Load characterization and revenue metering under non-sinusoidal and asymmetrical operation

This paper proposes an approach to load characterization and revenue metering, which accounts for the influence of supply deterioration and line impedance. It makes use of the Conservative Power Theory and aims at characterizing the load from the measurements done at the point of common coupling. Despite the inherent limitations of a single-point measurement, the proposed methodology enables evaluation of power terms, which clarify the effects of reactivity, asymmetry and distortion, and attempts to depurate the power consumption accounted to the load from those terms deriving from supply nonidealities

Experimental evaluation of a CPT-based 4-leg active power compensator For distributed generation

Four-wire microgrids (MGs) and distribution systems are inherently unbalanced with the presence of negative and zero sequence components in voltages and currents. In small autonomous systems, the imbalance, in addition to the harmonic distortion produced by nonlinear loads, can significantly affect the power quality, loadability, and stability of the system. Furthermore, in isolated networks with significant generation from intermittent renewable energy sources, the stiffness of the system is reduced and this could amplify the effects of imbalance on the stability and power quality. To mitigate some of these problems, a novel methodology based on the application of a four-leg active power filter is proposed in this paper. The control of the compensator is based on the conservative power theory augmented by resonant controllers. The behavior of the proposed system is demonstrated using an experimental prototype deployed in a laboratory scale MG

Development and metrological characterization of measuring instruments for low-voltage networks monitoring

This thesis collects the main results about my research and the work related to the designing of monitoring systems of LV distribution networks. The first three chapters are introductive; the first one describes the main concepts contained in the guide for the evaluation of measurement uncertainty (also called GUM), since some of them are recalled in the next sections. Chapter 2 provides the main notions on the smart grid concept, the new generation of distribution networks characterized by a high degree of automation, and on the main power quality problems affecting the grids. Therefore, the following standard, connected to the above topics, are presented: (i) EN 50160. (ii) IEEE 519. (iii) IEC 61000-4-7. Finally, chapter 3 presents a general description of the main sensors suitable for the LV monitoring systems for the acquisition of voltage and current waveforms, providing information on the working principles, the metrological performances and recalling the related standards (as the IEC 61869). Chapter 4 gets to the heart of the work done in my PhD course; in fact, the two monitoring devices specifically developed to meet the needs of the future smart grids are presented: the Guardian Meter and the Network Monitoring Unit. Hence, information is provided on the purposes of each device, on their technical characteristics, on the tests conducted for the metrological characterization and on the results related to measurement performance. It is noteworthy that the testing activity has led to the development of procedures, some of which innovative, for the metrological evaluation of monitoring devices. In fact, the last chapter collects the scientific outcomes deriving from the R&D activity, which can be the starting points for the updating of current standards related to monitoring systems and for the development of new procedures to evaluate the metrological performance of the energy meters

An Improved Walsh Function Algorithm for Use in Sinusoidal and Nonsinusoidal Power Components Measurement

This paper presents an improved Walsh function IWF algorithms as an alternative approach for active and reactive powers measurement in linear and nonlinear, balanced and unbalanced sinusoidal three-phase load system. It takes advantage of Walsh function unified approach, simple algorithm and its intrinsic high level of accuracy as a result of coefficient characteristics and energy behaviour representation. The developed algorithm was modeled on the Matlab Simulink software; different types of load, linear and nonlinear, were also modeled based on practical voltage and current waveforms and tested with the proposed improved Walsh algorithms. The IEEE standard 1459-2000 which is based on fast Fourier transform FFT approach was used as benchmark for the linear load system. The data obtained from laboratory experiment to determine power components in harmonic load systems using Fluke 435 power quality analyzer PQA which complies with IEC/EN61010-1-2001 standard was modeled and used to validate the improved algorithm for nonlinear load measurement. The results showed that the algorithm has the potential to effectively measure three-phase power components under different load conditions

Power Quality

Electrical power is becoming one of the most dominant factors in our society. Power generation, transmission, distribution and usage are undergoing signifi cant changes that will aff ect the electrical quality and performance needs of our 21st century industry. One major aspect of electrical power is its quality and stability – or so called Power Quality. The view on Power Quality did change over the past few years. It seems that Power Quality is becoming a more important term in the academic world dealing with electrical power, and it is becoming more visible in all areas of commerce and industry, because of the ever increasing industry automation using sensitive electrical equipment on one hand and due to the dramatic change of our global electrical infrastructure on the other. For the past century, grid stability was maintained with a limited amount of major generators that have a large amount of rotational inertia. And the rate of change of phase angle is slow. Unfortunately, this does not work anymore with renewable energy sources adding their share to the grid like wind turbines or PV modules. Although the basic idea to use renewable energies is great and will be our path into the next century, it comes with a curse for the power grid as power fl ow stability will suff er. It is not only the source side that is about to change. We have also seen signifi cant changes on the load side as well. Industry is using machines and electrical products such as AC drives or PLCs that are sensitive to the slightest change of power quality, and we at home use more and more electrical products with switching power supplies or starting to plug in our electric cars to charge batt eries. In addition, many of us have begun installing our own distributed generation systems on our rooft ops using the latest solar panels. So we did look for a way to address this severe impact on our distribution network. To match supply and demand, we are about to create a new, intelligent and self-healing electric power infrastructure. The Smart Grid. The basic idea is to maintain the necessary balance between generators and loads on a grid. In other words, to make sure we have a good grid balance at all times. But the key question that you should ask yourself is: Does it also improve Power Quality? Probably not! Further on, the way how Power Quality is measured is going to be changed. Traditionally, each country had its own Power Quality standards and defi ned its own power quality instrument requirements. But more and more international harmonization efforts can be seen. Such as IEC 61000-4-30, which is an excellent standard that ensures that all compliant power quality instruments, regardless of manufacturer, will produce of measurement instruments so that they can also be used in volume applications and even directly embedded into sensitive loads. But work still has to be done. We still use Power Quality standards that have been writt en decades ago and don’t match today’s technology any more, such as fl icker standards that use parameters that have been defi ned by the behavior of 60-watt incandescent light bulbs, which are becoming extinct. Almost all experts are in agreement - although we will see an improvement in metering and control of the power fl ow, Power Quality will suff er. This book will give an overview of how power quality might impact our lives today and tomorrow, introduce new ways to monitor power quality and inform us about interesting possibilities to mitigate power quality problems. Regardless of any enhancements of the power grid, “Power Quality is just compatibility” like my good old friend and teacher Alex McEachern used to say. Power Quality will always remain an economic compromise between supply and load. The power available on the grid must be suffi ciently clean for the loads to operate correctly, and the loads must be suffi ciently strong to tolerate normal disturbances on the grid

Novel Controls of Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Farms

Solar Farms are absolutely idle in the night and even during daytime operate below capacity in early mornings and late afternoons. Thus, the entire expensive asset of solar farms remains highly unutilized. This thesis presents novel technologies for utilization of PV solar farm inverter in nighttime for providing multiple benefits to power systems, as well as accomplishing the same objectives during the daytime from the inverter capacity left after production of real power. The new technology transforms a solar farm inverter functionally into a dynamic reactive power compensator known as STATCOM, and termed PV-STATCOM. A novel coordinated control of PV-STATCOMs is proposed for loss reduction in a distribution network. The saved energy is substantial and can be used for powering several homes annually. The second novel PV-STATCOM control involves a temporary curtailment of real power production and utilization of the available reactive power capacity to prevent the instability of a critical induction motor load. The third novel PVSTATCOM control is employed to significantly enhance the power transfer limit of a long transmission line both in the nighttime and also during daytime even when the solar farm is producing a large amount of real power. A new technique for short circuit current management is developed for a conventional PV solar farm that can potentially solve the problem due to which several solar farms have been denied connectivity in Ontario. This thesis has contributed to two patent applications and presented first time implementations of another two filed patents. A generalized PV solar system model in EMTDC/PSCAD software has been developed and validated with manufacturer\u27s datasheet. Another contribution of this thesis is the first time harmonics impact study of the largest solar farm in Canada, in the distribution utility network of Bluewater Power, in Sarnia, Ontario. This thesis makes a strong case for relaxing the present grid codes to allow solar farms to exercise these novel controls. This technology can open up new avenues for solar farms to earn revenues apart from the sale of real power. This will require appropriate agreements between the regulators, network utilities, solar farm developers and inverter manufacturers

Smart grid analysis with particular references to power quality and load forecast

The electricity industry was designed more than 50 years ago when the load and generation was less, now we are in the information age with a digital society where the demand is very high, this has forced the electricity infrastructure to its limits which was not designed for, in addition, the electricity demand continues to grow. So the focus of the question becomes what we need to do from technology prospective to meet that growing demand for electricity, and do it in a way that we don't create a greater carbon footprint. Smart grid is the next generation of the electricity infrastructure based on the optimisation of the current system in all levels. Since the current system is facing various problems from increasing disturbances, system is operating on the limit, aging equipments, load change etc. therefore an improvement is essential to minimize these problems. To enhance the current system and resolve the issues that it's facing, Smart grid must have the right tools to solve it and reduce it. First of all, this thesis gives a brief concept of smart grid and summarizes many issues about smart grid, such as strategy planning, drivers for develop the Smart Grid, key characteristics, technologies of the Smart Grid, benefits in implementing Smart Grid, key Challenges, implementation sequence. And then this thesis discusses smart metering system and its standards. Secondly, this thesis reports on development of a new approach to deal with power quality problem. Wavelet Transform (WT) is used for the new approach. Complex Morlet Wavelet (CMW) is selected for the new approach introduced in this thesis. The proposed algorithm is able to identify all harmonic components including integer, non-integer and sub-harmonics. Comparing with DFT, the proposed algorithm achieves exact estimation of the harmonic frequency. Thirdly, reports on the development of a WT-based dynamic waveform reconstruction algorithm which is able to identify amplitude variations of harmonic components of the distorted waveform in the examined period. At last, this thesis reports a new Wavelet-GA-ANN based hybrid model for accurate prediction of short-term load forecast. Finally, the conclusions and future work will be given

Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Microgrid in Island and Grid Connected Modes with a Fuel Cell Power Source

The ability to connect a microgrid to the grid is an important step in the development and evolution of the modern power system. The principle objectives of this research are (1) to simulate a simple microgrid consisting of a PEM hydrogen fuel cell, load and connection to the grid and (2) to evaluate the resulting microgrid control system on a corresponding experimental microgrid. The microgrid simulation demonstrated that the control algorithms can operate the microgrid in both islanded (VSC with voltage and frequency regulation) and grid connected (VSC with current control for power transfer). The experimental laboratory microgrid was constructed and operated in real-time performing its black start and managed transitions between island and grid connected modes of operation. The synchronization method adjusted the island microgrid to become in phase with the grid and tracked well under steady state and load changing conditions. The synchronization process brought the island in phase with the grid within 400 ms. Passive island detection was demonstrated with the restoration to grid operation. The grid connected voltage and current THD were under 1%