An improved protection strategy for microgrids

Microgrids (MG) enable the integration of low capacity renewable energy resources with distribution systems. A recently proposed protection scheme for MGs utilising undervoltage, High Impedance Fault (HIF) detection, directional protection modules, and communication links significantly reduces the fault clearing time compared to previous schemes. In this paper, the effect of replacing undervoltage protection with differential protection in a scheme that also contains HIF and directional protection modules is studied. The MG model used in this study includes a diesel, wind, and two photovoltaic (PV) microsources. The alternative protection schemes are evaluated by simulation. It is found that the protection scheme consisting of differential, HIF detection, and directional protection modules is more effective compared to the alternative in protecting the MG from some fault conditions such as the phase-A-to-ground, phase-B-to-C, and phase-B-to-C-to-ground.

Power flow for primary distribution networks considering uncertainty in demand and user connection

This paper presents a method for calculating the power flow in distribution networks considering uncertainties in the distribution system. Active and reactive power are used as uncertain variables and probabilistically modeled through probability distribution functions. Uncertainty about the connection of the users with the different feeders is also considered. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to generate the possible load scenarios of the users. The results of the power flow considering uncertainty are the mean values and standard deviations of the variables of interest (voltages in all nodes, active and reactive power flows, etc.), giving the user valuable information about how the network will behave under uncertainty rather than the traditional fixed values at one point in time. The method is tested using real data from a primary feeder system, and results are presented considering uncertainty in demand and also in the connection. To demonstrate the usefulness of the approach, the results are then used in a probabilistic risk analysis to identify potential problems of undervoltage in distribution systems. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Avaliação de estratégias de controle de potência reativa de aerogeradores síncronos em redes elétricas

No presente trabalho é avaliada uma metodologia de injeção de potência reativa em redes elétricas durante afundamentos de tensão provocados por curto-circuito, em parques eólicos interligados, adotada em alguns países com maturidade tecnológica na produção de energia eólica. Nos estudos desenvolvidos, foi utilizado o aerogerador síncrono a imã permanente com conversor pleno em função da grande controlabilidade do conversor interligado à rede e por possuir elevada capacidade de fornecimento de potência reativa, comparada a outras tecnologias de aerogeradores. No Brasil, os requisitos de interligação de parques eólicos as redes elétricas, definido pelo Operador Nacional do Sistema, ainda não estipula a necessidade de adoção de tal metodologia durante defeitos na rede elétrica, apenas especifica a curva de capacidade de afundamentos de tensão que os aerogeradores devem seguir para evitar o desligamento frente a afundamentos de tensão. Os critérios de proteção do aerogerador síncrono são avaliados a partir de simulações de curto-circuito em uma rede de teste adotando-se os requisitos do Brasil, sem injeção de potência reativa, sendo comparados com o de outros países que adotam curvas de injeção de potência reativa.

Non-linear gain - look-up table based approach for modeling a family of DC to DC converters based on transient response analysis

The purpose of this work is to propose a structure for simulating power systems using behavioral models of nonlinear DC to DC converters implemented through a look-up table of gains. This structure is specially designed for converters whose output impedance depends on the load current level, e.g. quasi-resonant converters. The proposed model is a generic one whose parameters can be obtained by direct measuring the transient response at different operating points. It also includes optional functionalities for modeling converters with current limitation and current sharing in paralleling characteristics. The pusposed structured also allows including aditional characteristics of the DC to DC converter as the efficency as a function of the input voltage and the output current or overvoltage and undervoltage protections. In addition, this proposed model is valid for overdamped and underdamped situations.

Utilização da transformada de wavelet para detecção de variações anormais de tensão em sistemas elétricos com geração distribuída

The increasing demand in electricity and decrease forecast, increasingly, of fossil fuel reserves, as well as increasing environmental concern in the use of these have generated a concern about the quality of electricity generation, making it well welcome new investments in generation through alternative, clean and renewable sources. Distributed generation is one of the main solutions for the independent and selfsufficient generating systems, such as the sugarcane industry. This sector has grown considerably, contributing expressively in the production of electricity to the distribution networks. Faced with this situation, one of the main objectives of this study is to propose the implementation of an algorithm to detect islanding disturbances in the electrical system, characterized by situations of under- or overvoltage. The algorithm should also commonly quantize the time that the system was operating in these conditions, to check the possible consequences that will be caused in the electric power system. In order to achieve this it used the technique of wavelet multiresolution analysis (AMR) for detecting the generated disorders. The data obtained can be processed so as to be used for a possible predictive maintenance in the protection equipment of electrical network, since they are prone to damage on prolonged operation under abnormal conditions of frequency and voltage.