• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1163-1175
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• 2016

In recent years, microgrids have been the focus of considerable attention in distributed energy distribution. Microgrids contain a large number of power electronic devices that can potentially cause negative impedance instability. Harmonic impedance is an important tool to analyze stability and power quality of microgrids. Harmonic impedance can also be used in harmonic source localization. Precise measurement of microgrid impedance and analysis of system stability with impedances are essential to increase stability. In this study, we introduce a new square wave current injection method for impedance measurement and stability analysis. First, three stability criteria based on impedance parameters are presented. Then, we present a new impedance measurement method for microgrids based on square wave current injection. By injecting an unbalanced line-to-line current between two lines of the AC system, the method determines all impedance information in the traditional synchronous reference frame d-q model. Finally, the microgrid impedances of each part and the overall microgrid are calculated to verify the measurement results. In the experiments, a simulation model of a three-phase AC microgrid is developed using PSCAD, and the AC system harmonic impedance measuring device is developed.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.452-464
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• 2015

This paper proposes a DC microgrid operational strategy and control method for improved service reliability. The objective is to supply power to as many non-critical loads as possible, while providing an uninterrupted power supply to critical loads. The DC bus signaling method, in which DC voltage is an information carrier, is employed to implement the operational strategy in a decentralized manner. During grid-connected operation, a grid-tied converter balances the power of the microgrid by controlling the DC voltage. All loads are connected to the microgrid, and operate normally. During islanded operation, distributed generators (DGs), a backup generator, or an energy storage system balances the power. However, some non-critical loads may be disconnected from the microgrid to ensure the uninterrupted power supply to critical loads. For enhanced service reliability, disconnected loads can be automatically reconnected if certain conditions are satisfied. Control rules are proposed for all devices, and detailed microgrid operational modes and transition conditions are then discussed. Additionally, methods to determine control parameter settings are proposed. PSCAD/EMTDC simulation results demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed operational strategy and control method.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• summer
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• pp.120-122
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• 2004

This paper analyse impacts of Community Energy System (CES) on the grid during transition periods for integrating of the CES and the grid. In the near future, CES might be one of major energy supply structures. The basic concept of CES is that it supplies electrical and thermal energy to the local customer loads through the islanded power network separated from the grid. Therefore, the interconnection with the grid occurs only when the energy supply from the CES generators does not meet the demand of the local load. For avoiding impacting the grid during the transition operation modes of CES, it is necessary to thoroughly analyse the influences on the grid during those periods. In order to show them, in this paper, we model the CES with 2.34 WVA DG and simulate the impacts on the grid due to interconnection of CES The simulation results show that, in order to reduce bad influences of CES on the grid, CES need the efficient load management and generation control schemes during the transition periods.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07a
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• pp.525-526
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• 2006

Recently, much research has been done and many improvements have been developed for islanding protection of distributed generation(DG). Anti-islanding protection for DG must be act very quickly to prevent equipment damage at the time of disconnection and for the safety of maintenance and repair personnel. DG-based detection methods have included both passive and active types, and now research has shifted towards new anti-islanding detection methods that make up for the defects of the previous types. Because differences occur between the utility grid and the DG when connecting and disconnecting depending on the phase difference, voltage, current, relative capacity of electric power, and system operation characteristics, voltage phase angle is an important consideration. In this paper, we simulated islanded operation characteristics comparing phase difference of DG and the connected utility grid, and analyzed various parameters (real power, reactive power, RMS voltage, RMS current, power factor angle, and frequency) by varying the DG's voltage phase angle. Using this information, we propose a suitable DG voltage phase angle for enhanced passive islanding detection techniques.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.350-359
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• 2011

This paper describes the operational analysis results of a DC micro-grid using a detailed model of distributed generation. A detailed model of wind power generation, photo-voltaic generation and fuel cell generation was implemented with an userdefined model created with PSCAD/EMTDC software and coded in C-language. The operational analysis was carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC software, in which the power circuit is implemented by a built-in model and the controller is modeled by an user-defined model that is also coded in C-language. Various simulation results confirm that a DC micro-grid can operate without any problems in both the grid-tied mode and in the islanded mode. The operational analysis results confirm that the DC micro-grid makes it feasible to provide power to the load stably. It can also be utilized to develop an actual system design.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07b
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• pp.1159-1160
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• 2006

As the grid-connected photovoltaic power conditioning systems (PVPCS) are installed in many residential areas, this has raised potential problems of network protection on electrical power system. One of the numerous problems is an Island phenomenon. There has been an argument that because the probability of islanding is extremely low it may be a non-issue in practice. However, there are three counter-arguments: First, the low probability of islanding is based on the assumption of 100% power matching between the PVPCS and the islanded local loads. In fact, an island can be easily formed even without 100% power matching (the power mismatch could be up to 30% if only traditional protections are used, e.g. under/over voltage/frequency). The 30% power-mismatch condition will drastically increase the islanding probability. Second, even with a larger power mismatch, the time for voltage or frequency to deviate sufficient to cause a trip, plus the time required to execute the trip (particularly if conventional switchgear is required to operate), can easily be greater than the typical re-close time on the distribution circuit. And, third, the low-probability argument is based on the study of PVPCS. Especially, if the output power of PVPCS equals to power consumption of local loads, it is very difficult for the PVPCS to sustain the voltage and frequency in an island. Unintentional islanding of PVPCS may result in power-quality issues, interference to grid-protection devices, equipment damage, and even personnel safety hazards. So the verification of anti-islanding performance is strongly needed. In this paper, the authors propose the improved RPV method through considering power quality and anti-islanding capacity of grid-connected three-phase PVPCS in IEEE Std 1547 ("Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources to Electric Power Systems"). And the simulation and experimental results are verified.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2008

As the grid-connected photovoltaic power conditioning systems (PVPCS) are installed in many residential areas, these have raised potential problems of network protection on electrical power system. One of the numerous problems is an Islanding phenomenon. There has been an argument that it may be a non-issue in practice because the probability of islanding is extremely low. However, there are three counter-arguments: First, the low probability of islanding is based on the assumption of 100% power matching between the PVPCS and the islanded local loads. In fact, an islanding can be easily formed even without 100% power matching (the power mismatch could be up to 30% if only traditional protections are used, e.g. under/over voltage/frequency). The 30% power-mismatch condition will drastically increase the islanding probability. Second, even with a larger power mismatch, the time for voltage or frequency to deviate sufficiently to cause a trip, plus the time required to execute a trip (particularly if conventional switchgear is required to operate), can easily be greater than the typical re-close time on the distribution circuit. Third, the low-probability argument is based on the study of PVPCS. Especially, if the output power of PVPCS equals to power consumption of local loads, it is very difficult for the PVPCS to sustain the voltage and frequency in an islanding. Unintentional islanding of PVPCS may result in power-quality issues, interference to grid-protection devices, equipment damage, and even personnel safety hazards. Therefore the verification of anti-islanding performance is strongly needed. In this paper, improved RPV method is proposed through considering power quality and anti-islanding capacity of grid-connected single-phase PVPCS in IEEE Std 1547 ("Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources to Electric Power Systems"). And the simulation results are verified.