Enhanced Voltage-Sourced Inverters for Large-Scale Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems

This thesis is mainly focused on (i) modeling of large-scale PV systems in order to study the factors that influence the capacity, efficiency, power quality and safety in connection with the power grid and (ii) proposing system- and circuit-level solutions and control strategies/techniques to improve the aforementioned factors. To that end, a model for PV array is developed to study the mismatch power loss in different PV array interconnection methods, especially during the partial shading condition. Further, a two-MPPT structure is proposed to reduce the mismatch power loss in centrally structured PV systems. Then, a single-stage VSC-based system is proposed to utilize the two-MPPT structure for better efficiency. The proposed system also doubles the DC-link voltage while respecting the safety standards, which in turn, increases the capacity and the efficiency of the central inverter. To further improve capacity and efficiency, a two-stage system is proposed in which the variable MPP voltage of smaller sub-arrays are regulated, by dedicated DC-DC boost converters, at the inverter DC-side terminals. This lets the inverter use the full DC voltage permissible rating and reduces the ohmic loss in DC and AC wirings and in the transformer. The system employs a three-level NPC inverter which generates output with better power quality, facilitates the adoption of two-MPPT structure, and permits utilizing low-voltage (half-rated) switches. The system also promotes the modular/distributed structure which improves the efficiency under partial shading and enables the possibility of utilizing PV modules of different types, ratings, and alignments. Finally, a mitigation technique is proposed in the inverter and grid-interface structures to prevent formation of damaging temporary overvoltages, which sometimes are produced in power systems by distributed generations including PV. The technique utilizes a fourleg inverter connected to a grid through a Y/YG isolation transformer. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques and control strategies are demonstrated through time-domain simulation studies conducted in the PSCAD/EMTDC software environment

An application of fuzzy logic to assess service quality attributes in logistics industry

Differentiation, growing competitive advantage, and excellence has been proved to be the result of service quality. At the same time, measuring attributes of service quality and customer satisfaction is fuzzy and ambiguous, and methods available for their measurement are generally classical. This paper proposes a fuzzy method to identify the service quality attributes. This approach was developed using crisp assessment methods in a logistics company. Applying the proposed fuzzy approach, service quality attributes and indicators are identified and then organized into 8 categories, to see the uncertainty level of each. The proposed method was successfully conducted in a real logistics company. The results show the membership degree of each indicator, suggesting customer expectations regarding quality. Also, the membership degrees of the service quality attributes suggest the ability of each to describe service quality in logistics industry

Modeling Guidelines and a Benchmark for Power System Simulation Studies of Three-Phase Single-Stage Photovoltaic Systems

This paper presents modeling guidelines and a benchmark system for power system simulation studies of grid-connected, three-phase, single-stage Photovoltaic (PV) systems that employ a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) as the power processor. The objective of this work is to introduce the main components, operation/protection modes, and control layers/schemes of medium- and high-power PV systems, to assist power engineers in developing circuit-based simulation models for impact assessment studies, analysis, and identification of potential issues with respect to the grid integration of PV systems. Parameter selection, control tuning, and design guidelines are also briefly discussed. The usefulness of the benchmark system is demonstrated through a fairly comprehensive set of test cases, conducted in the PSCAD/EMTDC software environment. However, the models and techniques presented in this paper are independent of any specific circuit simulation software package. Also, they may not fully conform to the methods exercised by all manufacturers, due to the proprietary nature of the industry