• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2018

Recently, LVDC distribution network and DC microgrid with many advantages are being built. However, this LVDC distribution is an IT grounded or ungrounded system, and it is difficult to detect a ground fault because the fault current is small. In this paper, we propose a signal injection method for unipolar LVDC distribution network to detect ground fault in ungrounded LVDC distribution, and various analyzes were performed for ground fault detection.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.54-61
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• 2015

Recently, DC-based power system is being paid attention as the solution for energy efficiency. As the example, HVDC (High Voltage DC) transmission system is utilized in the real power system. On the other hand, researches on LVDC (Low Voltage DC) distribution system, which are including digital loads, are not enough. In this paper, reliability in LVDC distribution system is analyzed according to the specific characteristics such as the arrangement of DC/DC converters and the number of poles. Furthermore, power quality is also taken account of since LVDC distribution system includes multiple sensitive loads and electric power converters. In order to achieve this, LVDC distribution systems are modeled using ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) and both the minimal cut-set method and Customer Interruption Cost (CIC) are used in the reliability analysis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.768-776
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• 2021

Current protection-coordination methods use the reverse time characteristics of the T-C curve, which is not effective for a LVDC distribution system because the protective operation time of converters and DC circuit breakers is much faster than AC protection devices. Therefore, an algorithm is proposed for fault-section isolation using the fault current slope to minimize the blackout region and coordinate between converters and protection devices in a rapid and accurate manner. The method deals with the slope characteristics of a fault current, which may depend on the fault location in an LVDC distribution system. Thus, an LVDC distribution system can be operated in a stable manner by isolating the fault section selectively before the shutdown of the main converter using slope characteristics, which change in proportion to the line impedance and fault location. A 1.5-kV LVDC distribution system was modeled to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm using PSCAD/EMTDC. The system is composed of a distribution substation, LVDC converter, and distribution lines. The simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm is a useful tool for minimizing the fault section in an LVDC distribution system.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1459-1473
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• 2018

This paper focuses on voltage control schemes for multi-terminal low-voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution systems. In a multi-terminal LVDC distribution system, there can be multiple AC/DC converters that connect the LVDC distribution system to the AC grids. This configuration can provide enhanced reliability, grid-supporting functionality, and higher efficiency. The main applications of multi-terminal LVDC distribution systems include flexible power exchange between multiple power grids and integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) using DC voltages such as photovoltaics (PVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). In multi-terminal LVDC distribution systems, voltage regulation is one of the most important issues for maintaining the electric power balance between demand and supply and providing high power quality to end customers. This paper focuses on a voltage control method for multi-terminal LVDC distribution system that can efficiently coordinate multiple control units, such as AC/DC converters, PVs and BESSs. In this paper, a control hierarchy is defined for undervoltage (UV) and overvoltage (OV) problems in LVDC distribution systems based on the control priority between the control units. This paper also proposes methods to determine accurate control commands for AC/DC converters and DERs. By using the proposed method, we can effectively maintain the line voltages in multi-terminal LVDC distribution systems in the normal range. The performance of the proposed voltage control method is evaluated by case studies.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 2016

DC microgrid system is attracted attention in the world, because DC distribution system is more energy efficient than AC distribution system. To analyse the contribution effects of distributed generation(DG) in LVDC distribution system through modeling the Rectifier, DC/DC converter, Energy Storage System(ESS) and Photovoltaic(PV). using PSCAD/EMTDC. This paper analyses fault response characteristics in LVDC distribution system according to the interconnection and islanding operation of DG. Based on research results on the paper, direction for development of fault current reduction method for LVDC distribution system is suggested.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.608-614
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• 2014

Recent developments and trends in the electric power consumption clearly indicate an increasing use of DC in end-user equipment. According to the trends, new DC power distribution systems have been researched and developed although we presently enjoy a predominantly AC power distribution system. We can use various grounding schemes in DC distribution system as well as in AC distribution system to protect human body and equipments. However, we need to evaluate carefully which grounding scheme is appropriate for a specific system before applying those schemes. In this paper, we analyze the human safety and system effect according to various grounding schemes in Low Voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system. Some components in LVDC distribution system are modeled and computer simulations are conducted by using ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

Recently, new Low Voltage DC (LVDC) power distribution systems have been constantly researched as uses of DC in end-user equipment are increased. As in conventional AC distribution system, High Impedance Fault (HIF) which may cause a failure of protective relay can occur in LVDC distribution system as well. It, however, is hard to be detected since change in magnitude of current due to the fault is too small to detect the fault by the protective relay using overcurrent element. In order to solve the problem, this paper presents an algorithm for detecting HIF using accumulated energy in LVDC distribution system. Wavelet Singular Value Decomposition (WSVD) is used to extract abnormal high frequency components from fault current and accumulated energy of high frequency components is considered as the element to detect the fault. LVDC distribution system including AC/DC and DC/DC converter is modeled to verify the proposed algorithm using ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) software. Simulation results considering various conditions show that the proposed algorithm can be utilized to effectively detect HIF.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.486-496
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• 2016

The voltage unbalance of an LVDC bipolar distribution system was controlled for high power quality. Voltage unbalance may occur in a bipolar distribution system depending on the operation of the converter and load usage. Voltage unbalance can damage sensitive load and lead to converter accidents. The conditions that may cause voltage unbalance in a bipolar distribution system are as follows. First, three-level AC/DC converters in bipolar distribution systems can lead to voltage unbalance. Second, bipolar distribution systems can be at risk for voltage unbalance because of load usage. In this paper, the output DC link of a three-level AC/DC converter was analyzed for voltage unbalance, and the bipolar voltage was controlled with algorithms. In the case of additional voltage unbalance according to load usage, the bipolar voltage was controlled using the proposed converter. The proposed converter is a dual half-bridge converter, which was improved from the secondary circuit of a dual half-bridge converter. A control algorithm for bipolar voltage control without additional converters was proposed. The balancing control of the bipolar distribution system with distributed power was verified through experiments.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.1501-1510
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• 2014

Low voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution system is a suitable techno-economic candidate which can create an innovative solution for distribution network development with respect to rural electrification. This research focuses on the use of LVDC distribution system to replace some of KEPCO's existing traditional medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) distribution network for rural electrification in South Korea. Considering the technical and economic risks and benefits involved in such project, a comparative techno-economic analysis on the LVDC and the MVAC distribution networks is conducted using economic assessment method such as the net present value (NPV) on a discounted cash flow (DCF) basis as well as the sensitivity analysis technique. Each would play a role in an economic performance indicator and a measure of uncertainty and risk involved in the project. In this work, a simulation model and a computational tool are concurrently developed and employed to aid the techno-economic analysis, evaluation, and estimation of the various systems efficiency and/or performance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.113-121
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• 2014

At the end of the 19th century, a battle known as the War of the Currents was fought over how electricity would be generated, delivered, and utilized. In this day and age, there has been a growing interest in Green Growth policies as countermeasures against global warming. As a result of these policies, the use of new and renewable energy needed a power converter to replace fossil fuels has expanded. To reduce power consumption through high efficiency of conversion, Low Voltage DC (LVDC) distribution systems are suggested as an alternative. In a DC distribution system, DC loads are very efficient due to decrease the stages of power conversion. If the LVDC distribution system is adopted, not only DC load but also existing AC loads should be connected with LVDC system. Thus, the modeling of two loads is needed to analyze the DC distribution system. This paper, especially, is focused on the modeling of resistive load and electronic load including power electronic converters using ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) software.