A Survey of Islanding Detection Methods for Microgrids and Assessment of Non-Detection Zones in Comparison with Grid Codes

Detection of unintentional islanding is critical in microgrids in order to guarantee personal safety and avoid equipment damage. Most islanding detection techniques are based on monitoring and detecting abnormalities in magnitudes such as frequency, voltage, current and power. However, in normal operation, the utility grid has fluctuations in voltage and frequency, and grid codes establish that local generators must remain connected if deviations from the nominal values do not exceed the defined thresholds and ramps. This means that islanding detection methods could not detect islanding if there are fluctuations that do not exceed the grid code requirements, known as the non-detection zone (NDZ). A survey on the benefits of islanding detection techniques is provided, showing the advantages and disadvantages of each one. NDZs size of the most common passive islanding detection methods are calculated and obtained by simulation and compared with the limits obtained by ENTSO-E and islanding standards in the function of grid codes requirements in order to compare the effectiveness of different techniques and the suitability of each one.

FRT and Transient Stability Augmentation of Grid-Connected PV Station Using Virtual Synchronous Generator

Due to the extensive integration of renewable energy sources (RESs), i.e., photovoltaic (PV) system, the future power system is developing into an inverter-based system from a dominated alternator-based power system. This massive penetration of inverter-based PV system reduced the system inertia and damping characteristics of the power grid, impacting the fault ride-through (FRT) capability and causes frequency instability. Modern grid codes require that PV systems should work in the same way as conventional power plants and assist the system during transient state. However, most of the conventional inverter control mechanisms failed to fulfill the requirements of grid codes, especially when the penetration ratio of the PV system is close to the conventional unit. Therefore, this paper proposes a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control mechanism of PV system inverter to augment FRT competency and frequency stability. The proposed VSG control system mimics the behavior of conventional power plants. To observe and evaluate the proposed controller behavior, simulation analyses were executed in the PSCAD/EMTDC software for both proposed and conventional controllers. The simulation results clearly indicate that the proposed VSG control system has sufficient damping characteristics to ensure FRT capability and frequency stability.

Low switching frequency modulation for generalized three-phase multilevel inverters geared toward Grid Codes compliance

In this paper, a generalized three-phase multilevel power inverter (MLI) structure is proposed under asymmetric configurations. The operating mode and the switching combinations are briefly exposed according to the parity of the number of direct current (DC) voltage sources in use. Subsequently, the proposed topology is evaluated in terms of commonly used factors and then benchmarked against some of the state-of the-art cascaded MLIs featuring multiple DC voltage sources (MDCS-CMLIs) while putting emphasis on the reduction of power switching devices. Moreover, a new nearest level control (NLC)-based modulation technique is designed for the purpose of better comply with some quality grid codes, namely the European EN 50160 and the International IEC 61000-2-12. The identification of the optimal control thresholds is realized by a constrained optimization algorithm (e.g., particle swarm optimization (PSO)) which is implemented in python script and validated through SIMULINK fast fourier transform (FFT) analysis tool. Lastly, the harmonic performance of the proposed technique is compared side-by-side with that of the conventional NLC scheme and exhibits significant reduction in harmonic distortion.

Power-Based Concept for Current Injection by Inverter-Interfaced Distributed Generations during Transmission-Network Faults

This paper analyzes the influence of inverter-interfaced distributed generations’ (IIDGs) response during transmission network faults. The simplest and safest solution is to switch IIDGs off during network faults without impacting the network voltages. A more elaborate and efficient concept, required by national grid codes, is based on controlling the IIDGs’ currents, involving positive- and negative-sequence voltage measured at the connection point. In this way the magnitude and phase of the injected currents can be adjusted, although the generated power will depend on the actual line voltages at the connection point. Therefore, an improved concept is proposed to adjust IIDGs’ fault current injection through the required active and reactive power, employing the same voltage characteristics. The proposed, i.e., power-based concept, is more definite than the current-based one, since the required power will always be generated. The discussed concepts for the fault current injection by IIDGs were tested in different 110-kV networks with loop and radial topologies, and for different short-circuit capabilities of the aggregated network supply. Based on extensive numerical calculations, the power-based concept during transmission networks faults generates more reactive power compared to the current-based concept. However, the voltage support by IIDGs during transmission networks faults, regardless of the concept being used, is influenced mainly by the short-circuit capability of the aggregated network supply. As regards distance protection operation, it is influenced additionally by the network topology, i.e., in radial network topology, the remote relay’s operation can be delayed due to a largely seen impedance.

Real Time Simulation of Power Electronics Medium Voltage DC-Grid Simulator

Power electronics medium-voltage (MV) systems must comply with the requirements defined in grid codes. These systems’ compatibility with the standards can be validated by specialized testing equipment: grid simulators. This paper presents a hardware in the loop (HiL) implementation and the simulation results of a MV multiphase DC/DC converter designed for MV DC grid emulation. By using ABB’s reliable, patented power converter hardware topology (US 10978948 B2) and by applying advanced control algorithms, the presented system can be used for special purposes, such as the emulation of fault events in a DC-grid used for the certification of other devices, or for other research goals. The presented concept of a power electronics DC-grid simulator (PEGS-DC) is characterized by high power capability and high voltage quality. In this paper, the general idea of a power electronics grid simulator applied for the testing of MV electrical systems is discussed. Then, details related to the PEGS-DC, such as its hardware topology and the applied modulation method are presented. Subsequently, the HiL setup is described. The main scope of this article focuses on model the description and presenting recorded HiL simulations.

Commercial PV Inverter IEEE 1547.1 Ride-Through Assessments Using an Automated PHIL Test Platform

As more countries seek solutions to their de-carbonization targets using renewable energy (RE) technologies, interconnection standards and national grid codes for distributed energy resources (DER) are being updated to support higher penetrations of RE and improve grid stability. Common grid-code revisions mandate DER devices, such as solar inverters and energy storage systems, ride-through (RT) voltage and frequency disturbances. This is necessary because as the percentage of generation from DER increases, there is a greater risk power system faults will cause many or all DER to trip, triggering a substantial load-generation imbalance and possible cascading blackout. This paper demonstrates for the first time a methodology to verify commercial DER devices are compliant to new voltage, frequency, and rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) RT requirements established in IEEE Std. 1547-2018. The methodology incorporates a software automation tool, called the SunSpec System Validation Platform (SVP), in combination with a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system to execute the IEEE Std. 1547.1-2020 RT test protocols. In this paper, the approach is validated with two commercial photovoltaic inverters, the test results are analyzed for compliance, and improvements to the test procedure are suggested.

Fast Stepwise Inertial Control Scheme of a DFIG for Reducing Second Frequency Drop

With the fast growth in the penetration of wind power, doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) are recommended for their ability to enforce grid codes that provide inertial control services by releasing rotational energy. However, after supporting the system frequency, a second frequency drop (SFD) is prone to occurring to regain the rotor speed caused by the sudden reduction in output. In this article, we propose a torque limit-based fast stepwise inertial control scheme of a DFIG using a piecewise reference function for reducing the SFD while preserving the frequency nadir (FN) with less rotor energy released. To achieve the first objective, the power reference increases to the torque limit and then decays with the rotor speed toward the preset operating point. To achieve the second objective, the power reference smoothly lessens over time based on the exponential function. The performance of the proposed stepwise inertial control strategy was studied under various scenarios, including constant wind speed and ramp down wind speed conditions. The test results demonstrated that the frequency stability is preserved during the frequency support phase, while the second frequency drop and mechanical stress on the wind turbine reduce during the rotor speed restoration phase when the DFIG implements the proposed stepwise inertial control scheme.

Potential of Slip Synchronous Wind Turbine Systems: Grid Support and Mechanical Load Mitigation

Wind power penetration into existing electrical power systems continues to experience year-on-year growth. Consequently, modern wind turbine systems (WTS) are required to comply with relevant grid codes and provide ancillary grid services to assist with overall grid stability. Adhering to these grid codes and services can cause additional mechanical loading on WTS, which can result in a reduction in service life of some of the drivetrain components, and instability if a sufficient means of damping is not present in the drivetrain. In this paper, a dynamic simulation model of a Type 1, direct grid-connected, fixed-speed (FS) slip-synchronous wind turbine system (SS-WTS) is developed to investigate its dynamic stability in response to the additional mechanical loads imparted onto it during transient events on the grid. The SS-WTS is not equipped with a power converter and, consequently, an understanding of its dynamic stability is critical to evaluate its ability to assist with grid services and maintain stability during transient grid conditions such as low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) events. An analytical transfer function model of a 1.5 MW geared direct grid-connected SS-WTS was derived and implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. It was found that the SS technology provides significant damping to the WTS drivetrain while maintaining dynamic stability during a severe LVRT event. Moreover, it was found that the degree of damping is directly proportional to the value of rated slip, and that high-speed drivetrains provide a greater degree of damping for a given value of rated slip. Furthermore, it is shown that the SS-WTS has the ability to assist with grid services such as primary frequency response, short-circuit strength, and reactive power compensation.

European and Indian Grid Codes for Utility Scale Hybrid Power Plants

The aim of this paper is to review and compare present European and Indian grid code requirements imposed to hybrid power plants (HPPs) combining wind, solar and storage technologies. Since there are no grid codes specifically for HPPs, the paper will review grid codes for the power plant based on individual renewable technology in the HPP. European grid codes specifies ranges for parameters inside which each national transmission system operators (TSO) has to specify the set of national parameters (Danish specifications in this paper). The comparisons are performed with respect to fault-ride-through capability, frequency and voltage operation ranges, active power control/frequency support as well as reactive power control/voltage support.