Parameter estimation of squirrel-cage motors with parasitic torques in the torque–slip curve

This paper studies parasitic torques in steady-state torque–slip curves of squirrel-cage induction motors. The curves of nine motors (small, medium and large size units), three of which were measured in the range s = 2 to 0, are analysed. The torque–slip curves of eight of these nine motors differ significantly from the smooth curves predicted by the classical single- and double-cage models: a torque dip at large slips in the motoring regime and a notable torque increase in the braking regime occur. As parasitic torques have been traditionally associated with space harmonics, two singlecage chain models (which consider the space harmonics) are tested to fit the measured torque and current of the three measured motors: one neglects the skin effect, leading to the wrong torque prediction, whereas the other (the chain model proposed in the early 60s in the literature) considers the skin effect, leading to an accurate torque prediction.Postprint (author's final draft

Power control strategies during voltage sags according to Spanish grid code

In order to connect any power converters into the grid there are some grid requirements to insure the safe operation of the grid. So, the control of the converters especially during abnormal condition e.g. during voltage sags is a very important key to guarantee the good behavior of the distributed generation system. In this paper four control strategies, will be stated in the literature, are discussed in order to ensure their ability to match the grid requirements when unsymmetrical voltage sags are produced in the network. The Spanish grid code did not give any information about the negative sequence, and it only represents the positive sequence components. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to verify the grid code with not only the positive sequence but also with the negative sequence. Moreover, the system is tested by simulation to show that the results cope well with the analytical equations.Postprint (published version

Smart switching in single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic power systems for inrush current elimination

Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power systems are one of the most promising tech- nologies to address growing energy demand and ecological challenges. This paper proposes smart switching to mitigate inrush currents during the connection of single-phase transformers used in PV systems. An effective inrush current mitigation contributes to the reliability of PV systems. The inrush current severity is influenced by the pseudorandom residual flux at the transformer core and the energization point-on-wave. The most common approach to avoid inrush currents is controlled connection, which requires prior knowledge of the residual flux. However, the residual flux can differ in each case, and its measurement or estimation can be impractical. The proposed smart switching is based on a comprehensive analysis of the residual flux and the de-energization trajectories, and only requires two pieces of data (fRM and f0, flux values of the static and dynamic loops when the respective currents are null), calculated from two simple no-load tests. It has a clear advantage over common approaches: no need to estimate or measure the residual flux before each connection, avoiding the need for expensive equipment or complex setups. Smart switching can be easily im- plemented in practical settings, as it considers different circuit breakers with distinctive aperture features, making it cost-effective for PV systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Voltage sag influence on controlled three-phase grid-connected inverters according to the Spanish grid code

© 2020 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other worksTo ensure the safe operation of the grid, there are some requirements to be taken into consideration to connect power converters. During abnormal conditions – e.g. during voltage sags –, the control of the converters is a very important key to guarantee power quality and good behaviour of the distributed generation system. The aim of this study is to employ two possible control strategies for a grid-connected inverter according to the Spanish grid code, and to analyse the behaviour of the output voltages during both symmetrical and unsymmetrical voltage sags. The analytical development shows the sag influence on currents, voltages, active and reactive powers. These influences are explained through Ku transformation in the synchronous reference frame, thus giving a representation for electrical variables easiest to analyse. The results show how control strategies affect the converter behaviour and how they can support the main grid during faults through the control of active and reactive power injection. Sags with different durations and depths have been taken into account, which can provoke critical values for electrical magnitudes and can lead to the violation of the grid code. The proposed control strategies study has been validated by means of both simulations in MatlabTM–Simulink and experimental resultsPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical voltage sag effects on the three-phase synchronous machine stability

This paper focuses on the effects of voltage sags, both symmetrical and unsymmetrical, on the three-phase Synchronous Machine (SM). Voltage sags on SM cause speed variations, current and torque peaks and hence may cause tripping and equipment damage. The consequences of voltage sags on the machine behaviour depend on different factors such as sag’s magnitude (or depth), duration, initial point-on-wave and the parameters of the electrical machine. In this study, three SMs of different rated power have been considered in order to simulate the voltage sag effects for specific conditions and analyze the machine stability.Postprint (published version

Control proposals for the operation of power converters in wind power systems

The wind turbines based on Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIG) represent almost the 60% of the installed windpower worldwide. Nowadays most of the existing algorithms, used for regulating the production of active and reactive power in such systems, are based on control techniques that use rotational reference frames theories, where the dq0 is maybe the most popular. Despite of its good operation under balanced conditions its behaviour depends on a good phase synchronization, otherwise the different transformations cannot be performed with enough guarantees. Of course this kind of response is becomming insuficient, as far as the windpower penetration is increasing. This paper will present a new control topology for DFIG, that are connected using back to back inverters, that is able to behave better in case of faulty grids. Besides some proposals for improving the operation of the DFIG will be presented as well. The aim of that part is to extend the possibilities that the back to back inverters are able to offer to the generator system by means of including new functionalities, as the active filtering capability or the reduction of the flicker emission that will be later discussed.Postprint (published version

Artificial intelligence-based protection for smart grids

Lately, adequate protection strategies need to be developed when Microgrids (MGs) are connected to smart grids to prevent undesirable tripping. Conventional relay settings need to be adapted to changes in Distributed Generator (DG) penetrations or grid reconfigurations, which is a complicated task that can be solved efficiently using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based protection. This paper compares and validates the difference between conventional protection (overcurrent and differential) strategies and a new strategy based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), which have been shown as adequate protection, especially with reconfigurable smart grids. In addition, the limitations of the conventional protections are discussed. The AI protection is employed through the communication between all Protective Devices (PDs) in the grid, and a backup strategy that employs the communication among the PDs in the same line. This paper goes a step further to validate the protection strategies based on simulations using the MATLABTM platform and experimental results using a scaled grid. The AI-based protection method gave the best solution as it can be adapted for different grids with high accuracy and faster response than conventional protection, and without the need to change the protection settings. The scaled grid was designed for the smart grid to advocate the behavior of the protection strategies experimentally for both conventional and AI-based protections.This work is supported by Li Dak Sum Innovation Fellowship Funding (E06211200006) from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Testing of three-phase equipment under voltage sags

This paper provides insight into the testing of three-phase equipment exposed to voltage sags caused by faults. The voltage sag recovers at the fault-current zeros, leading to a ‘discrete’ voltage recovery, that is, the fault is cleared in different steps. In the literature, the most widespread classification divides ‘discrete’ sags into 14 types. The authors study shows that it is generally sufficient to consider only five sag types for three-phase equipment, here called ‘time-invariant (TI)’ equipment. As the remaining nine sag types cause identical equipment behaviour in Park or Ku variables, the number of laboratory tests (or of extensive simulations) on equipment under sags is reduced by a ratio of 14/5. The study is validated by simulation of a three-phase induction generator and a three-phase inverter, which are ‘TI’, and a threephase diode bridge rectifier, which is not ‘TI’. Both analytical study and simulation results are validated by testing a three-phase induction motor and a three-phase diode bridge rectifier.Postprint (author's final draft

Control of DFIG-WT under unbalanced grid voltage conditions

The voltage oriented control in the synchronous reference frame (VOC-SRF) have been extensively used for controlling wind turbines based on doubly fed induction generators (DFIG-WTs) through the rotor side converter of a back to back power processor. Although its performance is fast and accurate under balanced conditions its behaviour is not good enough when the voltage of the mains is unbalanced, unless an independent control for the positive and the negative sequence is implemented. This paper proposes a new control system able to control the DFIG-WT under unbalanced conditions using a simple algorithm, which does not need to be implemented for both symmetrical components but on the static αβ reference frame. The reliability of the presented system will be tested by means of PSCAD simulations under balanced and unbalanced grid conditions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Grid synchronization for advanced power processing and FACTS in wind power systems

The high penetration of wind power systems in the electrical network has introduced new issues in the stability and transient operation of the grid. By means of providing advanced functionalities to the existing power converters of such power plants it is possible to enhance their performance and also to support the grid operation, as the new grid codes demand. The connection of FACTS based on power converters, such as STATCOMs, are also contributing to the integration of renewable energies improving their behavior under contingencies. However, in both cases it is needed to have a grid voltage synchronization system, able to work under unbalanced and distorted conditions. This paper presents the discrete representation and performance of three PLL’s structures, designed to work in that kind of situations. Their synchronization capability will be tested in different scenarios and their performance constraints will be established according to the Grid Code Requirements (GCRs)Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version