MPC-Bases energy mangement system for hybrid renewable energies

Los sistemas de suministro de energía están formados por un conjunto de subsistemas que pueden interconectarse a través de la disposición de actuadores. El proceso es un sistema dinámico híbrido multivariable que presenta varios modos de configuración necesarios para el funcionamiento diario. En esta tesis se propone un sistema de gestión de energía basado en teorías de control. La principal dificultad que presentan los sistemas de suministro está en su dinámica definida por un conjunto de ecuaciones diferenciales y expresiones lógicas, además del carácter variable de la energía producida por las fuentes renovables. Con el fin de satisfacer el suministro de energía, se considera el diseño de un controlador híbrido basado en las predicciones de energía estimadas a partir de modelos físicos y mediciones. El control predictivo (MPC) es elegido como la estrategia de control, ya que es capaz de manejar las variaciones en el suministro y demanda de energía.Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y Automátic

Modeling, design and simulation of a low cost supervisory controller for Ramea hybrid power system

Conventional energy sources, such as coal and fossil oil, are considered the main source of air pollution, and it is desired to use clean energies sources such as wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal. One problem of using renewable energies is the fluctuation problem from the sources, therefore proper modeling and controlling for renewable systems is very challenging. In this research, a low order dynamic model is developed for the Ramea hybrid power system. A detailed literature review showed that a number of researchers have used a similar approach to model and control hybrid power systems. System components are modeled in MATLAB/Simulink and represented by transfer functions and nonlinear functions for simplification purpose. Five case studies are developed based on the Matlab Simulink models. The system was simulated for five case studies, and system performance as well as transient response was analyzed. The control algorithm is based on the priority of the equipment in the system and its objective is to maximize use of renewable energy. The proposed control algorithm is deployed on a microcontroller PIC18F4550, and system outputs are represented by LEDs. Some system data is displayed on a GLCD and recorded on a microSDcard. Data can also be plotted and extracted to an excel file by running a simple MATLAB code

Dynamic modeling and control strategies of organic Rankine cycle systems: Methods and challenges

Organic Rankine cycle systems are suitable technologies for utilization of low/medium-temperature heat sources, especially for small-scale systems. Waste heat from engines in the transportation sector, solar energy, and intermittent industrial waste heat are by nature transient heat sources, making it a challenging task to design and operate the organic Rankine cycle system safely and efficiently for these heat sources. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to investigate the dynamic behavior of the organic Rankine cycle system and develop suitable control strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the previous studies in the area of dynamic modeling and control of the organic Rankine cycle system. The most common dynamic modeling approaches, typical issues during dynamic simulations, and different control strategies are discussed in detail. The most suitable dynamic modeling approaches of each component, solutions to common problems, and optimal control approaches are identified. Directions for future research are provided. The review indicates that the dynamics of the organic Rankine cycle system is mainly governed by the heat exchangers. Depending on the level of accuracy and computational effort, a moving boundary approach, a finite volume method or a two-volume simplification can be used for the modeling of the heat exchangers. From the control perspective, the model predictive controllers, especially improved model predictive controllers (e.g. the multiple model predictive control, switching model predictive control, and non-linear model predictive control approach), provide excellent control performance compared to conventional control strategies (e.g. proportional–integral controller, proportional–derivative controller, and proportional–integral–derivative controllers). We recommend that future research focuses on the integrated design and optimization, especially considering the design of the heat exchangers, the dynamic response of the system and its controllability

Stratégies de gestion d’énergie pour véhicules électriques et hybride avec systèmes hybride de stockage d’énergie

Les véhicules électriques et hybrides font partie des éléments clés pour résoudre les problèmes de réchauffement de la planète et d'épuisement des ressources en combustibles fossiles dans le domaine du transporte. En raison des limites des différents systèmes de stockage et de conversion d’énergie en termes de puissance et d'énergie, les hybridations sont intéressantes pour les véhicules électriques (VE). Dans cette thèse, deux hybridations typiques sont étudiées • un sous-système de stockage d'énergie hybride combinant des batteries et des supercondensateurs (SC) ; • et un sous-système de traction hybride parallèle combinant moteur à combustion interne et entraînement électrique. Ces sources d'énergie et ces conversions combinées doivent être gérées dans le cadre de stratégies de gestion de l'énergie (SGE). Parmi celles-ci, les méthodes basées sur l'optimisation présentent un intérêt en raison de leur approche systématique et de leurs performances élevées. Néanmoins, ces méthodes sont souvent compliquées et demandent beaucoup de temps de calcul, ce qui peut être difficile à réaliser dans des applications réelles. L'objectif de cette thèse est de développer des SGE simples mais efficaces basées sur l'optimisation en temps réel pour un VE et un camion à traction hybride parallèle alimentés par des batteries et des SC (système de stockage hybride). Les complexités du système étudié sont réduites en utilisant la représentation macroscopique énergétique (REM). La REM permet de réaliser des modèles réduits pour la gestion de l'énergie au niveau de la supervision. La théorie du contrôle optimal est ensuite appliquée à ces modèles réduits pour réaliser des SGE en temps réel. Ces stratégies sont basées sur des réductions de modèle appropriées, mais elles sont systématiques et performantes. Les performances des SGE proposées sont vérifiées en simulation par comparaison avec l’optimum théorique (programmation dynamique). De plus, les capacités en temps réel des SGE développées sont validées via des expériences en « hardware-in-the-loop » à puissances réduites. Les résultats confirment les avantages des stratégies proposées développées par l'approche unifiée de la thèse.Abstract: Electric and hybrid vehicles are among the keys to solve the problems of global warming and exhausted fossil fuel resources in transportation sector. Due to the limits of energy sources and energy converters in terms of power and energy, hybridizations are of interest for future electrified vehicles. Two typical hybridizations are studied in this thesis: • hybrid energy storage subsystem combining batteries and supercapacitors (SCs); and • hybrid traction subsystem combining internal combustion engine and electric drive. Such combined energy sources and converters must be handled by energy management strategies (EMSs). In which, optimization-based methods are of interest due to their high performance. Nonetheless, these methods are often complicated and computation consuming which can be difficult to be realized in real-world applications. The objective of this thesis is to develop simple but effective real-time optimization-based EMSs for an electric car and a parallel hybrid truck supplied by batteries and SCs. The complexities of the studied system are tackled by using Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR) which helps to conduct reduced models for energy management at the supervisory level. Optimal control theory is then applied to these reduced models to accomplish real-time EMSs. These strategies are simple due to the suitable model reductions but systematic and high-performance due to the optimization-based methods. The performances of the proposed strategies are verified via simulations by comparing with off-line optimal benchmark deduced by dynamic programming. Moreover, real-time capabilities of these novel EMSs are validated via experiments by using reduced-scale power hardware-in-the-loop simulation. The results confirm the advantages of the proposed strategies developed by the unified approach in the thesis

New Control Algorithms for the Distributed Generation Interface in Grid-Connected and Micro-grid Systems

Driven by economic, technical, and environmental reasons, the energy sector is moving into an era where large portions of increases in electrical energy demand will be met through widespread installation of distributed resources or what's known as distributed generation (DG). DG units can operate in parallel to the main grid or in a micro-grid mode. The later is formed by a cluster of DG units connected to a distribution network to maintain the reliability of critical loads, mainly when the grid supply is not available. Distributed resources include variable frequency sources, high frequency sources, and direct energy conversion sources producing dc voltages or currents. The majority of distributed resources are interfaced to the utility grid or to the customer load via dc-ac pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage source inverter (VSI) systems. However, these interfaces introduce new issues, such as the absence of the physical inertia, wide-band of dynamics, limited overload capability, susceptibility to parameters variation, and switching harmonics generation. In addition, the uncertain and dynamic nature of the distribution network challenges the stability and control effectiveness of a grid-connected inverter-based DG interface. Generally, difficulties appear in the form of grid impedance and interfacing parameter variations, fast and slow grid-voltage disturbances, grid distortion and unbalance, and interactions between the inverter ac-side filter and the grid. On the other hand, a micro-grid system will be dominated by inverter-based DG units. Unlike conventional power system generators, inverter-based DG units have no physical inertia. This fact makes the micro-grid system potentially susceptible to oscillations resulting from system disturbances. Severe and random disturbances might be initiated in a micro-grid system, due to load changes, the power sharing mechanism of the inverters and other generators, and interactions between the DG interface and the network. Motivated by the aforementioned difficulties, this thesis presents new control algorithms for the DG interface that guarantee stable and high power quality injection under the occurrence of network disturbances and uncertainties, in both the grid-connected and micro-grid systems. The control architecture of the proposed DG interface relies on the following subsystems. First, a newly designed deadbeat current regulation scheme is proposed. The proposed design guarantees high power quality current injection under the presence of different disturbing parameters such as grid voltage distortion, interfacing parameter variation, and inverter system delays. Further, it utilizes the maximum dynamic performance of the inverter in a way that provides a high bandwidth and decoupled control performance for the outer control loops. Different topologies of the ac-side filter are considered for the current control design. Second, a novel adaptive discrete-time grid-voltage sensorless interfacing scheme for DG inverters is proposed. The adaptive interface relies on a new interface-monitoring unit that is developed to facilitate accurate and fast estimation of the interfacing impedance parameters and the grid voltage vector (magnitude and position) at the point of common coupling. The estimated grid voltage is utilized to realize a grid-voltage sensorless interfacing scheme, whereas the interfacing parameters are utilized for the self-tuning control and interface-parameter monitoring. Further, a simple and robust synchronization algorithm and a voltage-sensorless average power control loop are proposed to realize an adaptive voltage-sensorless DG interface. The voltage-sensorless interface positively contributes to the elimination of the residual negative sequence and voltage feed-forward compensation errors, and to the robustness of the power sharing mechanism in paralleled inverter systems, where the power-sharing mechanism is generally based on open-loop controllers. Third, a new voltage control scheme for the DG interface featuring fast load voltage regulation and effective mitigation of fast voltage disturbances is proposed. The proposed voltage control scheme targets the problem of fast and large-signal-based voltage disturbances, which is common in typical distribution feeders. A hybrid voltage controller combining a linear with a variable-structure-control element is proposed for the DG interface. Positive and dual-sequence versions of the proposed voltage controller are developed to address the issue of unbalanced voltage disturbances. The proposed voltage controller successfully embeds a wide band of frequency modes through an equivalent internal model. Subsequently, wide range of balanced and unbalanced voltage perturbations, including capacitor-switching disturbances, can be effectively mitigated. Fourth, to constrain the drift of the low frequency modes in a conventional droop-controlled micro-grid, a new transient-based droop controller with adaptive transient-gains is proposed. The proposed power-sharing controller offers an active damping feature that is designed to preserve the dynamic performance and stability of each inverter unit at different loading conditions. Unlike conventional droop controllers, the proposed droop controller yields two-degree of freedom tunable controller. Subsequently, the dynamic performance of the power-sharing mechanism can be adjusted, without affecting the static droop gain, to damp the oscillatory modes of the power-sharing controller. The overall robust DG interface facilitates a robust micro-grid operation and safe plug-and-play integration of DG units on existing distribution systems; hence increasing the system penetration of DG. The direct result of this development is huge financial saving for utilities by capturing the salient features of deploying DG into existing utility networks. Further, these developments are significant to the industry as they provide the blue print for reliable control algorithms in future DG units, which are expected to operate under challenging system conditions

POWER CONDITIONING UNIT FOR SMALL SCALE HYBRID PV-WIND GENERATION SYSTEM

Small-scale renewable energy systems are becoming increasingly popular due to soaring fuel prices and due to technological advancements which reduce the cost of manufacturing. Solar and wind energies, among other renewable energy sources, are the most available ones globally. The hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and wind power system has a higher capability to deliver continuous power with reduced energy storage requirements and therefore results in better utilization of power conversion and control equipment than either of the individual sources. Power conditioning units (p.c.u.) for such small-scale hybrid PV-wind generation systems have been proposed in this study. The system was connected to the grid, but it could also operate in standalone mode if the grid was unavailable. The system contains a local controller for every energy source and the grid inverter. Besides, it contains the supervisory controller. For the wind generator side, small-scale vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are attractive due to their ability to capture wind from different directions without using a yaw. One difficulty with VAWTs is to prevent over-speeding and component over-loading at excessive wind velocities. The proposed local controller for the wind generator is based on the current and voltage measured on the dc side of the rectifier connected to the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is provided in normal operation under the rated speed using a dc/dc boost converter. For high wind velocities, the suggested local controller controls the electric power in order to operate the turbine in the stall region. This high wind velocity control strategy attenuates the stress in the system while it smoothes the power generated. It is shown that the controller is able to stabilize the nonlinear system using an adaptive current feedback loop. Simulation and experimental results are presented. The PV generator side controller is designed to work in systems with multiple energy sources, such as those studied in this thesis. One of the most widely used methods to maximize the output PV power is the hill climbing technique. This study gives guidelines for designing both the perturbation magnitude and the time interval between consecutive perturbations for such a technique. These guidelines would improve the maximum power point tracking efficiency. According to these guidelines, a variable step MPPT algorithm with reduced power mode is designed and applied to the system. The algorithm is validated by simulation and experimental results. A single phase H-bridge inverter is proposed to supply the load and to connect the grid. Generally, a current controller injects active power with a controlled power factor and constant dc link voltage in the grid connected mode. However, in the standalone mode, it injects active power with constant ac output voltage and a power factor which depends on the load. The current controller for both modes is based on a newly developed peak current control (p.c.c.) with selective harmonic elimination. A design procedure has been proposed for the controller. Then, the method was demonstrated by simulation. The problem of the dc current injection to the grid has been investigated for such inverters. The causes of dc current injection are analyzed, and a measurement circuit is then proposed to control the inverter for dc current injection elimination. Characteristics of the proposed method are demonstrated, using simulation and experimental results. At the final stage of the study, a supervisory controller is demonstrated, which manages the different operating states of the system during starting, grid-connected and standalone modes. The operating states, designed for every mode, have been defined in such a hybrid model to allow stability and smooth transition between these states. The supervisory controller switches the system between the different modes and states according to the availability of the utility grid, renewable energy generators, the state of charge (SOC) of energy storage batteries, and the load. The p.c.u. including the supervisory controller has been verified in the different modes and states by simulation

Control of Energy Storage

Energy storage can provide numerous beneficial services and cost savings within the electricity grid, especially when facing future challenges like renewable and electric vehicle (EV) integration. Public bodies, private companies and individuals are deploying storage facilities for several purposes, including arbitrage, grid support, renewable generation, and demand-side management. Storage deployment can therefore yield benefits like reduced frequency fluctuation, better asset utilisation and more predictable power profiles. Such uses of energy storage can reduce the cost of energy, reduce the strain on the grid, reduce the environmental impact of energy use, and prepare the network for future challenges. This Special Issue of Energies explore the latest developments in the control of energy storage in support of the wider energy network, and focus on the control of storage rather than the storage technology itself

Primary and Secondary Frequency Control Techniques for Isolated Microgrids

Isolated microgrids have been shown to be a reliable and efficient solution to provide energy to remote communities. From the primary control perspective, due to the low system inertia and fast changes in the output power of wind and solar power sources, isolated microgrids' frequency can experience large excursions and thus easily deviate from nominal operating conditions, even when there is sufficient frequency control reserves; hence, it is challenging to maintain frequency around its nominal value. From the secondary control perspective, the generation scheduling of dispatchable units obtained from a conventional Unit Commitment (UC) are considered fixed between two dispatch time intervals, yielding a staircase generation pro file over the UC time horizon; given the high variability of renewable generation output power, committed units participating in frequency regulation would not remain fixed between two time intervals. The present work proposes techniques to address these issues in primary and secondary frequency control in isolated microgrids with high penetration of renewable generation. In this thesis, first, a new frequency control mechanism is developed which makes use of the load sensitivity to operating voltage and can be easily adopted for various types of isolated microgrids. The proposed controller offers various advantages, such as allowing the integration of significant levels of intermittent renewable resources in isolated/islanded microgrids without the need for large energy storage systems, providing fast and smooth frequency regulation with no steady-state error, regardless of the generator control mechanism. The controller requires no extra communication infrastructure and only local voltage and frequency is used as feedback. The performance of the controller is evaluated and validated using PSCAD/EMTDC on a modified version of the CIGRE benchmark; also, small-perturbation stability analysis is carried out to demonstrate the contribution of the proposed controller to system damping. In the second stage of the thesis, a mathematical model of frequency control in isolated microgrids is proposed and integrated into the UC problem. The proposed formulation considers the impact of the frequency control mechanism on the changes in the generation output using a linear model. Based on this model, a novel UC model is developed which yields a more cost e efficient solution for isolated microgrids. The proposed UC is formulated based on a day-ahead scheduling horizon with Model Predictive Control (MPC) approach. To test and validate the proposed UC, the realistic test system used in the first part of the thesis is utilized. The results demonstrate that the proposed UC would reduce the operational costs of isolated microgrids compared to conventional UC methods, at similar complexity levels and computational costs