Modelling and Control of Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

At present, photovoltaic (PV) systems are taking a leading role as a solar-based renewable energy source (RES) because of their unique advantages. This trend is being increased especially in grid-connected applications because of the many benefits of using RESs in distributed generation (DG) systems. This new scenario imposes the requirement for an effective evaluation tool of grid-connected PV systems so as to predict accurately their dynamic performance under different operating conditions in order to make a comprehensive decision on the feasibility of incorporating this technology into the electric utility grid. This implies not only to identify the characteristics curves of PV modules or arrays, but also the dynamic behaviour of the electronic power conditioning system (PCS) for connecting to the utility grid. To this aim, this chapter discusses the full detailed modelling and the control design of a three-phase grid-connected photovoltaic generator (PVG). The PV array model allows predicting with high precision the I-V and P-V curves of the PV panels/arrays. Moreover, the control scheme is presented with capabilities of simultaneously and independently regulating both active and reactive power exchange with the electric grid. The modelling and control of the three-phase grid-connected PVG are implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink environment and validated by experimental tests

Dynamic Modelling and Control Design of Advanced Photovoltaic Solar System for Distributed Generation Applications

Presently, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar systems are becoming the most important application of PV systems. This trend is being increased because of the many benefits of using renewable energy sources (RES) in modern distributed (or dispersed) generation (DG) systems. This electrical grid structure imposes on the distributed generator new requirements of high quality electric power, flexibility, efficiency and reliability. This paper proposes a novel high performance power conditioning system (PCS) of a three-phase grid-connected PV system and its control scheme for applications in DG systems. The PCS utilizes a two-stage energy conversion system topology composed of a DC/DC boost converter and a diode-clamped three-level voltage source inverter (VSI) that satisfies all the stated requirements. The model of the proposed PV array uses theoretical and empirical equations together with data provided by manufacturer of PV panels, solar radiation and cell temperature among others variables, in order to accurately predict the current-voltage curve. Moreover, based on the state-space averaging method a new three-level control scheme is designed, comprising a full decoupled current control strategy in the synchronous-rotating d-q frame, capable of simultaneously and independently exchanging both active and reactive powers with the distribution system. Validation of models and control algorithms is carried out through digital simulations using the MATLAB/Simulink environment and implementing a 250 Wp PV experimental set-up.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Juanico, Luis Eduardo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Power flow stabilization and control of microgrid with wind generation by superconducting magnetic energy storage

High penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind generation in microgrids (MGs) causes fluctuations of power flow and significantly affects the power system (PS) operation. This can lead to severe problems, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability. With the proper control, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is able to significantly enhance the dynamic security of the PS. In an SMES system, the power conditioning system (PCS) is the crucial component that directly influences the validity of the SMES in the dynamic control of the PS. This paper proposes the use of an improved SMES controller for the stabilization and control of the power flow of wind-hybrid MGs. In this sense, the design and implementation of a novel high-performance PCS scheme of the SMES is described. Moreover, a detailed model of the SMES unit is derived and a novel three-level control scheme is designed, comprising a full decoupled current control strategy in the d-q reference frame and an enhanced PS frequency controller. The dynamic performance of the proposed systems is fully validated by computer simulation.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Stabilization and control of tie-line power flow of microgrid including wind generation by distributed energy storage

High penetration of wind generation in electrical microgrids causes fluctuations of tie-line power flow and significantly affects the power system operation. This can lead to severe problems, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability. With proper control, a distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) integrated with superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is able to significantly enhance the dynamic security of the power system. This paper proposes the use of a SMES system in combination with a DSTATCOM as effective distributed energy storage (DES) for stabilization and control of the tie-line power flow of microgrids incorporating wind generation. A new detailed model of the integrated DSTATCOM-SMES device is derived and a novel three-level control scheme is designed. The dynamic performance of the proposed control schemes is fully validated using MATLAB/Simulink. © 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentin

Modelling and Control Design of Pitch-Controlled Variable Speed Wind Turbines

This chapter provides an overall perspective of modern wind power systems, including a discussion of major wind turbine concepts and technologies. More specifically, of the various wind turbine designs, pitch-controlled variable speed wind turbines controlled by means of power electronic converters have been considered. Among them, direct-in-line wind turbines with full-scale power converter and using direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generators have increasingly drawn more interests to wind turbine manufactures due to its advantages over the other variable-speed wind turbines. Based on this issue, major operating characteristics of these devices are thoroughly analyzed and a three-phase grid-connected wind turbine system, incorporating a maximum power point tracker for dynamic active power generation is presented. Moreover, a simplified state-space averaged mathematical model of the wind turbine system is provided. An efficient power conditioning system of the selected wind turbine design and a new three-level control scheme by using concepts of instantaneous power in the synchronous-rotating d-q reference frame in order to simultaneously and independently control active and reactive power flow in the distribution network level are proposed. Dynamic system simulation studies in the MATLAB/Simulink environment is used in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-level control approaches in d-q coordinates and the full detailed models presented. The fast response of power electronic devices and the enhanced performance of the proposed control techniques allow taking full advantage of the wind turbine generator.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin

Technical and Regulatory Exigencies for Grid Connection of Wind Generation

Pollution problems such as the greenhouse effect as well as the high value and volatility of fuel prices have forced and accelerated the development and use of renewable energy sources. In the three last decades, the level of penetration of renewable energy sources has undergone an important growth in several countries, mainly in the USA and Europe, where levels of 20% have been reached. Main technologies of renewable energies include wind, hydraulic, solar (photovoltaic and thermal), biofuels (liquid biodiesel, biomass, biogas), and geothermal energy. Within this great variety of alternative energy sources, wind energy has experienced a fast growth due to several advantages, such as costs, feasibility, abundance of wind resources, maturity of the technology and shorter construction times (Ackermann, 2005). This trend is expected to be increased even more in the near future, sustained mainly by the cost competitiveness of wind power technology and the development of new power electronics technologies, new circuit topologies and control strategies (Guerrero et al., 2010). However, there are some disadvantages for wind energy, as wind generation is uncontrollably variable because of the intermittency of the primary resource, i.e. the wind. Another important disadvantage is that the best places to install a wind farm, due to the certainty and intensities of suitable wind, are located in remote areas. This aspect requires of additional infrastructure to convey the generated power to the demand centres. Unfortunately, in several countries the regulatory aspect does not follow this fast growth of wind possibilities. Many countries do not have specific rules for wind generators and others do not make the necessary operating studies before installing a wind farm (Heier, 2006). Power system operators must consider the availability of these power plants which are not dispatchable and are not accessible all the time. Today, developing countries, such as Argentina, are subjected to an analogous situation with wind energy, having perhaps one of the best sources of such energy around the world. Nowadays, there are several operative wind farms and others in stage of building and planning. Similar to other countries, in Argentina there is a lack of regulatory aspects related to this topic (Labriola, 2007). This chapter thoroughly presents a revision of wind generation, including the following sections. In the first part, a brief history of the wind energy developments is presented. Following, some remarks related to the modern wind energy systems are made. Then, a survey of modern structures of wind turbines is carried out, including towers and foundations, rotor, nacelle with drive train and other equipment, control systems, etc. Subsequently, major wind turbine concepts related to fixed and variable speed operation and control modes are described. Eventually, technical and regulatory exigencies for the integration of wind generation into the electrical grid are discussed in detail, including a study of selected countries grid codes.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez Alvarez, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Electromecánica; Argentin

Design of Improved Fuel Cell Controller for Distributed Generation Systems

The world has been undergoing a deregulation process which allowed competition in the electricity generation sector. This situation is bringing the opportunity for electricity users to generate power by using small-scale generation systems with emerging technologies, allowing the development of distributed generation (DG). A fuel cell power plant (FCPP) is a distributed generation technology with a rapid development because it has promising characteristics, such as low pollutant emissions, silent operation, high efficiency and long lifetime because of its small number of moving parts. The power conditioning system (PCS) is the interface that allows the effective connection to the electric power system. With the appropriate topology of the PCS and its control system design, the FCPP unit is capable of simultaneously performing both instantaneous active and reactive power flow control. This paper describes the design and implementation of a novel high performance PCS of an FCPP and its controller, for applications in distributed generation systems. A full detailed model of the FCPP is derived and a new three-level control scheme is designed. The dynamic performance of the proposed system is validated by digital simulation in SimPowerSystems (SPS) of MATLAB/Simulink.Fil: Olsen Berenguer, Fernando Adrian. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentin

Dynamic Modelling of Advanced Battery Energy Storage System for Grid-Tied AC Microgrid Applications

In the last decade, power generation technology innovations and a changing economic, financial, and regulatory environment of the power markets have resulted in a renewed interest in on-site small-scale electricity generation, also called distributed, dispersed or decentralized generation (DG). Other major factors that have contributed to this evolution are the constraints on the construction of new transmission lines, the increased customer demand for highly reliable electricity and concerns about climate change. Along with DG, local storage directly coupled to the grid (aka distributed energy storage or DES) is also assuming a major role for balancing supply and demand, as was done in the early days of the power industry. All these distributed energy resources (DERs), i.e. DG and DES, are presently increasing their penetration in developed countries as a means to produce in-situ highly reliable and good quality electrical power. Incorporating advanced technologies, sophisticated control strategies and integrated digital communications into the existing electricity grid results in Smart Grids (SGs), which are presently seen as the energy infrastructure of the future intelligent cities. Smart grids allow delivering electricity to consumers using two-way (full-duplex) digital technology that enable the efficient management of consumers and the efficient use of the grid to identify and correct supply-demand imbalances. Smartness in integrated energy systems (IESs) which are called microgrids (MG) refers to the ability to control and manage energy consumption and production in the distribution level. In such IES systems, the grid-interactive AC microgrid is a novel network structure that allows obtaining the better use of DERs by operating a cluster of loads, DG and DES as a single controllable system with predictable generation and demand that provides both power and heat to its local area by using advanced equipments and control methods. This grid, which usually operates connected to the main power network but can be autonomously isolated (island operation) during an unacceptable power quality condition, is a new concept developed to cope with the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs). Grid connection of RESs, such as wind and solar (photovoltaic and thermal), is becoming today an important form of DG. The penetration of these DG units into microgrids is growing rapidly, enabling reaching high percentage of the installed generating capacity. However, the fluctuating and intermittent nature of this renewable generation causes variations of power flow that can significantly affect the operation of the electrical grid. This situation can lead to severe problems that dramatically jeopardize the microgrid security, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability margin, among others. This condition is worsened by the low inertia present in the microgrid; thus requiring having available sufficient fast-acting spinning reserve, which is activated through the MG primary frequency control. To overcome these problems, DES systems based on emerging technologies, such as advanced battery energy storage systems (ABESSs), arise as a potential alternative in order to balance any instantaneous mismatch between generation and load in the microgrid. With proper controllers, these advanced DESs are capable of supplying the microgrid with both active and reactive power simultaneously and very fast, and thus are able to provide the required security level. The most important advantages of these advanced DESs devices include: high power and energy density with outstanding conversion efficiency, and fast and independent power response in four quadrants. Much work has been done, especially over the last decades, to assess the overall benefits of incorporating energy storage systems into power systems. However, much less has been done particularly on advanced distributed energy storage and its utilization in emerging electrical microgrid, although major benefits apply. Moreover, no studies have been conducted regarding a comparative analysis of the modeling and controlling of these modern DES technologies and its dynamic response in promising grid-interactive AC microgrids applications. In this chapter, a unique assessment of the dynamic performance of novel BESS technologies for the stabilization of the power flow of emerging grid-interactive AC microgrids with RESs is presented. Generally, electrochemical batteries include the classic and well-known lead-acid type as well as the modern advanced battery energy storage systems. ABESSs comprise new alkaline batteries, nickel chemistry (nickel-metal hydride?NiMH, and nickel-cadmium?NiCd), lithium chemistry (lithium-ion?Li-Ion, and lithium?polymer-Li-po), and sodium chemistry (sodium-sulfur?NaS, and sodium-salt?NaNiCl). In this work, of the various advanced BESSs nowadays existing, the foremost ones are evaluated. In this sense, the design and implementation of the proposed ABESSs systems are described, including the power conditioning system (PCS) used as interface with the grid. Moreover, the document provides a comprehensive analysis of both the dynamic modeling and the control design of the leading ABESSs aiming at enhancing the operation security of the AC microgrid in both grid-independent (autonomous island) and grid-interactive (connected) modes...Fil: Sarasua, Antonio Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin

Analysis of integrated STATCOM-SMES based on three-phase three-level multi-pulse voltage source inverter for high power utility applications

This paper is aimed to investigate the operating characteristics of a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) integrated with superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) for high power applications in the transmission network level. The STATCOM controller topology comprises multi-level multi-pulse neutral-point clamped-type (NPC) voltage source inverters (VSIs) using the harmonics cancellation technique, and incorporates a SMES coil. An innovative two-quadrant multi-level dcdc converter is proposed to effectively interface the STATCOM with the superconducting coil using a buck-boost topology with neutral point voltage control capabilities; thus enabling to simultaneously control both active and reactive power exchange with the high voltage power system. A detailed analysis of major system variables is presented, including analytical results and digital simulations using the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Moreover, a three-level control scheme is designed, including a full decoupled current control strategy in the dq reference frame with a novel controller to prevent the STATCOM dc bus capacitors voltage drift/imbalance and an enhanced power system frequency controller.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Watanabe, Edson H.. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin