• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.748-759
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• 2016

The microgrid concept is a promising approach for injecting clean, renewable, and reliable electricity into power systems. It can operate in both the grid-connected and the islanding mode. This paper addresses the two main challenges associated with the operation of a microgrid i.e. control and protection. A control strategy for inverter based distributed generation (DG) and an energy storage system (ESS) are proposed to control both the voltage and frequency during islanding operation. The protection scheme is proposed to protect the lines, DG and ESS. Further, the control scheme and the protection scheme are coordinated to avoid nuisance tripping of the DG, ESS and loads. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1513-1522
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• 2018

This paper proposes a new islanding detection method for inverter-based distributed generators by continuously injecting a negligible amount of 2nd order harmonic current. The proposed method adopts a proportional resonant (PR) controller for the output current control of the inverter, and a PR filter to extract the 2nd order harmonic voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC). The islanding state can be detected by measuring the magnitude ratio of the 2nd order harmonic voltage to the fundamental voltage at the PCC by injecting a 2nd order harmonic current with a 0.8% magnitude. The proposed method provides accurate and fast detection under grid voltage unbalance and load unbalance. The operation of the proposed method has been verified through simulations and experiments with a 5kW hardware set-up, considering the islanding test circuit suggested in UL1741.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1551-1564
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• 2016

The high penetration level of inverter-based distributed generation (DG) power plants is challenging the low-voltage ride-through requirements, especially under unbalanced voltage sags. Recently, a flexible injection of both positive- (PS) and negative-sequence (NS) reactive currents has been suggested for the next generation of grid codes. This can enhance the ancillary services for voltage support at the point of common coupling (PCC). In light of this, considering distant grid faults that occur in a mainly inductive grid, this paper proposes a complete voltage support control scheme for the interface inverters of medium or high-rated DG power plants. The first contribution is the development of a reactive current reference generator combining PS and NS, with a feature to increase the PS voltage and simultaneously decrease the NS voltage, to mitigate voltage imbalance. The second contribution is the design of a voltage support control loop with two flexible PCC voltage set points, which can ensure continuous operation within the limits required in grid codes. In addition, a current saturation strategy is also considered for deep voltage sags to avoid overcurrent protection. Finally, simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1329-1337
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• 2015

By placing distributed generation power sources beside a big nonlinear load, these sources can be used as a power quality enhancer, while injecting some active power to the network. In this paper, a new scheme to use the distributed generation power source in both operation modes is presented. In this scheme, a fuzzy controller is added to adjust the optimal set point of inverter between compensating mode and maximum active power injection mode, which works based on the harmonic content of the nonlinear load. As the high order current harmonics can be easily rejected using passive filters, the DG is used to compensate the low order harmonics of the load current. Multilevel transformerless cascade inverters are preferred in such utilization, as they have more flexibility in current/voltage waveform. The proposed scheme is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK to evaluate the circuit performance. Then, a 1kw single phase prototype of the circuit is used for experimental evaluation of the paper. Both simulative and experimental results prove that such a circuit can inject a well-controlled current with desired harmonics and THD, while having a smaller switching frequency and better efficiency, related to previous 3-phase inverter schemes in the literature.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1352-1364
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• 2013

This paper describes a novel structure for single phase Unified Power Quality Conditioner-Distributed Generation (UPQC-DG) with direct grid connected DC-AC converter for low DC output DG systems which can be used not only for compensation of power quality problems but also for supplying of load power partly. This converter has been composed of one full-bridge inverter, one three winding high frequency transformer with galvanic isolation and two cycloconverters. Proper control based on Input Output feedback Linearization is used to tracking the reference signals. The simulation and experimental results are presented to confirm the validity of the proposed approach.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.8
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• pp.1340-1346
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• 2016

Utilization of Distributed Generations (DGs) using Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) has been constantly increasing as they provide a lot of environmental, economic merits. In spite of these merits, some problems with respect to voltage profile, protection and its coordination system due to reverse power flow could happen. In order to analyze and solve the problems, accurate modeling of DG systems should be preceded as a fundamental research task. In this paper, we present a PhotoVoltaic (PV) generation system which consists of practical PV cells with series and parallel resistor and an inverter for interconnection with a main distribution system. The inverter is based on controllable current source which is capable of controlling power factors, active and reactive powers within a certain limit related to amount of PV generation. To verify performance of the model, a distribution system based on actual data is modeled by using ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) software. Computer simulations according to various conditions are also performed and it is shown from simulation results that the model presented is very effective to study DG-related researches.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2010

This paper presents the modeling, control and simulation of an interconnection system (ICS) of cascaded distributed generation (DG) modules for both grid-tied and stand-alone operations. The overall configuration of the interconnection system is given. The interconnection system consists of a cascaded DC/DC boost converters and a DC/AC inverter. Detailed modeling of the interconnection system incorporating a cascaded architecture has not been considered in previous research. In this paper, suitable control systems for the cascaded architecture of power electronic converters in an interconnection system have been studied and modeled in detail. A novel control system for DC/DC boost converters is presented based on a droop voltage controller. Also, a novel control strategy for DC/AC inverters based on the average large signal model to control the aggregated DG modules under both grid-tied and stand-alone modes is demonstrated. Simulation results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed control systems.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.762-768
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• 2010

This paper describes the development of a new islanding detection method for inverter-based distributed generation systems, which uses a signal cross-correlation scheme between the injected reactive current and the power frequency deviation. The proposed method injects 1% of the reactive current to the rated current which brings about a negligible degradation of the power quality. It discriminates the islanding state, when the calculated cross-correlation index is larger than 0.5. The operational feasibility was verified through computer simulations with PSCAD/EMTDC software and experimental research with a hardware prototype. The proposed method can detect the islanding state without degrading the power quality at the point of common connection. Further study is required to overcome the cancellation of the injected reactive current from multiple distributed generation units interconnected with the utility grid.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1855-1865
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• 2018

This paper presents a control strategy for voltage-controlled multi-function distributed generation (DG) combined with an active power filter (APF) and a reactive power compensator. The control strategy is based on droop control. As a result of local nonlinear loads, the voltages of the point of common coupling (PCC) and the currents injecting into the grid by the DG are distorted. The power quality of the PCC voltage can be enhanced by using PCC harmonic compensation. In addition, with the PCC harmonic compensation, the DG offers a low-impedance path for harmonic currents. Therefore, the DG absorbs most of the harmonic currents generated by local loads, and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the grid connected current is dramatically reduced. Furthermore, by regulating the reactive power of the DG, the magnitude of the PCC voltage can be maintained at its nominal value. The performance of the DG with the proposed control strategy is analyzed by bode diagrams. Finally, simulation and experimental results verify the proposed control strategy.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

It is well known that distributed generation(DG) system using renewable energy is an alternative to solve the problems which result from the exhaustion of fossil fuel and the environmental pollution. A PWM inverter is required for a power flow control in the DG systems. This paper proposes a SRF power flow control method considering grid impedance in grid-connected single-phase inverter systems. The proposed SRF power flow control method can provide a voltage-reference for the single-phase inverter even without any grid impedance estimation so that the single-phase inverter system could operate in stand-alone mode and grid-connected mode based on the known nominal value of grid impedance. Also independent controls of active and reactive power are achieved by the proposed control method. The effectiveness and the validity of the proposed control method are demonstrated through simulations. The simulation results show that the proposed control method can control properly power flow in grid-connected single-phase inverter systems.