In this article, a broad overview of the current research trends in power-electronic innovations in cyber–physical systems (CPSs) is presented. The recent advances in semiconductor device technologies, control architectures, and communication methodologies have enabled researchers to develop integrated smart CPSs that can cater to the emerging requirements of smart grids, renewable energy, electric vehicles, trains, ships, the Internet of Things (IoT), and so on. The topics presented in this article include novel power-distribution architectures, protection techniques considering large renewable integration in smart grids, wireless charging in electric vehicles, simultaneous power and information transmission, multihop network-based coordination, power technologies for renewable energy and smart transformer, CPS reliability, transactive smart railway grid, and real-time simulation of shipboard power systems. It is anticipated that the research trends presented in this article will provide a timely and useful overview to the power-electronics researchers with broad applications in CPSs.

Multilevel voltage-source converters are well-suited for power conversion applications demanding higher power density, reliability, efficiency, and power quality. An unremitting and persistent research for developing advanced multilevel converter topologies with improved characteristics, performance, modulation techniques, and control methods continues. This paper proposes duo-neutralpoint- clamped (D-NPC), duo-active-neutral-point-clamped (D-ANPC), and duo-neutral-point-piloted (D-NPP) multilevel voltage-sourced converter topologies. The D-NPC, D-ANPC, and D-NPP converters phase-leg is realized by adding low-frequency semiconductor power switches to their structures. This results in a substantial reduction in the number of the high-frequency pulse-widthmodulation (PWM) insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and clamping passive devices including diodes as well as flying-capacitors (FCs). Moreover, a drastic abatement in the total voltage rating and total stored energy of the FCs within the D-ANPC topology is achieved compared to the classic ANPC configuration. The experimental results are provided for D-NPC, D-ANPC, and D-NPP converters to validate the feasibility of their topology and modulation method for control of the multilevel Multilevel voltage-source converters are well-suited for power conversion applications demanding higher power density, reliability, efficiency, and power quality. An unremitting and persistent research for developing advanced multilevel converter topologies with improved characteristics, performance, modulation techniques, and control methods continues. This paper proposes duo-neutralpoint- clamped (D-NPC), duo-active-neutral-point-clamped (D-ANPC), and duo-neutral-point-piloted (D-NPP) multilevel voltage-sourced converter topologies. The D-NPC, D-ANPC, and D-NPP converters phase-leg is realized by adding low-frequency semiconductor power switches to their structures. This results in a substantial reduction in the number of the high-frequency pulse-widthmodulation (PWM) insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and clamping passive devices including diodes as well as flying-capacitors (FCs). Moreover, a drastic abatement in the total voltage rating and total stored energy of the FCs within the D-ANPC topology is achieved compared to the classic ANPC configuration. The experimental results are provided for D-NPC, D-ANPC, and D-NPP converters to validate the feasibility of their topology and modulation method for control of the multilevel converters.

The DC currents in a power system maybe caused by Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs) that are the result of solar storms and high-altitude nuclear detonations. The increased inverter-based generation is also contributing to small DC injection into the power systems. The resultant DC currents could have serious consequences for the power systems as they may drive the power transformers into saturation, cause transformer internal heating, cause large draw of reactive power and miss-operation of protective relays. This paper proposes a novel power electronics-based DC mitigation approach that involves a transformerless series active filter integrated between the neutral point and earth ground of power transformers serving multiple purposes. The first objective is to surpass the effect of DC injection, the second goal is voltage regulation, the third is to provide harmonic isolation or impedance balancing. The proposed device is currently being developed on a 7.2kV/240V single-phase transformer, however, the solution is also relevant for 24 to 500 kV networks. The system circuitry, operation and control are implemented and verified for this paper in a Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (C-HIL) test setup using a Typhoon HIL 402 simulator. Results indicate that our approach is a promising alternative to traditional neutral capacitor blocking strategies.

Along with the rapid integration of distributed generation units (DGU) into the power grids is the rise in unconventional and unpredictable patterns of the undesirable cyber-physical intrusions and faults; this drastically increases the risk of islanding possibilities and threatens the sustainability of the energy delivery infrastructure. Classification of cyber-physical events and developing solutions to mitigate their impacts before rising to an islanding situation is a critical monitoring task in DGUs. Passive islanding detection has been widely applied to studying the behavior of voltage signals at the point of common coupling, which is a sophisticated challenge due to cross-similarity among fault (event) patterns and their fast dynamics. In this paper, a novel quadratic Time-frequency decomposition, namely HSS-Transform, is applied over an alternative complex representation of 3-phase signal defined by the synchronous reference frame transformation. We further exploit the principles of Informative Sparse representation-based Classification (TISC) to develop a comprehensive artificial intelligence framework for fast and reliable classification of DGU islanding and non-islanding events with the focus on practical limitations and requirements of a smart power electronics inviter as the desirable observational site. Different from the state-of-the-art techniques, TISC does not need any training procedure, while due to its linear mathematical formulation acts inherently fast with low computational burden on the inverter processing unit. Moreover, the simultaneous 3-phase feature extraction strategy ensures preservation of the between-phase information.

The application of a STATCOM can help to alleviate some of the power quality issues encountered within a refinery consisting of large induction machine loads. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate the improvements obtained with STATCOM for this purpose and also to evaluate economical benefits obtained with it. First, the paper identifies the power quality and other issues around the refinery in the Southern California Edison system. Computer simulations show that the application of a STATCOM can help the big motor load to survive under the most severe contingencies occurring in the area. The analysis also demonstrates that the STATCOM with appropriate controller can be very effective in harmonic reduction.

The evolution of advanced inverter-based resources (IBR) is closely coupled with the growth of their applications in electric power networks. Most applications of inverters during this transition were grid-following (GFL) inverters. As IBRs gradually displaced rotating synchronous generators in electric power grid applications, issues such as the behavior of low-inertia grids, local needs for voltage support, and ride-though requirements led to the first interconnection requirements. The initial DER standard, IEEE Std 1547-2003, had to be adapted to the new context and led to the revised standard, IEEE Std 1547–2018 and later the IEEE Std 2800–2022 for transmission IBR systems. In this article, the various inverter operating modes and functions of modern inverters are described. A focus on the comparison of GFL and grid-forming (GFM) inverters based on a more comprehensive white paper developed by the SCC-21 Task Force on Advanced Inverters supporting industry standards is needed in the next few years to reduce system-wide IBR events on the electric system.