Requirements for Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Emulation of Distribution Grid Challenges

The ongoing transition of low voltage (LV) power grids towards active systems requires novel evaluation and testing concepts, in particular for realistic testing of devices. Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) evaluations are a promising approach for this purpose. This paper presents preliminary investigations addressing the systematic design of PHIL applications and their applicable stability mechanisms and gives a detailed review of the related work. A requirement analysis for emulation of grid situations demanding system services is given and the realization of a PHIL setup is demonstrated in a residential scenario, comprising a hybrid electrical energy storage system (HESS)

Flexible active power control for PV‐ESS systems:A review

The penetration of solar energy in the modern power system is still increasing with a fast growth rate after long development due to reduced environmental impact and ever-decreasing photovoltaic panel cost. Meanwhile, distribution networks have to deal with a huge amount and frequent fluctuations of power due to the intermittent nature of solar energy, which influences the grid stability and could cause a voltage rise in the low-voltage grid. In order to reduce these fluctuations and ensure a stable and reliable power supply, energy storage systems are introduced, as they can absorb or release energy on demand, which provides more control flexibility for PV systems. At present, storage technologies are still under development and integrated in renewable applications, especially in smart grids, where lowering the cost and enhancing the reliability are the main tasks. This study reviews and discusses several active power control strategies for hybrid PV and energy storage systems that deliver ancillary services for grid support. The technological advancements and developments of energy storage systems in grid-tied PV applications are also reviewed

Optimization-based Fast-frequency Support in Low Inertia Power Systems

The future electrical energy demand will largely be met by non-synchronous renewable energy sources (RESs) in the form of photovoltaics and wind energy. The lack of inertial response from these non-synchronous, inverter-based generation in microgrids makes the system vulnerable to large rate-of-change-of-frequency (ROCOF) and frequency excursions. This can trigger under frequency load shedding and cause cascaded outages which may ultimately lead to total blackouts. To limit the ROCOF and the frequency excursions, fast-frequency support can be provided through appropriate control of energy storage systems (ESSs). For proper deployment of such fast-frequency control strategies, accurate information regarding the inertial response of the microgrid is required. In this dissertation, a moving horizon estimation (MHE)-based approach is first proposed for online estimation of inertia and damping constants of a low-inertia microgrid. The MHE also provides real estimates of the noisy frequency and ROCOF measurements. The estimates are employed by a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm that computes control actions to provide fast-frequency support by solving a finite-horizon, online optimization problem. The combined MHE-MPC framework allows an ESS operator to provide near-optimal fast-frequency support as a service. The framework maintains the desired quality-of-service (limiting the ROCOF and frequency) while taking into account the ESS lifetime and physical limits. Additionally, this approach avoids oscillatory behavior induced by delays that are common when using low pass filter and traditional derivative-based (virtual inertia) controllers with high gains. Through simulation results, it has been shown that the proposed framework can provide near-optimal fast-frequency support while incorporating the physical limits of the ESS. The MHE estimator provides accurate state and parameter estimates that help in improving the dynamic performance of the controller compared to traditional derivative-based controllers. Furthermore, the flexibility of the proposed approach to achieve desired system dynamics based on the desired quality-of-service has also been demonstrated

Control of AC/DC microgrids with renewables in the context of smart grids including ancillary services and electric mobility

Microgrids are a very good solution for current problems raised by the constant growth of load demand and high penetration of renewable energy sources, that results in grid modernization through “Smart-Grids” concept. The impact of distributed energy sources based on power electronics is an important concern for power systems, where natural frequency regulation for the system is hindered because of inertia reduction. In this context, Direct Current (DC) grids are considered a relevant solution, since the DC nature of power electronic devices bring technological and economical advantages compared to Alternative Current (AC). The thesis proposes the design and control of a hybrid AC/DC Microgrid to integrate different renewable sources, including solar power and braking energy recovery from trains, to energy storage systems as batteries and supercapacitors and to loads like electric vehicles or another grids (either AC or DC), for reliable operation and stability. The stabilization of the Microgrid buses’ voltages and the provision of ancillary services is assured by the proposed control strategy, where a rigorous stability study is made. A low-level distributed nonlinear controller, based on “System-of-Systems” approach is developed for proper operation of the whole Microgrid. A supercapacitor is applied to deal with transients, balancing the DC bus of the Microgrid and absorbing the energy injected by intermittent and possibly strong energy sources as energy recovery from the braking of trains and subways, while the battery realizes the power flow in long term. Dynamical feedback control based on singular perturbation analysis is developed for supercapacitor and train. A Lyapunov function is built considering the interconnected devices of the Microgrid to ensure the stability of the whole system. Simulations highlight the performance of the proposed control with parametric robustness tests and a comparison with traditional linear controller. The Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) approach is implemented in the Microgrid for power sharing and frequency stability improvement. An adaptive virtual inertia is proposed, then the inertia constant becomes a system’s state variable that can be designed to improve frequency stability and inertial support, where stability analysis is carried out. Therefore, the VSM is the link between DC and AC side of the Microgrid, regarding the available power in DC grid, applied for ancillary services in the AC Microgrid. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive inertia, where a comparison with droop and standard control techniques is conducted.As Microrredes são uma ótima solução para os problemas atuais gerados pelo constante crescimento da demanda de carga e alta penetração de fontes de energia renováveis, que resulta na modernização da rede através do conceito “Smart-Grids”. O impacto das fontes de energia distribuídas baseados em eletrônica de potência é uma preocupação importante para o sistemas de potência, onde a regulação natural da frequência do sistema é prejudicada devido à redução da inércia. Nesse contexto, as redes de corrente contínua (CC) são consideradas um progresso, já que a natureza CC dos dispositivos eletrônicos traz vantagens tecnológicas e econômicas em comparação com a corrente alternada (CA). A tese propõe o controle de uma Microrrede híbrida CA/CC para integrar diferentes fontes renováveis, incluindo geração solar e frenagem regenerativa de trens, sistemas de armazenamento de energia como baterias e supercapacitores e cargas como veículos elétricos ou outras (CA ou CC) para confiabilidade da operação e estabilidade. A regulação das tensões dos barramentos da Microrrede e a prestação de serviços anciliares são garantidas pela estratégia de controle proposta, onde é realizado um rigoroso estudo de estabilidade. Um controlador não linear distribuído de baixo nível, baseado na abordagem “System-of-Systems”, é desenvolvido para a operação adequada de toda a rede elétrica. Um supercapacitor é aplicado para lidar com os transitórios, equilibrando o barramento CC da Microrrede, absorvendo a energia injetada por fontes de energia intermitentes e possivelmente fortes como recuperação de energia da frenagem de trens e metrôs, enquanto a bateria realiza o fluxo de potência a longo prazo. O controle por dynamical feedback baseado numa análise de singular perturbation é desenvolvido para o supercapacitor e o trem. Funções de Lyapunov são construídas considerando os dispositivos interconectados da Microrrede para garantir a estabilidade de todo o sistema. As simulações destacam o desempenho do controle proposto com testes de robustez paramétricos e uma comparação com o controlador linear tradicional. O esquema de máquina síncrona virtual (VSM) é implementado na Microrrede para compartilhamento de potência e melhoria da estabilidade de frequência. Então é proposto o uso de inércia virtual adaptativa, no qual a constante de inércia se torna variável de estado do sistema, projetada para melhorar a estabilidade da frequência e prover suporte inercial. Portanto, o VSM realiza a conexão entre lado CC e CA da Microrrede, onde a energia disponível na rede CC é usada para prestar serviços anciliares no lado CA da Microrrede. Os resultados da simulação mostram a eficácia da inércia adaptativa proposta, sendo realizada uma comparação entre o controle droop e outras técnicas de controle convencionais

Analysis of storage systems for MTDC

Les sources d'électricité renouvelables sont de plus en plus intégrées dans le système électrique, posant des problèmes en termes d'inertie, de fiabilité du réseau et de qualité de l'énergie. La majeure partie de ces sources d'énergie, telles que les éoliennes, sont situées loin des systèmes électriques. Le système de transmission de courant continu haute tension (VSC-HVDC) basé sur un convertisseur de source de tension est idéal pour connecter les parcs éoliens offshore au réseau électrique CA onshore. Depuis plus de 50 ans, les systèmes à courant continu haute tension (HVDC) sont utilisés dans les systèmes de transmission d'énergie. Ce système de transport présente plusieurs avantages, notamment une distribution d'énergie active et réactive découplée, la possibilité d'inverser les flux d'énergie sans ajuster la polarité de la tension et la capacité de fonctionner dans des réseaux électriques vulnérables et indépendants. Outre les avantages mentionnés ci-dessus, les systèmes HVDC sont considérés comme une alternative viable aux systèmes de transmission conventionnels en raison de leur potentiel à transmettre de vastes volumes d'énergie sur de longues distances. En raison de la faible perte de puissance du câble, les technologies HVDC sont idéales pour transporter l'énergie électrique sur de longues distances. Ses principales utilisations comprennent l'interconnexion de réseau non synchrone, le transfert d'énergie électrique à longue distance et la transmission de câbles sous-marins et souterrains. La mise en œuvre d'un réseau hybride AC-HVDC est une étape importante dans le développement des techniques HVDC, car elle conduit à un changement dans la structure du système DC de connexions DC autonomes point à point vers un HVDC multi-terminal (MTDC) système. L'un des types les plus courants de topologies de réseau à courant continu est le VSC-HVDC multi-terminal, qui a plus de deux VSC reliés aux réseaux à courant continu. Seule la technologie VSC, et non la technologie LCC, permet ces types de réseaux HVDC maillés. Cela est dû à la capacité des IGBT à transférer le courant dans les deux sens tout en conservant la même polarité de tension. Le système MTDC est une solution appropriée pour les interconnexions d'énergie propre, et il contribuera à augmenter la stabilité, la flexibilité et les performances du système électrique. Les convertisseurs électroniques de puissance sont utilisés dans les réseaux MTDC pour communiquer avec les systèmes CA et fournir des services de contrôle. Les convertisseurs électroniques de puissance (AC / DC ou DC / DC) joueront sans aucun doute un rôle important pour garantir une stabilité, des performances et une rentabilité élevées du réseau. L'inertie globale du système diminue à mesure que les interconnexions de convertisseurs électroniques de puissance deviennent plus répandues dans le système d'alimentation. Les systèmes de génération d'interconnexion basés sur VSC, tels que les éoliennes, n'ont pas de contribution inertielle par défaut, contrairement aux générateurs synchrones. Une éolienne, par contre, peut être conçue pour fournir une assistance inertielle en ajustant la puissance de sortie pour compenser les conditions du réseau. Plusieurs solutions au manque d'inertie de ces structures à interface électronique ont été proposées. Il est indéniable que les systèmes de stockage d'énergie (SSE) basés sur des convertisseurs de puissance ont la capacité d'améliorer le comportement transitoire du système électrique. La modulation d'une fréquence d'appareil donnée est l'un des objectifs fondamentaux des ESS. L'énergie cinétique contenue dans la masse mobile des éoliennes, le stockage d'énergie par batterie, le stockage d'énergie par air comprimé, le stockage d'énergie par volant, le stockage d'énergie par supercondensateur et le stockage d'énergie magnétique supraconductrice font partie des technologies actuellement proposées. En proposant la technologie MMC pour VSC, l'utilisation de l'énergie stockée dans les stations de conversion devient plus possible car une capacité de stockage d'énergie plus capacitive est disponible dans ce type de convertisseur par rapport à un VSC traditionnel à deux niveaux. L'étude actuelle suggère que les capacités du système HVDC soient utilisées pour améliorer et sécuriser le réseau à courant alternatif du système. Les systèmes de stockage d'énergie (ESS) sont utilisés dans les réseaux MTDC pour surveiller l'électricité, la fréquence, la tension du réseau en courant continu et le partage d'énergie dans diverses conditions, y compris les pannes et les pannes de convertisseur. En résumé, les systèmes électriques sont confrontés à de nouveaux problèmes en raison de la forte pénétration des sources d'énergie renouvelables qui sont connectées au réseau par un convertisseur électronique de puissance. En conséquence, l'augmentation de la connexion de base du convertisseur affecte la fréquence et la stabilité de la tension du système d'alimentation. Les normes de liaison au réseau ont plusieurs objectifs de base, dont l'un est de maintenir la fiabilité globale du système électrique. L'étude actuelle suggère d'utiliser des systèmes de stockage d'énergie (SSE) dans les systèmes HVDC pour augmenter la stabilité du système électrique. Bien que l'utilisation de systèmes de stockage d'énergie (tels que des batteries, des volants d'inertie, des super-condensateurs ou des systèmes d'énergie magnétique supraconducteurs) ait déjà été réalisée pour augmenter l'inrtie du réseau, la combinaison de l'utilisation de systèmes de stockage d'énergie (tels que des batteries, des volants d'inertie, des super-condensateurs, ou systèmes d'énergie magnétique supraconducteurs est quelque peu nouvelle et fascinante dans les réseaux MTDC. Ce concept sera testé sur une variété de systèmes HVDC (point à point, MTDC) pour voir comment l'ESS affecte les différentes caractéristiques du réseau lorsqu'il est connecté via des convertisseurs.Renewable electricity sources are increasingly being integrated into the power system, posing problems in terms of inertia, grid reliability, and power quality. The bulk of these energy sources, such as wind turbines, are situated far from power systems. The voltage-source converter-based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission system is a good fit for connecting offshore wind farms to the onshore AC power grid. For more than 50 years, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems have been used in power transmission systems. This transmission system has several benefits, including decoupled active and reactive power distribution, the ability to reverse power flows without adjusting voltage polarity, and the ability to run in vulnerable and independent power networks. Aside from the benefits mentioned above, HVDC systems are seen as a viable alternative to conventional transmission systems due to their potential to transmit vast volumes of power over long distances. Because of the low cable power loss, HVDC technologies are ideal for transporting electrical power over long distances. Its key uses include nonsynchronous network interconnection, long-distance electrical energy transfer, and underwater and underground cable transmission. Implementing a hybrid AC-HVDC grid is a significant step forward in the development of HVDC techniques, as it leads to a shift in the dc system's structure from point-to-point stand-alone dc connections to a multi-terminal HVDC (MTDC) system. One of the most common types of dc grid topologies is multi-terminal VSC-HVDC, which has more than two VSC linked to the dc grids. Only VSC technology, not LCC technology, allows for these types of meshed HVDC grids. This is due to IGBTs' ability to transfer current in both directions while maintaining the same voltage polarity. The MTDC system is an appropriate solution for clean energy interconnections, and it will help to increase power system stability, flexibility, and equipment performance. Power electronic converters are used in MTDC grids to communicate with AC systems and provide control services. Power electronic converters (AC/DC or DC/DC) will undoubtedly play an important role in ensuring high grid stability, performance, and cost-effectiveness. The overall system inertia is decreasing as power electronic converter interconnections become more prevalent in the power system. VSC-based interconnection generation systems, such as wind turbines, do not have an inertial contribution by default, unlike synchronous generators. By adjusting the power output to adapt to grid circumstances, a wind turbine, on the other hand, may provide inertial support. The problem of inertia reduction in the AC/DC system has been tackled using a variety of methods. To provide frequency support for connected AC grids, these solutions include utilizing the control capability of MTDC systems and Energy Storage Systems (ESSs). It is an undeniable fact that power converter-based Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) have the ability to improve power system transient behavior. The modulation of a given device frequency is one of the basic goals of ESSs. Kinetic energy contained in the moving mass of wind turbines, battery energy storage, compressed air energy storage, flywheel energy storage, supercapacitor energy storage, and superconducting magnetic energy storage are among the technologies currently proposed. By proposing the MMC technology for VSC, using the energy stored in the converter stations is becoming more possible because more capacitive energy storage capability is available in this kind of converter in comparison with a traditional two-level VSC. The current research implies that the HVDC system's capabilities might be used to improve and safeguard the interconnected ac network. Furthermore, Energy storage systems (ESS) are used in MTDC grids to monitor electricity, frequency, dc network voltage, and power-sharing under a variety of conditions, including faults and outages. In a summary, power systems are facing new problems as a result of the high penetration of renewable energy sources that are connected to the grid by a power electronic converter. As a result, the increasing converter base connection affects the power system's frequency and voltage stability. Grid link standards have several basic goals, one of which is to maintain the overall reliability of the power system. To improve power system stability, the present study proposes utilizing the control capacity of MTDC systems and Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) in MTDC systems. The proposed approach enables the VSC converters to provide short-term frequency support for the AC side and improve the DC grid stability. While using energy storage systems (such as batteries, flywheels, super-capacitors, or superconductor magnetic energy systems) to increase grid inertia has been achieved before, the combination of using energy storage systems (such as batteries, flywheels, super-capacitors, or superconductor magnetic energy systems) in MTDC networks is somewhat new and fascinating. This concept will be tested on a variety of HVDC systems (point to point, MTDC) to see how ESS affects the network's various characteristics when connected through converters

DALILA - Design architectures in a Living Lab

Real-time testing of a Multi-Microgrid system emulated in Matlab Simulink. The experimental tests were undercarried on real hardware components through a analog/digital converter (Power Harware in The Loop).This thesis provides an overview of Microgrids and Multi-Microgrids control architectures and validates control functionalities through the combined efforts of numerical simulation and practical tests in a real laboratory by using Power Hardware In the Loop (PHIL) technology. The thesis is divided in five major topics. The first topic is related with Microgrids, Multi-Microgrids and Smartgrids. It starts by describing the context of such concepts and their implications on power systems: the operational challenges they brought along are laid out in order to make sense out of the proposed solutions. Afterwards it details what characterizes these concepts and the essential components behind them. The devices that enable main functionalities such as autonomous operation, active demand response, voltage/var control, blackstart, etc. This involves explaining the models of microgeneration units, storage devices, electric vehicles and system coordinators. Lastly, there is mentioning to some international reference projects.The second topic is related with Living Labs. In order to conduct experiments regarding Microgrids/Smartgrids, it is necessary to identify key laboratory infrastructures and their main experimental objectives. Therefore, a brief outlook of the most notorious international laboratories and their topics of research is presented.The third topic revolves around the simulation mechanics and the software utilized to study power systems behaviour, which in this case was \textit{Matlab Simulink}. A base case of a Multi-Microgrid system scenario was built based on an existing rural grid and is presented. The MicroSource modelling and the control strategy implemented are described and test results are driven and analysed. The fourth topic details the theory associated with the PHIL converter and describes the series of steps to be followed that allow interaction with \textit{Simulink} and proper operation. Finally, the last topic describes the experimental tests that were under carried in the laboratory and their respective results. These results will serve to validate the ones obtained in the simulation environment. This serves the purpose of demonstrating microgrid operation and testing

Development of Robust and Dynamic Control Solutions for Energy Storage Enabled Hybrid AC/DC Microgrids

Development of Robust and Dynamic Control Solutions for Energy Storage Enabled Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid

Hybrid AC/DC Microgrids for Rural Electrification

O objetivo principal desta dissertação é construir um modelo de uma rede híbrida AC/DC no Software Simulink e estudar a maneira como funciona em diferentes condições e cenários. Esta tese divide-se em seis capítulos: o primeiro, a Introdução, explica os principais objetivos, as contribuições, a motivação e como a tese está organizada; o segundo capítulo, o Estado da Arte, reporta-se aos conceitos básicos da eletricidade em áreas rurais, como é que as micro redes e micro redes híbridas funcionam, as suas arquiteturas, modelos utilizados, aplicações, implementação elétrica e a sua importância nestes meios mais afastados das grandes cidades; no capítulo 3 e 4, apresenta-se uma explicação mais sucinta acerca da simulação e testes que se vão realizar; o terceiro capítulo foca-se mais na parametrização dos modelos, nos diferentes cenários para a rede, com o intuito de analisá-la, e na estrutura e implementação das redes AC e DC a ser estudadas; o quarto capítulo explica, de forma mais pormenorizada, como os modelos são construídos e como funcionam as funções de controlo dos mesmos; no capítulo 5, realiza-se uma simulação para cada um dos cenários definidos e é feita uma análise a cada um dos resultados obtidos; no último capítulo, são definidas todas as principais conclusões de todo este projeto.The main objective of this dissertation is to build a hybrid AC/DC microgrid model in the Software Simulink and to study the way it works and performs in different scenarios. This thesis is divided into six chapters: the first one, the Introduction, explains the main objectives, the contributions, the motivation and how the thesis is organized; the second chapter, the State of Art, reports the basic concepts of electricity in rural areas, how the microgrids and hybrid microgrids work, its architecture, models, electrical implementations, applications and the importance of these grids in places that are located far away from the big cities and the main grids; in chapters 3 and 4, it is stated a more succinct explanation about the simulation and tests that will be performed; the third one focuses more on the parametrization of the models, the different scenarios to test and in the structure and implementation of the AC and DC microgrids that are being studied; the fourth chapter explains how models are designed, how they work and how their control functions operate; in chapter 5, the results of the simulation for each scenario are analysed and studied; in the last chapter, all the main conclusions taken from this thesis are defined