Over the last decade, power systems have evolved dramatically around the world, owing to higher demand, stringent requirements on quality and environmental concerns that are becoming increasingly critical. With the introduction of new technologies like large-scale renewable energy, wide-area measurement based on phasor measurement units (PMUs) and consumer interaction in the distribution system, the power grid today has become more potent than ever before. Most of the defining features of the smart grid today rest on the integration of advanced communication capabilities into the grid. While communication infrastructure has become a key enabler for the smart grid, it also introduces new and complex control challenges that must be addressed. As we increasingly rely on information transmitted to distant areas over communication networks, it becomes imperative to model the effects of the communication system on the stability of the power grid. Several approaches exist in control theory to study such systems, widely referred to as Networked Control Systems (NCS). Networked control theory provides mathematical tools for system stability analysis and control in the presence of communication delays, packet dropouts and disordering due to transmission of sensor and actuator signals via a limited communication network. In this thesis, a networked control framework for smart grids with integrated commu-nication infrastructure (ICT) is developed. In particular, a networked control systems perspective is developed for two scenarios - wide-area monitoring control, and coordinated control of distributed generation sources. The effects of communication delays and packet dropouts on power system stability are modeled in detail. In the wide-area monitoring control problem, system state measurements are trans-mitted from remote locations through a communication network. The system is modeled as an NCS and a control design approach is presented to damp inter-area oscillations arising from various power system disturbances in the presence of communication constraints. In the coordinated control scenario, a power system with geographically dispersed sources is modeled as an NCS. A networked controller is designed to stabilize the system in the presence of small signal disturbances when system measurements are subject to communication delays and packet dropouts. A realistic output feedback networked control scheme that only uses voltage measurements from PMUs is also developed for practical implementation. The networked controllers designed in this thesis are validated against controllers designed by standard methods, by simulation on standard test systems. The networked controllers are found to enhance power system stability and load transfer capability even in the presence of severe packet dropouts and delays. Several extensions and theoretical problems motivated by this thesis are also proposed.

In the modern generation, Electric Power has become one of the fundamental needs for humans to survive. This is due to the dependence of continuous availability of power. However, for electric power to be available to the society, it has to pass through a number of complex stages. Through each stage power quality problems are experienced on the grid. Under-voltages and over-voltages are the most common electric problems experienced on the grid, causing industries and business firms losses of Billions of dollars each year. Researchers from different regions are attracted by an idea that will overcome all the electrical issues experienced in the traditional grid using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The idea is said to provide electric power that is sustainable, economical, reliable and efficient to the society based on Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). The idea is Smart Grid. The research focused on Power Quality Optimization in Smart Grid based on improved Differential Evolution (DE), with the objective functions to minimize voltage swells, counterbalance voltage sags and eliminate voltage surges or spikes, while maximizing the power quality. During Differential Evolution improvement research, elimination of stagnation, better and fast convergence speed were achieved based on modification of DE’s mutation schemes and parameter control selection. DE/Modi/2 and DE/Modi/3 modified mutation schemes proved to be the excellent improvement for DE algorithm by achieving excellent optimization results with regards to convergence speed and elimination of stagnation during simulations. The improved DE was used to optimize Power Quality in smart grid in combination with the reconfigured and modified Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR). Excellent convergence results of voltage swells and voltage sags minimization were achieved based on application of multi-objective parallel operation strategy during simulations. MATLAB was used to model the proposed solution and experimental simulations. / Electrical and Mining Engineering / M. Tech. (Electrical Engineering)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis proposes a family of non-isolated bidirectional converter in order to interface dc and ac variables. Such power electronics solutions guarantee: (i) bidirectional power flow between dc and ac converter sides, (ii) independent control in both converter sides, (iii) high level of integration with a reduction of one power switch and its drive circuits, (iv) implementation of two functions by using a unique power conversion stage and (v) reduction of the capacitor losses. Despite proposing new power converter solutions, this thesis presents an analysis of the converters in terms of pulse-width-modulation (PWM) strategy, dc-link capacitor variables, and suitable a control approach. Solutions for single-phase, three-phase and three-phase four-wire systems are proposed by employing a converter leg with three switches. A possible application of this converter is in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems and interfacing dc microgrid with a utility grid. In addition to the new power electronics converters proposed in this thesis, an experimental setup has been developed for validation of the simulated outcomes. The proof-of-concept experimental setup is constituted by: DSP, Drivers & Integrating Board, Power Supply and, Power Converter & Heat-Sink .

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis presents a converter topology for photovoltaic panels. This topology minimizes the number of switching devices used, thereby reducing power losses that arise from high frequency switching operations. The control strategy is implemented using a simple micro-controller that implements the proportional plus integral control. All the control loops are closed feedback loops hence minimizing error instantaneously and adjusting efficiently to system variations. The energy management between three components, namely, the photovoltaic panel, a battery and a DC link for a microgrid, is shown distributed over three modes. These modes are dependent on the irradiance from the sunlight. All three modes are simulated. The maximum power point tracking of the system plays a crucial role in this configuration, as it is one of the main challenges tackled by the control system. Various methods of MPPT are discussed, and the Perturb and Observe method is employed and is described in detail. Experimental results are shown for the maximum power point tracking of this system with a scaled down version of the panel's actual capability.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The substantial increase demand for electrical energy requires high efficient apparatus dealing with energy conversion. Several technologies have been suggested to implement power supplies with higher efficiency, such as multilevel and interleaved converters. This thesis proposes an energy conversion unit with an optimized number of output voltage levels per number of switches nL=nS. The proposed five-level four-switch per phase converter has nL=nS=5/4 which is by far the best relationship among the converters presented in technical literature. A comprehensive literature review on existing five-level converter topologies is done to compare the proposed topology with conventional multilevel converters. The most important characteristics of the proposed configuration are: (i) reduced number of semiconductor devices, while keeping a high number of levels at the output converter side, (ii) only one DC source without any need to balance capacitor voltages, (iii) high efficiency, (iv) there is no dead-time requirement for the converters operation, (v) leg isolation procedure with lower stress for the DC-link capacitor. Single-phase and three-phase version of the proposed converter is presented in this thesis. Details regarding the operation of the configuration and modulation strategy are presented, as well as the comparison between the proposed converter and the conventional ones. Simulated results are presented to validate the theoretical expectations. In addition a fault tolerant converter based on proposed topology for micro-grid systems is presented. A hybrid pulse-width-modulation for the pre-fault operation and transition from the pre-fault to post-fault operation will be discussed. Selected steady-state and transient results are demonstrated to validate the theoretical modeling.