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Power quality is an issue of ever increasing importance, and with ever increasingcustomer expectations on such issues, the significance of supplying customers withhigh quality power can never be underestimated. One of the most important mattersthat define power of good quality is the voltage level each customer is supplied with.Most appliances are designed to operate satisfactorily only within a narrow range ofsupply voltages. Inappropriate supply voltages can not only result in poor performingappliances, it can also cause equipment damage, increase distribution losses anddecrease the revenue for the power supplier.The point that is electrically closest to the consumers, where the voltage is activelyregulated and monitored, is usually in a zone substation, where on load tap changerson the zone substation transformers ensure that the voltage in the distribution networkis kept within appropriate limits. The supply voltage is therefore directly reliant oncorrect operation and functionality of the on load tap changers and their controllingautomatic voltage regulators. The main objective that this thesis seeks to achieve is todetermine the most effective method of voltage control to be utilised with differenttypes of zone substations, primarily with respect to the algorithms utilised in theautomatic voltage regulator.Metering data from the distribution network has been utilised to examine the presentvoltage performance of the distribution network. Different reasons that can causevoltage fluctuations and unpredictable voltage performance are investigated anddiscussed. Voltage levels that are investigated are steady-state voltages, hencetransients, flicker, and sags and swells of short duration have not been taken intoconsideration. The present voltage levels are also examined in network models, withthe aim to investigate the impact of altered methods of voltage control in zonesubstations. The accuracy of the utilised network models is also investigated, bycomparing metering data to modelled voltage levels.This thesis is undertaken with the assistance of Ergon Energy Corporation Limited, acorporation owned and operated by the Queensland Government. Ergon Energy ownsand operates the subtransmission and distribution network in regional Queensland. Itis intended that this thesis will aid understanding of the voltage performance of thedistribution network, and that it will bring clarity to how the voltage in thedistribution network should be controlled in order to achieve optimum voltageperformance. / Uppsatsnivå: C

Increased government funding and incentives in recent years has led to an increase in the number of grid-tied renewable energy sources as their economic benefits become more renowned. Unfortunately, the outputs of these renewable resources are often highly variable, resulting in undesirable voltage disruptions that are harmful to sensitive loads. In addition to the energy variability of renewable energy sources, random voltage sags, swells and disruptions are already a major issue in power systems. Recent advances in power electronic devices have provided a platform for new solutions to the voltage support problem in power systems. One promising solution is the Dynamic Voltage Regulator (DVR), a series compensating device used to protect a sensitive load that is connected downstream from voltage sag or swell. For this thesis, the design, modeling, and analysis of a DVR system were performed using PSCAD software. Results from simulation demonstrate the DVR’s effectiveness in protecting a sensitive load from load and source side voltage disturbances as well as regulate the load bus voltage to its rated value.

abstract: In very small electronic devices the alternate capture and emission of carriers at an individual defect site located at the interface of Si:SiO2 of a MOSFET generates discrete switching in the device conductance referred to as a random telegraph signal (RTS) or random telegraph noise (RTN). In this research work, the integration of random defects positioned across the channel at the Si:SiO2 interface from source end to the drain end in the presence of different random dopant distributions are used to conduct Ensemble Monte-Carlo ( EMC ) based numerical simulation of key device performance metrics for 45 nm gate length MOSFET device. The two main performance parameters that affect RTS based reliability measurements are percentage change in threshold voltage and percentage change in drain current fluctuation in the saturation region. It has been observed as a result of the simulation that changes in both and values moderately decrease as the defect position is gradually moved from source end to the drain end of the channel. Precise analytical device physics based model needs to be developed to explain and assess the EMC simulation based higher VT fluctuations as experienced for trap positions at the source side. A new analytical model has been developed that simultaneously takes account of dopant number variations in the channel and depletion region underneath and carrier mobility fluctuations resulting from fluctuations in surface potential barriers. Comparisons of this new analytical model along with existing analytical models are shown to correlate with 3D EMC simulation based model for assessment of VT fluctuations percentage induced by a single interface trap. With scaling of devices beyond 32 nm node, halo doping at the source and drain are routinely incorporated to combat the threshold voltage roll-off that takes place with effective channel length reduction. As a final study on this regard, 3D EMC simulation method based computations of threshold voltage fluctuations have been performed for varying source and drain halo pocket length to illustrate the threshold voltage fluctuations related reliability problems that have been aggravated by trap positions near the source at the interface compared to conventional 45 nm MOSFET. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2011

This work presents a dynamic model for utility-scale PV systems. The model is based on a centralized converter topology, which uses a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) to facilitate the exchange of energy between PV generators and the utility grid. The related control system regulates active and reactive power injected by the PV system, based on a current control strategy. Moreover, the model includes a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) scheme, implemented with the incremental conductance method. Dimensioning of the model is presented as well as simulation cases to validate its performance. Subsequently, the model was used to analyze the effect of variations in solar radiation on a test network with high penetration of photovoltaic generation. Results showed that without proper compensation of reactive power, variations in solar radiation can cause voltage fluctuations outside allowable limits. Thus, in order to mitigate these fluctuations, local control strategies were implemented to allow the exchange of reactive power between the solar farm and the utility grid. Simulations showed that the proposed strategies can mitigate voltage fluctuations at the point of common coupling, improving voltage regulation in the network. / Este trabalho apresenta um modelo dinâmico de sistemas fotovoltaicos de grande escala. O modelo é baseado em uma topologia de conversor centralizado, que usa um conversor de fonte de tensão (VSC) para facilitar a troca de energia entre os geradores fotovoltaicos e a rede elétrica. O sistema de controle relacionado regula a energia ativa e reativa injetada pelo sistema fotovoltaico, com base em uma estratégia de controle de corrente. Além disso, o modelo inclui um sistema de rastreamento de ponto de potência máxima (MPPT), implementado com o método da condutância incremental. O dimensionamento do modelo é apresentado, bem como vários casos de simulação para validar o seu desempenho. Posteriormente, o modelo foi utilizado para analisar o efeito das variações na radiação solar sobre uma rede de teste com uma elevada penetração de geração fotovoltaica. Os resultados mostraram que sem uma adequada compensação de energia reativa, as variações na radiação solar podem causar flutuações de tensão fora dos limites permitidos. Assim, a fim de mitigar estas flutuações, estratégias de controle local foram implementadas para permitir a troca de potência reativa entre os sistemas fotovoltaicos e a rede. As simulações mostraram que as estratégias propostas podem mitigar as flutuações de tensão no ponto de acoplamento comum, melhorando a regulação de tensão na rede.

This work presents a dynamic model for utility-scale PV systems. The model is based on a centralized converter topology, which uses a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) to facilitate the exchange of energy between PV generators and the utility grid. The related control system regulates active and reactive power injected by the PV system, based on a current control strategy. Moreover, the model includes a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) scheme, implemented with the incremental conductance method. Dimensioning of the model is presented as well as simulation cases to validate its performance. Subsequently, the model was used to analyze the effect of variations in solar radiation on a test network with high penetration of photovoltaic generation. Results showed that without proper compensation of reactive power, variations in solar radiation can cause voltage fluctuations outside allowable limits. Thus, in order to mitigate these fluctuations, local control strategies were implemented to allow the exchange of reactive power between the solar farm and the utility grid. Simulations showed that the proposed strategies can mitigate voltage fluctuations at the point of common coupling, improving voltage regulation in the network. / Este trabalho apresenta um modelo dinâmico de sistemas fotovoltaicos de grande escala. O modelo é baseado em uma topologia de conversor centralizado, que usa um conversor de fonte de tensão (VSC) para facilitar a troca de energia entre os geradores fotovoltaicos e a rede elétrica. O sistema de controle relacionado regula a energia ativa e reativa injetada pelo sistema fotovoltaico, com base em uma estratégia de controle de corrente. Além disso, o modelo inclui um sistema de rastreamento de ponto de potência máxima (MPPT), implementado com o método da condutância incremental. O dimensionamento do modelo é apresentado, bem como vários casos de simulação para validar o seu desempenho. Posteriormente, o modelo foi utilizado para analisar o efeito das variações na radiação solar sobre uma rede de teste com uma elevada penetração de geração fotovoltaica. Os resultados mostraram que sem uma adequada compensação de energia reativa, as variações na radiação solar podem causar flutuações de tensão fora dos limites permitidos. Assim, a fim de mitigar estas flutuações, estratégias de controle local foram implementadas para permitir a troca de potência reativa entre os sistemas fotovoltaicos e a rede. As simulações mostraram que as estratégias propostas podem mitigar as flutuações de tensão no ponto de acoplamento comum, melhorando a regulação de tensão na rede.

In this thesis first the behavior of induction generators under unbalanced voltage conditions is studied. In this context, first the existing schemes for characterizing the unbalance in simple ways have been studied. The two schemes IEC, NEMA which are in use to quantify the unbalance, as an unbalance factor require the use of complex algebra. A new scheme to characterize voltage unbalance, without using any complex algebra has been proposed and its effectiveness is compared with the NEMA scheme. The performance of the induction generators under unbalanced voltage conditions is first studied using the symmetrical component approach and a detailed simulation. The machine currents for the same unbalanced conditions are estimated using the proposed scheme and its effectiveness is highlighted. Existing approximate schemes based on unbalance factor do not consider the phase differences between positive and negative sequence voltages while estimating currents. A method of including this feature is proposed here. A simple way to find the maximum line current among the three phases as a function of the positive and negative voltages has been proposed. Knowing the positive, negative sequence voltages and the angle between them, a scheme to compute the generator currents under unbalanced conditions is proposed. Finally a few affecting the machine heating due to unbalanced currents have been studied. The nature of the induction generator fault currents is studied to understand their implication on the system performance. First the fault currents that have been recorded from experiments on relatively small induction motors(26kW and 122kW) are compared with those obtained through detailed dynamic simulation, in order to validate the usage of the detailed dynamic simulations to study the fault current behavior of the induction machines in the absence of experimental or field records. In order to assess the impact of error in the measured machine parameters on the estimated fault current values, the sensitivity of the estimated values of fault currents to machine parameter variations is investigated. The fault currents in large grid connected induction generators (3MW to 500kW) have been estimated through detailed simulation. The effect of the instant of fault (w.r.t voltage cycle), input load levels and shunt capacitors on the fault current values is investigated. An eigen value analysis of the generator model has been carried out to understand the reasons for the observed behavior using the linearized machine model. Fitting functions have been adopted to quantify the fault currents, in order to facilitate comparison of fault currents. A method of including induction generators into the system fault studies has been proposed. Methods of choosing proper sequence impedances for representing the induction generator have been developed and validated using simulated values of balanced and unbalanced fault currents. Simulations of self excited generators have been used for determining the unbalanced fault currents, so as to ensure that the induction generator fault currents correspond to only those contributed by the machine. The impact of the induction generators penetration on the short circuit levels is investigated considering a 14 bus test system by incorporating the proposed induction generator models in a system level fault study.