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Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems

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A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 36570

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Amr Radwan

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering and Design, Electrical Engineering, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
Interests: modeling; analysis; and advanced control of high-power power electronic converters in the smart-grid; alternative energy and grid-integration applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Motivated by the recent advancements in power electronics industry, and due to economic and environmental concerns, the integration of renewable energy resources into electrical grids is increasingly adopted worldwide. This includes the integration of photovoltaic generators and wind turbines as well as the high-voltage dc (HVDC) transmission systems. Power electronic converters are currently the main infrastructure devices in the modern microgrid and smart grid applications.

The main objective of this Special Issue is to address the recent challenges facing the integration of renewable energy resources using power electronic converters. Topics of interest include the following：

Modeling and stability analysis
Coordination and control of power electronic converters
Networked and autonomous power management
Protection and fault-ride through capabilities
Efficiency and reliability
Interfacing of renewable energy resources and energy storage
Weak grids integration
Two-level converters and Multi-module converters
HVDC applications

Prof. Dr. Amr Radwan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Modeling and stability analysis
Coordination and control of power electronic converters
Networked and autonomous power management
Protection and fault-ride through capabilities
Efficiency and reliability
Interfacing of renewable energy resources and energy storage
Weak grids integration
Two-level converters and Multi-module converters
HVDC applications

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 2052 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Electro-Thermal Model-Based Design of Bidirectional On-Board Chargers in Hybrid and Full Electric Vehicles

by Pierpaolo Dini and Sergio Saponara

Electronics 2022, 11(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11010112 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5161

Abstract

In this paper, a model-based approach for the design of a bidirectional onboard charger (OBC) device for modern hybrid and fully electrified vehicles is proposed. The main objective and contribution of our study is to incorporate in the same simulation environment both modelling of electrical and thermal behaviour of switching devices. This is because most (if not all) of the studies in the literature present analyses of thermal behaviour based on the use of FEM (Finite Element Method) SWs, which in fact require the definition of complicated models based on partial derivative equations. The simulation of such accurate models is computationally expensive and, therefore, cannot be incorporated into the same virtual environment in which the circuit equations are solved. This requires long waiting times and also means that electrical and thermal models do not interact with each other, limiting the completeness of the analysis in the design phase. As a case study, we take as reference the architecture of a modular bidirectional single-phase OBC, consisting of a Totem Pole-type AC/DC converter with Power Factor Correction (PFC) followed by a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) type DC/DC converter. Specifically, we consider a 7 kW OBC, for which its modules consist of switching devices made with modern 900 V GaN (Gallium Nitrade) and 1200 V SiC (Silicon Carbide) technologies, to achieve maximum performance and efficiency. We present a procedure for sizing and selecting electronic devices based on the analysis of behaviour through circuit models of the Totem Pole PFC and DAB converter in order to perform validation by using simulations that are as realistic as possible. The developed models are tested under various operating conditions of practical interest in order to validate the robustness of the implemented control algorithms under varying operating conditions. The validation of the models and control loops is also enhanced by an exhaustive robustness analysis of the parametric variations of the model with respect to the nominal case. All simulations obtained respect the operating limits of the selected devices and components, for which its characteristics are reported in data sheets both in terms of electrical and thermal behaviour. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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15 pages, 7405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reliability Analysis and Fault-Tolerant Operation in a Multilevel Inverter for Industrial Application

by Mohammad Fahad, Marwan Alsultan, Shafiq Ahmad, Adil Sarwar, Mohd Tariq and Irfan Ahmad Khan

Electronics 2022, 11(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11010098 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2124

Abstract

The extensive employment of power semiconductor devices in multilevel inverters (MLIs) has the consequence of increased failure probabilities. With numerous applications demanding highly reliable inverters, several fault-tolerant schemes have been devised to address switch open-circuit faults. This paper analyzes a multilevel inverter topology for IGBT modules undergoing open-circuit faults, a major impediment to reliable operation within a power converter. Reconfiguration of modulation is performed post-fault. A modulation scheme is implemented across failure modes as a hybrid of nearest level control and selective harmonic elimination. Reliability assessment of the topology is performed, including a comparison with previous literature in terms of component requirements and reliability. Simulation results validate the proposed solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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16 pages, 1517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictive Fixed Switching Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm with Dual Adaptive Step-Size for PV Systems

by Mostafa Ahmed, Ibrahim Harbi, Ralph Kennel and Mohamed Abdelrahem

Electronics 2021, 10(24), 3109; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10243109 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2461

Abstract

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is an essential and primary objective in photovoltaic (PV) systems implementation. Thus, in this article, the predictive fixed switching MPPT technique is proposed for a two-stage PV system, where the system under consideration consists of a PV source, boost converter, and two-level inverter. The MPPT design is based on dual adaptive step-size realization to limit the duty cycle oscillations at a steady state. Furthermore, the PI controller is eliminated, which simplifies the MPPT implementation. The suggested tuning procedure of the duty cycle is compared with the conventional adaptive step-size perturb and observe (P&O) method. The inverter is controlled using an efficient finite-set model predictive control (FS-MPC) algorithm with reduced computation burden, where the optimal switching state vector is identified based on the polarity of the reference voltage in the

α

β

reference frame and without any need for sector determination. Furthermore, the cost function of the FS-MPC algorithm is modified to include the reduction of the switching frequency as a secondary objective for the inverter control. The overall control methodology is evaluated using experimental results at different operating conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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18 pages, 7228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Output Voltage and Resistance Assessment of Load-Independent-Voltage-Output Frequency Operating Inductive Wireless Power Transfer Link Utilizing Input DC-Side Measurements Only

by Or Trachtenberg and Alon Kuperman

Electronics 2021, 10(17), 2109; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10172109 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

The paper puts forward a method for predicting output voltage and resistance of a series-series (SS) compensated inductive wireless power transfer (IWPT) link operating at load-independent-voltage-output (LIVO) frequency. The link is a part of the static system (reported by the authors in earlier works), wirelessly delivering power into an enclosed compartment without any secondary-to-primary feedback. The proposed algorithm employs input DC-side quantities (which are slow-varying and nearly noise-free, thus measured utilizing low-cost, low-bandwidth sensors) only to monitor output DC-side quantities, required for protection and/or control. It is shown that high estimation accuracy is retained as long as system parameter values are known and the phasor-domain equivalent circuit is valid (i.e., upon continuous-conduction mode (CCM) of the diode rectifier, where the proposed methodology utilizes the recently revealed modified diode rectifier equivalent model for enhanced accuracy). Under light loading (i.e., in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)), a nonlinear correction is combined with the proposed technique to retain accuracy. The proposed methodology is well-verified by application to a 400 V to 400 V, 1 kW static IWPT link by simulations and experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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30 pages, 4849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small-Signal Stability Analysis for Multi-Terminal LVDC Distribution Network Based on Distributed Secondary Control Strategy

by Zhenyu Lv, Min Zhou, Qi Wang and Wenqiang Hu

Electronics 2021, 10(13), 1575; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10131575 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2222

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed and accurate small-signal analysis model for a four-terminal low-voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution network with distributed secondary control strategy. To tackle the contradiction between power sharing accuracy and average voltage recovery ability of voltage source converters (VSCs), a distributed secondary control strategy is adopted, which is based on average consensus algorithm and local voting protocol. Furthermore, to analyze the stability of LVDC distribution network based on the proposed distributed secondary control strategy, a detailed and accurate small-signal analysis model is formulated which is derived from various non-linear state-space sub-models. The time-domain simulation and electromagnetic simulation are carried out to verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed model. Based on this model, the influence rules of main eigenvalues are summarized with the variation of PI control and DC line parameters. Time-domain simulations conducted in PSCAD are used to validate the operational limits of the secondary controllers and DC line obtained from the small-signal stability analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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11 pages, 1764 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Battery Management System with EIS Monitoring of Life Expectancy for Lead–Acid Batteries

by Javier Olarte, Jaione Martínez de Ilarduya, Ekaitz Zulueta, Raquel Ferret, Unai Fernández-Gámiz and Jose Manuel Lopez-Guede

Electronics 2021, 10(11), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10111228 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4996

Abstract

This work presents a battery management system for lead–acid batteries that integrates a battery-block (12 V) sensor that allows the online monitoring of a cell’s temperature, voltage, and impedance spectra. The monitoring and diagnostic capabilities enable the implementation of improved battery management algorithms in order to increase the life expectancy of lead–acid batteries and report the battery health conditions. The novelty is based on the online monitoring of the evolution of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) over a battery’s life as a way to monitor the battery’s performance. Active cell balancing is also proposed as an alternative to traditional charge equalization to minimize excessive electrolyte consumption. A battery-block sensor (VTZ) was validated by using the correlation between experimental data collected from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy lab-testing equipment and sensors that were implemented in a series of 12 V lead–acid battery blocks. The modular design and small size allow easy and direct integration into different commercial cell formats, and the proposed methodology can be used for applications ranging from automotive to stationary energy storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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18 pages, 8419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

System Level Simulation of Microgrid Power Electronic Systems

by Michal Frivaldsky, Jan Morgos, Michal Prazenica and Kristian Takacs

Electronics 2021, 10(6), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10060644 - 10 Mar 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2989

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a procedure for designing an accurate simulation model using a price-wised linear approach referred to as the power semiconductor converters of a DC microgrid concept. Initially, the selection of topologies of individual power stage blocs are identified. Due to the requirements for verifying the accuracy of the simulation model, physical samples of power converters are realized with a power ratio of 1:10. The focus was on optimization of operational parameters such as real-time behavior (variable waveforms within a time domain), efficiency, and the voltage/current ripples. The approach was compared to real-time operation and efficiency performance was evaluated showing the accuracy and suitability of the presented approach. The results show the potential for developing complex smart grid simulation models, with a high level of accuracy, and thus the possibility to investigate various operational scenarios and the impact of power converter characteristics on the performance of a smart gird. Two possible operational scenarios of the proposed smart grid concept are evaluated and demonstrate that an accurate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system can be designed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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18 pages, 916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discrete Time Domain Modeling and Control of a Grid-Connected Four-Wire Split-Link Converter

by Jeroen D. M. De Kooning, Dimitar Bozalakov and Lieven Vandevelde

Electronics 2021, 10(4), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10040506 - 21 Feb 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2452

Abstract

Distributed generation (DG) allows the production of renewable energy where it is consumed, avoiding transport losses. It is envisioned that future DG units will become more intelligent, not just injecting power into the grid but also actively improving the power quality by means of active power filtering techniques. In this manner, voltage and current harmonics, voltage unbalance or over-voltages can be mitigated. To achieve such a smart DG unit, an appropriate multi-functional converter topology is required, with full control over the currents exchanged with the grid, including the neutral-wire current. For this purpose, this article studies the three-phase four-wire split-link converter. A known problem of the split-link converter is voltage unbalance of the bus capacitors. This mid-point can be balanced either by injecting additional zero-sequence currents into the grid, which return through the neutral wire, or by injecting a compensating current into the mid-point with an additional half-bridge chopper. For both methods, this article presents a discrete time domain model to allow controller design and implementation in digital control. Both techniques are validated and compared by means of simulation results and experiments on a test setup. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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20 pages, 4658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life-Cycle Expectation Using Fault-Tree Analysis for Improved Hybrid Submodule in HVDC System

by Feel-Soon Kang and Sung-Geun Song

Electronics 2021, 10(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10020133 - 9 Jan 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

An improved hybrid submodule employs a direct current (DC) short current protection function to improve the reliability of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system. However, it increases the number of circuit components to implement the protection. So, we need to evaluate the relationship between the protection function and the increased number of circuit components to assess whether the improved hybrid submodule (IHSM) is suitable to practical application or not from the viewpoint of reliability. Although conventional part count failure analysis considers the type and the number of parts, it cannot reflect the operational characteristics of the submodule. To overcome this problem, we design a fault tree that reflects the operational characteristics of IHSM and calculates the failure rate by using MIL-HDBK-217F. By part count failure analysis (PCA) and fault-tree analysis (FTA), we prove the high reliability of IHSM compared to half-bridge, full-bridge, and clamped-double submodules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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17 pages, 2565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Passive Current Control Design for MMC in HVDC Systems through Energy Reshaping

by Yiyan Sang, Bo Yang, Hongchun Shu, Na An, Fang Zeng and Tao Yu

Electronics 2019, 8(9), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8090967 - 30 Aug 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3205

Abstract

The complexity of the internal dynamics of a modular multi-level converter (MMC) has raised severe issues for designing corresponding controllers. The existing MMC cascaded control strategies, based on classical linear control theory, require a relatively complex structure to achieve control objectives and the parameter tuning processes during the corresponding controller design are normally difficult to solve for the highly non-linear systems with highly coupled states in MMC. On account of this, advanced controllers are required for the regulation tasks of MMC. Passivity is introduced into the MMC control system by the passive control (PC) proposed in this paper. PC can provide an extra damping effect to help save energy through utilizing passivity in the system. A controllable de-coupled form is achieved by passivation of the output calculation. Hence, well-tuned controllers can be designed and employed to effectively regulate the output current and inner differential currents of the MMC under system operating point variation. Simulation results yield numerical data that show significantly improved steady-state and transient-state performances with greatly reduced control costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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Review

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25 pages, 1075 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Low-Voltage Renewable Microgrids: Generation Forecasting and Demand-Side Management Strategies

by Miguel Aybar-Mejía, Junior Villanueva, Deyslen Mariano-Hernández, Félix Santos and Angel Molina-García

Electronics 2021, 10(17), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10172093 - 29 Aug 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5131

Abstract

It is expected that distribution power systems will soon be able to connect a variety of microgrids from residential, commercial, and industrial users, and thus integrate a variety of distributed generation technologies, mainly renewable energy sources to supply their demands. Indeed, some authors affirm that distribution networks will propose significant changes as a consequence of this massive integration of microgrids at the distribution level. Under this scenario, the control of distributed generation inverters, demand management systems, renewable resource forecasting, and demand predictions will allow better integration of such microgrid clusters to decongest power systems. This paper presents a review of microgrids connected at distribution networks and the solutions that facilitate their integration into such distribution network level, such as demand management systems, renewable resource forecasting, and demand predictions. Recent contributions focused on the application of microgrids in Low-Voltage distribution networks are also analyzed and reviewed in detail. In addition, this paper provides a critical review of the most relevant challenges currently facing electrical distribution networks, with an explicit focus on the massive interconnection of electrical microgrids and the future with relevant renewable energy source integration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Converters in Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems)

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