In this thesis, a new HVDC-based converter system for wind farms is investigated. It is based on a mutually commutated soft-switching converter system and provides a unique integrated solution for the wind turbine generator drive systems, the wind turbine interconnection, and the power conversion for HVDC transmission. In a wind farm, the mutually commutated converter system is a distributed system. A medium-frequency collection grid connects the converter station, equipped with a single-phase voltage source converter and a medium-frequency transmission transformer, with the wind turbines, each containing a cycloconverter and a medium-frequency distribution transformer. In this thesis, various system aspects regarding the application of a distributed mutually commutated converter system in a wind farm are investigated. Special attention is paid to the design of a medium-frequency collection grid that has an acceptable level of transient overvoltages, the design of medium-frequency transformers with suitable magnetic, electric and thermal properties, and the development of a strategy to commutate the voltage source converter during low power generation. In order to adapt the mutually commutated converter system for an application in a wind farm, it had to be further developped. Different carrier-based and space-vector oriented modulation methods have been investigated. It turns out that for any load angle there is a quasi-discontinuous pulse width modulation strategy that can produce the same pulse patterns as space vector modulation. In addition, a modulation strategy has been developed that allows to replace the IGBTs in the cycloconverter with cheap, robust, and reliable fast thyristors, despite their absence of turn-off capability. The feasibility of different modulation strategies for mutually commutated converter systems has been verified on a down-scaled prototype converter system with both IGBT- and thyristor-based cycloconverters. Finally, a feasible wind farm layout is proposed, which considerably reduces the energy generation costs for large winds farms distant to a strong grid connection point. As a consequence, the proposed solution may facilitate the establishment of remotely located wind farms. / QC 20100802

Static synchronous compensation (StatCom) is an application that utilizes a voltage source converter (VSC) to provide instantaneous reactive power support to the connected power system. Conventionally, StatComs are employed for reactive power support only. However, with the integration of energy storage (ES) into a StatCom, it can provide active power support in addition to the reactive power support. This thesis deals with the integration of ES into StatComs. The investigation involves the following aspects: possible benefits for power systems, main circuit design, and control strategies. As the basis of the investigation, a control scheme is proposed for two-level VSCs. It is a novel flux modulation scheme combined with the well-known deadbeat current control. The current controller is capable of controlling the positive sequence, the negative sequence, and the offset components of the converter current. With flux modulation, all the three above-mentioned components of the bus flux are controllable. This differs from the conventional voltage modulation scheme, in which only the positive and negative sequence components of the bus voltage are controllable. The difference between the proposed flux modulation scheme and the voltage modulation scheme is investigated regarding saturation of transformers in the connected system during fault recovery. The investigation shows that by controlling the offset component of the bus flux, the transformer saturation problem can be mitigated to a certain extent. The possible benefits of the additional active power support of StatComs are investigated through several case studies. Different active power compensation schemes are proposed. First, active power compensation for sudden load changes in weak systems is investigated. The proposed control strategies are verified through computer simulations and through experiments in a real-time simulator. It is shown that with active power compensation, both the phase jumps and magnitude variations in the voltage at the PCC can be reduced significantly. Secondly, the power compensation of cyclic loads is investigated. The results show that the power quality at the connection point can be improved regarding both phase jumps and magnitude variations. In the third case study, the fault-recovery performance of an example system is investigated, showing that improved performance can be achieved by the additional active power support. ES devices such as capacitors, supercapacitors, and batteries exhibit considerable variation in the terminal voltage during a charging/discharging cycle. A direct connection of ES devices to the dc side of a VSC requires a higher voltage rating of the VSC. Thus, the cost of the VSC has to be increased. In this thesis, a dual thyristor converter topology is proposed to interface ES devices with the dc side of the VSC. First, a cost comparison is performed to compare the total cost of the whole system with and without the proposed interface topology. A cost comparison between various types of ES is also presented, providing a guideline for the choice of ES at energy levels where several alternatives exist. Then, the dynamics of systems with the proposed interface topology are investigated. Control strategies are proposed and verified by computer simulations. Two different control methods for the dual-thyristor converter are compared. / QC 20100819

No description available.

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / The development of power electronics did remove most of technical limitations that high voltage direct current (HVDC) used to have. HVDC, now, is mostly used for the transmission of bulk power over long distances and for the interconnection of asynchronous grid. Along with the development of the HVDC, the growth of power demand also increased beyond the utilities capacities. Besides the on-going increasing of power demand, the reforms in electricity market have led to the liberalization and the incorporation of Independent power providers in power system operation. Regulations and rules have been established by regulating authority for grid integration of Independent power providers. With the expected increase of penetration level of those new independent power providers, result of economic reason and actual green energy trend, best method of integration of those new power plants are required. In this research HVDC technology, namely VSC-HVDC is used as interface for connecting independent power providers units to the grid. VSC-HVDC has various advantages such as short-circuit contribution and independent control of active and reactive power. VSC-HVDC advantages are used for a safe integration of IPPs and make them participate to grid stabilization. MATLAB/Simulink simulations of different grid connected, through VSC-HVDC system, IPPs technologies models are performed. For each IPP technology model, system model performances are studied and dynamics responses during the disturbance are analyzed in MATLAB/ Simulink program. The simulation results show that the model satisfy the standard imposed by the regulating authority in terms of power quality and grid support. Also the results show the effect of the VSC-HVDC in preventing faults propagation from grid to integrated IPPs units.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-26T12:14:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 gabrielazevedofogli.pdf: 13619054 bytes, checksum: d260cb2571f242e43eab89132a03d62c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-26T12:26:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gabrielazevedofogli.pdf: 13619054 bytes, checksum: d260cb2571f242e43eab89132a03d62c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-26T12:26:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gabrielazevedofogli.pdf: 13619054 bytes, checksum: d260cb2571f242e43eab89132a03d62c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-19 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo de conexão de um grupo gerador-diesel (GMG) trifásico em uma rede secundária de distribuição de energia elétrica. A integração do GMG é feita por uma unidade de processamento de energia (PPU) composta por um retificador trifásico não controlado conectado em série com um conversor fonte de tensão (VSC) modulado com uma estratégia de modulação por largura de pulso. O GMG pode operar de duas maneiras distintas: (i) modo standby (interligado) ou (ii) modo isolado. O conversor de saída da PPU pode ser controlado para injetar potência ativa na rede CA, ou como um filtro ativo de potência (FAP) compensando potência reativa e correntes harmônicas nos terminais das cargas. O VSC de interface é controlado no modo de corrente (CMC), sendo seus controladores projetados a partir de funções de transferência obtidas com o modelo matemático do sistema elétrico nas coordenadas dq0. Esses controladores são projetados com múltiplos integradores para garantir a qualidade da forma de onda da corrente injetada na rede CA. Dependendo do modo de operação é utilizada uma malha adicional para regular a tensão do barramento CC do conversor de interface. Para validar o modelo matemático e o algoritmo de controle são realizadas simulações digitais no programa PSIM. Resultados experimentais, obtidos com um protótipo de laboratório, cujos controladores foram implementados em um processador digital de sinais TMS320F28335 da Texas Instruments, são usados para validar as estratégias de controle propostas. / This dissertation presents a study about the connection of a three-phase Diesel Genset (DG) to a secondary distribution network. The integration of DG is done by a Power Processing Unit (PPU) composed of a three-phase rectifier connected in series with a Pulse Width Modulated Voltage Source Converter (VSC). The DG can operate in two distinct modes: (i) standby (interconnected) or (ii) islanding. The PPU’s output converter can be controlled to inject active power into AC electric grid, or as an Active Power Filter (APF), compensating the reactive power and harmonics currents at the load terminals. The VSC is controlled employing the current mode control (CMC), and its compensators are designed based on the electrical system transfer function in dq0 coordinates. Multiple rotating synchronous reference frame integrators (PI-MRI) are used to ensure the quality of the generated power. Depending on the operating mode, an additional loop is used to regulate the DC bus voltage. In order to validate the mathematical model and the control algorithm, digital simulations using PSIM are performed. Experimental results obtained with the prototype, which controllers were implemented in a TMS320F28335 of Texas Instruments are used to validate the proposed control strategies.

Modern interconnected power systems are becoming highly complex and sophisticated, while increasing energy penetrations through congested inter-tie lines causing the operating point approaching stability margins. This as a result, exposes the overall system to potential low frequency power oscillation phenomena following disturbances. This in turn can lead to cascading events and blackouts. Recent approaches to counteract this phenomenon are based on utilization of wide area monitoring systems (WAMS) and power electronics based devices, such as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) and HVDC links for advanced power oscillation damping provision. The rise of hybrid AC-DC power systems is therefore sought as a viable solution in overcoming this challenge and securing wide-area stability. If multiple FACTS devices and HVDC links are integrated in a scheme with no supervising control actions considered amongst them, the overall system response might not be optimal. Each device might attempt to individually damp power oscillations ignoring the control status of the rest. This introduces an increasing chance of destabilizing interactions taking place between them, leading to under-utilized performance, increased costs and system wide-area stability deterioration. This research investigates the development of a novel supervisory control scheme that optimally coordinates a parallel operation of multiple FACTS devices and an HVDC link distributed across a power system. The control system is based on Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) modern optimal control theory. The proposed new control scheme provides coordinating control signals to WAMS based FACTS devices and HVDC link, to optimally and coherently counteract inter-area modes of low frequency power oscillations inherent in the system. The thesis makes a thorough review of the existing and well-established improved stability practises a power system benefits from through the implementation of a single FACTS device or HVDC link, and compares the case –and hence raises the issue–when all active components are integrated simultaneously and uncoordinatedly. System identification approaches are also in the core of this research, serving as means of reaching a linear state space model representative of the non-linear power system, which is a pre-requisite for LQG control design methodology.

With limited enhancement or expansion of the transmission infrastructure, the contemporary power systems are operating under more stressed conditions. It becomes important to fully utilize the existing transmission system to supply load demand as much as possible, thus eliminating or reducing the need for new transmission investment. Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) technology provides an alternative to fully utilize the existing transmission lines as well as new and upgraded lines, by controlling power and also enhancing the power transfer capability of transmission lines. However, the implementation of FACTS controllers in the transmission system has introduced new power system dynamics that must be addressed in the area of power system protection, such as rapid changes in line impedance, power angle, line currents, transients introduced by the occurrence of fault and associated control action of the FACTS controller. Therefore, the performance of the protection system must be carefully analyzed in the presence of FACTS controllers. The thesis aims at evaluating the performance of distance relays when different types of FACTS controllers, in particular Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based FACTS controllers, are incorporated at the midpoint of the transmission system to achieve voltage profile improvement and power transfer capability. The detailed models of these controllers and their control strategies are described. The presence of FACTS controllers in the loop affects both steady state and transient components of voltage and current signals. The rapid response of FACTS controllers to different power system configurations significantly affects the apparent impedance seen by distance relays. The apparent impedance seen by distance relays would be different from that of the system without FACTS controller. Due to this, the distance relay may malfunction, resulting in unreliable operation of the power system during faults. Furthermore, the effect of FACTS controllers on distance relay operation depends on the type of FACTS controller used, the application for which it has been installed and its location in the power system. The distance relay is evaluated for different loading conditions and for various fault conditions. Simulation studies are carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC based transient simulation package.

Wave energy converter (WEC) harnesses energy from the ocean to produce electrical power. The electrical power produced by the WEC is fluctuating and is not maximized as well, due to the varying ocean conditions. As a consequence, without any intermediate power conversion stage, the output power from the WEC can not be fed into the grid. To feed WEC output power into the grid, a two-stage power conversion topology is used, where the WEC output power is first converted into DCpower through rectification, and then a DC-AC converter (inverter) is used to supply AC power into the grid. The main motive of this research is to extract maximum electrical power from the WEC by active rectification and smoothing the power fluctuation of the wave energy converter through a hybrid energy storage system consisting of battery and flywheel. This research also illustrates active and reactive power injection to the grid according to load demand through a voltage source inverter.

The installation of wind power plant has significantly increased since several years due to the recent necessity of creating renewable and clean energy sources. Before the accomplishment of a wind power project many pre-studies are required in order to verify the possibility of integrating a wind power plant in the electrical network. The creation of models in different software and their simulation can bring the insurance of a secure operation that meets the numerous requirements imposed by the electrical system. Hence, this Master thesis work consists in the creation of a wind turbine model. This model represents the turbines installed at Lillgrund wind farm, the biggest wind power plant in Sweden. The objectives of this project are to first develop an accurate model of the wind turbines installed at Lillgrund wind farm and further to use it in different kinds of simulations. Those simulations test the wind turbine operating according to different control modes. Also, a power quality analysis is carried out studying in particular two power quality phenomena, namely, the response to voltage sags and the harmonic distortion. The model is created in the software PSCAD that enables the dynamic and static simulations of electromagnetic and electromechanical systems. The model of the wind turbine contains the electrical machine, the power electronics (converters), and the controls of the wind turbine. Especially, three different control modes, e.g., voltage control, reactive power control and power factor control, are implemented, tested and compared. The model is tested according to different cases of voltage sag and the study verifies the fault-ride through capability of the turbine. Moreover, a harmonics analysis is done. Eventually the work concludes about two power quality parameters.

This project deals with voltage source converters with energy storage capability. The main objective is to study the possible benefits of energy storage to a power system with a VSC as the interface between them. First of all, a converter control system is proposed for a two level VSC. In the conventional converter control, the control system usually takes the voltage measured at the point where the converter is connected and calculates the reference voltage for the converter; with a modulation system the converter then produces the required 'average voltage'. In this project, a novel flux modulation scheme, combined with the deadbeat current control strategy, is proposed. The current controller is capable of controlling both positive and negative sequence current components. With flux modulation, the control system measures the bus flux and commands the converter to generate the required flux. Based on the proposed control strategies, several application studies have been carried out. The first application study investigates the effect of energy storage on the power quality at the point of common coupling when a system is subject to load disturbances. The voltage at PCC in a weak network is very sensitive to load changes. A sudden change in active load will cause both a phase jump and a magnitude fluctuation in the bus voltage, whereas reactive load changes mainly affect the voltage magnitude. With the addition of energy storage to a StatCom, it is possible to compensate for the active power change as well as providing reactive power support. In this thesis, some effective active power compensation schemes are proposed. Simulations and experiments have been performed to verify the compensation schemes. The results show that a StatCom with energy storage can significantly reduce phase jumps and magnitude deviations of the bus voltage. pact of the energy storage on the performance of weak systems under fault conditions has been investigated. The investigation was done by studying an example system. The system model was established based on a real system, in which some induction motors driving pumps along a pipeline are fed from a radial transmission line. Studies show that for a weak system with induction motor loads, a StatCom with certain energy storage capacity will effectively improve the system recovery after faults. Although this incurs extra cost for the increasing dc voltage rating and size of the dc side capacitor, the overall rating of the converter can be reduced by utilization of the proposed active power compensation scheme. The last case study investigates the possible use of a StatCom with energy storage to improve the power quality at the point of common coupling where a cyclic load is connected. Studies show that by providing both fast reactive and fast active power support to the network, not only the voltage magnitude can be well controlled, but also the voltage phase jump can be reduced significantly. / QC 20101124