An implementation of a series interconnection scheme for small distributed generation systems is presented in this thesis. The concept uses one set of voltage source converter to control the injected voltage magnitude and phase angle for power injection and voltage sag mitigation. Because of the use of series interconnection scheme, the energy storage device outputs vary concurrently with the line loading and provides loading leveling functions. Under voltage sag situations, it provides missing voltage to effectively deal with power quality problems. The control algorithm uses the reference voltage tracking concept. A signal phase 484 VA prototype of the proposed system is implemented. The performance of the proposed method is simulated and verified by using Matlab-simulink package and the implemented module.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 165 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-142).

Worldwide, renewable energy systems are booming with reliable distributed generation (DG) technologies to help fuel increasing global energy consumption and mitigate the corresponding environmental problems. High cost and low efficiency are major problems for such systems using traditional buck inverters with line-frequency transformers. This thesis has proposed a novel single-phase single-stage buck-boost inverter suitable for cost-effective small DG systems. The inverter was analyzed from the angle of energy exchange and transfer with two current control schemes, DCM and CCM. Sinusoidal PWM (SPWM) control method, based on DCM, was discussed in details with steady state analyses, computer simulations, and laboratory tests. A concise model with underlying equations was derived to represent the physical behavior of proposed inverter. Closed-loop SPWM control was simulated and verified to have fast dynamic response and good tracking performance with robustness and insensitivity to dc input fluctuations, ac grid variations, and component parametric uncertainties. Other control strategies were also investigated from the critical DCM, CCM, or energy approach to either increase the fundamental output or further improve the performance. Comparisons demonstrated that SPWM was preferred control method with low output THD, reduced switching losses, and simple implementation. Therefore, it is concluded the proposed inverter provides a low-cost and high-efficient solution for small DG systems with low component count, minimal dc and ac filtering requirements, and improved performance.

This thesis introduces a power electronic interface for a kinetic hydropower generation platform that enables extraction of electric power from a free-flowing water source such as a river or a stream. The implemented system transfers power from a high-frequency permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) to a 60-Hz load. Special configurations and control techniques were developed to cater for the long distance between the generator and the power interface; and also to address the wide range of the PMSG frequency and voltage variations. The proposed power-electronic interface was constructed and tested in the laboratory as well as in the field. The thesis also introduces two feasible methods for controlling a hydrokinetic plant to supply islanded loads or to deliver the maximum power available from the turbine-generator to the utility network. Application of multiple turbines in a kinetic farm was also investigated, and different approaches to controlling hydrokinetic turbines were developed.

Because DGs are introduced into distribution systems, the coordination of fuses and reclosers doesn’t work well. It means the original protection schemes are not available for the distribution systems with DGs. This thesis paper presents the study on the impacts of DGs on the fault current and voltage in the distribution system by the simulation of a model distribution system. After we study the impacts of DG on distribution systems, there is an introduction of current several current protection schemes and fault locations methods. At last, an adaptive protection scheme with a more efficient fault location method for the distribution systems is discussed in this thesis paper.

This thesis investigates the engineering economics of interventions to reduce consumer inconvenience due to unreliable electricity supply in rural India. The work introduces and applies a novel approach to estimate interruption costs as loss in consumer surplus due to restricted consumption of electricity services. Chapter 2 reports an assessment that compares grid extension with distributed generation (DG) alternatives, based on the subsidies they will necessitate, and costs of service interruptions that are appropriate in the rural Indian context. Despite the inclusion of interruption costs, standalone DG does not appear to be competitive with grid extension at distances of less than 17 km. However, backing up unreliable grid service with local DG plants is attractive when reliability is very poor, even in previously electrified villages. Introduction of energy efficient lighting changes these economics, and the threshold for acceptable grid unreliability significantly reduces. Chapter 3 analyzes supply rostering (alternatively, “load shedding”) in metropolitan, small town and rural feeders in and around Bangalore city. The inequity in load shedding is analyzed through transfers due to differential tariffs between the urban and rural residential consumers, and the relief provided to BESCOM, through avoided procurement of additional supply from generators, because rural and small town feeders are load shed higher than Bangalore city. The values of the load shedding transfers are estimated to be in the range of Rs. 120-380/consumer-year from the rural consumers, and Rs. 220- 370/consumer-year from the small town consumers. The metropolitan consumers are found to be net beneficiaries. The viability of using smart meters to provide current limited but uninterrupted supply is investigated as one alternative to outright blackouts. Chapter 4 develops a broader theoretical framework that can be used to model consumer demand for electricity services with unreliable supply and adaptation. Demand for energy ‘services’ is modeled by incorporating time of use, duration and deferability. Supply reliability is disaggregated into its constituent dimensions– mean and variance of supply availability in times of high demand, and supply predictability, and their respective impacts on consumer welfare are discussed. Primary data collected from Karnataka inform the discussion, especially with backup adoption. New consumer-oriented reliability indices are proposed.

This thesis introduces a power electronic interface for a kinetic hydropower generation platform that enables extraction of electric power from a free-flowing water source such as a river or a stream. The implemented system transfers power from a high-frequency permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) to a 60-Hz load. Special configurations and control techniques were developed to cater for the long distance between the generator and the power interface; and also to address the wide range of the PMSG frequency and voltage variations. The proposed power-electronic interface was constructed and tested in the laboratory as well as in the field. The thesis also introduces two feasible methods for controlling a hydrokinetic plant to supply islanded loads or to deliver the maximum power available from the turbine-generator to the utility network. Application of multiple turbines in a kinetic farm was also investigated, and different approaches to controlling hydrokinetic turbines were developed.

This thesis addresses the future of sustainable energy distribution and transportation in the United States. Predictions of future energy and transportation demands promote localized energy as the most likely situation. Existing proposals outlining the benefits of decentralized energy production fail to engage architecture. Cities will require new architectural typologies that can integrate new energy infrastructure in the city. Los Angeles, the archetype of the decentralized American city, is introduced as a case study. The city is examined at multiple scales for the integration of a decentralized electricity network and an efficient transportation infrastructure. Siting the proposed facilities capitalizes on new and existing transportation infrastructures and local energy resources. The new electricity-transportation infrastructure is adapted to a decentralized network functioning on principles of ecosystems and energy economics at an urban scale. Energy storage is paired with multi-modal transportation to develop new architectural and urban typologies. This enables the decentralized urban proposal to function as a network exhibiting mutually beneficial characteristics.

Distribution system design and planning is facing a major change in paradigm because of deregulation of the power industry and with rapid penetration of distributed generation (DG) sources. Distribution system design and planning are key features for determining the best expansion strategies to provide reliable and economic services to the customer. In classical planning, the load growth is typically met by adding a new substation or upgrading the existing substation capacity along with their feeders. Today, rapid advances in DG technology and their numerous benefits have made them an attractive option to the distribution companies, power system planners and operators, energy policy makers and regulators, as well as developers. This thesis first presents a comprehensive planning framework for the distribution system from the distribution company perspective. It incorporates DG units as an option for local distribution companies (LDCs) and determines the sizing, placement and upgrade plans for feeders and substations. Thereafter, a new heuristic approach to multi-year distribution system planning is proposed which is based on a back-propagation algorithm starting from the terminal year and arriving at the first year. It is based on cost-benefit analysis, which incorporates various energy supply options for LDCs such as DG, substations and feeders and determines the size, placement and upgrade plan. The proposed heuristic approach combines a bi-level procedure in which Level-1 selects the optimal size and location of distribution system component upgrades and Level-2 determines the optimal period of commissioning for the selected upgrades in Level-1. The proposed heuristic is applied to a 32-bus radial distribution system. The first level of the distribution system planning framework is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem while the second level is a linear programming (LP) model. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve better performance than a full optimization for the same distribution system.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed November 16, 2007) Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-74).