Mitigation of Power Quality Problems Using Custom Power Devices: A Review

Electrical power quality (EPQ) in distribution systems is a critical issue for commercial, industrial and residential applications. The new concept of advanced power electronic based Custom Power Devices (CPDs) mainly distributed static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM), dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) and unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) have been developed due to lacking the performance of traditional compensating devices to minimize power quality disturbances. This paper presents a comprehensive review on D-STATCOM, DVR and UPQC to solve the electrical power quality problems of the distribution networks. This is intended to present a broad overview of the various possible DSTATCOM, DVR and UPQC configurations for single-phase (two wire) and three-phase (three-wire and four-wire) networks and control strategies for the compensation of various power quality disturbances. Apart from this, comprehensive explanation, comparison, and discussion on D-STATCOM, DVR, and UPQC are presented. This paper is aimed to explore a broad prospective on the status of D-STATCOMs, DVRs, and UPQCs to researchers, engineers and the community dealing with the power quality enhancement. A classified list of some latest research publications on the topic is also appended for a quick reference

Semiconductor devices in solid-state/hybrid circuit breakers: current status and future trends

Circuit breakers (CBs) are the main protection devices for both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power systems, ranging from tens of watts up to megawatts. This paper reviews the current status for solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) as well as hybrid circuit breakers (HCBs) with semiconductor power devices. A few novel SSCB and HCB concepts are described in this paper, including advantage and limitation discussions of wide-band-gap (WBG) devices in basic SSCB/HCB configuration by simulation and 360 V/150 A experimental verifications. Novel SSCB/HCB configurations combining ultra-fast switching and high efficiency at normal operation are proposed. Different types of power devices are installed in these circuit breakers to achieve adequate performance. Challenges and future trends of semiconductor power devices in SSCB/HCB with different voltage/power levels and special performance requirements are clarified

Techniques for Ensuring Fault Ride-Through Capability of Grid Connected DFIG-Based Wind Turbine Systems: A Review

Renewable energy sources (RES) are being integrated to electrical grid to complement the conventional sources to meet up with global electrical energy demand. Among other RES, Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) with Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) have gained global electricity market competitiveness because of the flexible regulation of active and reactive power, higher power quality, variable speed operation, four quadrant converter operation and better dynamic performance. Grid connected DFIG-based WECS are prone to disturbances in the network because of direct connection of stator windings to grid. The ability of the Wind Turbine (WT) to remain connected during grid faults is termed the Fault Ride-Through (FRT) capability. The grid code requirement for integrating the DFIG-based WTs to power networks specified that they must remain connected and support the grid stability during grid disturbances of up to 1500 ms. The use of compensation devices offers the best FRT compliance thereby protecting the DFIG and the converters from voltage fluctuations and over currents during the grid fault. The paper presents a review of techniques employed in ensuring FRT compliance. The article also proposes the state-of-the-art techniques for compensating voltage sag/swell and limiting the fault short-circuit current. Keywords: Renewable energy sources, DFIG, wind turbine system, fault ride-through, grid codes, dual-functional DV

Application of Unified Power Flow Controller to Improve the Performance of Wind Energy Conversion System

This research introduces the unified power flow controller (UPFC) as a means to improve the overall performance of wind energy conversion system (WECS) through the development of an appropriate control algorithm. Also, application of the proposed UPFC control algorithm has been extended in this research to overcome some problems associated with the internal faults associated with WECS- voltage source converter (VSC), such as miss-fire, fire-through and dc-link faults

A fast-acting protection scheme for series compensators in a medium-voltage network

In recent 20 years medium voltage networks have been becoming one of the important interfaces between the power plants and loads due to the increasing load demand as well as number of distributed generators connected to the network. This is the reason, managing the power flow, and voltage profile of the network at the lowest possible power losses and also price are of the utmost importance. The series compensators such as a static synchronous series compensator are of the most cost effective power compensators that also have the high efficiency in controlling the power flow and voltage profile. However, their drawback is their vulnerability against the short circuit. This thesis presents a new protection scheme for an SSSC in an MV network by using a varistor and thyristors to eliminate this weakness. The DC offset phenomenon is one of the main uncertainties that has been studied in the thesis. This phenomenon could cause a delay in the circuit breakers’ performance. In this thesis, the parameters of the machines that have most influence on the time when the fault current will pass the zero point have been analysed. Besides, the impact of the DC offset in the medium voltage network has been studied. Furthermore, the thermal issues have always been one of the most challenging problems for the power electronics devices. This thesis investigates a new packaging style by using the phase change material to improve the thermal managing of a press-pack thyristor during a short circuit. This packaging style is able to absorb the heat as much as required and also could decrease the thermal resistance

Distributed static series compensator in 11kV networks

PhD ThesisSeries compensation techniques can be very effective when applied in an electrical network to increase the power transfer capacity of existing power lines. Distributed Static Series Compensation (DSSC) is a power electronics based series compensation scheme in which a DSSC device comprises of a single-phase H-bridge voltage source converter, a dc link capacitor and a low pass filter suspended from the power line via a single turn transformer. The application of DSSC in the 11kV distribution network is investigated in this thesis. This is followed by a study of existing control strategies employed in DSSC and Static Synchronies Series Compensation (SSSC) schemes. Most of these controllers are based on dq transformation methods in which balanced conditions are assumed and zero sequence currents are assumed to be negligible. While this might be a reasonable assumption at transmission level voltages, but it can be argued that in the presence of unbalanced loads and currents (a common feature of lower voltage distribution networks) these strategies can be inaccurate, leading to the wrong amount of compensation being injected. In addition some of the studied controllers are based on the 90° phase shift of line current. Practically, the injection angle must be slightly different in order to compensate the internal losses of the DSSC. The need for the diversion from the 90° can change over the time and this can threaten the stability of the system. A new single-phase control strategy based on the instantaneous power exchange between the DSSC devices and each of the three phase conductors is proposed in this thesis to address this issue. The new control method does not employ a dq transformation and is immune from the probable errors resulting from the presence of unbalanced network conditions. In the same time the injection angle is not fixed and it is adjusted by the controller. The operation of DSSC can be categorized in two modes and transfer function of system is obtained based on these two modes. The transfer function is used in the design of controller. This is followed by analyzing immunity of the designed controller against change of system parameters. The proposed scheme is simulated (using PSCAD software) to examine the operation of the new control method and the resulting impact on the 11kV distribution feeder, including the ability to divert power from one line to another and the ability to improve network voltage profiles. Performance of DSSC using the proposed controller is compared with performance of DSSC when the traditional controllers are employed

An Update on Power Quality

Power quality is an important measure of fitness of electricity networks. With increasing renewable energy generations and usage of power electronics converters, it is important to investigate how these developments will have an impact to existing and future electricity networks. This book hence provides readers with an update of power quality issues in all sections of the network, namely, generation, transmission, distribution and end user, and discusses some practical solutions