Experimental Test bed to De-Risk the Navy Advanced Development Model

This paper presents a reduced scale demonstration test-bed at the University of Texas’ Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) which is well equipped to support the development and assessment of the anticipated Navy Advanced Development Model (ADM). The subscale ADM test bed builds on collaborative power management experiments conducted as part of the Swampworks Program under the US/UK Project Arrangement as well as non-military applications. The system includes the required variety of sources, loads, and controllers as well as an Opal-RT digital simulator. The test bed architecture is described and the range of investigations that can be carried out on it is highlighted; results of preliminary system simulations and some initial tests are also provided. Subscale ADM experiments conducted on the UT-CEM microgrid can be an important step in the realization of a full-voltage, full-power ADM three-zone demonstrator, providing a test-bed for components, subsystems, controls, and the overall performance of the Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) ship architecture.Center for Electromechanic

Three-phase grid-forming droop control for unbalanced systems and fault ride through

In this work, we investigate grid-forming (GFM) control for dc/ac voltage source converters (VSC) under unbalanced system conditions and unbalanced faults. To fully leverage the degrees of freedom of VSCs, we introduce the concept of generalized three-phase GFM control that combines individual GFM controls for every phase with a phase balancing feedback. The proposed control allows trading off voltage and power unbalance under unbalanced conditions, enables current limiting for each phase during unbalanced faults, and reduces to positive sequence GFM droop control in balanced systems. High-fidelity simulations are used to illustrate the properties of the control

Study of a current limitation strategy for grid-forming inverters in case of short-circuit faults

The use of renewable energies and their participation in the electricity market has been increasing in recent years with the aim of achieving a future where 100% of the generation comes from renewable sources. In this new scenario, in which most of the synchronous generators with high inertias will no longer participate, the main reference of the network will have to be formed in an alternative and robust way. Given that renewable energy generation and storage systems require power converters to adapt to an AC grid, they already now shall have power distribution control algorithms based on the network voltage and frequency. On the other hand, a power converter can behave and be modeled as a controlled voltage source or controlled current source according to the variable that is been regulated. In the absence of synchronous generators in the future, the formation and responsibility of a stable grid must be distributed among different converters working as voltage controlled sources with power distribution algorithms. When a converter works as a controlled voltage source, it presents a new challenge in the field of the corresponding control algorithm when facing a fault scenario at the grid side. In the event of a short circuit, the output current of the inverter must be saturated to prevent possible damage of the inverter. This limitation can have consequences for the upper control loops if they are not consistently adapted. This master thesis presents a new control strategy for dealing with short-circuit scenarios by saturating the amplitude of the reference voltage from the droop power distribution loop. In this way, possible windup effects are avoided, which would cause the instability of the system.El uso de las energias renovables y su participación en el mercado eléctrico viene en aumento durante los últimos años con el objetivo de alcanzar un futuro donde el 100% de la generación provenga de fuentes renovables. En este nuevo escenario, en el cual los generadores síncronos con grandes inercias dejarán de participar en gran medida, la red principal de referencia deberá formarse de una manera alternativa y rebusta. Teniendo en cuenta que los sistemas de generación renovables y almacenamiento de enegia eléctrica requieren de convertidores de potencia para adaptarse a una red AC, estos en la actualidad ya deben contar con algoritmos de control de distribución de potencia en función de la tensión y frecuencia de la red. Por otro lado, un convertidor de potencia puede comportarse y modelarse como una fuente de tensión controlada o fuente de corriente controlada según la variable a monitorizar. En un futuro ausente de generadores síncronos, la formación y responsabilidad de una red estable debe estar distribuida entre los distintos convertidores trabajando como fuente de tensión controlada con algoritmos de distribución de potencia. Cuando un convertidor trabaja como fuente de tensión controlada presenta un nuevo reto en el ámbito del correspondiente algoritmo de control frente a un escenario de falta en el lado de la red. En caso de cortocircuito, la corriente de salida del convertidor debe saturarse para evitar posibles daños de este. Esta limitación, puede tener consecuencias en los lazos de control superiores si estos no son adaptados de forma coherente. Este trabajo presenta una nueva estrategia de control para abordar escenarios de cortocircito mediante la saturación de la amplitud de la tensión de referencia proviniente del lazo de repartición de potencias "droop". De esta forma, se evitan posibles efectos de "windup", los cuales causarian la inestabilidad del sistema.L'ús de les energies renovables i la seva participació en el mercat elèctric ve en augment durant els darrers anys amb l'objectiu d'assolir un futur on el 100% de la generació provingui de fonts renovables. En aquest nou escenari, en el qual els generadors síncrons amb grans inèrcies deixaran de participar-hi en gran mesura, la xarxa principal de referència haurà de formar-se d'una manera alternativa i robusta. Tenint en compte que els sistemes de generació renovables i emmagatzemament d'energia elèctrica requereixen de convertidors de potència per a adaptar-se a una xarxa AC, aquests en la actualitat ja han de comptar amb algoritmes de control de distribució de potència en funció de la tensió i freqüència de la xarxa. Per altra banda, un convertidor de potència pot comportarse i modelarse segons una font de tensió controlada o font de corrent controlada segons la variable a monitoritzar. En un futur absent de generadors síncrons, la formació i responsabilitat d'una xarxa estable ha d'estar distribuida entre diferents convertidors treballant com a font de tensió controlada amb algoritmes de distribució de potència. Quan un convertidor treballa com a font de tensió controlada presenta un nou repte en l'àmbit del corresponent algoritme de control davant un escenari de falta al costat de la xarxa. En cas de curtcircuit, la corrent de sortida del convertidor s'ha de saturar per a evitar possibles danys d'aquest. Aquesta limitació, pot tenir conseqüènices ens els llaços de control superiors si aquests no són adaptats coherentment. Aquest treball presenta una nova estrategia de control per a afrontar escenaris de curtcircuit mitjançant la saturació de l'amplitud de la tensió de referència provinent del llaç de repartició de potència "droop". D'aquesta forma, s'eviten possibles efectes de "windup", els quals causarien la inestabilitat del sistema

Ion Thruster Development at NASA Lewis Research Center

Recent ion propulsion technology efforts at NASA's Lewis Research Center including development of kW-class xenon ion thrusters, high power xenon and krypton ion thrusters, and power processors are reviewed. Thruster physical characteristics, performance data, life projections, and power processor component technology are summarized. The ion propulsion technology program is structured to address a broad set of mission applications from satellite stationkeeping and repositioning to primary propulsion using solar or nuclear power systems

System strength shortfall challenges for renewable energy-based power systems: A review

Renewable energy sources such as wind farms and solar power plants are replacing conventional coal-based synchronous generators (SGs) to achieve net-zero carbon emissions worldwide. SGs play an important role in enhancing system strength in a power system to make it more stable during voltage/frequency disruptions. However, traditional coal-fired SGs are being decommissioned in many parts of the world, owing to stringent environmental regulations and low levelized cost of energy of renewables. Consequently, maintaining system strength in a renewable energy-dominated power system has become a major challenge, and without adequate mitigation techniques, low system strength can potentially cause widespread power outages. This paper provides an overview of system strength and its measurement techniques in a power system with a large number of renewable energy sources (RESs), for example solar and wind farms. The review includes the system strength measurement techniques, mitigation approaches, and future challenges