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20 pages, 5794 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Photovoltaic-Battery-Ultracapacitor-Diesel Hybrid Generation System for Mobile Hospital Energy Supply

by Mohamed Zine Zizoui, Muhammad Fahad Zia, Bekheira Tabbache, Yassine Amirat, Abdeslam Mamoune and Mohamed Benbouzid

Electronics 2022, 11(3), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11030390 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3380

Abstract

This paper deals with the energy management of a hybrid power system, which consists of a photovoltaic (PV) system, diesel generators, battery, and ultracapacitor for a mobile hospital. The proposed power system can supply energy to shelter hospitals for better treatment of patients [...] Read more.

This paper deals with the energy management of a hybrid power system, which consists of a photovoltaic (PV) system, diesel generators, battery, and ultracapacitor for a mobile hospital. The proposed power system can supply energy to shelter hospitals for better treatment of patients in remote states, particularly in the event of a pandemic situation such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). For this reason, a hybrid power system in which a diesel generator is used with a photovoltaic energy source for reliable availability of power supply. Moreover, battery and ultracapacitor are also integrated to obtain a hybrid power generation and storage system to ensure the smooth operation of mobile hospitals irrespective of weather conditions. A boost converter is used with PV panels to operate them in either maximum power tracking mode or power curtailment mode. The battery is connected to a bidirectional reversible DC-DC converter for direct-current (DC) bus voltage regulation and state of charge control. The ultracapacitor is associated with the battery to compensate for the peak power. The diesel generator is connected in parallel with the photovoltaic generator, battery, and ultracapacitor to continuously provide the power required by the load. The integrated operation of all generation sources and storage systems is complex for shelter hospitals. Therefore, an efficient energy management algorithm is developed to manage the continuous energy flow between different elements of the hybrid power system and mobile hospital load through the control of the power converters. Finally, validation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed energy management algorithm for the hybrid power system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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25 pages, 9183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compensation of Unbalanced Low-Voltage Grids Using a Photovoltaic Generation System with a Dual Four-Leg, Two-Level Inverter

by Vitor Fernão Pires, Armando Cordeiro, Daniel Foito, Armando José Pires, Chen Hao, João Francisco Martins and Rui Castro

Electronics 2022, 11(3), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11030320 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

In this paper, a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) generation system is proposed with the purpose of providing support to low-voltage grids, namely through the elimination or attenuation of the grid imbalances. This compensation must consider the load types, which can be either linear or [...] Read more.

In this paper, a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) generation system is proposed with the purpose of providing support to low-voltage grids, namely through the elimination or attenuation of the grid imbalances. This compensation must consider the load types, which can be either linear or non-linear, and whether the reactive power and current harmonics generated by the non-linear loads need to be compensated in addition to the unbalanced active power. This must be well considered, since the compensation of all aspects requires oversized PV inverters. Thus, the different unbalanced compensation schemes are addressed. Several schemes for the generation of the inverter current references taking into consideration the compensation and load type are presented. For this PV generation system, a dual four-leg, two-level inverter is proposed. It provides full unbalanced compensation owing to the fourth leg of the inverter and also extends the AC voltage, which is important when this compensation is required. To control this inverter, a control scheme for the inverter that considers several compensation factors is proposed. A vector voltage modulator associated with the controller is another aspect that is addressed in the paper. This modulator considers the balance between the DC voltages of the inverters. Several compensation schemes are verified through computational tests. The results validate the effectiveness of the proposed PV generation system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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49 pages, 24241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Motor-Kinetic-Energy-Based Power Pulsation Buffer Concept for Single-Phase-Input Electrolytic-Capacitor-Less Motor-Integrated Inverter System

by Michael Haider, Dominik Bortis, Grayson Zulauf, Johann W. Kolar and Yasuo Ono

Electronics 2022, 11(2), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11020280 - 16 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4180

Abstract

The motor integration of singe-phase-supplied Variable-Speed Drives (VSDs) is prevented by the significant volume, short lifetime, and operating temperature limit of the electrolytic capacitors required to buffer the pulsating power grid. The DC-link energy storage requirement is eliminated by using the kinetic energy [...] Read more.

The motor integration of singe-phase-supplied Variable-Speed Drives (VSDs) is prevented by the significant volume, short lifetime, and operating temperature limit of the electrolytic capacitors required to buffer the pulsating power grid. The DC-link energy storage requirement is eliminated by using the kinetic energy of the motor as a buffer. The proposed concept is called the Motor-Integrated Power Pulsation Buffer (MPPB), and a control technique and structure are detailed that meet the requirements for nominal and faulted operation with a simple reconfiguration of existing controller blocks. A 7.5 KW, motor-integrated hardware demonstrator validated the proposed MPPB concept and loss models for a scroll compressor drive used in auxiliary railway applications. The MPPB drive with a front-end CISPR 11/Class A EMI filter, PFC rectifier stage, and output-side inverter stage achieved a power density of 0.91 KW L⁻¹ (15 W in⁻³). The grid-to-motor-shaft efficiency exceeded 90% for all loads over 5 kW or 66% of nominal load, with a worst-case loss penalty over a conventional system of only 17%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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15 pages, 19000 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Demonstration of Converter Control Interactions in MMC-HVDC Systems

by Jinlei Chen, Sheng Wang, Carlos E. Ugalde-Loo, Wenlong Ming, Oluwole D. Adeuyi, Salvatore D’Arco, Salvador Ceballos, Max Parker, Stephen Finney, Andrea Pitto, Diego Cirio and Iñigo Azpiri

Electronics 2022, 11(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11020175 - 6 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2306

Abstract

Although the control of modular multi-level converters (MMCs) in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) networks has become a mature subject these days, the potential for adverse interactions between different converter controls remains an under-researched challenge attracting the attention from both academia and industry. Even for [...] Read more.

Although the control of modular multi-level converters (MMCs) in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) networks has become a mature subject these days, the potential for adverse interactions between different converter controls remains an under-researched challenge attracting the attention from both academia and industry. Even for point-to-point HVDC links (i.e., simple HVDC systems), converter control interactions may result in the shifting of system operating voltages, increased power losses, and unintended power imbalances at converter stations. To bridge this research gap, the risk of multiple cross-over of control characteristics of MMCs is assessed in this paper through mathematical analysis, computational simulation, and experimental validation. Specifically, the following point-to-point HVDC link configurations are examined: (1) one MMC station equipped with a current versus voltage droop control and the other station equipped with a constant power control; and (2) one MMC station equipped with a power versus voltage droop control and the other station equipped with a constant current control. Design guidelines for droop coefficients are provided to prevent adverse control interactions. A 60-kW MMC test-rig is used to experimentally verify the impact of multiple crossing of control characteristics of the DC system configurations, with results verified through software simulation in MATLAB/Simulink using an open access toolbox. Results show that in operating conditions of 650 V and 50 A (DC voltage and DC current), drifts of 7.7% in the DC voltage and of 10% in the DC current occur due to adverse control interactions under the current versus voltage droop and power control scheme. Similarly, drifts of 7.7% both in the DC voltage and power occur under the power versus voltage droop and current control scheme. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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26 pages, 40554 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Design and Implementation of a Smart Energy Meter Using a LoRa Network in Real Time

by Francisco Sánchez-Sutil, Antonio Cano-Ortega and Jesús C. Hernández

Electronics 2021, 10(24), 3152; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10243152 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6992

Abstract

Nowadays, the development, implementation and deployment of smart meters (SMs) is increasing in importance, and its expansion is exponential. The use of SMs in electrical engineering covers a multitude of applications ranging from real-time monitoring to the study of load profiles in homes. [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the development, implementation and deployment of smart meters (SMs) is increasing in importance, and its expansion is exponential. The use of SMs in electrical engineering covers a multitude of applications ranging from real-time monitoring to the study of load profiles in homes. The use of wireless technologies has helped this development. Various problems arise in the implementation of SMs, such as coverage, locations without Internet access, etc. LoRa (long range) technology has great coverage and equipment with low power consumption that allows the installation of SMs in all types of locations, including those without Internet access. The objective of this research is to create an SM network under the LoRa specification that solves the problems presented by other wireless networks. For this purpose, a gateway for residential electricity metering networks using LoRa (GREMNL) and an electrical variable measuring device for households using LoRa (EVMDHL) have been created, which allow the development of SM networks with large coverage and low consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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20 pages, 12498 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Switching Frequency Operation Control of Line Voltage Cascade Triple Converter

by Zhiqiang Wang, Sheng Hao, Dongyang Han, Xuefeng Jin and Xin Gu

Electronics 2021, 10(24), 3059; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10243059 - 8 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

With the increasing power level of wind power generation system, the traditional topology of power converters can no longer meets the demand of high-power wind power generation systems due to the limitation of device performance. The line voltage cascade type multiple PWM converter [...] Read more.

With the increasing power level of wind power generation system, the traditional topology of power converters can no longer meets the demand of high-power wind power generation systems due to the limitation of device performance. The line voltage cascade type multiple PWM converter (LVC-VSC) is a kind of converter that uses the traditional two-level and six-switch voltage source converter as the basic component unit, and each unit is combined with the line voltage cascade method. This type of converter is suitable for medium-voltage and high-power applications such as wind power generation and metallurgical drives because of its easy modularization, strong scalability and low number of isolated power supplies required. However, for medium-voltage and high-power applications, the switching frequency of power devices in the converter is low, usually limited to a few hundred hertz. The traditional modulation method of line voltage cascade converter has a large number of redundant states, and simply reducing the carrier ratio will cause serious degradation of control performance and system instability. To address this problem, this paper proposes a modulation strategy and a corresponding control method for low switching frequency. The modulation strategy is based on the vector relationship of finite switching states, and the optimal switching sequence is selected according to the modulation system by removing redundant states, thus ensuring the application of different modulation sequences under different modulation depths and ensuring the current quality on the basis of the minimum switching frequency, which effectively solves the control problems at low switching frequency. The experimental results show the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed modulation strategy and control method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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24 pages, 6817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technoeconomic and Environmental Study of Multi-Objective Integration of PV/Wind-Based DGs Considering Uncertainty of System

by Ashraf Ramadan, Mohamed Ebeed, Salah Kamel, Mohamed I. Mosaad and Ahmed Abu-Siada

Electronics 2021, 10(23), 3035; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10233035 - 5 Dec 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2707

Abstract

For technological, economic, and environmental reasons, renewable distributed generators (RDGs) have been extensively used in distribution networks. This paper presents an effective approach for technoeconomic analysis of optimal allocation of REDGs considering the uncertainties of the system. The primary issue with renewable-based distributed [...] Read more.

For technological, economic, and environmental reasons, renewable distributed generators (RDGs) have been extensively used in distribution networks. This paper presents an effective approach for technoeconomic analysis of optimal allocation of REDGs considering the uncertainties of the system. The primary issue with renewable-based distributed generators, especially wind and photovoltaic systems, is their intermittent characteristic that results in fluctuating output power and, hence, increasing power system uncertainty. Thus, it is essential to consider the uncertainty of such resources while selecting their optimal allocation within the grid. The main contribution of this study is to figure out the optimal size and location for RDGs in radial distribution systems while considering the uncertainty of load demand and RDG output power. A Monte Carlo simulation approach and a backward reduction algorithm were used to generate a reasonable number of scenarios to reflect the uncertainties of loading and RDG output power. Manta ray foraging optimization (MRFO), an efficient technique, was used to estimate the ratings and placements of the RDGs for a multi-objective function that includes the minimization of the expected total cost, total emissions, and total system voltage deviation, in addition to enhancing predicted total voltage stability. An IEEE 118-bus network was used as a large interconnected network, along with a rural 51-bus distribution grid and the IEEE 15-bus model as a small distribution network to test the developed technique. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed optimization technique effectively addresses the optimal DG allocation problem. Furthermore, the results indicate that using the proposed method to optimally integrate wind turbines with solar-based DG decreases the expected costs, emissions, and voltage deviations while improving voltage stability by 40.27%, 62.6%, 29.33%, and 4.76%, respectively, for the IEEE 118-bus system and enhances the same parameters by 35.57%, 59.92%, 68.95%, and 11.88%, respectively, for the rural 51-bus system and by 37.74%, 61.46%, 58.39%, and 8.86%, respectively, for the 15-bus system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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15 pages, 7277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modulation Technique for Modified Active Quasi-Z-Source Inverter with Common-Mode Voltage Reduction

by Minh-Khai Nguyen and Youn-Ok Choi

Electronics 2021, 10(23), 2968; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10232968 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2380

Abstract

In Z-source topologies, a high-amplitude common-mode voltage can occur when shoot-through states are inserted. In this study, a new space vector pulse-width modulation for an active quasi-Z-source topology is proposed to operate at a high modulation index and reduce the common-mode voltage to [...] Read more.

In Z-source topologies, a high-amplitude common-mode voltage can occur when shoot-through states are inserted. In this study, a new space vector pulse-width modulation for an active quasi-Z-source topology is proposed to operate at a high modulation index and reduce the common-mode voltage to one-third of the DC-link voltage. Moreover, the quality of the output voltage is improved by operation with a high modulation index and decreasing the switching loss of the H-bridge switches. The detailed operating principles of the active quasi-Z-source topology using the proposed space vector modulation (SVM) method are presented. A simulation model was built, and an experimental prototype was verified to correct the theoretical analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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21 pages, 7994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of a Noninvasive Magnetic Sensor-Based Current Measurement System in Power Systems

by Prasad Shrawane and Tarlochan S. Sidhu

Electronics 2021, 10(22), 2869; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10222869 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2246

Abstract

A large increase in distributed generation integrated within power system networks has resulted in power quality challenges and in the need to resolve complex system faults. The monitoring of the real-time state of the power parameters of the transmission and distribution grid helps [...] Read more.

A large increase in distributed generation integrated within power system networks has resulted in power quality challenges and in the need to resolve complex system faults. The monitoring of the real-time state of the power parameters of the transmission and distribution grid helps to control the stability and reliability of the grid. In such a scenario, having current monitoring equipment that is flexible and easy to install can always be of great help to reduce the price of energy monitoring and to increase the dependability of a smart grid. Advances in magnetic sensor research offer measurement system accuracy that is less complex to install and that can be obtained at a lower less cost. Tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensors can be used to measure the AC current by sensing the magnetic field that is generated by the current-carrying conductor in a contactless manner. This paper illustrates the results of a thorough investigation of factors that can influence the performance of the TMR sensors that are used for the current phasor measurements of a single-phase AC current application, such as the effects of distance, harmonics, and conductor insulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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14 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Optimal Stabilization of MT-HVDC Systems: Inverse Optimal Control Approach

by Oscar Danilo Montoya, Walter Gil-González, Federico Martin Serra, Cristian Hernan De Angelo and Jesus C. Hernández

Electronics 2021, 10(22), 2819; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10222819 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

The stabilization problem of multi-terminal high-voltage direct current (MT-HVDC) systems feeding constant power loads is addressed in this paper using an inverse optimal control (IOC). A hierarchical control structure using a convex optimization model in the secondary control stage and the IOC in [...] Read more.

The stabilization problem of multi-terminal high-voltage direct current (MT-HVDC) systems feeding constant power loads is addressed in this paper using an inverse optimal control (IOC). A hierarchical control structure using a convex optimization model in the secondary control stage and the IOC in the primary control stage is proposed to determine the set of references that allows the stabilization of the network under load variations. The main advantage of the IOC is that this control method ensures the closed-loop stability of the whole MT-HVDC system using a control Lyapunov function to determine the optimal control law. Numerical results in a reduced version of the CIGRE MT-HVDC system show the effectiveness of the IOC to stabilize the system under large disturbance scenarios, such as short-circuit events and topology changes. All the simulations are carried out in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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9 pages, 3155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Five-Level Converter in a Three-Level Mode for Common-Mode Leakage Current Suppression in PV-Generation Systems

by Aleksey V. Udovichenko, Sergey V. Brovanov, Evgeny V. Grishanov and Svetlana M. Stennikova

Electronics 2021, 10(19), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10192382 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

Power generation systems (PGSs) based on renewable energy sources are finding ever-widening applications, and many researchers work on this problem. Many papers address the problem of transformerless PGSs, but few of them aimed at conducting research on structures with multilevel converter topologies as [...] Read more.

Power generation systems (PGSs) based on renewable energy sources are finding ever-widening applications, and many researchers work on this problem. Many papers address the problem of transformerless PGSs, but few of them aimed at conducting research on structures with multilevel converter topologies as part of a PGS. In this paper a grid-tied transformerless PV-generation system based on a multilevel converter is discussed. There are common-mode leakage currents (CMLCs), which act as a parasitic factor. It is also known that common-mode voltage is the main cause of the common-mode leakage current in grid-tied PV-generation systems. This paper considers the space vector pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique, which is used to suppress or reduce common-mode leakage current. The proposed PWM technique with the reduction of common-mode leakage current for a generation system based on the multilevel converter controlled with a PWM technique was verified experimentally. The experimental results accurately confirmed the mathematical model and the compensation achieved without errors. In the experiment, there was an approximately six-fold decrease in the common-mode leakage current (10.3 mA in rejection mode and 61 mA in non-rejection current). This can lead to the elimination of CMLC in a multilevel semiconductor converter only by changing the modulation mode. This suggests the possibility of using these devices as part of transformerless generation systems. Suppression of CMLC can only be carried out by changing the PWM algorithm. Both considered topologies can implement this mode of operation. The proposed converter has a higher efficiency up to a frequency multiplicity of 2000. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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18 pages, 4802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modified Variable Step-Size Incremental Conductance MPPT Technique for Photovoltaic Systems

by Isaac Owusu-Nyarko, Mohamed A. Elgenedy, Ibrahim Abdelsalam and Khaled H. Ahmed

Electronics 2021, 10(19), 2331; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10192331 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4605

Abstract

A highly efficient photovoltaic (PV) system requires a maximum power point tracker to extract peak power from PV modules. The conventional variable step-size incremental conductance (INC) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique has two main drawbacks. First, it uses a pre-set scaling factor, [...] Read more.

A highly efficient photovoltaic (PV) system requires a maximum power point tracker to extract peak power from PV modules. The conventional variable step-size incremental conductance (INC) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique has two main drawbacks. First, it uses a pre-set scaling factor, which requires manual tuning under different irradiance levels. Second, it adapts the slope of the PV characteristics curve to vary the step-size, which means any small changes in PV module voltage will significantly increase the overall step-size. Subsequently, it deviates the operating point away from the actual reference. In this paper, a new modified variable step-size INC algorithm is proposed to address the aforementioned problems. The proposed algorithm consists of two parts, namely autonomous scaling factor and slope angle variation algorithm. The autonomous scaling factor continuously adjusts the step-size without using a pre-set constant to control the trade-off between convergence speed and tracking precision. The slope angle variation algorithm mitigates the impact of PV voltage change, especially during variable irradiance conditions to improve the MPPT efficiency. The theoretical investigations of the new technique are carried out while its practicability is confirmed by simulation and experimental results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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14 pages, 5993 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Single Source Switched-Capacitor 13-Level Inverter with Triple Voltage Boosting and Reduced Component Count

by Mohammad Tayyab, Adil Sarwar, Irfan Khan, Mohd Tariq, Md Reyaz Hussan, Shadab Murshid and Waleed Alhosaini

Electronics 2021, 10(19), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10192321 - 22 Sep 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2831

Abstract

A new triple voltage boosting switched-capacitor multilevel inverter (SCMLI) is presented in this paper. It can produce 13-level output voltage waveform by utilizing 12 switches, three diodes, three capacitors, and one DC source. The capacitor voltages are self-balanced as all the three capacitors [...] Read more.

A new triple voltage boosting switched-capacitor multilevel inverter (SCMLI) is presented in this paper. It can produce 13-level output voltage waveform by utilizing 12 switches, three diodes, three capacitors, and one DC source. The capacitor voltages are self-balanced as all the three capacitors present in the circuit are connected across the DC source to charge it to the desired voltage level for several instants in one fundamental cycle. A detailed comparative analysis is carried to show the advantages of the proposed topology in terms of the number of switches, number of capacitors, number of sources, total standing voltage (TSV), and boosting of the converter with the recently published 13-level topologies. The nearest level control (NLC)-based algorithm is used for generating switching signals for the IGBTs present in the circuit. The TSV of the proposed converter is 22. Experimental results are obtained for different loading conditions by using a laboratory hardware prototype to validate the simulation results. The efficiency of the proposed inverter is 97.2% for a 200 watt load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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17 pages, 4997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electromechanical-Mode Coupling Model and Failure Prediction of CFRP under Three-Point Bending

by Ronghua Zhang, Lifu Zhang, Hongying Fang and Wuliang Yin

Electronics 2021, 10(16), 2007; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10162007 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1948

Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer materials (CFRP) cause CFRP to bend or fail when subjected to external loads or impacts. In the case of static three-point bending, using the conductive properties of the carbon fiber inside the CFRP, the overall damage detection and failure [...] Read more.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer materials (CFRP) cause CFRP to bend or fail when subjected to external loads or impacts. In the case of static three-point bending, using the conductive properties of the carbon fiber inside the CFRP, the overall damage detection and failure prediction can be carried out by electromagnetic methods. The eddy current coil is used to realize real-time monitoring of damage, and the measured voltage value can be mapped to obtain the load of the sample. This paper conducts theoretical analysis and experimental verification, and obtains the relationship between CFRP stress damage and spatial conductivity change, and proposes a CFRP electromechanical coupling model under quasistatic three-point bending. Combined with the theory of electrically ineffective length, the CFRP three-point bending electromechanical coupling model was revised. Experimental results prove that the revised model can describe the load-conductivity change trend of three-dimensional braided CFRP more accurately, which provides a theoretical basis for monitoring the structural health of CFRP through electromagnetic methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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28 pages, 10604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indirect Effective Controlled Split Source Inverter-Based Parallel Active Power Filter for Enhancing Power Quality

by Poornima Udaychandra Panati, Sridhar Ramasamy, Mominul Ahsan, Julfikar Haider and Eduardo M.G. Rodrigues

Electronics 2021, 10(8), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10080892 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3096

Abstract

The existing solutions for reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) using different control algorithms in shunt active power filters (SAPFs) are complex. This work proposes a split source inverter (SSI)-based SAPF for improving the power quality in a nonlinear load system. The advantage of [...] Read more.

The existing solutions for reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) using different control algorithms in shunt active power filters (SAPFs) are complex. This work proposes a split source inverter (SSI)-based SAPF for improving the power quality in a nonlinear load system. The advantage of the SSI topology is that it is of a single stage boost inverter with an inductor and capacitor where the conventional two stages with an intermediate DC-DC conversion stage is discarded. This research proposes inventive control schemes for SAPF having two control loops; the outer control loop regulates the DC link voltage whereas the inner current loop shapes the source current profile. The control mechanism implemented here is an effective, less complex, indirect scheme compared to the existing time domain control algorithms. Here, an intelligent fuzzy logic control regulates the DC link voltage which facilitates reference current generation for the current control scheme. The simulation of the said system was carried out in a MATLAB/Simulink environment. The simulations were carried out for different load conditions (RL and RC) using a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) and PI controllers in the outer loop (voltage control) and hysteresis current controller (HCC) and sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) in the inner loop (current control). The simulation results were extracted for dynamic load conditions and the results demonstrated that the THD can be reduced to 0.76% using a combination of SPWM and FLC. Therefore, the proposed system proved to be effective and viable for reducing THD. This system would be highly applicable for renewable energy power generation such as Photovoltaic (PV) and Fuel cell (FC). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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19 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Microgrids Power Quality Enhancement Using Model Predictive Control

by Felix Garcia-Torres, Sergio Vazquez, Isabel M. Moreno-Garcia, Aurora Gil-de-Castro, Pedro Roncero-Sanchez and Antonio Moreno-Munoz

Electronics 2021, 10(3), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10030328 - 1 Feb 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3238

Abstract

In electric power systems, any deviation with respect to the theoretical sinusoidal waveform is considered to be a disturbance in the power quality of the electrical grid. The deviation can alter any of the parameters of the waveform: frequency, amplitude, and symmetry among [...] Read more.

In electric power systems, any deviation with respect to the theoretical sinusoidal waveform is considered to be a disturbance in the power quality of the electrical grid. The deviation can alter any of the parameters of the waveform: frequency, amplitude, and symmetry among phases. Microgrid, as a part of the electric power system, has to contribute providing an adequate current waveform in grid connected-mode, as well as to guarantee similar voltage features than the standard requirement given for public distribution grids under normal exploitation conditions in islanded mode. Adequate power quality supply is necessary for the correct compatibility between all the devices connected to the same grid. In this paper, the power quality of microgrids is managed using a Model Predictive Control (MPC) methodology which regulates the power converters of the microgrids in order to achieve the requirements. The control algorithm is developed for the following microgrids working modes: grid-connected, islanded, and interconnected. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methodology improves the transient response in comparison with classical methods in all the working modes, minimizing the harmonic content in the current and the voltage even with the presence of non-balanced and non-harmonic-free three-phase voltage and current systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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16 pages, 4781 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Toward a Substation Automation System Based on IEC 61850

by Shantanu Kumar, Ahmed Abu-Siada, Narottam Das and Syed Islam

Electronics 2021, 10(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10030310 - 28 Jan 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7624

Abstract

With the global trend to digitalize substation automation systems, International Electro technical Commission 61850, a communication protocol defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission, has been given much attention to ensure consistent communication and integration of substation high-voltage primary plant assets such as instrument [...] Read more.

With the global trend to digitalize substation automation systems, International Electro technical Commission 61850, a communication protocol defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission, has been given much attention to ensure consistent communication and integration of substation high-voltage primary plant assets such as instrument transformers, circuit breakers and power transformers with various intelligent electronic devices into a hierarchical level. Along with this transition, equipment of primary plants in the switchyard, such as non-conventional instrument transformers, and a secondary system including merging units are expected to play critical roles due to their fast-transient response over a wide bandwidth. While a non-conventional instrument transformer has advantages when compared with the conventional one, extensive and detailed performance investigation and feasibility studies are still required for its full implementation at a large scale within utilities, industries, smart grids and digital substations. This paper is taking one step forward with respect to this aim by employing an optimized network engineering tool to evaluate the performance of an Ethernet-based network and to validate the overall process bus design requirement of a high-voltage non-conventional instrument transformer. Furthermore, the impact of communication delay on the substation automation system during peak traffic is investigated through a detailed simulation analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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22 pages, 2860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Approach for Power Losses Evaluation of IGBT/Diode Module

by Hossein Hafezi and Roberto Faranda

Electronics 2021, 10(3), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10030280 - 25 Jan 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5630

Abstract

Electric power systems are facing tremendous changes and power electronic devices are playing an increasingly crucial role in this transformation. In this contest, the study of power electronic devices behavior becomes of the utmost importance, and in particular, evaluation of their losses to [...] Read more.

Electric power systems are facing tremendous changes and power electronic devices are playing an increasingly crucial role in this transformation. In this contest, the study of power electronic devices behavior becomes of the utmost importance, and in particular, evaluation of their losses to understand their performance. Several methods can be found in literature to evaluate power or energy losses, but each of them is associated with shortcomings (such as missing an important factor or having narrow current or voltage range) that in practice become a strong limit to implement them or in a simulation process. To overcome this problem, this paper evaluates existing methods and proposes new loss calculation methods for power electronics losses that can be used within simulation tools at any converter configuration and application range, splitting power electronic losses into switching and conduction losses. The proposed new approach formulates each loss calculation procedure in a systematic way. The presented methods are implemented in Matlab Simulink and simulation results are compared with data obtained from the Semikron SemiSel v4 online tool, which is used as a benchmark. The outcomes reveal that, with this new approach, the proposed methods can cover wider working operation range compared to the existing methods having better accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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49 pages, 111025 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Study of Integrated Signal and Power Transfer for Compact Isolated SiC MOSFET Gate-Drivers

by Jorge Garcia, Sarah Saeed, Emre Gurpinar and Alberto Castellazzi

Electronics 2021, 10(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10020159 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4622

Abstract

This work discusses a novel set of alternate implementations of isolated gate driver circuits for power electronic transistors. The proposed topologies for the driver have been designed specifically for SiC power MOSFET. Three different solutions are discussed, all of them providing the required [...] Read more.

This work discusses a novel set of alternate implementations of isolated gate driver circuits for power electronic transistors. The proposed topologies for the driver have been designed specifically for SiC power MOSFET. Three different solutions are discussed, all of them providing the required gate turn-on and turn-off command signal with galvanic isolation, but also supplying power to the secondary side of the driver by means of magnetic transformers. The resulting solutions, all of them implemented with simple circuitry, enable the integration of the driver into the power cell, allowing for theoretical higher power density values in the final system. The principle of operation of the different solutions is discussed, and then the main relevant implementation details are presented. After that, the operation of the circuits is demonstrated experimentally, by testing a set of prototypes of these drivers. This provides a comprehensive design example that assesses the feasibility of the proposed solutions. Finally, the main results of the performance of the three gate drivers, on an SiC MOSFET-based prototype are presented and compared. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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Review

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32 pages, 6608 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

A Survey on Capacitor Voltage Control in Neutral-Point-Clamped Multilevel Converters

by Salvador Alepuz, Sergio Busquets-Monge, Joan Nicolás-Apruzzese, Àlber Filbà-Martínez, Josep Bordonau, Xibo Yuan and Samir Kouro

Electronics 2022, 11(4), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11040527 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4212

Abstract

Neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters are currently a suitable solution for a wide range of applications. It is well known that the capacitor voltage balance is a major issue for this topology. In this paper, a brief summary of the basic topologies, modulations, and features [...] Read more.

Neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters are currently a suitable solution for a wide range of applications. It is well known that the capacitor voltage balance is a major issue for this topology. In this paper, a brief summary of the basic topologies, modulations, and features of neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters is presented, prior to a detailed description and analysis of the capacitor voltage balance behavior. Then, the most relevant methods to manage the capacitor voltage balance are presented and discussed, including operation in the overmodulation region, at low frequency-modulation indexes, with different numbers of AC phases, and with different numbers of levels. Both open- and closed-loop methods are discussed. Some methods based on adding external circuitry are also presented and analyzed. Although the focus of the paper is mainly DC–AC conversion, the techniques for capacitor voltage balance in DC–DC conversion are discussed as well. Finally, the paper concludes with some application examples benefiting from the presented techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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18 pages, 2142 KiB

Open AccessReview

Overview of Machine Learning Methods for Lithium-Ion Battery Remaining Useful Lifetime Prediction

by Siyu Jin, Xin Sui, Xinrong Huang, Shunli Wang, Remus Teodorescu and Daniel-Ioan Stroe

Electronics 2021, 10(24), 3126; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10243126 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7607

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries play an indispensable role, from portable electronic devices to electric vehicles and home storage systems. Even though they are characterized by superior performance than most other storage technologies, their lifetime is not unlimited and has to be predicted to ensure the [...] Read more.

Lithium-ion batteries play an indispensable role, from portable electronic devices to electric vehicles and home storage systems. Even though they are characterized by superior performance than most other storage technologies, their lifetime is not unlimited and has to be predicted to ensure the economic viability of the battery application. Furthermore, to ensure the optimal battery system operation, the remaining useful lifetime (RUL) prediction has become an essential feature of modern battery management systems (BMSs). Thus, the prediction of RUL of Lithium-ion batteries has become a hot topic for both industry and academia. The purpose of this work is to review, classify, and compare different machine learning (ML)-based methods for the prediction of the RUL of Lithium-ion batteries. First, this article summarizes and classifies various Lithium-ion battery RUL estimation methods that have been proposed in recent years. Secondly, an innovative method was selected for evaluation and compared in terms of accuracy and complexity. DNN is more suitable for RUL prediction due to its strong independent learning ability and generalization ability. In addition, the challenges and prospects of BMS and RUL prediction research are also put forward. Finally, the development of various methods is summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Electronics: Recent Advances in Power Electronics)

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