Tradeoffs between AC power quality and DC bus ripple for 3-phase 3-wire inverter-connected devices within microgrids

Visions of future power systems contain high penetrations of inverters which are used to convert power from dc (direct current) to ac (alternating current) or vice versa. The behavior of these devices is dependent upon the choice and implementation of the control algorithms. In particular, there is a tradeoff between dc bus ripple and ac power quality. This study examines the tradeoffs. Four control modes are examined. Mathematical derivations are used to predict the key implications of each control mode. Then, an inverter is studied both in simulation and in hardware at the 10 kVA scale, in different microgrid environments of grid impedance and power quality. It is found that voltage-drive mode provides the best ac power quality, but at the expense of high dc bus ripple. Sinusoidal current generation and dual-sequence controllers provide relatively low dc bus ripple and relatively small effects on power quality. High-bandwidth dc bus ripple minimization mode works well in environments of low grid impedance, but is highly unsuitable within higher impedance microgrid environments and/or at low switching frequencies. The findings also suggest that the certification procedures given by G5/4, P29 and IEEE 1547 are potentially not adequate to cover all applications and scenarios

Evaluating the impact of superconducting fault current limiters on distribution network protection schemes

Rising fault levels are becoming increasingly problematic in the UK distribution network, with large sections of the network operating near to its designed fault level capability. With the increase in penetration of distributed generation that is expected in the coming years, this situation is becoming more pressing. Traditional methods of dealing with the issue may not be appropriate - upgrading plant is expensive and disruptive, while network reconfiguration can compromise security of supply. Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SFCLs) are emerging as a potential solution, with installations now taking place in several locations worldwide. The integration of an SFCL into a network involves a number of challenges, particularly concerning the coordination of protection systems. The operation of existing protection schemes may be compromised due to the increased resistance in the network during a fault (in the case of a resistive SFCL). Furthermore, the reduction in fault levels, although desirable, can have a detrimental impact on protection operating times. This paper will consider an existing medium voltage network in the UK, which incorporates distributed generation capacity. The performance of IDMT overcurrent and distance protection schemes will be examined when an SFCL is installed in this network. In particular, the increased operating time of overcurrent relays will be discussed along with grading implications. The impact on distance protection reach will also be examined. A variety of network operational scenarios including SFCL placement and fault conditions will be considered and compared. Recommendations will be made in terms of protection settings and SFCL placement in order to mitigate the aforementioned issues

An open platform for rapid-prototyping protection and control schemes with IEC 61850

Communications is becoming increasingly important to the operation of protection and control schemes. Although offering many benefits, using standards-based communications, particularly IEC 61850, in the course of the research and development of novel schemes can be complex. This paper describes an open-source platform which enables the rapid prototyping of communications-enhanced schemes. The platform automatically generates the data model and communications code required for an intelligent electronic device to implement a publisher-subscriber generic object-oriented substation event and sampled-value messaging. The generated code is tailored to a particular system configuration description (SCD) file, and is therefore extremely efficient at runtime. It is shown here how a model-centric tool, such as the open-source Eclipse Modeling Framework, can be used to manage the complexity of the IEC 61850 standard, by providing a framework for validating SCD files and by automating parts of the code generation process. The flexibility and convenience of the platform are demonstrated through a prototype of a real-time, fast-acting load-shedding scheme for a low-voltage microgrid network. The platform is the first open-source implementation of IEC 61850 which is suitable for real-time applications, such as protection, and is therefore readily available for research and education

Traveling wave-based protection scheme for inverter-dominated microgrid using mathematical morphology

Inverter-dominated microgrids impose significant challenges on the distribution network, as inverters are well known for their limited contribution to fault current, undermining the performance of traditional overcurrent protection schemes. This paper introduces a new protection scheme based on the initial current traveling wave utilizing an improved mathematical morphology (MM) technology, with simplified polarity detection and new logics introduced for meshed networks and feeders with single-end measurement. The proposed protection scheme provides ultrafast response and can be adapted to varied system operational modes, topologies, fault conditions, and load conditions. Only low-bandwidth communication is required to achieve high-speed operation and adequate discrimination level in meshed networks. Simulation in PSCAD/EMTDC verifies both the sensitivity and stability of the proposed protection scheme under different microgrid operational scenarios

A novel fault let-through energy based fault location for LVDC distribution networks

Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) distribution systems have recently been considered as an alternative approach to electrical system infrastructure as they provide the additional flexibility and controllability required to facilitate the integration of more low carbon technologies (LCTs). However, DC protection systems and, more specifically high accuracy DC fault location, have been recognised as a key challenge to facilitating post-fault network maintenance. Most of the existing fault location techniques rely on current derivative or communications-based methods that are either very sensitive to noise, or require a high level of data synchronisation. Fault energy has been recognized as a reliable indicator of more accurate fault location estimations. Therefore, this paper develops a mathematical model for describing fault energy during the transient period of DC faults. The method subsequently proposes a new fault let-through energy based DC fault location working strategy to facilitate post-fault network maintenance. The proposed method does not require data synchronisation regardless of the voltage, current, and the size of the converters connected to the LVDC feeder. The capabilities of the proposed fault location strategy are validated against different faults applied on an LVDC test network in PSCAD/EMTDC and shown to be more reliable and accurate than existing methods

A model-based analysis method for evaluating the grid impact of EV and high harmonic content sources

The impact on the distribution grid when Electric Vehicles are connected is an im-portant technical question in the development of new smart grids. This paper looks in detail at the predictive capability of a model, calculating harmonic voltage and current levels, in the situation where an electric vehicle is being charged by an in-ductive charging plate which acts as a substantial source of harmonic distortion. The method described in this paper models distortion at the LV side of the distribution grid by reconstructing the HV harmonic distortion levels seen at a typical LV sub-station. Additional LV connected harmonic-rich current sources can then be added, allowing a quantitative analysis of the impact of such sources on the distribution grid in terms of measurable harmonics magnitude and phase angle with respect to the fundamental

Demonstration of fast-acting protection as a key enabler for more-electric aircraft interconnected architetctures

Driven by anticipated fuel-burn and efficiency benefits, the more-electric aircraft (MEA) concept is a technological shift in the aviation industry, which seeks to replace mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic functions with electrical equivalents. This shift has greatly increased the electrical power demands of aircraft and has made MEA networks larger and more complex. Consequently, new and more efficient electrical architectures are required, with interconnected generation potentially being one design approach that could bring improved performance and fuel savings. This study discusses the current state of interconnected generation in the aviation industry and key technological advances that could facilitate feasible interconnection options. This study demonstrates that interconnected systems can breach certification rules under fault conditions. Through modelling and simulation, it investigates the airworthiness-requirements compliance of potential impedance solutions to this issue and quantifies the potential impact on system weight. It concludes by identifying fast fault clearing protection as being a key enabling technology that facilitates the use of light-weight and standards-compliant architectures

Validation of fast and selective protection scheme for an LVDC distribution network

Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) distribution systems are one of the emerging technologies to recently attract attention for more efficient use of energy, and wider uptake of distributed renewables and energy storage. They do however present significant fault protection and safety challenges, which are not possible to address without using advanced protection techniques. Therefore, this paper considerably reviews these key challenges, and presents experimental results of prototyping an advanced protection scheme developed to help enable LVDC distribution networks for utility applications. The developed scheme is a DC current direction-based using multiple intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) relays in combination with controllable solid-state circuit breakers to detect and locate DC faults, and provide selective protection tripping within sub-millisecond timescales. A scaled laboratory demonstrator that emulates an LVDC distribution network is used as a test platform. It allows the characterisation of the transient behaviour for various fault conditions and locations. The developed protection algorithm is implemented in LabVIEW, and its performance against such fault conditions is tested within this environment

Initialization and synchronization of power hardware-in-the-loop simulations : a Great Britain network case study

The hardware under test (HUT) in a power hardware in the loop (PHIL) implementation can have a significant effect on overall system stability. In some cases, the system under investigation will actually be unstable unless the HUT is already connected and operating. Accordingly, initialization of the real-time simulation can be difficult, and may lead to abnormal parameters of frequency and voltage. Therefore, a method for initializing the simulation appropriately without the HUT is proposed in this contribution. Once the initialization is accomplished a synchronization process is also proposed. The synchronization process depends on the selected method for initialization and therefore both methods need to be compatible. In this contribution, a recommended practice for the initialization of PHIL simulations for synchronous power systems is presented. Experimental validation of the proposed method of establishing a PHIL simulation for a Great Britain network case study demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach in achieving stable operation

Load frequency control in variable inertia systems

Conventional load frequency control primarily relies on large synchronous generation units to ensure regulation of the system frequency. However, its performance deteriorates as the system parameters, including inertia and droop coefficients, deviate from original system design. This letter proposes an augmented load frequency control (ALFC) to ensure robust frequency regulation under diurnal variations in system parameters that are expected in the future, renewables-rich power system. The superior performance of ALFC is demonstrated by several case studies, and its stability is assessed by small-signal analysis