Due to the increasing number of wind power plants, several countries have modified their grid codes to include specific requirements for the connection of this technology to the power system. One of the requirements is the ride-through fault capability (RTFC), i.e., the system capability to sustain operation during voltage sags. In this sense, the present paper intends to investigate the behavior of a full-converter wind generator with a permanent magnet synchronous machine during symmetrical and asymmetrical voltage sags. Two solutions to improve the low voltage ride-through capability (LVRT) of this technology are analyzed: discharging resistors (brake chopper) and resonant controllers (RCs). The design and limitations of these solutions and the others proposed in the literature are discussed. Experimental results in a 34 kW test bench, which represents a scaled prototype of a real 2 MW wind conversion system, are presented.
This paper proposes a modified version of the power-based control (MPBC) applied to microgrids (µGs) with multiple points of connection (i.e., utility grid itself or any other neighboring µG). Using the MPBC, single-phase distributed energy resources (DERs) arbitrarily connected between the phases share the amounts of balanced power, while the unbalanced and homopolar power are steered only to the line-to-neutral inverters. The control technique is based on a three-level hierarchical control using narrow bandwidth, low data rate communication that properly coordinates the DERs connected to three-phase four-wire µGs. The MPBC allows the DERs to steer power flow at any of the multiple points of common coupling of a multi-PCC dispatchable µG. The modified control proposed herein is evaluated through simulation results using MATLAB/SIMULINK considering a real urban distribution grid with typical operational elements and conditions. When compared to the original power-based control (PBC), results show that a meshed µG may reach power benchmarks with accommodation time 80% lower when applying MPBC. Moreover, it may also lead to significant power loss reduction (about of 5%) in some studied cases.
Induction machines are widely used in the industry due to their many advantages compared to other industrial machines. This article presents the study and implementation of speed control applied to a Three-phase Induction Machine (MIT) of the squirrel cage type. The induction motor was modeled using the rotor flux in the synchronous reference to design Proportional-Integral (PI) type controllers for the current and velocity control loops. It is the objective of the article also to present in detail the development of converter hardware that comprises the stages of power, acquisition, and conditioning of engine signals. The system was simulated using computational tools and validated using a prototype designed, constructed, and commissioned.
9 November 2015 in Journal of Control, Automation and Electrical Systems
Modern grid codes require the injection of positive sequence reactive current during low voltage ride through operation. In addition, it is possible to mitigate others power quality issues during unbalanced voltage sags, but for this should flow negative sequence currents. Therefore, to meet the GC and perform ancillary services, it is necessary to reduce the active power production in order to avoid the converter overcurrent. The aim of this paper is to present a dynamic active power saturation, in accordance with the voltage ride through grid code requirements, which can also be applied to compensate different power quality issues over unbalanced voltage operation. The algorithm is evaluated using computational simulations of a 2(MW) power system converter.