Non-PLL Direct Power Control for a Single-Phase Grid-Connected Three-Level Inverter

The growing demand for clean, reliable renewable energy generation has led to the widespread adoption of solar energy as a source of electricity. Technological advancement aiding to reduce the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as improvement in power electronics and control strategies for solar PV systems have also contributed to the growing popularity. For grid-connected solar systems to adequately meet future demand and grid requirements, the system must be reliable, and not affected by instability or distortions on the power grid. In this thesis, a control strategy for single-phase grid-connected inverters that can synchronize to the grid without a phase lock loop (PLL) is proposed. The PLL is an important device that is relied on for the synchronization of solar PV systems to the electrical grid. However, the PLL has an inherently complex design and its performance is often negatively affected if the grid voltage has poor quality. In addition, eliminating the use of PLL for synchronization can avoid the issue of slow dynamic response, higher harmonics, and increased computation complexity. The real and reactive power of the single-phase, three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter is controlled by using a direct power control (DPC) strategy. A novel method of computing the power components of the single-phase inverter is proposed and this technique further improves the precision of the power components calculated by compensating the frequency and phase deviation compensation. Finally, simulations are carried out by using MATLAB/Simulink to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology

Modulation and Control Techniques for Performance Improvement of Micro Grid Tie Inverters

The concept of microgrids is a new building block of smart grid that acts as a single controllable entity which allows reliable interconnection of distributed energy resources and loads and provides alternative way of their integration into power system. Due to its specifics, microgrids require different control strategies and dynamics of regulation as compared to ones used in conventional utility grids. All types of power converters used in microgrid share commonalities which potentially affect high frequency modes of microgrid in same manner. There are numerous unique design requirements imposed on microgrid tie inverters, which are dictated by the nature of the microgrid system and bring major challenges that are reviewed and further analyzed in this work. This work introduces, performs a detailed study on, and implements nonconventional control and modulation techniques leading to performance improvement of microgrid tie inverters in respect to aforementioned challenges

Harmonics Mitigation and Non-Ideal Voltage Compensation Utilizing Active Power Filter Based On Predictive Current Control

It is well-known that the presence of non-linear loads in the distribution system can impair the power quality. The problem becomes worse in microgrids and power electronic-based power systems as the increasing penetration of single-phase distributed generation may result in a more unbalanced grid voltage. Shunt active power filters (SAPFs) are used for improving the power quality and compensating for the unbalance grid voltage. This study presents a modification of the classical control structure based on the finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC). The proposed control structure can retain all the advantages of FCS-MPC, while improving the input current quality. Furthermore, a computationally efficient cost function based on only a single objective is introduced, and its effect on reducing the current ripple is demonstrated. The presented solution provides a fast response to the transients as well as compensates for the unbalanced grid voltage conditions. A straightforward single loop controller is compared to the conventional way of realising the active power filters, which is based on space vector pulse width modulation. The simulation results have been obtained from MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, while the obtained experimental results, utilising a 15 kVA power converter, highlight the effective performance of the proposed control scheme and verifies the introduced MPC-based method as a viable control solution for SAPFs

Active current sharing control schemes for parallel connected AC/DC/AC converters

PhD ThesisThe parallel operation of voltage fed converters can be used in many applications, such as aircraft, aerospace, and wind turbines, to increase the current handling capability, system efficiency, flexibility, and reliability through providing redundancy. Also, the maintenance of low power parallel connected units is lower than one high power unit. Significant performance improvement can be attained with parallel converters employing interleaving techniques where small passive components can be used due to harmonic cancellation. In spite of the advantages offered by parallel connected converters, the circulating current problem is still a major concern. The term circulating current describes the uneven current sharing between the units. This circulating current leads to: current distortion, unbalanced operation, which possibly damages the converters, and a reduction in overall system performance. Therefore, current sharing control methods become necessary to limit the circulating current in a parallel connected converter system. The work in this thesis proposes four active current sharing control schemes for two equally rated, directly paralleled, AC/DC/AC converters. The first scheme is referred to as a “time sharing approach,” and it divides the operation time between the converters. Accordingly, in the scheme inter-module reactors become unnecessary, as these are normally employed at the output of each converter. However, this approach can only be used with a limited number of parallel connected units. To avoid this limitation, three other current sharing control schemes are proposed. Moreover, these three schemes can be adopted with any pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy and can be easily extended to three or more parallel connected units since they employ a modular architecture. The proposed current sharing control methods are employed in two applications: a current controller for three-phase RL load and an open loop V/f speed control for a three-phase induction motor. The performance of the proposed methods is verified in both transient and steady state conditions using numerical simulation and experimental testingMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq

A series-connected VSC for voltage regulation, balancing and harmonics mitigation

Word processed copy.Includes bibliographical references.Voltage sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, process controllers, programmable logic controllers, adjustable speed drives and robotic devices is increasingly used in modern industrial processes. Industrial loads thus require a supply free of voltage disturbances such as voltage dips, swells, unbalances and harmonics. The effect of these disturbances may be as bad as a complete shut down of a production line, hence giving rise to the growing interest and need, for mitigation of such power quality problems. The objective of this thesis is to design and build a mitigation device to shield loads from these problems

Razvoj 10 kW trofaznog izmjenjivača spojenoga na mrežu

In this paper, modeling, simulation and experimental study of a 10 kW three-phase grid connected inverter are presented. The mathematical model of the system is derived, and characteristic curves of the system are obtained in MATLAB with m-file for various switching frequencies, dc-link voltages and filter inductance values. The curves are used for parameter selection of three-phase grid connected inverter design. The parameters of the system are selected from these curves, and the system is simulated in Simulink. Modeling and simulation results are verified with experimental results at 10 kW for steady state response, at 5 kW for dynamic response and at -3.6 kVAr for reactive power. The inverter is controlled with Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation technique in d-q reference frame, and dSPACE DS1103 controller board is used in the experimental study. Grid current total harmonic distortion value and efficiency are measured 3.59% and 97.6%, respectively.U ovom radu prikazano je modeliranje, simuliranje i eksperimentalno istraživanje 10 kW trofaznog izmjenjivača spojenoga na mrežu. Izveden je matematički model te su u MATLAB-u uz korištenje m-skripti dobivene karakteristične krivulje sustava za različite preklopne frekvencije, napone dc-linka i vrijednosti induktiviteta filtra. Krivulje su korištene za odabir parametara dizajna trofaznog izmjenjivača spojenoga na mrežu. Parametri sustava su odabrani iz krivulja, a sustav je simuliran u Simulinku. Rezultati modeliranja i simuliranja eksperimentalno su verificirani na 10 kW odziva u stacionarnom stanju, 5 kW donamičkog odziva i -3.6 kVAr reaktivne snage. U eksperimentalnom istraživanju izmjenjivač je upravljan tehnikom prostorno vektorske širinsko-impulsne modulacije u d-q referentnom sustavu te je korištena dSPACE DS1103 upravljačka pločica. Ukupna harmonička distorzija mrežne struje i efikasnost su 3.59% i 97.6%

Time-Delay Switch Attack on Networked Control Systems, Effects and Countermeasures

In recent years, the security of networked control systems (NCSs) has been an important challenge for many researchers. Although the security schemes for networked control systems have advanced in the past several years, there have been many acknowledged cyber attacks. As a result, this dissertation proposes the use of a novel time-delay switch (TDS) attack by introducing time delays into the dynamics of NCSs. Such an attack has devastating effects on NCSs if prevention techniques and countermeasures are not considered in the design of these systems. To overcome the stability issue caused by TDS attacks, this dissertation proposes a new detector to track TDS attacks in real time. This method relies on an estimator that will estimate and track time delays introduced by a hacker. Once a detector obtains the maximum tolerable time delay of a plant’s optimal controller (for which the plant remains secure and stable), it issues an alarm signal and directs the system to its alarm state. In the alarm state, the plant operates under the control of an emergency controller that can be local or networked to the plant and remains in this stable mode until the networked control system state is restored. In another effort, this dissertation evaluates different control methods to find out which one is more stable when under a TDS attack than others. Also, a novel, simple and effective controller is proposed to thwart TDS attacks on the sensing loop (SL). The modified controller controls the system under a TDS attack. Also, the time-delay estimator will track time delays introduced by a hacker using a modified model reference-based control with an indirect supervisor and a modified least mean square (LMS) minimization technique. Furthermore, here, the demonstration proves that the cryptographic solutions are ineffective in the recovery from TDS attacks. A cryptography-free TDS recovery (CF-TDSR) communication protocol enhancement is introduced to leverage the adaptive channel redundancy techniques, along with a novel state estimator to detect and assist in the recovery of the destabilizing effects of TDS attacks. The conclusion shows how the CF-TDSR ensures the control stability of linear time invariant systems

Performance analysis of real-time PSO tuned PI controller for regulating voltage and frequency in an AC microgrid

In this study, a control strategy based on the self-tuning method and synchronous reference frame (SRF) with PI regulator is proposed to achieve optimum quality of power in an autonomous micro grid (MG). The MGS is based on multiple distributed generation (DG) connected with 120 kV power grid. The proposed system is first simulated with fixed gain values for PI controller which are not optimal for sudden changes in the system i.e. transition of MG to islanding mode, load variations. So, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been utilized for tuning of PI controller parameters which ensure flexible performance and superior quality of power. The principal parameters considered in this study are, regulation of voltage and frequency, steady-state and dynamic response and harmonic distortion, mainly when microgrid is islanded. The performance of PI and PI-PSO is compared in this study by simulating AC microgrid in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Summarized results of the system are provided to authenticate viability of proposed arrangement. The proposed controller performs intelligently while regulating voltage and frequency of the MGS and utility system.

POWER QUALITY CONTROL AND COMMON-MODE NOISE MITIGATION FOR INVERTERS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Inverters are widely utilized in electric vehicle (EV) applications as a major voltage/current source for onboard battery chargers (OBC) and motor drive systems. The inverter performance is critical to the efficiency of EV system energy conversion and electronics system electro-magnetic interference (EMI) design. However, for AC systems, the bandwidth requirement is usually low compared with DC systems, and the control impact on the inverter differential-mode (DM) and common-mode (CM) performance are not well investigated. With the wide-band gap (WBG) device era, the switching capability of power electronics devices drastically improved. The DM/CM impact that was brought by the WBG device-based inverter becomes more serious and has not been completely understood. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of on-board inverter control strategies and the corresponding DM/CM impact on the EV system. The OBC inverter control under vehicle-to-load (V2L) mode will be documented first. A virtual resistance damping method minimizes the nonlinear load harmonics, and a neutral balancing method regulates the unbalanced load impact through the fourth leg. In the motor drive system, a generalized CM voltage analytical model and a current ripple prediction model are built for understanding the system CM and DM stress with respect to different modulation methods, covering both 2-level and 3-level topologies. A novel CM EMI damping modulation scheme is proposed for 6-phase inverter applications. The performance comparison between the proposed methods and the conventional solution is carried out. Each topic is supported by the corresponding hardware platform and experimental validation