A new control algorithm of active power line conditioner for improving power quality

In this paper, a new control algorithm for active power line conditioner (APLC) is proposed. The proposed APLC contains two power converters, a series power converter and a shunt power converter. The series power converter is operated as a current source, and it has the function of a harmonic isolation to block the harmonic current from the nonlinear load to mains and the harmonic voltage from the mains to load. The shunt power converter is operated as a voltage source to supply a clean and regulated output voltage to the load. Both power converters use the same dc bus. To demonstrate its performance, a prototype is developed and tested. The tested results show that the proposed APLC has the expected performance.     

An investigation of induced voltages to an underground gas pipeline from an overhead transmission line

This paper investigates induced voltage characteristics from an overhead transmission line by applying a method of modeling of induced voltages proposed by the authors. EMTP simulation results obtained by the modeling method agree with analytical results obtained from a well‐known formula. The induced voltages are significantly dependent on the configuration of the overhead line. A horizontal line induces the largest voltage in a gas pipeline, and the voltage induced by a vertical twin‐circuit line is about 20% smaller than that induced by a vertical single‐circuit line. The method is applied to a real pipeline system and the simulation results show reasonable agreement with field test results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(1): 43–51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20465     

A new control strategy for active power line conditioner (APLC) using adaptive notch filter

This paper proposes a new adaptive control algorithm for a three-phase current-source shunt active power-line conditioner (APLC) operating under unbalanced and distorted network conditions. This control scheme aims at compensation of network’s reactive power, elimination of active power’s oscillating components, compensation of network current and voltage harmonic contents resulting in sinusoidal waveforms, and equilibrating the drawn power from the source evenly between the three-phases. Unlike many of the existing methods, the proposed strategy does not require any coordinate transformations or complicated calculations. The reference signals for the hysteresis-band current controlled voltage-source converter (HBCC-VSC) are generated by passing the measured current and voltage signals through two layers of modified adaptive notch filters (ANFs). To ensure superb performance and minimum total harmonic distortion (THD) level of the power system, parameters of the HBCC-VSC are obtained using differential evolution (DE) optimization algorithm. The proposed strategy is simple, easily implementable, and robust against uncertainty or variations of power system parameters and loads. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is validated by simulation results of a selected network under various load and power system conditions.     

IEEE-519-based real-time and optimal control of active filters under nonsinusoidal line voltages using neural networks

In this paper, a fast and simple neural network (NN)-based control system for shunt active power filters operating under distorted voltage conditions is developed. The proposed system is an enhanced version of the optimal and flexible control (OFC) strategy with very fast and simple structure. In the proposed system, the time-consuming and complex nonlinear optimization algorithm required by OFC is replaced by a simple 3-layer perceptron NN. The NN is trained off-line using some random data based on the IEEE-519 Standard, while it can be used for a very wide range of new voltage waveforms in practice. The proposed system has been developed after introducing a new version of the OFC strategy in a-b-c frame of reference. This system satisfies both theoretical and practical requirements. Several simulation results using MATLAB toolboxes under highly distorted and unbalanced voltages have been provided to validate the ability of the proposed control system.     

Resonant converter power line conditioner: design and evaluation

The operation, design, and implementation of a power line conditioner that utilizes the principles of resonant converter circuits are described. Compensation of line harmonics and power factor correction are achieved by injecting high-frequency resonant current pulses of appropriate amplitude into the supply lines at regular sampling intervals. Computer simulation results of the power line conditioner for several typical loads indicate a high level of performance. Experimental results from a single phase laboratory prototype compare well with the performance predicted by computer simulations     

基于高频信号的输电线路主动式保护

现行输电线路的故障类型和故障性质判别均依据线路中电气量的变化特征被动判断,对于某些线路运行状况,往往因缺乏主动性而造成保护误动或拒动。针对这个问题,借鉴纵差保护输电线载波通信技术,分析高频信号在输电线路各种故障时的传播特性,提出了一种基于高频信号的输电线路主动式保护。该保护通过向输电线路发射高频信号,主动判断输电线路的故障类型和故障性质。仿真验证结果表明,这种输电线路主动式保护可以准确判断出输电线路中各种类型的故障,并通过延时循环判断,可靠区分瞬时性故障和永久性故障。     

A study of three-phase active power filters under nonideal mains voltages

The performance of three-phase active power filters under nonideal voltage scenarios is investigated in this paper. It begins with the analysis of an instantaneous reactive power algorithm applied for the three-phase active power filter design, which was found to present poor performance under nonideal test scenarios. This motivates our proposed design of a new active power filter for solving such problems. In the proposed scheme, the circuit not only shows its effectiveness in the tests, but also implements with a simpler control circuit when compared with the other algorithm. The method has been implemented as a prototype and tested through various simulation cases, including ideal mains voltage, unbalanced three-phase mains voltage, and distorted mains voltage. Test results have demonstrated the feasibility and practicality of the proposed method approach for the applications.     

基于可控整流的级联SVG直流侧电压平衡控制

针对级联多电平静止无功补偿器(STATCOM)的直流侧电容电压存在平衡性和稳定性的问题,提出采用可控整流技术对电容电压进行控制。给出了该系统数学模型的建立过程,研究了控制器的设计方法,并在SIMPLORER软件平台上完成了系统模型的搭建,仿真结果表明,整流器可以有效地补偿各个H桥中的损耗差异,使电容电压保持较好的平衡性和稳定性。在仿真结果中,还给出了逆变侧在直接电流控制和间接电流控制下不同的控制效果,比较了它们的优缺点。具有一定的实用性和可行性。     

A power line conditioner using cascade multilevel inverters fordistribution systems

In this paper, a power line conditioner using a cascade multilevel inverter is presented for voltage regulation, reactive power (VAr) compensation, and harmonic filtering. The cascade M-level inverter consists of (M-1)/2 H bridges, in which each bridge has its own separate DC source. This new inverter can: (1) generate almost sinusoidal waveform voltage with only one time switching per line cycle; (2) eliminate transformers of multipulse inverters used in the conventional static VAr compensators; and (3) make possible direct connection to the 13.8 kV power distribution system in parallel and series without any transformer. In other words, the power line conditioner is much more efficient and more suitable to VAr compensation and harmonic filtering of distribution systems than traditional multipulse and pulsewidth modulation inverters. It has been shown that the new inverter is especially suited for VAr compensation. This paper focuses on feasibility and control schemes of the cascade inverter for voltage regulation and harmonic filtering in distribution systems. Analytical, simulated, and experimental results show the superiority of the new power line conditioner     

Electroluminescence in polyethylene subjected to impulse voltages

Electroluminescence (EL) from HDPE (high-density polyethylene) films subjected to repetitive rectangular-shaped impulse voltages has been investigated at electric fields <80 kV/mm in order to clarify the temporal behavior of carriers injected into the polymer. EL emission was distinctly observed during the voltage rise and fall phases. During the voltage plateau and the zero voltage phases, the EL intensity did not instantly decrease to zero but a very weak EL emission lasted for at least 3 ms. The number of EL pulses was determined by the amplitude of the impulse voltage, whereas the EL intensity strongly depended on the temporal variation rate of the voltage. The total number of EL pulses during both phases of the voltage rise and fall was almost equal. The EL spectra did not depend on the phase and the amplitude of the impulse voltage. The above behavior of EL emission can be explained qualitatively by the electron-hole recombination in the metal-polymer interface region and showed the picture of temporal behavior of carriers, carrier injection and transport, in the interface region for the field relaxation at the interface     

An intelligent balance

This paper discusses the intelligent balance, which has been established between real and virtual experiments and it also gives skills that have not covered in conventional electronics and communication engineering. Engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgment and common sense to make things that benefit people. The explosive growth of computer capabilities and easy access to nanominiature devices has revolutionized communication and the analysis of complex systems. The EC engineer either individually or as a member of a team, can play an important role in this technical diverse mosaic and this community prepares to adapt frequency shifts in technical priorities. EC engineers should be given computers hand-on-practice and training and also should understand the physics of the problem and fundamental theorem.     

Surge voltages and currents into a customer due to nearby lightning

This paper presents experimental results of lightning surges incoming into a customer due to lightning to an antenna of the customer, a pole and a ground nearby the customer, and briefly discusses lightning current distribution in the customer, a distribution line and a telephone line. Based on experimental results, modeling of each component is explained, and EMTP simulations are carried out. The ground voltage rise is represented by a mutual resistance between grounding electrodes. EMTP simulation results have been observed to agree qualitatively with the measured results, and it becomes possible to investigate lightning surges and current distribution in a customer by an EMTP simulation.     

Active power line conditioner planning using an enhanced optimal harmonic power flow method

The active power line conditioner (APLC) is a type of active power filter that compensates the voltage waveform distortion caused by harmonics in power systems. This paper presents a new approach based on the authors’ previously presented two-level algorithm, optimal harmonic power flow (OHPF), to investigate the determination of locations and sizes of APLCs: the master level determines the compensator/tap settings and the new APLC locations/sizes; the slave level includes subproblems which involve cases of fundamental and harmonic frequencies separately. The objective is to minimize the new APLC injection currents, the voltage distortion, and the KW losses while satisfying the power flow equations, the harmonic power flow equations, the security constraints, and the harmonic standard. Test results for an 18-bus distribution system show the applicability of the proposed method.     

Air conditioner response to transmission faults

This paper describes two multi-phase faults events which occurred during periods of high air conditioning use. There was a significant loss of load in these events which is attributed to air conditioner motor protection. The overall response of the transmission system is simulated using induction motor models based on the characteristics of a typical residential air conditioner compressor motor. The sensitivity of factors such as fault location, fault duration and excitation system performance is also investigated     

Mitigation of voltage sags, imbalances and harmonics in sensitive industrial loads by means of a series power line conditioner

Power quality is a very important topic nowadays. Sensitive industrial equipment should be protected against steady-state distortions and temporary transients in the distribution lines. Typical disturbances that affect the voltage waveform quality are harmonics, imbalances and sags. This paper presents a solution to protect sensitive loads against voltage disturbances that is based on a series power line conditioner. The goal of the proposed design is that the load does not suffer considerable input voltage variations. To achieve that, a Proportional-Resonant (PR) controller and a reference generator block based on a low-gain PLL are used, which avoids a sag detection block. Furthermore, a frequency adaptation loop is included in the PR controller, which provides a proper controller operation even with utility grid frequency deviations. Finally, a hardware in the loop (HIL) test rig is used to validate the system.     

Multilevel inverter modulation schemes to eliminate common-mode voltages

It is well known that conventional two-level pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverters generate high-frequency common-mode voltages with high dv/dt. Similarly, commonly used multilevel inverter modulation schemes generate common-mode voltages. Common-mode voltages may cause motor shaft voltages and bearing currents and conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI). Premature motor bearing failures and electronic equipment malfunctions have been reported to be directly related to bearing currents and EMI. In this paper, approaches to eliminating common-mode voltage when using multilevel PWM inverters are presented. It is shown that inverters, which have an odd number of levels, will generate zero common-mode voltage by switching among certain states. Therefore, motor bearing currents will be eliminated and conducted EMI will be reduced. Both sinusoidal PWM and space-vector modulation (SVM) schemes are discussed and detailed comparative simulation results between conventional and novel modulation schemes are provided. The value of the proposed technique is demonstrated experimentally by applying the novel SVM approach to a conventional multilevel inverter.     

基于波形相关性的直流配电网主动式接地故障选线

采用小电流接地方式的直流配电网发生单极接地故障时故障特征较弱,为准确可靠选出故障线路,文中提出基于注入信号波形相关性的接地故障选线方法。所提方法首先将预先设计的附加控制策略施加于直流配电网的模块化多电平换流器(modular multilevel converter,MMC)上,实现探测信号注入。然后结合零模网络,得出故障特征为：各条健全馈线首端计算的特定频率零模电流流向相同、而其与故障馈线首端计算的零模电流流向相反。最后,基于该故障特征设计选线判据,引入皮尔森相关性系数比较各条馈线的归一化零模电流和总归一化零模电流的相关性,根据健全馈线相关性系数接近于1、故障馈线相关性系数接近于-1的特征完成故障选线。仿真结果表明,所提方法在高阻接地故障下能可靠识别发生在母线或各条馈线任意位置的单极接地故障。     

An efficient approach for reducing harmonic voltage distortion indistribution systems with active power line conditioners

This paper presents a combined differential evolution/multiple gradient summation approach for reducing harmonic distortion with active power line conditioners (APLCs). The purpose of this approach is to minimize the total injection currents of APLC's while satisfying harmonic standards and practical constraints such as the individual harmonic voltage distortion, total harmonic voltage distortion limits, and the commercially available discrete sizes of the APLCS. The proposed approach was tested on an 18-bus radial distribution system. Results obtained show that the proposed approach can effectively solve the APLC installation problem     

一种基于虚拟节点网络拓朴结构适用于架空线路 主动配电网的纵联保护方案

为了解决主动配电网双向潮流对配电网保护影响,分析了DER接入对PDN保护带来的问题,提出了基于虚拟节点网络拓朴结构多分支线路纵联方向保护,适用于架空线路的配电自动化。基于虚拟节点网络拓朴结构的配电网纵联保护方案,采用EPON技术,利用EPON传输GOOSE机制、FTU传输启动及方向元件,由集中式纵联方向保护装置实现配电网的保护,能很好地满足ADN接入DG对保护的要求。设计开发了相应的FTU及集中式保护装置,应用在实际的ADN系统,实验测试了GOOSE上行、下行传输延时,保护动作时间。实验结果表明基于虚拟节点网络拓朴结构的纵联保护方案适用于ADN系统,具有很好的应用前景。