Frequency and fundamental signal measurement algorithms for distributed control and protection applications

Increasing penetration of distributed generation within electricity networks leads to the requirement for cheap, integrated, protection and control systems. To minimise cost, algorithms for the measurement of AC voltage and current waveforms can be implemented on a single microcontroller, which also carries out other protection and control tasks, including communication and data logging. This limits the frame rate of the major algorithms, although analogue to digital converters (ADCs) can be oversampled using peripheral control processors on suitable microcontrollers. Measurement algorithms also have to be tolerant of poor power quality, which may arise within grid-connected or islanded (e.g. emergency, battlefield or marine) power system scenarios. This study presents a 'Clarke-FLL hybrid' architecture, which combines a three-phase Clarke transformation measurement with a frequency-locked loop (FLL). This hybrid contains suitable algorithms for the measurement of frequency, amplitude and phase within dynamic three-phase AC power systems. The Clarke-FLL hybrid is shown to be robust and accurate, with harmonic content up to and above 28% total harmonic distortion (THD), and with the major algorithms executing at only 500 samples per second. This is achieved by careful optimisation and cascaded use of exact-time averaging techniques, which prove to be useful at all stages of the measurements: from DC bias removal through low-sample-rate Fourier analysis to sub-harmonic ripple removal. Platform-independent algorithms for three-phase nodal power flow analysis are benchmarked on three processors, including the Infineon TC1796 microcontroller, on which only 10% of the 2000 mus frame time is required, leaving the remainder free for other algorithms

Measurement, control and protection of microgrids at low frame rates supporting security of supply

Increasing penetrations of distributed generation at low power levels within electricity networks leads to the requirement for cheap, integrated, protection and control systems. To minimise unit cost, algorithms for the measurement of AC voltage and current waveforms should be implemented on a single microcontroller, which also carries out all other protection and control tasks, including communication and data logging. This limits the frame rate of the major algorithms, although ADCs can be over-sampled using peripheral control processors on suitable microcontrollers. Measurement algorithms also have to be tolerant of poor power quality which may arise, even transiently, within a microgrid, battlefield, or disaster-relief scenario. This thesis analyses the potential magnitude of these interfering signals, and presents suitably tolerant architectures and algorithms for measurements of AC waveforms (amplitude, phase and frequency). These algorithms are shown to be robust and accurate, with harmonic content up to the level of 53% THD, and with the major algorithms executing at only 500 samples per second. This is achieved by the careful optimisation and cascaded use of exact-time averaging techniques, which prove to be useful at all stages of the measurements: from DC bias removal to low-sample-rate Fourier analysis to sub-harmonic ripple removal. Algorithms for three-phase nodal power flow analysis are benchmarked on the Infineon TC1796 microcontroller and require less than 8% of the 2000μs frame time, leaving the remainder free for other algorithms. Furthermore, to optimise security of supply in a microgrid scenario, loss-of-mains must be detected quickly even when there is an accidental or deliberate balance between local active power generation and demand. The measurement techniques are extended to the detection of loss-of-mains using a new Phase Offset relay, in combination with a novel reactive power control technique to avoid the non-detection-zone. These techniques are tested using simulation, captured network transient events, and a real hardware microgrid including a synchronous generator and inverter

Comparative analysis between different approaches for single-phase PLLs

"In press"This paper presents a comparative analysis between two distinct synchronizing circuits, which are usually applied as the core of control algorithms for single-phase power quality applications. One of these synchronizing circuits corresponds to a single-phase Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), implemented in α-β coordinates (αβ-PLL), whereas the other one corresponds to the Enhanced PLL (E-PLL). The major contribution of this paper is to present a single-phase PLL oriented to power quality applications, with a very simple structure, capable to be synchronized with the fundamental component of an input signal (voltage or current), even considering substantial disturbances, such as, frequency deviations, phase shifts, harmonic components and amplitude variations. Simulation and experimental results, involving these two synchronizing circuits submitted to three different test cases, are provided in order to compare their transient and steady-state performance. Moreover, it is also presented a comparison involving the processing speed and memory requirements of these synchronizing circuits in the DSP TMS320F28335

Issues and Challenges of Grid-Following Converters Interfacing Renewable Energy Sources in Low Inertia Systems : A Review

The integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) is a key objective for energy sector decision-makers worldwide, aiming to establish renewable-rich future power grids. However, transitioning from conventional systems based on synchronous generators (SGs) or systems with a low RESs share presents challenges, particularly when accompanied by decommissioning large central generation units. This is because the reduction in inertia and system strength, traditionally provided by SGs, can lead to a loss of essential system support functions like voltage and frequency. While current converter technologies attempt to compensate for the grid support provided by SGs by enhancing converter capabilities, they still heavily rely on the presence of SGs to function effectively. These converters, known as grid-following (GFL) converters, depend on the grid to operate in a stable and secure manner. As the penetration of RESs increases, the efficacy of GFL converters diminishes, posing stability challenges in low inertia systems and limiting the integration of RESs. Therefore, it is crucial to reassess the existing GFL converter technologies, control mechanisms, and grid codes to understand their status and future requirements. This will shed light on the advancements and limitations of GFL converters, enabling greater RESs integration and grid support independent of SGs. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date reference for researchers and system operators, addressing the issues and challenges related to GFL converter technologies, control systems, and applications in low inertia systems. It serves as a valuable resource for facilitating the transition towards future systems with 100% RESs penetration scenarios.© 2024 The Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. For more information, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Simple solution of DC-offset rejection based phase-locked loop for single-phase grid-connected converters

Distributed Generators (DG) systems based on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) such as hydro, wind, and solar power plants have been spread widely due to their lower cost and the advanced capability of connecting them with the grid. The power generated from the DG must be shaped to be interfaced with the grid employing power electronics converters. The grid-connected power electronics converters must be synchronized with the grid (i.e., the same fundamental component of the grid frequency, phase, amplitude, and sequence). Synchronization techniques are employed to achieve accurate and fast grid synchronization between the converter and the grid. The existence of (DC-offset) in the input of Phase Locked Loop (PLL) caused synchronization problems as it causes oscillations in the estimated fundamental grid phase, frequency, and amplitude. In addition, the closed-loop system stability can be affected. This work proposes a simple technique for grid synchronization based on PLL with a phase angle correction. The proposed method was developed using Transfer Delay (TD) and Delay Signal Cancelation (DSC) operators; then, the small single model and stability analysis was employed. Several scenarios were developed to compare the proposed method with previous methods using MATLAB/Simulink tool. The scenarios involve introducing phase jumps, DC offsets, and amplitude changes to the grid voltage. Additionally, the grid frequency was also changed. The results show that the proposed PLL can solved the DC-offset problem using any delay time and fully synchronized with the grid. Moreover, the proposed PLL has the fastest dynamic response and shortest synchronization time over the other methods from literature

DSOGI-PLL based power control method to mitigate control errors under disturbances of grid connected hybrid renewable power systems

The control of power converter devices is one of the main research lines in interfaced renewable energy sources, such as solar cells and wind turbines. Therefore, suitable control algorithms should be designed in order to regulate power or current properly and attain a good power quality for some disturbances, such as voltage sag/swell, voltage unbalances and fluctuations, long interruptions, and harmonics. Various synchronisation techniques based control strategies are implemented for the hybrid power system applications under unbalanced conditions in literature studies. In this paper, synchronisation algorithms based Proportional-Resonant (PR) power/current controller is applied to the hybrid power system (solar cell + wind turbine + grid), and Dual Second Order Generalized Integrator-Phase Locked Loop (DSOGI-PLL) based PR controller in stationary reference frame provides a solution to overcome these problems. The influence of various cases, such as unbalance, and harmonic conditions, is examined, analysed and compared to the PR controllers based on DSOGI-PLL and SRF-PLL. The results verify the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed DSOGI-PLL based power control method

A grid synchronization PLL with accurate extraction technique of positive/negative sequences and DC-offset under frequency drift

This article proposes a delayed signal-based demodulation algorithm that enables a fast and accurate extraction of the positive/negative sequences and DC-offset in the grid voltage under a frequency drift. Moreover, a simplified mathematical formalism is proposed to reduce the computational burden for real-time implementation. The algorithm is incorporated with a third-order quasi-type-1 phase-locked loop (TQT1-PLL) to estimate the grid voltage instantaneous phase-angle and frequency. The performance of the proposed PLL referred to as delayed signal demodulation based TQT1-PLL (DSD-TQT1-PLL) is evaluated under highly disturbed grid voltage conditions including DC-offset, fundamental frequency negative sequence (FFNS), characteristic harmonics, and frequency variation. The obtained simulation and experimental results show that the proposed PLL can precisely estimate the frequency and the instantaneous phase-angle of the fundamental frequency positive sequence (FFPS) without any ripple. The results showed also its superiority over the conventional and adaptive QT1-PLLs, where a better dynamic response is obtained

Synchronising coherent networked radar using low-cost GPS-disciplined oscillators

This text evaluates the feasibility of synchronising coherent, pulsed-Doppler, networked, radars with carrier frequencies of a few gigahertz and moderate bandwidths of tens of megahertz across short baselines of a few kilometres using low-cost quartz GPSDOs based on one-way GPS time transfer. It further assesses the use of line-of-sight (LOS) phase compensation, where the direct sidelobe breakthrough is used as the phase reference, to improve the GPS-disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) synchronised bistatic Doppler performance. Coherent bistatic, multistatic, and networked radars require accurate time, frequency, and phase synchronisation. Global positioning system (GPS) synchronisation is precise, low-cost, passive and covert, and appears well-suited to synchronise networked radar. However, very few published examples exist. An imperfectly synchronised bistatic transmitter-receiver is modelled. Measures and plots are developed enabling the rapid selection of appropriate synchronisation technologies. Three low-cost, open, versatile, and extensible, quartz-based GPSDOs are designed and calibrated at zero-baselines. These GPSDOs are uniquely capable of acquiring phase-lock four times faster than conventional phase-locked loops (PLLs) and a new time synchronisation mechanism enables low-jitter sub-10 ns oneway GPS time synchronisation. In collaboration with University College London, UK, the 2.4 GHz coherent pulsed-Doppler networked radar, called NetRAD, is synchronised using the University of Cape Town developed GPSDOs. This resulted in the first published example of pulsed-Doppler phase synchronisation using GPS. A tri-static experiment is set up in Simon’s Bay, South Africa, with a maximum baseline of 2.3 km. The Roman Rock lighthouse was used as a static target to simultaneously assess the range, frequency, phase, and Doppler performance of the monostatic, bistatic, and LOS phase corrected bistatic returns. The real-world results compare well to that predicted by the earlier developed bistatic model and zero-baseline calibrations. GPS timing limits the radar bandwidth to less than 37.5 MHz when it is required to synchronise to within the range resolution. Low-cost quartz GPSDOs offer adequate frequency synchronisation to ensure a target radial velocity accuracy of better than 1 km/h and frequency drift of less than the Doppler resolution over integration periods of one second or less. LOS phase compensation, when used in combination with low-cost GPSDOs, results in near monostatic pulsed-Doppler performance with a subclutter visibility improvement of about 30 dB

Non-Contact Human Motion Sensing Using Radar Techniques

Human motion analysis has recently gained a lot of interest in the research community due to its widespread applications. A full understanding of normal motion from human limb joint trajectory tracking could be essential to develop and establish a scientific basis for correcting any abnormalities. Technology to analyze human motion has significantly advanced in the last few years. However, there is a need to develop a non-invasive, cost effective gait analysis system that can be functional indoors or outdoors 24/7 without hindering the normal daily activities for the subjects being monitored or invading their privacy. Out of the various methods for human gait analysis, radar technique is a non-invasive method, and can be carried out remotely. For one subject monitoring, single tone radars can be utilized for motion capturing of a single target, while ultra-wideband radars can be used for multi-subject tracking. But there are still some challenges that need to be overcome for utilizing radars for motion analysis, such as sophisticated signal processing requirements, sensitivity to noise, and hardware imperfections. The goal of this research is to overcome these challenges and realize a non-contact gait analysis system capable of extracting different organ trajectories (like the torso, hands and legs) from a complex human motion such as walking. The implemented system can be hugely beneficial for applications such as treating patients with joint problems, athlete performance analysis, motion classification, and so on