Solar PV-based distributed generation has increased significantly over the last few years, and the rapid growth is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. As the penetration levels of distributed generation increase, power systems will become increasingly decentralized with bi-directional flow of electricity between the transmission and distribution networks. To manage such decentralized power systems, planners and operators need models that accurately reflect the structure of, and interactions between the transmission and distribution networks. Moreover, algorithms that can simulate the steady state and dynamics of power systems using these models are also needed. In this context, integrated transmission and distribution system modeling and simulation has become an important research area in recent years, and the primary focus so far has been on studying the steady state response of power systems using integrated transmission and distribution system models. The primary objective of this dissertation is to develop an analysis approach and a program that can simulate the dynamics of three phase, integrated transmission and distribution system models, and use the program to demonstrate the advantages of evaluating the impact of solar PV-based distributed generation on power systems dynamics using such models. To realize this objective, a new dynamic simulation analysis approach is presented, the implementation of the approach in a program is discussed, and verification studies are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the program. A new dynamic model for small solar PV-based distributed generation is also investigated. This model can interface with unbalanced networks and change its real power output according to the incident solar irradiation. Finally, application of the dynamic simulation program for evaluating the impact of solar PV units using an integrated transmission and distribution system model is discussed. The dissertation presents a new approach for studying the impact of solar PV-based distributed generation on power systems dynamics, and demonstrates that the solar PV impact studies performed using the program and integrated transmission and distribution system models provide insights about the dynamic response of power systems that cannot be obtained using traditional dynamic simulation approaches that rely on transmission only models. / Ph. D.

<p>The world transportation sector has been relying on the oil industry for more than a hundred years, accounting for the largest oil consumption and one third of the greenhouse gas emissions. However, with the boosting demand, escalating national energy security concerns and emerging environmental issues, reducing and displacing petroleum fuel in transportation sector has become an urging global target. As a result, hybrid electric vehicles evolve as one solution to displace petroleum fuel by utilizing vehicle onboard electrical systems, achieving higher fuel economy and less emissions by vehicle electrification and hybridization.</p> <p>However, since hybrid electric vehicles add additional electrical components and systems to realize better fuel economy, the system complexity increases and thus the cost increases. Hence, it is an objective of this thesis research to focus on the integrations and optimizations, aiming to simplify and optimize the hybrid power-trains in both system level and component level.</p> <p>This thesis contributes to a novel integrated electro-mechanical hybrid transmission that is potentially more compact and more operational flexible with fewer components compared to the GM Allison Two-Mode hybrid transmission. Comprehensive commercialized power-train transmissions are reviewed and analyzed to serve as background information for comparison. It also contributes to a family of double-rotor switched reluctance machines that are more integrated and suitable for hybrid electric vehicle applications. A prototype double-rotor switched reluctance machine has been built and tested for concept proving. Detailed machine design process is reported with the emphasis on design novelties. Finite element analysis and optimization techniques are applied and the accuracy is confirmed by the experiments. In addition, methods of machine loss analysis, thermal analysis and drive analysis are established; manufacturing and testing procedures are documented in detail that can be used for future machine designs guidance.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

abstract: Two significant trends of recent power system evolution are: (1) increasing installa-tion of dynamic loads and distributed generation resources in distribution systems; (2) large-scale renewable energy integration at the transmission system level. A majority of these devices interface with power systems through power electronic converters. However, existing transient stability (TS) simulators are inadequate to represent the dynamic behavior of these devices accurately. On the other hand, simulating a large system using an electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulator is computationally impractical. EMT-TS hybrid simulation approach is an alternative to address these challenges. Furthermore, to thoroughly analyze the increased interactions among the transmission and distribution systems, an integrated modeling and simulation approach is essential. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on an improved hybrid simulation approach and software development. Compared to the previous work, the pro-posed approach has three salient features: three-sequence TS simulation algorithm, three-phase/three-sequence network equivalencing and flexible switching of the serial and par-allel interaction protocols. The second part of the thesis concentrates on the applications of the hybrid simula-tion tool. The developed platform is first applied to conduct a detailed fault-induced de-layed voltage recovery (FIDVR) study on the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) system. This study uncovers that after a normally cleared single line to ground fault at the transmission system could cause air conditioner motors to stall in the distribu-tion systems, and the motor stalling could further propagate to an unfaulted phase under certain conditions. The developed tool is also applied to simulate power systems inter-faced with HVDC systems, including classical HVDC and the new generation voltage source converter (VSC)-HVDC system. The third part centers on the development of integrated transmission and distribution system simulation and an advanced hybrid simulation algorithm with a capability of switching from hybrid simulation mode to TS simulation. Firstly, a modeling framework suitable for integrated transmission and distribution systems is proposed. Secondly, a power flow algorithm and a diakoptics based dynamic simulation algorithm for the integrated transmission and distribution system are developed. Lastly, the EMT-TS hybrid simulation algorithm is combined with the diakoptics based dynamic simulation algorithm to realize flexible simulation mode switching to increase the simulation efficiency. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2016