Increasing Distributed Generation Penetration using Soft Normally-Open Points

This paper considers the effects of various voltage control solutions on facilitating an increase in allowable levels of distributed generation installation before voltage violations occur. In particular, the voltage control solution that is focused on is the implementation of `soft' normally-open points (SNOPs), a term which refers to power electronic devices installed in place of a normally-open point in a medium-voltage distribution network which allows for control of real and reactive power flows between each end point of its installation sites. While other benefits of SNOP installation are discussed, the intent of this paper is to determine whether SNOPs are a viable alternative to other voltage control strategies for this particular application. As such, the SNOPs ability to affect the voltage profile along feeders within a distribution system is focused on with other voltage control options used for comparative purposes. Results from studies on multiple network models with varying topologies are presented and a case study which considers economic benefits of increasing feasible DG penetration is also given

Maximum Effectiveness of Electrostatic Energy Harvesters When Coupled to Interface Circuits

Accepted versio

Impacts of plug-in hybrid vehicles and combined heat and power technologies on electric and gas distribution network losses

Distribution network operators (DNOs) require strategies that can offset the tradeoffs new embedded technologies have on their assets. This paper employs modelling to show that through control device manipulation, gas and electric (G&E) network operators can influence savings in energy losses under the presence of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and combined heat and power technologies (CHPs). An integrated gas and electric optimal power flow (OPF) tool is introduced to undertake various case studies. The OPF tool evaluates the technical impacts experienced in the networks when DNOs apply a "plug and forget" operation strategy and then compares the results against a "loss minimisation" strategy. Results show the benefits in applying different strategies are more considerable in electric networks than in gas networks. The study corroborates that an integrated G&E analysis offers a fresh perspective for stakeholders in evaluating energy service networks performance under different operation strategies

Multi-Agent System Control and Coordination of an Electrical Network

Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) have the potential to solve Active Network Management (ANM) problems arising from an increase in Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The aim of this research is to integrate a MAS into an electrical network emulation for the purpose of implementing ANM. Initially an overview of agents and MAS and how their characteristics can be used to control and coordinate an electrical network is presented. An electrical network comprising a real-time emulated transmission network connected to a live DER network controlled and coordinated by a MAS is then constructed. The MAS is then used to solve a simple ANM problem: the control and coordination of an electrical network in order to maintain frequency within operational limits. The research concludes that a MAS is successful in solving this ANM problem and also that in the future the developed MAS can be applied to other ANM problems. © 2012 IEEE

Zero phase sequence voltage injection for the alternate arm converter

The Alternate Arm Converter (AAC) is a voltage source converter being developed as an alternative to the Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) for HVDC power transmission and reactive power compensation. Each Arm of the converter contains high voltage series IGBT Director Switches and full-bridge cells, which enables the VSC to ride through AC and DC network faults. This paper describes how the AAC can be optimised by modulating the converter terminal voltages with zerophase sequence triplen harmonic components. The optimisation reduces the ratio of the number of the full-bridge cells compared to the simpler Director Switches which offers a valuable improvement in footprint and efficiency

Control and filter design of three-phase inverters for high power quality grid connection

Published versio

High-quality power generation through distributed control of a power park microgrid

Published versio

Predictive transient-following control of shunt and series active power filters

Published versio