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Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F3: Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (13 August 2023) | Viewed by 10787

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Omar Abdel-Rahim

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Guest Editor

Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia
Interests: multiphase machine drives; predictive control; renewable energy; smart grid and DC–AC converters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sherif Dabour

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Interests: analysis, modeling, and implementation of PWM techniques; power electronics converter topologies and their applications, such as wind turbines, PV systems, storage systems, micro-grid, electric vehicle chargers, and energy

Dr. Wesam Rohouma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha 24449, Qatar
Interests: storage systems; micro-grid; electric vehicle chargers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Renewable energies have become a core and essential part of current and future grids thanks to power electronics converters, which enable this wide spread of renewable energy systems and ease their integration into DC or AC grids. Power electronics topologies designed for renewable energy integration are designed to be compact, cost less and exhibit high efficiency to satisfy consumer desire. However, several barriers still stand in the way of massive implementation of this technology, and the associated enabling developments are becoming of paramount importance. These include size optimization, cost, efficiency, flexibility, fault tolerant, protection, and advanced interaction with the grid.

This Special Issue aims to encourage researchers to share new developments and potential solutions addressing the aforementioned and other related topics aiming to make the most out of these emerging technologies.

Dr. Omar Abdel-Rahim
Dr. Sherif Dabour
Dr. Wesam Rohouma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

power electronic converter
energy efficiency
energy management
renewable energy source
demand response
wide bandgap semiconductors
fault-tolerant
DC–DC converters
DC–AC converters
power electronic converter reliability
grid integration
DC micro-grid
AC micro-grid

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization and Stabilization of Distributed Secondary Voltage Control with Time Delays and Packet Losses Using LMIs

by Allal El Moubarek Bouzid, Bogdan Marinescu, Florent Xavier and Guillaume Denis

Energies 2024, 17(1), 37; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010037 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2023

Viewed by 529

Abstract

The proposed hierarchical secondary voltage control is a spatially distributed control system using communication networks which are disturbed by both a time delays and packet data dropouts. A state feedback integral control is adopted to eliminate the effect of non-zero disturbance and provide exact tracking of the references of the pilot points and alignment of the reactive powers of the generators that participate in the control. The system is modeled as a discrete-time switched system, and the control gains are synthesized by solving LMIs for a stability condition based on a state-dependent Lyapunov function. For that, the cone complementarity linearization (CCL) algorithm is used. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in preventing time delays and packet losses is simulated, considering the model of a realistic electric power grid under typical operational conditions using MATLAB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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28 pages, 12095 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Hybrid Source Multi-Port Quasi-Z-Source Converter with Fuzzy-Logic-Based Energy Management

by Gorkem Say, Seyed Hossein Hosseini and Parvaneh Esmaili

Energies 2023, 16(12), 4801; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16124801 - 19 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 883

Abstract

In this paper, a fuzzy-logic-based energy management system and a multi-port quasi-z-source converter that utilizes hybrid renewable energy sources are proposed. The system ensures that each energy source module can be used individually by employing fuzzy logic to define the power modes. This approach also helps to prevent switching losses resulting from the extra switching of the source modules. In addition, the proposed energy management does not have a mathematical model, so its applicability is simple, and it is suitable for different multiple-input topologies. The Mamdani fuzzy inference system can be designed to capture the nonlinear behavior of the system owing to linguistic rules. Moreover, the switching losses of the multiport modules were significantly reduced by adopting the quasi-z-source network to the end of the multiport converter. Furthermore, different errors, such as the root mean square error (RMSE), average squared error (ASE), average absolute error (AAE), average time-weighted absolute error (ATWAE), tracking error (TE), and unscaled mean bounded relative absolute error (UMBRAE), were applied to evaluate the fuzzy logic performance from different perspectives. The simulation results were obtained using MATLAB Simulink, and the experimental results were obtained by connecting the circuit to MATLAB Simulink using an Arduino Due. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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16 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of DC/DC Boost Converter–Full-Bridge Buck Inverter System for AC Generation

by Víctor Hugo García-Rodríguez, José Humberto Pérez-Cruz, Roberto Carlos Ambrosio-Lázaro and Salvador Tavera-Mosqueda

Energies 2023, 16(6), 2509; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16062509 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1940

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis and simulation of the mathematical model associated to the DC/DC Boost converter–full-bridge Buck inverter system to regulate the voltage output of the DC/DC Boost converter allowing bipolar voltages higher than the input voltage via the full-bridge Buck inverter. To validate the model, the differential flatness property is applied via the flat outputs of the system (energy for the DC/DC Boost converter and the voltage of the full-bridge Buck inverter) considering the complete dynamics, in conjunction with fixed and time-variant trajectory planning. In the simulation results, it is observed that the error signals of the states versus the reference trajectories are acceptable. Regarding the validation of the model, this is performed with open-loop simulations at the circuit level using the SimPowerSystems Toolbox of Matlab-Simulink. The simulation results validate the good performance of the system under study. In this way, the main contribution of this work is that for the first time in the literature, the analysis of a complete dynamics for a conversion system from DC to AC without the use of a transformer and taking advantage of differential flatness is reported; thus, the system analyzed could be represented as an alternative in applications of renewable energies that require conversion from DC to AC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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23 pages, 8577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Low Q Three-Phase Series Resonant Converter for PV Applications

by Abirami Kalathy, Arpan Laha, Majid Pahlevani and Praveen Jain

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1707; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16041707 - 08 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1309

Abstract

In this paper, a soft-switched three-phase resonant converter with a low quality factor (Q) design is proposed for Photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting systems with a very wide range of operating conditions. Due to the low quality factor (Q ≤ 1), the voltage stress across the capacitors is drastically reduced. However, a major challenge of using a low Q design is the wide switching frequency range required for operation over a wide range of load and input conditions. In order to reduce the switching frequency range, this paper introduces a hybrid modulation technique employing asymmetric pulse width modulation (APWM) along with variable frequency modulation. The proposed modulation scheme also substantially extends the soft-switching range of the converter from full-load upto 10–35% load condition over a wide range of line voltages. To sustain soft-switching in the entire operating region of the converter, the converter is operated in a hybrid structure with single-phase and burst modes at light load conditions. A comprehensive time-domain analysis of the proposed converter is presented, which greatly improves accuracy over conventional frequency-domain modeling. Experimental results from a 1 kW prototype are presented to verify the performance of the converter and validate the theoretical analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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18 pages, 3723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Virtual Inertia Control for Microgrids with High-Penetration Renewables Based on Whale Optimization

by Asmaa Faragalla, Omar Abdel-Rahim, Mohamed Orabi and Esam H. Abdelhameed

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9254; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15239254 - 06 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1357

Abstract

High penetration of renewable energy sources into isolated microgrids (µGs) is considered a critical challenge, as µGs’ operation at low inertia results in frequency stability problems. To solve this challenge, virtual inertia control based on an energy storage system is applied to enhance the inertia and damping properties of the µG. On the other hand, utilization of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is indispensable for measuring system frequency; however, its dynamics, such as measurement delay and noise generation, cause extra deterioration of frequency stability. In this paper, to improve µG frequency stability and minimize the impact of PLL dynamics, a new optimal frequency control technique is proposed. A whale optimization algorithm is used to enhance the virtual inertia control loop by optimizing the parameters of the virtual inertia controller with consideration of PLL dynamics and the uncertainties of system inertia. The proposed controller has been validated through comparisons with an optimized virtual inertia PI controller which is tuned utilizing MATLAB internal model control methodology and with

H_{\infty}

-based virtual inertia control. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed controller against different operating conditions and system disturbances and uncertainties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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Review

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45 pages, 10650 KiB

Open AccessReview

Grid-Forming Control: Advancements towards 100% Inverter-Based Grids—A Review

by Emmanuel Ebinyu, Omar Abdel-Rahim, Diaa-Eldin A. Mansour, Masahito Shoyama and Sobhy M. Abdelkader

Energies 2023, 16(22), 7579; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16227579 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1859

Abstract

Changes are being implemented in the electrical power grid to accommodate the increased penetration of renewable energy sources interfaced with grid-connected inverters. The grid-forming (GFM) control paradigm of inverters in active power grids has emerged as a technique through which to tackle the effects of the diminishing dominance of synchronous generators (SGs) and is preferred to the grid-following (GFL) control for providing system control and stability in converter-dominated grids. Therefore, the development of the GFM control is important as the grid advances towards 100% inverter-based grids. In this paper, therefore, we aim to review the changing grid scenario; the behaviour of grid-connected inverter control paradigms and major GFM inverter controls, including their modifications to tackle low inertia, reduced power quality, fault-ride through capability, and reduced stability; and the state-of-the-art GFM models that are pushing the universality of GFM inverter control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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26 pages, 9123 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fault Ride-Through Techniques for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Wind Turbines (PMSG-WTGs): A Systematic Literature Review

by Ernest F. Morgan, Omar Abdel-Rahim, Tamer F. Megahed, Junya Suehiro and Sobhy M. Abdelkader

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9116; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15239116 - 01 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1959

Abstract

Global warming and rising energy demands have increased renewable energy (RE) usage globally. Wind energy has become the most technologically advanced renewable energy source. Wind turbines (WTs) must ride through faults to ensure power system stability. On the flip side, permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG)-based wind turbine power plants (WTPPs) are susceptible to grid voltage fluctuations and require extra regulations to maintain regular operations. Due to recent changes in grid code standards, it has become vital to explore alternate fault ride-through (FRT) methods to ensure their capabilities. This research will ensure that FRT solutions available via the Web of Science (WoS) database are vetted and compared in hardware retrofitting, internal software control changes, and hybrid techniques. In addition, a bibliometric analysis is provided, which reveals an ever-increasing volume of works dedicated to the topic. After that, a literature study of FRT techniques for PMSG WTs is carried out, demonstrating the evolution of these techniques over time. This paper concludes that additional research is required to enhance FRT capabilities in PMSG wind turbines and that further attention to topics, such as machine learning tools and the combination of FRT and wind power smoothing approaches, should arise in the following years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges and Advances in Power Converters for Emerging Renewable Energy Integrated Systems)

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