized plant controller is presented as a solution to improve PV systems integration into the grid. The paper is focused on the description of the plant control architecture and the strategies to comply with new interconnection requirements. Two different operation modes are explained, one of them without considering the Energy Storage System (ESS) and the other one using the ESS support. The proposed control architecture and strategies have been first implemented and verified on a real-time simulation platform using the real physical plant controller, and then, experimentally validated in a 1.2MW PV plant located in Tudela (Navarre, Spain) and owned by Acciona Energía, demonstrating a considerable grid-integration improvement.