Electromagnetic Zero-Sequence Harmonics Blocker： Modeling and Experimental Analysis

This paper reveals new contributions to the analysis and development of devices for harmonic distortion mitigation. Considering the sequential distribution of harmonic currents, zero-sequence components could be diminished using electromagnetic devices, particularly the eZSB （electromagnetic zero-sequence blocking）. One important characteristic of this device, which has received particular attention on this research, is its robustness and low cost of construction. Theoretical and experimental results related to the behavior of the electromagnetic blocking devices are presented. The results illustrate the consistence of the theoretical aspects related with the model in the frequency domain, as well as the performance of the blocking devices, reducing zero-sequence harmonic currents, mainly by the conjunct action of the eZSF （electromagnetic zero-sequence harmonic filter）, working as a impedance coupler. In this context, aiming the evaluation of the reliability of the results obtained through mathematical modeling, experimental tests have been carried out using a low-power prototype, highlighting particular aspects related to its function as a zero-sequence harmonic blocker.     

Assessing Micro-generation＇s and Non-linear Loads＇ Impact in the Power Quality of Low Voltage Distribution Networks

Distribution networks face an increasing penetration of solar PV （photovoltaic） and small WTG （wind turbine generator） as well as other forms of micro-generation. To this scenario, one must add the dissemination of non-linear loads such as EV （electric vehicles）. There is something in common between those loads and sources： the extensive use of power electronic converters with commutated switches. These devices may be a source of medium-to-high frequency harmonic distortion and their impact on the local distribution grid must be carefully assessed in order to evaluate their negative impacts on the network, on the existing conventional loads and also on other active devices. In this paper, methodologies to characterize effects such as： harmonics, network unbalances, damaging power line resonance conditions, and over/under voltages are described and applied to a real local grid configuration.     

Advanced Reactive Power Control at Individual Residences to Smooth Energy Loss Fluctuation for a Clustered Grid-Interconnected PV System

Reactive power control can control voltage within the proper range from the power network side or from the distribution generation （PV （photovoltaic）） side. Reactive power control from the power network side is simpler because little controlled object apparatus, such as STATCOM, is required. However, it is difficult to optimize the individual voltages of residential consumers because few data have been obtained by the power network side as compared with the power generation side. Energy loss at each residence with PV is different due to the difference in the grid-interconnection condition, such as distribution line impedance when the same operating voltage is set at all residences. Therefore, in this paper, the authors propose an advanced reactive power control method for residential PV systems in order to optimally control the voltage at individual residences so as to minimize energy loss fluctuation. The effectiveness of the proposed reactive power control is demonstrated by numerical simulation.     

Optimum Design of Passive Shunt Filters for Power Distribution Networks

Static, passive, filters present an economic and simple solution to the harmonic distortion at the distribution level and at the same time supply the required reactive power for voltage support and/or power factor correction. Applying these filters to a distribution network, if not properly designed, may have an adverse effect on the network. This paper presents analysis of the effects of using passive harmonic filters in a power distribution networks. The driving point impedance at the node where the filter installed, as a measure of how harmonic currents would produce harmonic voltages, is determined as function of the filter parameters. Hence, effects of filter parameters on the system impedance, parallel resonant frequency and impedance at resonance are illustrated. The effects of using more than one filter are also examined. A method for the optimal design of a passive filter considering the component limits, harmonic distortion limits and parameter tolerances is also presented. The proposed optimization model has proved its effectiveness through application to measurements at a real distribution feeder.     

Unified power quality conditioner based on a three-level NPC inverter using fuzzy control techniques for all voltage disturbances compensation

This paper presents a novel and efficient control scheme for unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) based on three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter using fuzzy logic techniques. The proposed UPQC is capable of mitigating source current harmonics and compensate all voltage disturbances such as voltage sags, swells, unbalances and harmonics. It is designed by the integration of series and shunt active filters (AFs) sharing a common DC bus capacitor. The DC voltage is maintained constant using proportional integral voltage controller. The synchronous reference frame (SRF) theory is used to get the reference signals for shunt active power filters (APFs) and the power reactive theory (p-q theory) for series APFs. The shunt and series APF reference signals derived from the control algorithm and sensed signals are injected in two controllers to generate switching signals. To improve the UPQC capability, fuzzy logic techniques are introduced to control the series APF. The performances of the proposed UPQC system are evaluated in terms of power factor correction, mitigation of voltage or current harmonics and all other voltage disturbances compensation using Matlab-Simulink software and SimPowerSystem toolbox. The simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed UPQC at the common connection point of the nonlinear load to improve the power energy quality.     

Test Facility for Low Potential Pumped Storage Power Plants and Hydrokinetic Turbines

The electric energy which is generated by wind power plants depends on the wind speed and exceeds with strong permissible wind speed the electric energy requirements of the country. In order not to reduce this electrical energy, it must be stored. The sensible energy storage is currently the pumped storage power plants. As the mountain ranges for conventional pumped storage power plants with drop heights of H 〉 600 m are strictly limited, the development of low potential pumped storage power plants has begun. Increasing the capacity of pumped storage power plants with regard to the wind power plants is urgently needed. In this paper, it is shown using the example of an unneeded port facility, how a port facility can be used after low conversion as a test facility for low potential pumped storage power plants and at the same time for the testing of hydro-kinetic turbines. This type of pump storage power plants does not save the energy due to large drop heights, but primarily due to the large volume flow of water.     

Dynamic Voltage Restorer with Active Disturbance Rejection Control

Power quality is one of the major concerns among consumers and electric utility companies. CUPS （custom power systems） devices are used to improve the quality of power and enhance the reliability of the power supply in the distribution networks. The DVR （dynamic voltage restorer） is an important CUPS device used to mitigate voltage sag/swell and imbalances. Various control techniques have been implemented to control the DVR, among which the PID （proportional-integral-derivative） controller is dominant because of its model independent property and its error driven technique. In this paper, a new controller based on the ADRC （active disturbance rejection control） concept is developed, and its performance is compared to that of the PID controller. The model of the DVR and its ADRC and PID controllers were developed under the MATLAB （matrix laboratory）/Simulink environment. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the ADRC over the PID controller.     

Defect Detection in Raw Si Substrates Using Transmission Polarimetry

Inline characterization for fabrication of silicon wafer PV （photovoltaic） devices may be used to optimize device efficiencies, reduce their performance variance, and their cost of production. In this article, the frozen in strain from a variety of extended defects in silicon is shown to effect the polarization of light transmitted through a silicon substrate due to the photo-elastic effect. Transmission polarimetry on pre-fabricated silicon substrates may be used for identification of extended defects in the materials using a polarization analysis instrument. Instrumentation is proposed for detection of defects in raw silicon wafers for applications like raw silicon wafer sorting, scanning silicon bricks, and inline inspection prior to solar cell metallization. Such analysis may assist with gettering of silicon solar cells, may be implemented in the sorting and rejection procedures in PV device fabrication, and in general shows advantages for detection of defects in silicon wafer solar cell materials and devices.     

Commentary on various formulations of distortion power D

In a circuit where the load is nonlinear or the source has nonsinusoidal wave forms the apparent power is defined as S=√(P ²+Q²+D²), where various formulations of distortion power D are reviewed. It is well known that the distortion power D is generated by the cross products of voltage and current harmonics of different frequencies. Accurate experiments are performed to measure the distortion power for a great variety of nonlinear load conditions of a 25 kVA transformer for a range of total harmonic current (THD_i) and total harmonic voltage (THD_v) distortions. The computed distortion power D as a function of voltage and current harmonics of unlike frequencies is validated by measurements: one concludes that a proper interpretation of Budeanu's definition is correct and agrees with measured results     

Flexible HVDC Transformer for Next Generation Renewable Energy Industry

The growing demand on non-fossil fuel energy has escalated the desire for mega-scale renewable energy power generation, which can no longer be satisfied solely by relying on onshore renewable energy power plants. Outcomes from a recent project funded by the Sixth European Union Framework Programme （FP6）, Project ＂Upwind＂ concluded that larger offshore wind turbines （i.e., 〉 10 MW） are feasible and cost effective. It will be beneficial for such future large scale renewable energy power generators （i.e., large offshore turbines） and plant （i.e., large offshore wind farms） to have a dedicated high efficiency, robust, flexible and low cost power collection, transmission and distribution technology. Proposed in this paper is a compact and effective hybrid HVDC （high voltage direct current） transformer that allows realisation of a highly robust and financially rewarding next generation multi-terminal HVDC system for future offshore renewable energy power plant. This concept, potentially, allows the elimination or minimisation of the need for a centralised local offshore HVDC platform or substation in each wind farm, solar farm, or tidal farm. This paper discusses the study outcome of the proposed hybrid HVDC transformer and the application of a multi-terminal HVDC system in the renewable energy industry, compared to the existing HVAC and VSC （voltage source converters） type HVDC systems.     

Development and performance test of smart power conditioner for value-added PV application

It is a disadvantage that PV power generation is only useful for clear daytime. However, a new 24 hours of application in an extended area can be added by active utilization of potential ability of PV power conditioner. For this purpose, a new multi-functional power conditioner was developed, which has a smoothing function to reduce PV output variation and load fluctuation, and also has additional function to compensate harmonics current and reactive power caused by customer's load.As a result of indoor testing, a reduction rate of around for harmonics current and reactive power were achieved. In addition, the reduction rate around for smoothing of PV output variation and load fluctuation were verified.The work was promoted by NEDO as part of the New Sunshine Project in Japan.     

基于HHT变换的微网电压闪变与谐波检测新技术

微网中大规模的分布式电源由于其自身特点及大量电力电子设备的使用,容易引起电网电压波动、电压闪变及谐波等电能质量问题,影响电力用户的供电要求。利用HHT(Hilbert-Huang transform)变换方法对微网中的电压闪变、谐波等电能质量扰动信号进行了EMD分解,得到各IMF分量,通过对IMF分量进行Hilbert谱分析和边际谱分析。仿真结果表明,该方法能快速有效地检测出微网中电压闪变信号的频率和幅值及谐波信号产生及终止的时刻。     

Design of Capacitor Bank in Parallel to Photovoltaic Power Plant

The purpose of the paper is to develop a solution for application of PV （photovoltaic） generators in MV （medium voltage） distribution system without unacceptable voltage changes due to drops of PV power output. The proposed solution includes operation of PV with predetermined leading power factor and addition of a capacitor bank in parallel to PV plant in order to compensate the reactive power absorbed by the PV inverters. The analytical expression of required power factor angle is derived. Adding a capacitor bank in parallel to PV power plant may pose a problem because of space limitations. The dimensions and cost of small MV capacitor banks depend significantly on the capacitor bank protection against internal faults. Application of the developed negative-sequence current difference method for the unbalance protection of the capacitor banks enables to achieve a compact and cost-reduced design of the banks connected in parallel to PV power plants. A real-world example of operation of the PV plant in parallel to the capacitor bank with the novel protection scheme is described.     

新型铁路电力光伏三相并网逆变器

针对传统的逆变器技术谐波大、电能质量不稳定等问题,基于单周期控制原理对铁路电力光伏三相并网逆变器进行了研究。介绍了单周期控制的基本原理,分析了单周期控制下的三相逆变器工作原理,推导了三相逆变器的开关数学模型和等效控制方程,建立了用于铁路电力的三相光伏并网逆变器及其控制系统,并通过Matlab/Simulink对三相光伏逆变器建模仿真。结果表明,该三相光伏并网逆变技术可快速有效地消除谐波和校正功率因数,具有良好的性能。     

A Real-Time Power Controller for Grid-Connected Inverters in LV Smart Microgrids

This paper presents a real-time power flow controller for VSIs （voltage source inverters） interfaced to low voltage microgrids. The proposed controller is modular, flexible, intelligent, inexpensive, portable, adaptive and designed to positively contribute in low voltage microgrids in which the lines R/X ratio is greater than the transmission lines. Therefore, the proposed control strategy is developed for operation in distribution lines. The controller strategy is different from the conventional grid-connected inverters which are designed based on transmission line characteristics. This controller, using a Texas Instrument general purpose DSP （digital signal processor）, is programmed and tuned using MATLAB/SIMULINK in order to enhance self-healing, reliability and stability of the grid. This general purpose controller makes proper decisions using its local measurements as the primary source of data. The controller has the capability of communicating with the adjacent controllers and sharing the information if/when needed. The power flow output of the inverter is tested for both islanded and grid-connected modes of operation. The inverter positively contributes to active and reactive power supply while operating in grid-connected mode. The proposed control method has been implemented on a Texas Instrument DSC （digital signal controller） chip and tested on a hardware test bench at the Alternative Energy Laboratory at WVU1T （West Virginia University Institute of Technology）. The system＇s experimental results veri~ the validity and efficiency of the proposed controller.     

风机并网对电能质量影响因子研究

为了给电网控制策略提供可靠的参考依据,对电网在接入风机后电能质量的变化进行了详尽的分析。风机作为电源同时也作为非线性负载接入配电网中使得电能质量的分析更加复杂。首先对国标中着重介绍的稳态电能质量：电压偏差,三相不平衡度,谐波以及电压波动进行理论介绍,然后在Matlab／Simulink上建立了配电系统与风机并网的模型,得到风机对电能质量不同方面的影响程度,最后采用先进电力电子设备为平稳电压电流输出提供一定的方法,并进行验证。研究结果表明,电力谐波和电压波动闪变是风机对电网的最主要的影响因素。     

Simulation Analysis for Massive Deployment of Variable Renewables Employing an Optimal Power Generation Mix Model

This paper develops a high time-resolution optimal power generation mix model in its time resolution of 10 minutes on 365 days by linear programming technique. The model allows us to analyse the massive deployment of photovoltaic system and wind power generation in power system explicitly considering those short-term output variation. PV （photovoltaic） and wind output are estimated, employing meteorological database. Simulation results reveal that variable fluctuation derived from a high penetration level of those renewables is controlled by quick load following operation of natural gas combined cycle power plant, pumped-storage hydro power, stationary NAS （sodium and sulfur） battery and the output suppression control of PV and wind. It additionally turns out that the operational configuration of those technologies for the renewable variability differs significantly depending on those renewable output variations in each season and solving the seasonal electricity imbalance as well as the daily imbalance is important if variable renewables are massively deployed.     

Connecting Wind Turbine Generator to Distribution Power Grid--A Preload Flow Calculation Stage

A distribution grid is generally characterized by a high R/X （resistance/reactance） ratio and it is radial in nature. By design, a distribution grid system is not an active network, and it is normally designed in such a way that power flows from transmission system via distribution system to consumers. But in a situation when wind turbines are connected to the distribution grid, the power source will change from one source to two sources, in this case, network is said to be active. This may probably have an impact on the distribution grid to whenever the wind turbine is connected. The best way to know the impact of wind turbine on the distribution grid in question is by carrying out load flow analysis on that system with and without the connection of wind turbines. Two major fundamental calculations： the steady-state voltage variation at the PCC （point of common coupling） and the calculation of short-circuit power of the grid system at the POC （point of connection） are necessary before carrying out the load flow study on the distribution grid. This paper, therefore, considers these pre-load flow calculations that are necessary before carrying out load flow study on the test distribution grid. These calculations are carded out on a test distribution system.     

Power quality compensation using universal power quality conditioning system

The aim of this letter is to present a universal power quality conditioning system (UPQS) named after a unified power quality conditioner (UPQC), which is extended by adding a shunt active filter at the load side. Its main purpose is to compensate for supply voltage and load current imperfections, such as sags, swells, interruptions, imbalance, flicker, harmonics, reactive currents, and current unbalance. Converter and control analysis is presented together with results showing the UPQS modes of operation.     

Feasibility of Wind Power Generation for the Reduction of Power Costs in Residential Buildings

The installation of wind power generators on buildings located in areas with regular winds may be a suitable investment in a renewable power source. Brazil has a high eolic potential, where the annual mean wind speed may reach over eight meters per second. This case study is aimed to assess the economic feasibility of the installation of small wind power plants in urban areas. This work evaluates a project for the installation of a vertical axis wind turbine in three buildings （15-, 22-, and 26-story） including the following stages： （1） installation of a real-time power meter in the 15-store unit; （2） demand analysis of the 26-store building＇s power consumption; （3） winds survey along the coast of the State of Ceara; （4） analysis of the wind turbines available in the market; （5） simulation aimed to choose the system. Vertical wind power generators offer better conditions of use in urban areas. The turnover time was established to be between four and six years in the three studied units. The installation of a wind power generator on buildings in regions with an adequate eolic regimen reaches a financial return of the investment before the end of the equipment＇s lifespan.