Power calculation algorithm for single-phase droop-operated inverters considering nonlinear loads and unsing n-order SOGI filtering

The average active and reactive powers, P and Q, are crucial parameters that have to be calculated when sharing common loads between parallelized droop-operated single-phase inverters. However, the droop method algorithm should employ low-pass filters (LPF) with very low cut-off frequency to minimize the distortion impact in the provide droop amplitude and frequency references. This situation forces the droop control to operate at a very low dynamic velocity, degrading the stability of the parallelized system. For this reason, different solutions had been proposed in literature to increase the droop velocity, but the issues derived from the sharing of nonlinear loads had not been properly considered. This work proposes a novel method to calculate P and Q based on the fundamental components of the inverter's output voltage and current and using the measured phase angle between the output voltage and current. The method is used under normal and highly distorting conditions due to the sharing non-linear loads. The fundamental components are obtained by means of the highly filtering capability provided by norder cascaded second order generalized integrators (nSOGI). The proposed method leads to faster and more accurate P and Q calculations that enhances the droop-method dynamic performance. Simulations are provided to validate the proposal.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A new LPF-based grid frequency estimation for the SOGI filter with improved harmonic rejection

This paper proposes a new method for the estimation of the grid voltage frequency using a low-pass filter (LPF) approach. The estimated frequency is used to tune a second order generalized integrator (SOGI) filter commonly used for grid monitoring purposes and applications requiring parameter estimation from the grid. A first-order LPF is used first for the estimation that behaves identically to the reported normalized SOGI-FLL. A second-order LPF is proposed instead to overcome this circumstance. The behavior of this approach is dynamically analyzed and a linearized model useful for design purposes is derived. The behavior of the proposed system is checked with simulations, showing that the model matches well with the real system and has a smoother transient response to step frequency perturbations and also a better rejection to harmonic distortion than previous approaches.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Control strategy to maximize the power capability of PV three-phase inverters during voltage sags

Under voltage sags, grid-tied photovoltaic inverters should remain connected to the grid according to low-voltage ride-through requirements. During such perturbations, it is interesting to exploit completely the distributed power provisions to contribute to the stability and reliability of the grid. In this sense, this paper proposes a low-voltage ride-through control strategy that maximizes the inverter power capability by injecting the maximum-rated current during the sag. To achieve this objective, two possible active power situations have been considered, i.e., high- and low-power production scenarios. In the first case, if the source is unable to deliver the whole generated power to the grid, the controller applies active power curtailment to guarantee that the maximum rated current is not surpassed. In the second case, the maximum allowed current is not reached, thus, the control strategy determined the amount of reactive power that can be injected up to reach it. The control objective can be fulfilled by means of a flexible current injection strategy that combines a proper balance between positive- and negative-current sequences, which limits the inverter output current to the maximum rated value and avoid active power oscillations. Selected experimental and simulation results are reported in order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Control strategy to maximize the power capability of PV three-phase inverters during voltage sags

Under voltage sags, grid-tied photovoltaic inverters should remain connected to the grid according to low-voltage ride-through requirements. During such perturbations, it is interesting to exploit completely the distributed power provisions to contribute to the stability and reliability of the grid. In this sense, this paper proposes a low-voltage ride-through control strategy that maximizes the inverter power capability by injecting the maximum-rated current during the sag. To achieve this objective, two possible active power situations have been considered, i.e., high- and low-power production scenarios. In the first case, if the source is unable to deliver the whole generated power to the grid, the controller applies active power curtailment to guarantee that the maximum rated current is not surpassed. In the second case, the maximum allowed current is not reached, thus, the control strategy determined the amount of reactive power that can be injected up to reach it. The control objective can be fulfilled by means of a flexible current injection strategy that combines a proper balance between positive- and negative-current sequences, which limits the inverter output current to the maximum rated value and avoid active power oscillations. Selected experimental and simulation results are reported in order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.Peer Reviewe

A family of gradient descent grid frequency estimators for the SOGI filter

This paper applies the adaptive gradient descent method to the second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) filter in order to find an online estimation algorithm for the grid frequency, which leads to the proposal of three possible estimators. One of them is identical to the FLL algorithm reported in literature, which proves that it should be understood as a gradient descent estimation algorithm and not as a "frequency locked loop". The proposed gradient descent estimators are simple and suitable to be implemented into a digital processor with small computational burden. However, due to the SOGI characteristics, the estimators show to be especially sensitive to subharmonic and dc-offset voltage distortion. These problems are removed adopting a cascaded double SOGI approach, which strongly increases the rejection capability to harmonics and enhances the response to voltage sags. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the proposed contribution.Peer Reviewe

Power calculation algorithm for single-phase droop-operated inverters considering nonlinear loads and unsing n-order SOGI filtering

The average active and reactive powers, P and Q, are crucial parameters that have to be calculated when sharing common loads between parallelized droop-operated single-phase inverters. However, the droop method algorithm should employ low-pass filters (LPF) with very low cut-off frequency to minimize the distortion impact in the provide droop amplitude and frequency references. This situation forces the droop control to operate at a very low dynamic velocity, degrading the stability of the parallelized system. For this reason, different solutions had been proposed in literature to increase the droop velocity, but the issues derived from the sharing of nonlinear loads had not been properly considered. This work proposes a novel method to calculate P and Q based on the fundamental components of the inverter's output voltage and current and using the measured phase angle between the output voltage and current. The method is used under normal and highly distorting conditions due to the sharing non-linear loads. The fundamental components are obtained by means of the highly filtering capability provided by norder cascaded second order generalized integrators (nSOGI). The proposed method leads to faster and more accurate P and Q calculations that enhances the droop-method dynamic performance. Simulations are provided to validate the proposal.Peer Reviewe

New sogi-fll grid frequency monitoring with a finite state machine approach for better response in the face of voltage sag and swell faults

The SOGI-FLL (Second-Order Generalized Integrator–Frequency-Locked Loop) is a well-known and simple adaptive filter that allows for estimating the parameters of grid voltage with a small computational burden. However, the SOGI-FLL has been shown to be especially sensitive to voltage sags and voltage swells, which deeply distort the estimated parameters, especially the frequency. This problem can be alleviated by simply using a saturation block at the Frequency-Locked Loop (FLL) output to limit the impact of distortion on the estimated frequency. Improving upon this straightforward approach, in this paper we propose the use of a finite state machine (FSM) for the definition of the different states of the SOGI-FLL frequency response during a voltage sag or swell fault. The FSM approach allows for applying different gains during the fault, enhancing the SOGI-FLL transient response. The performance of the FSM-based SOGI-FLL is evaluated by using simulation results, which show a better and faster response to these kinds of faultsPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A new LPF-based grid frequency estimation for the SOGI filter with improved harmonic rejection

This paper proposes a new method for the estimation of the grid voltage frequency using a low-pass filter (LPF) approach. The estimated frequency is used to tune a second order generalized integrator (SOGI) filter commonly used for grid monitoring purposes and applications requiring parameter estimation from the grid. A first-order LPF is used first for the estimation that behaves identically to the reported normalized SOGI-FLL. A second-order LPF is proposed instead to overcome this circumstance. The behavior of this approach is dynamically analyzed and a linearized model useful for design purposes is derived. The behavior of the proposed system is checked with simulations, showing that the model matches well with the real system and has a smoother transient response to step frequency perturbations and also a better rejection to harmonic distortion than previous approaches.Peer Reviewe

A family of gradient descent grid frequency estimators for the SOGI filter

This paper applies the adaptive gradient descent method to the second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) filter in order to find an online estimation algorithm for the grid frequency, which leads to the proposal of three possible estimators. One of them is identical to the FLL algorithm reported in literature, which proves that it should be understood as a gradient descent estimation algorithm and not as a "frequency locked loop". The proposed gradient descent estimators are simple and suitable to be implemented into a digital processor with small computational burden. However, due to the SOGI characteristics, the estimators show to be especially sensitive to subharmonic and dc-offset voltage distortion. These problems are removed adopting a cascaded double SOGI approach, which strongly increases the rejection capability to harmonics and enhances the response to voltage sags. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the proposed contribution.Peer Reviewe