The objective of this thesis is to determine a method for computing the amount of capacitance in a power electronic converter required to melt a fuse in the event of a line to ground fault. DC micro-grids rely on power electronic converters to change voltage levels. All converters rely on semiconductor switches that must be protected from surges of fault current. This limits the power that a converter can supply to a fuse. In many cases, sufficient power may be achieved by appropriately sizing the converters’ output capacitor. / text

In the present day, owing to the increasing number of electronic loads such as computer power supplies, Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and the increasing number of sources such as solar photovoltaics, fuel cells (DC sources), DC Micro-grids provide a more efficient solution compared to the AC counterpart in terms of the number of stages involved in conversion. Also, the ability to be readily buffered to storage elements is an advantage in a DC system. Apart from this, there are no issues of frequency stability, reactive power transfer and ac power losses. A DC micro-grid is effectively a multi-port dc-dc converter. The ports refer to the various sources and loads that are part of the micro-grid. Sources could be unidirectional (as in the case of PV, load) or bidirectional (as in the case of batteries). Interfacing a variety of ports and controlling power flow between these ports presents an interesting challenge. Commonly used topologies interface the various ports at the DC bus capacitor thereby making the DC bus capacitor bulky. Apart from this, the DC bus coupled topologies route power from one port to another via the central capacitor. This increases the number of stages in transferring power from one port to another. An alternative topology is to use the active bridge type converters where dynamic power flow equations are required to control inter-port power flow. But, as the number of stages increase, the computations get tedious.In this thesis, a novel topology is proposed that uses a UU type transformer core to interface all the power ports. This alleviates the problems faced in the DC bus coupled topologies. A PWM scheme to control simultaneous power flow from each of the ports is also proposed in this thesis. The PWM scheme enables the usage of simple constant frequency average current mode control to dynamically control power sharing ratio between the various ports delivering to loads. By means of the proposed PWM scheme and the control scheme, the drawbacks of the active bridge topologies are alleviated. Using the proposed topology and the PWM scheme, a prototype micro-grid system is developed for a system comprising of the utility grid, batteries, solar PVs and resistive loads. Yet another aspect of the thesis explores the concept of connecting multiple micro-grids in order to create a 'local power network'. A potential application for this could be in interconnecting residential buildings and routing power from one house to another in order to balance demand and supply among these houses. This is against the growing trend of using the utility grid to also sink power and subsequently route it to other houses connected to the grid. Unfortunately not all areas have access to the utility grid. Additionally, turning the grid bidirectional requires that a number of standards be met and policies be created. But, the standard for using a local network that only involves a unidirectional grid is fixed by the community that owns such a network. In a crude sense, this scenario can be compared to the existence of a local area network to transfer information among users of the network. In this thesis, a prototype local power network interconnecting two micro-grids has been implemented.

This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of the conversion of an existing electrical grid that caters to a harbour in southern Sweden. The conversion would be into a smart and decentralized grid in order to accommodate the demands of the energy transition in the region. The primary aim is to improve the existing infrastructure's ability to accommodate potential electrical loads in accordance with forthcoming energy requirements through retrofitting. A systematic methodology was implemented, starting with the creation of a digital twin model of the current grid infrastructure to enable accurate power flow analysis and simulation of expected future load conditions. Following the determination and examination of power flow parameters, the investigation's offer recommendations that aim to enhance the grid's capability to accommodate future load integration without requiring excessive reconstruction. This approach highlights the capacity of retrofitting to serve as a sustainable means of modernizing power grids, thereby contributing to the wider discussion on optimizing energy infrastructure in response to changing consumption patterns and technological progress.

Este trabalho apresenta o processo de ampliação da infraestrutura laboratorial de minirredes e sistemas híbridos do Laboratório de Sistemas Fotovoltaicos do Instituto de Energia e Ambiente da Universidade de São Paulo, (LSF-IEE/USP). O trabalho também contempla uma revisão do estado da arte de sistemas híbridos e minirredes, apresentando principalmente os aspectos técnicos, como formas de acoplamento, e interações com a rede elétrica de distribuição. Descrevem-se os sistemas híbridos presentes no LSF e a infraestrutura para sua interconexão. Posteriormente são realizados os processos de comissionamento e testes operacionais da interconexão dos sistemas híbridos entre si e com a rede elétrica. Ao final é proposto um curso de aperfeiçoamento em minirredes e sistemas híbridos utilizando a infraestrutura presente no LSF. / This work presents the expansion of the micro-grid and hybrid systems infrastructure at the Laboratory of Photovoltaic Systems of the Institute of Energy and Environment at the University of São Paulo (LSF-IEE / USP). The work also presents a review of the state of the art of hybrid systems and micro-grid, presenting mainly the technical aspects, such as types of system interconnections and interactions with the main grid. The hybrid systems existent in the LSF, as well as the infrastructure for their interconnection are described. Subsequently, the commissioning process and the operational tests with the interconnection of the hybrid systems with each other and with the main grid are performed. At the end, a capacity building course on micro-grids and hybrid systems using the existent infrastructure in the LSF is proposed.

Este trabalho apresenta o processo de ampliação da infraestrutura laboratorial de minirredes e sistemas híbridos do Laboratório de Sistemas Fotovoltaicos do Instituto de Energia e Ambiente da Universidade de São Paulo, (LSF-IEE/USP). O trabalho também contempla uma revisão do estado da arte de sistemas híbridos e minirredes, apresentando principalmente os aspectos técnicos, como formas de acoplamento, e interações com a rede elétrica de distribuição. Descrevem-se os sistemas híbridos presentes no LSF e a infraestrutura para sua interconexão. Posteriormente são realizados os processos de comissionamento e testes operacionais da interconexão dos sistemas híbridos entre si e com a rede elétrica. Ao final é proposto um curso de aperfeiçoamento em minirredes e sistemas híbridos utilizando a infraestrutura presente no LSF. / This work presents the expansion of the micro-grid and hybrid systems infrastructure at the Laboratory of Photovoltaic Systems of the Institute of Energy and Environment at the University of São Paulo (LSF-IEE / USP). The work also presents a review of the state of the art of hybrid systems and micro-grid, presenting mainly the technical aspects, such as types of system interconnections and interactions with the main grid. The hybrid systems existent in the LSF, as well as the infrastructure for their interconnection are described. Subsequently, the commissioning process and the operational tests with the interconnection of the hybrid systems with each other and with the main grid are performed. At the end, a capacity building course on micro-grids and hybrid systems using the existent infrastructure in the LSF is proposed.

Les réseaux électriques industriels sont des micro-réseaux se trouvant au prolongement du réseau de distribution auquel ils se raccordent via un ou plusieurs transformateurs. Aujourd’hui dans ces micro-réseaux, on assiste à une croissance de l’utilisation de l’électronique de puissance pour les alimentations à découpage, les moteurs alimentés par des variateurs de vitesse, les ASI en amont des charges sensibles et les compensateurs d’énergie. Néanmoins, si certaines précautions ne sont pas prises, ces éléments risquent d’affecter fortement la stabilité du système particulièrement en mode de fonctionnement îloté où la puissance disponible est limitée. Dans cette thèse, différents facteurs contribuant au départ de l'instabilité sur un micro-réseau sont étudiés et des solutions pour repousser la limite de stabilité sont proposées. D’abord, les études de stabilité petit-signal sont utilisées pour connaître les paramètres affectant le plus la stabilité du système, et les études large-signal sont plutôt utilisées à des fins de quantification des perturbations que peut subir le système sans devenir instable. Ensuite, un stabilisateur indépendant sur le modèle du FACTS et un stabilisateur qui agit directement par les charges du micro-réseau ont été proposés. Plusieurs lois de stabilisation sont étudiées, basées soit sur les retours d'état petit-signal, soit sur des outils large-signal. Enfin, l'emplacement optimal des stabilisateurs sur un micro-réseau a été étudié. Un dernier point concerne le choix de l’intelligence centralisée ou répartie pour la stabilisation / Industrial power grids are micro-grids connected to the distribution grid via transformers. Recently in these micro-grids, there is a growth in the use of power electronic devices for switch mode power supplies, variable speed drives, UPS, critical loads and energy compensators. Nevertheless, if certain precautions are not taken, these devices may significantly affect the system stability especially in islanded operating mode where the available power is limited. In this work, main causes of instability in micro-grids are studied and solutions to improve the stability margins are proposed. First, small-signal stability analysis tools are applied to identify most sensitive components of the system. Then, large-signal tools are used to estimate the domain of attraction of the stable operating point leading to quantify allowable disturbances. Afterward, a dedicated stabilizer similar to FACTS and another stabilizer taking action directly on loads are proposed. Several stabilization laws are studied, based on either small-signal design tools, or on large-signal tools. Finally, the optimal placement of distributed stabilizers in a micro-grid was studied. A final point concerns the choice of centralized or decentralized computers for stabilization.

Creative ways of utilising renewable energy sources in electricity generation especially in remote areas and particularly in countries depending on imported energy, while increasing energy security and reducing cost of such isolated off-grid systems, is becoming an urgently needed necessity for the effective strategic planning of Energy Systems. The aim of this research project was to design and implement a new decision support framework for the optimal design of hybrid micro grids considering different types of different technologies, where the design objective is to minimize the total cost of the hybrid micro grid while at the same time satisfying the required electric demand. Results of a comprehensive literature review, of existing analytical, decision support tools and literature on HPS, has identified the gaps and the necessary conceptual parts of an analytical decision support framework. As a result this research proposes and reports an Iterative Analytical Design Framework (IADF) and its implementation for the optimal design of an Off-grid renewable energy based hybrid smart micro-grid (OGREH-SμG) with intra and inter-grid (μG2μG & μG2G) synchronization capabilities and a novel storage technique. The modelling design and simulations were based on simulations conducted using HOMER Energy and MatLab/SIMULINK, Energy Planning and Design software platforms. The design, experimental proof of concept, verification and simulation of a new storage concept incorporating Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) fuel cell is also reported. The implementation of the smart components consisting Raspberry Pi that is devised and programmed for the semi-smart energy management framework (a novel control strategy, including synchronization capabilities) of the OGREH-SμG are also detailed and reported. The hybrid μG was designed and implemented as a case study for the Bayir/Jordan area. This research has provided an alternative decision support tool to solve Renewable Energy Integration for the optimal number, type and size of components to configure the hybrid μG. In addition this research has formulated and reported a linear cost function to mathematically verify computer based simulations and fine tune the solutions in the iterative framework and concluded that such solutions converge to a correct optimal approximation when considering the properties of the problem. As a result of this investigation it has been demonstrated that, the implemented and reported OGREH-SμG design incorporates wind and sun powered generation complemented with batteries, two fuel cell units and a diesel generator is a unique approach to Utilizing indigenous renewable energy with a capability of being able to synchronize with other μ-grids is the most effective and optimal way of electrifying developing countries with fewer resources in a sustainable way, with minimum impact on the environment while also achieving reductions in GHG. The dissertation concludes with suggested extensions to this work in the future.

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