Enhancement of fault current contribution from inverter-based resources

The reduction in levels of fault current infeed as inverter-based resources (IBR) displace synchronous machines undermines the ability of a conventional protection system to identify and isolate faults in an effective manner and is therefore a concern for system operators (SOs). This observation provided the motivation to investigate the limitations of IBRs when injecting fault current and to explore how these limitations might be overcome. This thesis investigates techniques aimed at significantly increasing Fault Current Contribution (FCC) from an IBR system so that renewable energy resources can continue to be deployed without compromising the protection system. The techniques for enhancing FCC are at three different levels of an IBR system: at semiconductor or device level, circuit level and system level. The first study uses phase change materials (PCM) to provide a short-term overload rating to insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and found them to have very limited potential to provide FCC. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of heat-flow concluded that, although the PCM was useful for dealing with short over-load currents, it was unsuitable for facilitating large fault currents of several times normal load current. The view was that if the fault current cannot be created at device level through better thermal management, then a circuit level innovation would be required. The second study investigates series/parallel switching of submodules in modular converters. This takes advantage of the fact that during a fault, the line voltage is reduced, and if it falls below 0.5 pu then half of the sub-modules (SMs) can be put into parallel with the other half to double the FCC (2 pu) at half the voltage (0.5 pu). Similarly, if the voltage drops below 0.25 pu, parallel connection of four groups of SMs would enable 4 pu current capability. A model of a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) was developed, inspired by the alternate arm converter (AAC), with the director switch of the AAC used as part of the reconfiguration circuit. The conclusion of this study was that the penalty paid in power losses in the additional semiconductor devices used for reconfiguration is reasonable for the 2 pu FCC case but not at the 4 pu FCC case. The third study was based on circuit reconfiguration but beyond the converter itself and in this case the windings of the coupling transformer of a STATCOM. Sections of winding were switched using thyristors to tap-change the transformer by a large factor. Using the proposed thyristor-based electronic tap-changer (eTC), the number of turns of the grid-side winding was reduced during a voltage dip, so that larger current can be delivered to the network for the same converter current. The STATCOM was controlled in the natural frame (abc frame) and this control is used to actively drive the currents in the tap-changer thyristors to zero when needed so that they can be commuted rapidly. The transformer was configured to give a normal ratio of 1:4 and be able to tap-down to 1:2 and 1:1 to increase FCC to 2 pu or 4 pu. Theoretical analysis of, and operating principles for, the proposed eTC, together with their associated control schemes, are verified by time-domain simulation at full-scale. The case-study circuit demonstrates delivery of substantial fault current contribution (FCC) of up to 4 pu at the point of common coupling (PCC) in less than half a cycle (10 ms) after detection of three- and single-phase faults. The results demonstrate that the proposed eTC is a good candidate for the enhancement of fault current from IBR systems that employ coupling transformers, allowing them thereby to make a contribution to future electricity networks dominated by IBR.Open Acces

Hv shunt reactors: an overall comparative analysis between dry-type air core and oil-immersed iron core technologies

Shunt reactors in high-voltage and extra high-voltage, have historically been manufactured using oil-immersed iron core technology, mainly due to issues related to the insulation of the reactor windings. However, with the improvement of the insulating films as well as on the manufacturing techniques, it has been possible the manufacturing of these equipment using dry-type air core technology, which has demonstrated to be efficient, environmentally friendly and, in many cases, with lower costs in short, medium and long-term basis. It is required therefore, the study of which are the changes when it is adopted this air core technology, which has been the more and more accepted on worldwide market. The main aspects regarding the application of these equipment are disclosed, stablishing a parallel between both technologies, with regards to the construction aspects, the viability of replacement (which are the cases at which they are or not indicated), the losses comparison, all the precautions and remarks in terms of magnetic field, the protection and the transients aspects (including a study case of two identical equipment in both technologies, with calculations and simulations of transient frequency and voltage, TRV and RRRV, as well as a percentage comparative analysis between the calculated and simulated results). These comparisons, aim to contribute with technical community and the global trend in adopting dry-type technology, highlighting the main differences and particularities to be considered when replacing traditional type.Reatores em derivação em alta e extra alta tensão, historicamente sempre foram fabricados em tecnologia com núcleo de ferro imersos em óleo, devido prioritariamente a questões relacionadas ao isolamento dos enrolamentos. Contudo, com o avanço dos materiais isolantes e de técnicas de fabricação, tem sido possível a fabricação destes equipamentos utilizando tecnologia com núcleo de ar, a qual tem se demonstrado eficiente, ambientalmente amigável e, em muitos casos, com menores custos de curto, médio e longo prazo. Fazendo-se necessário portanto, o estudo de quais as implicações quando se opta por esta tecnologia, que tem sido cada vez mais aceita no mercado mundial. São abordados os principais aspectos da aplicação destes equipamentos, estabelecendo um paralelo entre ambas tecnologias, no que tange os aspectos construtivos, a viabilidade de substituição (quais os casos em que ela é ou não indicada), comparativo de perdas, aspectos de proteção, todas as precauções e observações em termos de campo magnético, aspectos transitórios (incluindo estudo de caso de dois equipamentos idênticos nas duas tecnologias, com cálculos e simulações das frequências e tensões transitórias, TRT e TCTRT, bem como um comparativo percentual entre os resultados calculados e simulados). Tais comparações visam auxiliar a comunidade técnica, de modo a contribuir com a tendência global em adotar a tecnologia do tipo seco, enfatizando as principais diferenças e particularidades a serem consideradas quando da substituição da tecnologia tradicional

A preliminary systems-engineering study of an advanced nuclear-electrolytic hydrogen-production facility

An advanced nuclear-electrolytic hydrogen-production facility concept was synthesized at a conceptual level with the objective of minimizing estimated hydrogen-production costs. The concept is a closely-integrated, fully-dedicated (only hydrogen energy is produced) system whose components and subsystems are predicted on ''1985 technology.'' The principal components are: (1) a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) operating a helium-Brayton/ammonia-Rankine binary cycle with a helium reactor-core exit temperature of 980 C, (2) acyclic d-c generators, (3) high-pressure, high-current-density electrolyzers based on solid-polymer electrolyte technology. Based on an assumed 3,000 MWt HTGR the facility is capable of producing 8.7 million std cu m/day of hydrogen at pipeline conditions, 6,900 kPa. Coproduct oxygen is also available at pipeline conditions at one-half this volume. It has further been shown that the incorporation of advanced technology provides an overall efficiency of about 43 percent, as compared with 25 percent for a contemporary nuclear-electric plant powering close-coupled contemporary industrial electrolyzers

Grid Forming Wind Power Plants: Black start operation for HVAC grids and Diode Rectifier-based Wind Power Plant integration

Tesis por compendio[ES] La Unión Europea plantea una serie de retos en el GREEN DEAL para conseguir un escenario donde sus miembros sean climáticamente neutros en 2050. Para ello se plantean unas acciones entre las que destaca la descarbonización del sector de la energía. Por otra parte, se ha puesto como objetivo conseguir una capacidad de energía eólica de 1200 GW en 2050, desde los 190 GW que se tenía en 2019. El cierre de centrales eléctricas basadas en grandes generadores síncronos junto con el aumento en la construcción de centrales eléctricas con fuentes basadas en electrónica de potencia como parques eólicos o plantas fotovoltaicas, hace necesario la incorporación de controladores grid forming en energías renovables basadas en electrónica de potencia. La integración de estrategias de control grid forming en turbinas eólicas debe considerar las funciones de reparto de potencia activa y reactiva (control droop en generadores síncronos), así como un sistema de protección ante faltas que permita una recuperación rápida cuando se despeja la falta. Por otra parte, en la transición de los actuales parques eólicos grid following que funcionan como fuentes de corriente a parques eólicos grid forming que funcionan como fuentes de tensión se debe considerar que ambas tecnologías van a coexistir conjuntamente por mucho tiempo. Por tanto, se hace necesario el estudio de estabilidad de parques eólicos con ambas tecnologías, así como el estudio de cuanta generación grid forming es necesaria para mantener el parque eólico estable en cualquier situación. Además, el uso de parques eólicos grid foming permite diferentes aplicaciones como la energización de redes eléctricas después de un apagón desde estos parques eólicos, o el uso de diodos rectificadores en enlaces HVDC para la conexión de parques eólicos marinos. Para facilitar el estudio y diseño de aerogeneradores grid forming, en la presente tesis se propone una técnica de agregación de aerogeneradores tipo-4. Esta técnica permite reducir la complejidad del parque eólico para su estudio y análisis. Esta tesis incluye las siguientes contribuciones: Para el funcionamiento de aerogeneradores grid forming en paralelo con aerogeneradores grid following se propone un método de diseño analizando la estabilidad del sistema completo. Además, se propone una estrategia de control ante faltas para asegurar una recuperación rápida y segura. Se propone el uso de técnicas de control H∞ para la sintonización de controladores grid forming. El uso de estas técnicas para el diseño de controladores puede mejorar la robustez de los controladores, así como el rendimiento de estos. Considerando la aplicación de la energización de redes HVAC desde parques eólicos, se ha propuesto como llevar a cabo dicha maniobra a partir de parque con aerogeneradores grid forming y grid following. Los resultados obtenidos validan el funcionamiento de la operación. Además, muestran que la cantidad de generación grid forming está relacionada con la dimensión de cargas que tienen que aguantar dichas turbinas más que con la estabilidad del sistema con un porcentaje bajo de generación grid forming. Finalmente, se han propuesto estrategias de protección para la integración de parque eólicos en redes malladas HVDC utilizando rectificadores de diodos. Los parques eólicos grid forming pueden ayudar a gestionar faltas disminuyendo los requisitos en las protecciones necesarias en el enlace HVDC. Esto permite una reducción del coste de la instalación, además de aumentar la robustez del sistema.[CA] La Unió Europea planteja uns reptes al GREEN DEAL per a aconseguir un escenario on els seus membres siguen climàticament neutrals al 2050. Per a aconseguir aquest objectiu es plantegen unes accions entre les quals destaca la de descarbonitzar el sector energètic. D'altra banda, s'ha posat com a objectiu aconseguir una capacitat d'energia eòlica de 1200 GW al 2050, des dels 190 GW que es tenia al 2019. El tancament de centrals elèctriques basades en grans generadors síncrons juntament amb l'augment en la construcció de centrals elèctriques basades en electrónica de potència com a parcs eòlics o plantes fotovoltaiques, fa necessari la incorporació de controladors grid forming en energies renovables que es basan en electrònica de potència. La integració d'estratègies de control grid forming per a turbines eòliques ha de considerar les funcions de repartiment de potència activa i reactiva, així com un sistema de protecció davant faltes que permeta una recuperació ràpida quan s'aïlla la falta. D'altra banda, en la transició dels actuals parcs eòlics grid following que funcionen com a fonts de corrent a parcs eòlics grid forming que funcionen com a fonts de tensió, s'ha de considerar que totes dues tecnologies coexistiran conjuntament per molt de temps. Per tant, es fa necessari l'estudi d'estabilitat d'un parc eòlic amb totes dues tecnologies, així com l'estudi del percentatge de generació grid forming necessari per a mantindre el parc eòlic estable en qualsevol situació. A més, l'ús de parcs eòlics grid foming permet diferents aplicacions com l'energització de xarxes elèctriques després d'una apagada des d'aquests parcs eòlics, o l'ús de díodes rectificadors en enllaços HVDC per a la connexió de parcs eòlics marins. Per a facilitar l'estudi i disseny d'aerogeneradors grid forming, en la present tesi es proposa una tècnica d'agregació d'aerogeneradors tipus-4. Aquesta técnica permet reduir la complexitat del parc eòlic per al seu estudi i anàlisi. La present tesi inclou les següents contribucions: Per al funcionament d'aerogeneradors grid forming en paral¿lel amb aerogeneradors grid following es proposa un mètode de disseny analitzant l'estabilitat del sistema complet. A més, es proposa una estratègia de control davant faltes per a assegurar una recuperació ràpida i segura. Es proposa l'ús de tècniques de control H∞ per a la sintonització de controladors grid forming. L'ús d'aquestes tècniques per al disseny de controladors pot millorar la robustesa dels controladors, a mé del rendiment d'aquestos. Considerant l'aplicació de l'energització de xarxes HVAC des de parcs eòlics, s'ha proposat com dur a terme aquesta maniobra a partir d'un parc eòlic amb aerogeneradors grid forming i grid following. Els resultats obtinguts validen el funcionament de l'operació. A més, mostren que la quantitat de generació grid forming està més relacionada amb la dimensió de les càrregues que ha d'aguantar el parc eòlic, que amb l'estabilitat del sistema que permet un menr percentatge de generació grid forming. Finalment, s'han proposat estratègies de protecció per a la integració de parcs eòlics marins en xarxes multi-punt HVDC utilitzant rectificadors de díodes. Els parcs eòlics grid forming poden ajudar a gestionar faltes disminuint els requisits de les proteccions necessàries en l'enllaç HVDC. Això permet una reducció del cost de la instal¿lació, a més d'augmentar la robustesa del sistema.[EN] The European Union GREEN DEAL aims to make its 27 members climate-neutral by 2050. The decarbonization of the energy sector stands out as one of the proposed actions. To achieve that goal, the target for wind power generation is set at 1,200 GW in 2050, from the 190 GW that was had in 2019. The closure of power plants based on large synchronous generators and the increase of power electronics based generation such as Wind Power Plants (WPPs) or photovoltaic plants, leads to the use of grid forming controllers for power electronics based renewable energy. Grid forming control strategies for wind turbines generators (WTGs) must consider active and reactive power sharing control (droop control in synchronous generators) as well as a protection system that allows a quick recovery after fault clearance. Moreover, a transition from the conventional grid following WPPs to new grid forming WPPs is required. The transition must consider the parallel operation of both technologies for a long time. Thus, it is necessary to study the stability of Wind Power Plants with both technologies, as well as the study of how much grid forming generation is required to keep a mixed grid forming and grid following WPP stable in any situation. In addition, the use of grid forming WPPs allows different applications such as the energization of HVAC and HVDC grids after a blackout from these WPPs, or the use of diode rectifiers in HVDC links for the off-shore WPPs connection. An aggregation technique for type-4 WTGs has been proposed in this thesis in order to facilitate the study and design of grid forming WPPs. The aggregation technique allows to reduce the WPP complexity for its study and analysis. The main contributions of this theses are: A design methodology has been proposed for the parallel operation of grid forming and grid following WTGs. Including the stability analysis of the complete system. Additionally, a fault control strategy is proposed to ensure a fast and safe recovery. The use of H∞ control techniques is also proposed for grid forming controller tuning. Using H∞ control techniques for controller design may improve the robustness of the controllers as well as the performance of the controllers. A procedure to carry out black start operation of HVAC grid from mixed grid forming and grid following WPPs has been proposed. The obtained results validate that the procedure works as expected. Moreover, the results show that the amount of grid-forming generation usually is determined by the load size steps as stability limits are usually less stringent. Finally, protection strategies have been proposed for the integration of off-shore WWPs in multi-terminal HVDC grids using diode rectifiers. Grid forming WPPs are able to help managing faults. Their use allow lower requirements of the HVDC protection equipment, leading to overall cost reduction and an increment of the system robustness.Martínez Turégano, J. (2022). Grid Forming Wind Power Plants: Black start operation for HVAC grids and Diode Rectifier-based Wind Power Plant integration [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/181529TESISCompendi

Economic Assessment of Fault Current Limitation and Power Flow Control Techniques in Subtransmission Networks

Tärkeintä nykyaikaisessa sähköverkossa on taata asiakkaille keskeytymätön ja korkealaatuinen sähkönjakelu. Nyky-yhteiskunnassa sähköllä on merkittävä rooli kulutushyödykkeenä ja sähkön jakeluongelmat voivat aiheuttaa taloudellisia tappioita mille talouden osa-alueelle tahansa ja millä maantieteellisellä alueella tahansa. Tässä diplomityössä luotettavuustutkimus suoritettiin kuvitteellisessa koeverkossa hyödyntämällä useita tekniikoita, joiden avulla kontrolloitiin vikavirtaa ja tehonhallintaa 110 kV silmukkaverkoissa. Lisäksi tässä tutkimuksessa testattiin perinteisiä sekä nykyaikaisempia vaihtoehtoja, joita sovellettiin tapauksiin, missä maakaapelit ja ilmajohdot on asennettu rinnakkaisiin piireihin toiminnan optimoimiseksi. Taloudellinen tarkastelu on tehty siitä näkökulmasta, että löydettäisiin kustannustehokkain ja luotettavin ratkaisu, jossa on otettu huomioon kuorman kasvuennuste 40 vuoden aikavälillä. Vikavirta-analyysi- sekä tehonhallinta simulointeja on toteutettu, jotta voitaisiin taata tehokkuus ja toiminnallinen toteutuskelpoisuus muuttuvissa olosuhteissa valittujen toimintatapojen ja teknisten ratkaisujen puitteissa. On syytä huomata, että simuloinnit ja luotettavuustarkastelu suoritettiin yksinkertaisessa neljän sähköaseman verkossa. Tätä yksinkertaistettua mallia voidaan kuitenkin ilman suuria muutoksia soveltaa kaikille 110-kV taajamien jakeluverkoille.Supplying uninterrupted and high quality electric power to the customer is a priority in the current power systems. Electricity, as a commodity, represents the motive force of modern society and its deprivation causes costly losses for essential parts of the economy in any region. This thesis performs a reliability study on a fictional test network, employing several techniques to control fault current and power flow in meshed 110-kV subtransmission systems. More specifically, this work tests traditional and recent alternatives applied to cases in which underground cables (UGC) and overhead lines (OHL) are installed in parallel circuits for optimized performance. Economic assessment is handled in order to provide the most inexpensive and reliable solutions, accrediting load growth prediction for a review time of 40 years. Moreover, fault analysis and power flow simulations are implemented to confirm efficacy and operational viability under contingency conditions of the chosen techniques and technologies. It is imperative to realize that the simulations and reliability studies were conducted in a simple 4-bar network. However, this simplified model can be adapted to any 110-kV urban subtransmission network without major alterations

Extended performance electric propulsion power processor design study. Volume 2: Technical summary

Electric propulsion power processor technology has processed during the past decade to the point that it is considered ready for application. Several power processor design concepts were evaluated and compared. Emphasis was placed on a 30 cm ion thruster power processor with a beam power rating supply of 2.2KW to 10KW for the main propulsion power stage. Extension in power processor performance were defined and were designed in sufficient detail to determine efficiency, component weight, part count, reliability and thermal control. A detail design was performed on a microprocessor as the thyristor power processor controller. A reliability analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of the control electronics redesign. Preliminary electrical design, mechanical design and thermal analysis were performed on a 6KW power transformer for the beam supply. Bi-Mod mechanical, structural and thermal control configurations were evaluated for the power processor and preliminary estimates of mechanical weight were determined