Reduction of Circulating Current Flow in Parallel Operation of APF Based on Hysteresis Current Control

Capacity enhancement and operation flexibility are two of the important limitations of the centralized Shunt Active Power Filter (APFsh) unit. This can be overcome by multiple and parallel APFsh units (in distributed mode) with a common DC link. In that case, a circulating current (CC) can flow. In the case of a hysteresis current controller based multiple APFsh units in load sharing mode, this CC control is not yet achieved. One of the difficulties of this CC flow control or reduction is the variable switching frequency of the APFsh units. In this paper, the model for CC flow is derived by the switching dynamics study of the APFsh units. Detailed simulation and real time study show that the reduction of CC flow can be achieved at an acceptable level by proper selection of design parameters

Reduction of Circulating Current Flow in Parallel Operation of APF Based on Hysteresis Current Control

Capacity enhancement and operation flexibility are two of the important limitations of the centralized Shunt Active Power Filter (APFsh) unit. This can be overcome by multiple and parallel APFsh units (in distributed mode) with a common DC link. In that case, a circulating current (CC) can flow. In the case of a hysteresis current controller based multiple APFsh units in load sharing mode, this CC control is not yet achieved. One of the difficulties of this CC flow control or reduction is the variable switching frequency of the APFsh units. In this paper, the model for CC flow is derived by the switching dynamics study of the APFsh units. Detailed simulation and real time study show that the reduction of CC flow can be achieved at an acceptable level by proper selection of design parameters

Reduction of circulating current flow in parallel operation of APF based on hysteresis current control

Capacity enhancement and operation flexibility are two of the important limitations of the centralized Shunt Active Power Filter (APFsh) unit. This can be overcome by multiple and parallel APFsh units (in distributed mode) with a common DC link. In that case, a circulating current (CC) can flow. In the case of a hysteresis current controller based multiple APFsh units in load sharing mode, this CC control is not yet achieved. One of the difficulties of this CC flow control or reduction is the variable switching frequency of the APFsh units. In this paper, the model for CC flow is derived by the switching dynamics study of the APFsh units. Detailed simulation and real time study show that the reduction of CC flow can be achieved at an acceptable level by proper selection of design parameters

Design And Implementation Of Co-Operative Control Strategy For Hybrid AC/DC Microgrids

This thesis is mainly divided in two major sections: 1) Modelling and control of AC microgrid, DC microgrid, Hybrid AC/DC microgrid using distributed co-operative control, and 2) Development of a four bus laboratory prototype of an AC microgrid system. At first, a distributed cooperative control (DCC) for a DC microgrid considering the state-of-charge (SoC) of the batteries in a typical plug-in-electric-vehicle (PEV) is developed. In DC microgrids, this methodology is developed to assist the load sharing amongst the distributed generation units (DGs), according to their ratings with improved voltage regulation. Subsequently, a DCC based control algorithm for AC microgrid is also investigated to improve the performance of AC microgrid in terms of power sharing among the DGs, voltage regulation and frequency deviation. The results validate the advantages of the proposed methodology as compared to traditional droop control of AC microgrid. The DCC-based control methodology for AC microgrid and DC microgrid are further expanded to develop a DCC-based power management algorithm for hybrid AC/DC microgrid. The developed algorithm for hybrid microgrid controls the power flow through the interfacing converter (IC) between the AC and DC microgrids. This will facilitate the power sharing between the DGs according to their power ratings. Moreover, it enables the fixed scheduled power delivery at different operating conditions, while maintaining good voltage regulation and improved frequency profile. The second section provides a detailed explanation and step-by-step design and development of an AC/DC microgrid testbed. Controllers for the three-phase inverters are designed and tested on different generation units along with their corresponding inductor-capacitor-inductor (LCL) filters to eliminate the switching frequency harmonics. Electric power distribution line models are developed to form the microgrid network topology. Voltage and current sensors are placed in the proper positions to achieve a full visibility over the microgrid. A running average filter (RAF) based enhanced phase-locked-loop (EPLL) is designed and implemented to extract frequency and phase angle information. A PLL-based synchronizing scheme is also developed to synchronize the DGs to the microgrid. The developed laboratory prototype runs on dSpace platform for real time data acquisition, communication and controller implementation

Planning and Operation of Hybrid AC-DC Microgird with High Penetration of Renewable Energy Sources

A hybrid ac/dc microgrid is a more complex but practical network that combines the advantages of an AC and a DC system. The main advantage of this network is that it connects both alternating current and direct current networks via an interlinking converter (IC) to form a unified distribution grid. The hybrid microgrid (HMG) will enable the direct integration of both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) distributed generators (DGs), energy storage systems (ESS), and alternating current and direct current (DC) loads into the grid. The alternating current and direct current sources, loads, and ESS are separated and connected to their respective subgrids primarily to reduce power conversion and thus increase overall system efficiency. As a result, the HMG architecture improves power quality and system reliability. Planning a hybrid microgrid entails estimating the capacities of DGs while taking technical, economic, and environmental factors into account. The hybrid ac-dc microgrid is regarded as the distribution network of the future, as it will benefit from both ac and dc microgrids. This thesis presents a general architecture of a hybrid ac-dc microgrid, which includes both planning and design. The goal of the Hybrid ac-dc microgrid planning problem is to maximise social welfare while minimising total planning costs such as investment, maintenance, and operation costs. This configuration will assist Hybrid microgrid planners in estimating planning costs while allowing them to consider any type of load ac/dc and DER type. Finally, this thesis identifies the research questions and proposes a future research plan

Power Quality Improvement of Distributed Generation Integrated Network with Unified Power Quality Conditioner.

With the increased penetration of small scale renewable energy sources in the electrical distribution network, maintenance or improvement of power quality has become more critical than ever where the level of voltage and current harmonics or disturbances can vary widely. For this reason, Custom Power Devices (CPDs) such as the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) can be the most appropriate solution for enhancing the dynamic performance of the distribution network, where accurate prior knowledge may not be available. Therefore, the main objective of the present research is to investigate the (i) placement (ii) integration (iii) capacity enhancement and (iv) real time control of the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) to improve the power quality (PQ) of a distributed generation (DG) network connected to the grid or microgrid

Técnicas de control para la conexión en paralelo de inversores aplicadas a convertidores de interconexión entre los buses de CC y CA de microrredes híbridas e inversores fotovoltaicos centralizados de alta potencia.

[ES] En este trabajo se proponen técnicas de control específicas para la paralelización de inversores sin transformador conectados a red, en aplicaciones de interconexión de buses de microrredes híbridas e instalaciones fotovoltaicas de gran potencia. La paralelización de inversores presenta múltiples ventajas como la modularidad, la redundancia o la flexibilidad para ampliar la potencia de un sistema o de una instalación. En el caso de inversores fotovoltaicos centralizados, también permite la conexión/desconexión de módulos inversores conectados en paralelo permitiendo una mayor eficiencia global cuando se trabaja a bajas potencias. Sin embargo, la paralelización de inversores provoca la aparición de corrientes de circulación que pueden provocar efectos indeseables en el sistema o en la instalación. Las contribuciones que se llevan a cabo en esta tesis están todas ellas orientadas a la mejora de la operación de inversores en paralelo en las aplicaciones descritas y son las siguientes: 1) Se presenta un modelo preciso en pequeña señal de n inversores conectados en paralelo con filtro de conexión a red LCL, en el cual se tienen en consideración los términos de acoplamiento entre fases de los inductores trifásicos. 2) Se propone una técnica de control en la que se emplean n-1 lazos de regulación que controlan la componente homopolar de las corrientes e imponen un valor nulo en régimen permanente, a fin de eliminar las corrientes de circulación. 3) Se propone el uso de moduladores en espacio vectorial de tres dimensiones (3D-SVM) para implementar el control de la componente homopolar de las corrientes. 4) Se muestran resultados analíticos, de simulación y experimentales que validan el esquema de control propuesto considerando la aparición de corrientes de circulación debido a distintos factores: desbalanceo de inductancias entre las fases de un inversor y de distintos inversores, desbalanceo de potencia entre inversores y empleo de modulaciones distintas en los inversores conectados en paralelo. Los ensayos experimentales se realizan sobre un convertidor trifásico de 10 kW formado por la conexión en paralelo de dos módulos de 5 kW cada uno. 5) Se muestran resultados de simulación y experimentales de la aplicación de las técnicas de reducción de corrientes de circulación a convertidores de interconexión entre los buses de alterna y continua de microrredes híbridas. Los ensayos experimentales se particularizan a un convertidor trifásico de 7.5 kW formado por un módulo de 5 kW y otro de 2.5 kW conectados en paralelo, emulando una eventual ampliación de potencia del 50%. 6) Se lleva a cabo el estudio por simulación de un sistema fotovoltaico de 2 MW compuesto por cuatro inversores de 500 kW conectados en paralelo, demostrando que el control de las componentes homopolares de las corrientes reduce en gran medida el valor de las corrientes de circulación y mejora el desempeño de la instalación. 7) Por último, se propone una técnica de control para mejorar la eficiencia global de inversores fotovoltaicos centralizados de potencia elevada, el cual se basa en la utilización de modelos funcionales bidimensionales de eficiencia para activar/desactivar los módulos de potencia en función del punto de operación del campo fotovoltaico.[CA] En aquest treball es proposen tècniques de control específiques per a la paral·lelització d'inversors sense transformador connectats a la xarxa, en aplicacions d'interconnexió de busos de micro-xarxes híbrides i instal·lacions fotovoltaiques de gran potència. La paral·lelització d'inversors presenta múltiples avantatges com ara són la modularitat, la redundància o la flexibilitat per ampliar la potència d'un sistema o d'una instal·lació. En el cas d'inversors fotovoltaics centralitzats, també es permet la connexió/desconnexió de mòduls inversors connectats en paral·lel permetent una major eficiència global quan es treballa a potències baixes. En canvi, la paral·lelització d'inversors provoca l'aparició de corrents de circulació que poden provocar efectes indesitjables en el sistema o en la instal·lació. Totes les contribucions que es porten a terme en aquesta tesi estan orientades a la millora de la operació de inversors en paral·lel en les aplicacions descrites i son les següents: 1)Es presenta un model precís en xicoteta senyal de n inversors connectats en paral·lel amb filtre LCL de connexió a xarxa, en el qual es tenen en consideració els termes d'acoblament entre fases dels inductors trifàsics. 2) Es proposa una tècnica de control en la que s'usen n-1 llaços de regulació que controlen la component homopolar de les corrents i imposen un valor nul en règim permanent, a la fi d'eliminar les corrents de circulació. 3) Es proposa l'ús de moduladors en espai vectorial de tres dimensions (3D SVM) per implementar el control de la component homopolar de les corrents. 4) Es mostren resultats analítics, de simulació i experimentals els quals validen l'esquema de control proposat considerant l'aparició de corrents de circulació degut a diversos factors: desbalanceig d'inductàncies entre les fases d'un inversor i de distints inversors, desbalanceig de potència entre inversors i ús de modulacions distintes en els inversors connectats en paral·lel. Els assajos experimentals es realitzen sobre un inversor trifàsic de 10 kW format per la connexió en paral·lel de dos mòduls de 5 kW cadascun. 5) Es mostren resultats de simulació i experimentals de l'aplicació de les tècniques de reducció de corrents de circulació a convertidors d'interconnexió entre els busos d'alterna i contínua de micro-xarxes híbrides. Els assajos experimentals es particularitzen a un convertidor trifàsic de 7.5 kW format per un mòdul de 5 kW i altre de 2.5 kW connectats en paral·lel, emulant una eventual ampliació de potència del 50 %. 6) Es duu a terme l'estudi per simulació d'un sistema fotovoltaic de 2 MW format per quatre inversors de 500 kW connectats en paral·lel demostrant que el control de les components homopolars de les corrents redueixen en gran mesura el valor de les corrents de circulació i millora l'acompliment de la instal·lació. 7) Per últim, es proposa una tècnica de control per a la millora de l'eficiència global d'inversors fotovoltaics centralitzats de potència elevada, el qual es basa en la utilització de models funcionals bidimensionals d'eficiència per activar/desactivar els mòduls de potència en funció del punt d'operació del camp fotovoltaic.[EN] In this work they have been proposed specific control techniques for the parallelization of transformerless inverters connected to the grid in two specific applications: i) the interlinking converter between ac and dc bus of hybrid microgrids and ii) high power photovoltaic farms. Paralleling of inverters presents some advantages as modularity, redundancy or flexibility for increasing the power of a system or of a plant. In photovoltaic centralized inverters, the parallel inverters can be connected and disconnected in order to improve the global efficiency when the system works at low power. However, the inverters paralleling causes the appearance of circulating currents which can produce undesirable effects in the system or in the plant. The contributions that are carried out in this thesis are all of them aimed at improving the operation of parallel inverters in the described applications and they are as follows: 1) It has been presented an accurate small signal model of n parallel inverters with an LCL grid filter, in which the mutual coupling terms of the three-phase inductors has been considered. 2) It has been proposed a control technique with n-1 control loops that control the zero-sequence current component by setting a zero value in steady state, looking for eliminating the circulating currents. 3) It has been proposed the use of three-dimension space vector modulator (3D SVM) to implement the zero-sequence currents control. 4) The analytical results have been validated by means of simulation and experimental results, showing the performance of the proposed control scheme considering the appearance of circulating currents due to different factors: i) inductor imbalances between the phases of an inverter or ii) between different inverters, iii) power imbalances between inverters and iv) the use of different modulation techniques in the parallel inverters. The experimental tests have been carried out on a 10 kW three-phase converter composed by the parallel connection of two 5 kW modules. 5) They have been shown both simulation and experimental results of the application of circulating current reduction techniques to interlinking converters between the DC and the AC buses of hybrid microgrids. The experimental tests have been particularized to a 7.5 kW three-phase converter composed by a 5 kW and a 2.5 kW module connected in parallel, emulating an eventual 50 % power expansion. 6) Is has been carried out the simulation study of a 2 MW photovoltaic system composed by four 500 kW inverters connected in parallel, showing that the control of the zero-sequence currents greatly reduces the value of the circulating currents and improve the system performance. 7) Finally, it has been proposed a control technique for the improvement of the global efficiency of high power photovoltaic centralized inverters, which is based in the use of bidimensional functional efficiency models to activate/deactivate the power modules according to the operation point of the photovoltaic farm.Liberos Mascarell, MA. (2021). Técnicas de control para la conexión en paralelo de inversores aplicadas a convertidores de interconexión entre los buses de CC y CA de microrredes híbridas e inversores fotovoltaicos centralizados de alta potencia [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/168190TESI