Power losses analysis and cooling system design of three topologies of multilevel inverters

This paper presents the comparison of three topologies of multilevel inverters applied to drive an induction motor of 500 kVA/4.16 kV. The multilevel inverters analyzed are: a neutral point clamped inverter, a symmetrical cascaded multilevel inverter and a hybrid asymmetrical cascaded multilevel inverter. The performance indexes used in the comparison are total harmonic distortion, first order distortion factor, semiconductors power losses distribution and heat-sink volume. The comparison is developed with the purpose of finding the efficiency and the heat-sink volume where the three systems present the same output filter. ©2008 IEEE.

Placement and sizing evaluation of distributed generation in electric power systems

This paper presents a methodology for the placement and sizing evaluation of distributed generation (DG) in electric power systems. The candidate locations for DG placement are identified on the bases of Locational Marginal Prices (LMP's) obtained from an optimal power flow solution. The problem is formulated for two different objectives: social welfare maximization and profit maximization. For each DG unit an optimal placement is identified for each of the objectives.

Conservative power theory discussion and evaluation by means of virtual instrumentation

Considering different single and multiphase circuits feeding linear and non-linear loads, this paper presents theoretical discussions and experimental evaluation of the recent Conservative Power Theory (CPT), by means of Virtual Instrumentation concepts. The main goal is to analyze the results of such power theory definitions under nonsinusoidal and unbalanced conditions, pointing out its major advantages, possible drawbacks or relevant aspects for discussion. © 2009 IEEE.

Harmonic content identification based on neural method for single phase power systems

An alternative method is presented in this paper to identify the harmonic components of non-linear loads in single phase power systems based on artificial neural networks. The components are identified by analyzing the single phase current waveform in time domain in half-cycle of the ac voltage source. The proposed method is compared to the fast Fourier transform. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed approach.

Multiarea optimal power flow using multiobjective evolutionary algorithm

In this work the multiarea optimal power flow (OPF) problem is decoupled into areas creating a set of regional OPF subproblems. The objective is to solve the optimal dispatch of active and reactive power for a determined area, without interfering in the neighboring areas. The regional OPF subproblems are modeled as a large-scale nonlinear constrained optimization problem, with both continuous and discrete variables. Constraints violated are handled as objective functions of the problem. In this way the original problem is converted to a multiobjective optimization problem, and a specifically-designed multiobjective evolutionary algorithm is proposed for solving the regional OPF subproblems. The proposed approach has been examined and tested on the RTS-96 and IEEE 354-bus test systems. Good quality suboptimal solutions were obtained, proving the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach. ©2009 IEEE.

Trolleybus power system for operation with AC or DC distribution networks

This paper presents the development and experimental analysis of a special input stage converter for a Trolleybus type vehicle allowing its operation in AC (two wires, single-phase) or DC distribution networks. The architecture of proposed input stage converter is composed by five interleaved boost rectifiers operating in discontinuous conduction mode. Furthermore, due to the power lines characteristics, the proposed input power structure can act as AC to DC or as DC to DC converter providing a proper DC output voltage range required to the DC bus. When operation is AC to DC, the converter is capable to provide high power factor with reduced harmonic distortion for the input current, complying with the restrictions imposed by IEC 61000-3-4 standard. Finally, the main experimental results are presented in order to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter, demonstrating the benefits and the possibility for AC feeding system for trolleybus type vehicle. © 2010 IEEE.

Evaluation of integrated inverter topologies for low power PV systems

This work presents the stage integration in power electronics converters as a suitable solution for solar photovoltaic inverters. The rated voltages available in Photovoltaic (PV) modules have usually low values for applications such as regulated output voltages in stand-alone or grid-connected configurations. In these cases, a boost stage or a transformer will be necessary. Transformers have low efficiencies, heavy weights and have been used only when galvanic isolation is mandatory. Furthermore, high-frequency transformers increase the converter complexity. Therefore, the most usual topologies use a boost stage and one inverter stage cascaded. However, the complexity, size, weight, cost and lifetime might be improved considering the integration of both stages. These are the expected features to turn attractive this kind of integrated structures. Therefore, some integrated converters are analyzed and compared in this paper in order to support future evaluations and trends for low power single-phase inverters for PV systems. © 2011 IEEE.

Comparative analysis of current and voltage-controlled photovoltaic Maximum Power Point tracking

Maximum Power Point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic (PV) systems may be achieved by controlling either the voltage or current of the PV device. There is no consensus in the technical literature about how is the best choice. This paper provides a comparative analysis performance among current and voltage control using two different MPPT strategies: the perturb and observe (P&O) and the incremental conductance techniques. © 2011 IEEE.

Main maximum power point tracking strategies intended for photovoltaics

This paper presents evaluations among the most usual MPPT techniques, doing meaningful comparisons with respect to the amount of energy extracted from the photovoltaic panel (PV) (Tracking Factor - TF) in relation to the available power, PV voltage ripple, dynamic response and use of sensors. Using MatLab/Simulink® and DSpace platforms, a digitally controlled boost DC-DC converter was implemented and connected to an Agilent Solar Array E4350B simulator in order to verify the analytical procedures. The main experimental results are presented and a contribution in the implementation of the IC algorithm is performed and called IC based on PI. Moreover, the dynamic response and the tracking factor are also evaluated using a Friendly User Interface, which is capable of online program power curves and compute the TF. Finally, a typical daily insulation is used in order to verify the experimental results for the main PV MPPT methods. © 2011 IEEE.

Power flow optimization for grid connected inverter using evolutionary algorithm and additional control loop

In this work it is proposed to validate an evolutionary tuning algorithm in plants composed by a grid connected inverter. The optimization aims the tuning of the slopes of P-Ω and Q-V curves so that the system is stable, damped and minimum settling time. Simulation and experimental results are presented to prove the feasibility of the proposed approach. However, experimental results demonstrate a compromising effect of grid frequency oscillations in the active power transferring. In addition, it was proposed an additional loop to compensate this effect ensuring a constant active power flow. © 2011 IEEE.

Reference generator for voltage controlled power conditioners

Voltage reference generation is an important issue on electronic power conditioners or voltage compensators connected to the electric grid. Several equipments, such as Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVR), Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) and Unified Power Quality Conditioners (UPQC) need a proper voltage reference to be able to compensate electric network disturbances. This work presents a new reference generator's algorithm, based on vector algebra and digital filtering techniques. It is particularly suited for the development of voltage compensators with energy storage, which would be able to mitigate steady state disturbances, such as waveform distortions and unbalances, and also transient disturbances, like voltage sags and swells. Simulation and experimental results are presented for the validation of the proposed algorithm. © 2011 IEEE.

Shunt active compensation based on the Conservative Power Theory current's decomposition

Considering the operation of shunt active compensators, such as active power filters, this paper proposes possible compensation strategies by means of the recent formulation of the Conservative Power Theory (CPT). The CPT current's decomposition results in several current components, which are associated with specific load characteristics (power transfer, energy storage, unbalances and/or non linearities). These current components are used for the definition of different compensation strategies, which can be selective in terms of minimizing particular disturbing effects. In order to validate the applicability of these new compensation strategies, simulation and experimental results for three-phase four-wire systems are presented. © 2011 IEEE.

Tri-state single-phase integrated inverters with input to output power decoupling control

Researches on control for power electronics have looked for original solutions in order to advance renewable resources feasibility, specially the photovoltaic (PV). In this context, for PV renewable energy source the usage of compact, high efficiency, low cost and reliable converters are very attractive. In this context, two improved simplified converters, namely Tri-state Boost and Tri-state Buck-Boost integrated single-phase inverters, are achieved with the presented Tri-state modulation and control schemes, which guarantees the input to output power decoupling control. This feature enhances the field of single-phase PV inverters once the energy storage is mainly inductive. The main features of the proposal are confirmed with some simulations and experimental results. © 2012 IEEE.

A novel single-phase ZCS-PWM high power factor boost rectifier

This paper presents a novel single-phase high power factor PWM boost rectifier, featuring soft commutation of the active switches at zero-current (ZCS). It incorporates the most desirable properties of the conventional PWM and the soft-switching resonant techniques. The input current shaping is achieved with average current mode control, and continuous inductor current mode. This new PWM converter provides ZCS turn-on and turn-off of the active switches, and it is suitable for high power applications employing IGBTs. Principle of operation, theoretical analysis, a design example, and experimental results from a laboratory prototype rated at 1600 W with 400 Vdc output voltage are presented. The measured efficiency and power factor were 96.2% and 0.99 respectively, with an input current THD equal to 3.94%, for an input voltage THD equal to 3.8%, at rated load.

LOCAL DIGITAL CONTROL OF POWER ELECTRONIC CONVERTERS IN A DC MICROGRID BASED ON A-PRIORI DERIVATION OF SWITCHING SURFACES

In power electronic basedmicrogrids, the computational requirements needed to implement an optimized online control strategy can be prohibitive. The work presented in this dissertation proposes a generalized method of derivation of geometric manifolds in a dc microgrid that is based on the a-priori computation of the optimal reactions and trajectories for classes of events in a dc microgrid. The proposed states are the stored energies in all the energy storage elements of the dc microgrid and power flowing into them. It is anticipated that calculating a large enough set of dissimilar transient scenarios will also span many scenarios not specifically used to develop the surface. These geometric manifolds will then be used as reference surfaces in any type of controller, such as a sliding mode hysteretic controller. The presence of switched power converters in microgrids involve different control actions for different system events. The control of the switch states of the converters is essential for steady state and transient operations. A digital memory look-up based controller that uses a hysteretic sliding mode control strategy is an effective technique to generate the proper switch states for the converters. An example dcmicrogrid with three dc-dc boost converters and resistive loads is considered for this work. The geometric manifolds are successfully generated for transient events, such as step changes in the loads and the sources. The surfaces corresponding to a specific case of step change in the loads are then used as reference surfaces in an EEPROM for experimentally validating the control strategy. The required switch states corresponding to this specific transient scenario are programmed in the EEPROM as a memory table. This controls the switching of the dc-dc boost converters and drives the system states to the reference manifold. In this work, it is shown that this strategy effectively controls the system for a transient condition such as step changes in the loads for the example case.