Research

28 pages, 5337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Control-Tuning of a Single-Stage MMC-Based BESS

by Jonathan H. D. G. Pinto, Allan Fagner Cupertino, Heverton Augusto Pereira and Seleme Issac Seleme, Jr.

Energies 2023, 16(3), 1502; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16031502 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

In recent years, the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) with multilevel modular converters (MMCs) has received interest in power system applications. In this work, this configuration is called a MMC-based BESS. The batteries are connected directly to the MMCs on submodules [...] Read more.

In recent years, the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) with multilevel modular converters (MMCs) has received interest in power system applications. In this work, this configuration is called a MMC-based BESS. The batteries are connected directly to the MMCs on submodules (SMs), called the single-stage approach. Several control strategies have been proposed to guarantee the proper operation of a MMC-based BESS. This system is complex due to the control strategy. Another challenge is in obtaining the controller gains for a MMC-based BESS converter. In this sense, there is a gap in the methodology used to calculate the controller gains. Thus, this work aimed to tune the analytical expressions of a MMC-based BESS by considering the single-stage approach. The methodology is validated through detailed simulation models of 10.9 MVA/5.76 MWh connected to a 13.8 kV power system. Finally, to validate the dynamics of the controllers, the simulation results in the PLECS software for the charging and discharging processes are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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17 pages, 6083 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Power Conversion Interface for a Small-Capacity Photovoltaic Power Generation System

by Jinn-Chang Wu, Hurng-Liahng Jou and Chung-Hsun Chang

Energies 2023, 16(3), 1097; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16031097 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1063

Abstract

A power conversion interface for a small-capacity photovoltaic power generation system (PPGS) is proposed in this paper. The proposed power conversion interface is composed of a DC–DC converter (DDC), a battery pack and a buck–boost inverter (BBI). The battery pack is integrated to [...] Read more.

A power conversion interface for a small-capacity photovoltaic power generation system (PPGS) is proposed in this paper. The proposed power conversion interface is composed of a DC–DC converter (DDC), a battery pack and a buck–boost inverter (BBI). The battery pack is integrated to the power conversion interface to store or release energy for smoothing the power fluctuation of the small-capacity PPGS. The battery pack is only activated when a large power change occurs in the photovoltaic array (PV array). The DC power, no matter whether is from the PV array or the battery pack, needs to be converted into AC power only by the BBI in the proposed power conversion interface. Moreover, the PV array charges the battery pack only through the DDC, which simplifies the power circuit and improves the power conversion efficiency. To verify the feasibility of the proposed power conversion interface, a hardware prototype is established for practical experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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26 pages, 139108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Buck-Boost, SEPIC, Cuk and Zeta DC-DC Converters Using Different MPPT Methods for Photovoltaic Applications

by Julio López Seguel, Seleme I. Seleme, Jr. and Lenin M. F. Morais

Energies 2022, 15(21), 7936; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15217936 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4195

Abstract

The power produced in a photovoltaic (PV) system is highly dependent on meteorological conditions and the features of the connected load. Therefore, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are crucial to optimize the power delivered. An MPPT method needs a DC-DC converter for [...] Read more.

The power produced in a photovoltaic (PV) system is highly dependent on meteorological conditions and the features of the connected load. Therefore, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are crucial to optimize the power delivered. An MPPT method needs a DC-DC converter for its implementation. The proper selection of both the MPPT technique and the power converter for a given scenario is one of the main challenges since they directly influence the overall efficiency of the PV system. This paper presents an exhaustive study of the performance of four step-down/step-up DC-DC converter topologies: Buck-Boost, SEPIC, Zeta and Cuk, using three of the most commonly implemented MPPT techniques: incremental conductance (IncCond), perturb and observe (P&O) and fuzzy logic controller (FLC). Unlike other works available in the literature, this study compares and discusses the performance of each MPPT/converter combination in terms of settling time and tracking efficiency of MPPT algorithms, and the conversion efficiency of power converters. Furthermore, this work jointly considers the effects of incident radiation variations, the temperature of the PV panel and the connected load. The main contribution of this work, other than selecting the best combination of converter and MPPT strategy applied to typical PV systems with DC-DC power converters, is to formulate a methodology of analysis to support the design of efficient PV systems. The results obtained from simulations performed in Simulink/MATLAB show that the FLC/Cuk set consistently achieved the highest levels of efficiency, and the FLC/Zeta combination presents the best transient behavior. The findings can be used as a valuable reference for the decision to implement a particular MPPT/converter configuration among those included in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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18 pages, 1903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Damping Strategies for LC Filter Applied in Medium Voltage Variable Speed Drive

by Diuary Gonçalves, João Victor Matos Farias, Heverton Augusto Pereira, Alex-Sander Amável Luiz, Marcelo Martins Stopa and Allan Fagner Cupertino

Energies 2022, 15(15), 5644; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15155644 - 04 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

In recent years, medium-voltage variable-speed drives have become popular in the industry. However, in some applications, the use of long cables can lead to overvoltages at the motor terminals, affecting the motor lifespan. Under such conditions, the use of passive filters is recommended. [...] Read more.

In recent years, medium-voltage variable-speed drives have become popular in the industry. However, in some applications, the use of long cables can lead to overvoltages at the motor terminals, affecting the motor lifespan. Under such conditions, the use of passive filters is recommended. However, the use of inductive capacitive (LC) filters results in resonances, leading to control stability issues. This issue can be mitigated by introducing a resonance damping strategy. In this work, four damping strategies are implemented and designed: Passive damping, capacitor current feedback, capacitor voltage feedback, and notch filter-based damping. The paper performs a comparative study on the current control phase margin, current and voltage harmonic spectra, and overall changes in the control structure. Then, the effect of the damping strategy on the VSD control is evaluated, creating guidelines to support the selection of the appropriate damping strategy. The results indicate that capacitor voltage feedback stands out, since this strategy presents an interesting dynamic behavior while allowing the elimination of the passive damping losses at a relatively low cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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17 pages, 2138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Overview about Si, Superjunction, SiC and GaN Power MOSFET Technologies in Power Electronics Applications

by Edemar O. Prado, Pedro C. Bolsi, Hamiltom C. Sartori and José R. Pinheiro

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5244; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15145244 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6300

Abstract

This work presents a comparative analysis among four power MOSFET technologies: conventional Silicon (Si), Superjunction (SJ), Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN), indicating the voltage, current and frequency ranges of the best performance for each technology. For this, a database with 91 [...] Read more.

This work presents a comparative analysis among four power MOSFET technologies: conventional Silicon (Si), Superjunction (SJ), Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN), indicating the voltage, current and frequency ranges of the best performance for each technology. For this, a database with 91 power MOSFETs from different manufacturers was built. MOSFET losses are related to individual characteristics of the technology: drain-source on-state resistance, input capacitance, Miller capacitance and internal gate resistance. The total losses are evaluated considering a drain-source voltage of 400 V, power levels from 1 kW to 16 kW (1 A–40 A) and frequencies from 1 kHz to 500 kHz. A methodology for selecting power MOSFETs in power electronics applications is also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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14 pages, 4154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Online Failure Diagnostic in Full-Bridge Module for Optimum Setup of an IGBT-Based Multilevel Inverter

by Juan Carlos Iglesias-Rojas, Erick Velázquez-Lozada and Roberto Baca-Arroyo

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15145203 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1444

Abstract

An online failure diagnostic test is essential to ensure the robustness and reliability of high-powered systems. Furthermore, the overall design must comprise diagnostic strategies to detect in-service and high-powered module defects. This paper describes the critical failure mechanisms––cross-conduction, inductive avalanche, second turn-on, VS-undershoot, [...] Read more.

An online failure diagnostic test is essential to ensure the robustness and reliability of high-powered systems. Furthermore, the overall design must comprise diagnostic strategies to detect in-service and high-powered module defects. This paper describes the critical failure mechanisms––cross-conduction, inductive avalanche, second turn-on, VS-undershoot, inrush current, and thermal runaway––that directly affect insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) operation. The constructed inverter contains 18 transformer-based taps (six per phase); however, this work studied a single tap (IGBT-based full-bridge module) to understand the reasons for failure and the routes to mitigate them. Moreover, a cost-effective solution using the IR2127STRPBF driver circuit was implemented to reduce the probability of thermal runaway in case of overcurrent, short-circuit, or avalanche events. For this reason, the electrical current state was adjusted using an FPGA digital resource to perform dynamic PWM control signals. The obtained correlation waveforms are valuable for verifying diagnostic data at the design stage to emphasize the significance of evading premature failure events. The comprehensive study on failure diagnosis enabled successful design strategies to construct a robust 45 kVA three-phase multilevel inverter for a 22 kW eolic-photovoltaic generation plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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15 pages, 2840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Networked Microgrid Energy Management Based on Supervised and Unsupervised Learning Clustering

by Navid Salehi, Herminio Martínez-García and Guillermo Velasco-Quesada

Energies 2022, 15(13), 4915; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15134915 - 05 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1610

Abstract

Networked microgrid (NMG) is a novel conceptual paradigm that can bring multiple advantages to the distributed system. Increasing renewable energy utilization, reliability and efficiency of system operation and flexibility of energy sharing amongst several microgrids (MGs) are some specific privileges of NMG. In [...] Read more.

Networked microgrid (NMG) is a novel conceptual paradigm that can bring multiple advantages to the distributed system. Increasing renewable energy utilization, reliability and efficiency of system operation and flexibility of energy sharing amongst several microgrids (MGs) are some specific privileges of NMG. In this paper, residential MGs, commercial MGs, and industrial MGs are considered as a community of NMG. The loads’ profiles are split into multiple sections to evaluate the maximum load demand (MLD). Based on the optimal operation of each MG, the operating reserve (OR) of the MGs is calculated for each section. Then, the self-organizing map as a supervised and a k-means algorithm as an unsupervised learning clustering method is utilized to cluster the MGs and effective energy-sharing. The clustering is based on the maximum load demand of MGs and the operating reserve of dispatchable energy sources, and the goal is to provide a more efficient system with high reliability. Eventually, the performance of this energy management and its benefits to the whole system is surveyed effectively. The proposed energy management system offers a more reliable system due to the possibility of reserved energy for MGs in case of power outage variation or shortage of power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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20 pages, 1923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LCL Filter Parameter and Hardware Design Methodology for Minimum Volume Considering Capacitor Lifetimes

by Pedro C. Bolsi, Edemar O. Prado, Hamiltom C. Sartori, João Manuel Lenz and José Renes Pinheiro

Energies 2022, 15(12), 4420; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15124420 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2913

Abstract

A design methodology for minimum volume of LCL filters applied to grid connected converters is proposed. It combines the determination of filter parameter values (inductances and capacitances) to hardware design (component technology and inductor construction). Using the proposed strategy, different combinations of L-C-L [...] Read more.

A design methodology for minimum volume of LCL filters applied to grid connected converters is proposed. It combines the determination of filter parameter values (inductances and capacitances) to hardware design (component technology and inductor construction). Using the proposed strategy, different combinations of L-C-L that meet standard restrictions are determined. The influence of the harmonic content that results from filter design is considered in order to estimate component losses, and filter and bus capacitor lifetimes. Results are presented for filters that lead to the smallest volume, highest capacitor lifetime, or a compromise between both. A case study with three different magnetic material technologies and two types of capacitors is done. The design methodology is experimentally validated for a 1 kW converter. Step-by-step procedures for the determination of filter parameters and inductor hardware design are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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24 pages, 3201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Benchmarking of Single-Stage and Two-Stage Approaches for an MMC-Based BESS

by Jonathan Hunder Dutra Gherard Pinto, William Caires Silva Amorim, Allan Fagner Cupertino, Heverton Augusto Pereira and Seleme Isaac Seleme Junior

Energies 2022, 15(10), 3598; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15103598 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1688

Abstract

Modular multilevel converter-based battery energy storage systems (MMC-based BESS) can play an important role when applied to power systems, for example, stabilizing and improving power quality. The integration of batteries in an MMC is usually performed in two ways: single-stage (SS) and two-stage [...] Read more.

Modular multilevel converter-based battery energy storage systems (MMC-based BESS) can play an important role when applied to power systems, for example, stabilizing and improving power quality. The integration of batteries in an MMC is usually performed in two ways: single-stage (SS) and two-stage (TS) (i.e., with dc/dc converter). Different references discuss the control strategies, sizing methodologies, and the advantages/drawbacks of these approaches. However, a deep comparison of these topologies is still missing in the literature. Thus, benchmarking SS and TS approaches is provided in this work. The battery current spectrum, the battery lifetime, the converter power losses, and the total costs are evaluated for both approaches. In addition, energy oversizing due to rounding is an important figure of merit since batteries account for a large amount of the costs. The case study is evaluated considering commercial battery racks (standard solution) and battery cells (customized solution). For the case studies, different insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) models and states of charge (SOC) ranges are considered. The system under review is a 10.9 MVA/5.76 MWh connected to a 13.8 kV power system. This system aims to perform a time-shift for an industry. In an analysis to optimize the costs of a project that evaluates several variables, the best configuration option is found in the most balanced option. In this sense, when balancing costs in project sizing, power losses, and battery replacement, the optimal design is the SS approach in the customized solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Power Electronic Converters with Application in Renewable Energy Sources)

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