Sharif Digital Repository

This paper presents stability analysis of a distributed generation (DG) controller (1), in an islanded mode, based on the Mapping Theorem and the Zero Exclusion Condition, and validates the results based on a laboratory scale experimental setup. The DG unit is interfaced to the host system through a voltage-sourced converter (VSC). The control strategy regulates the load voltage at the desired value in the islanded mode, despite uncertainties in the load parameters. The frequency of the island is controlled in an open loop manner by an internal oscillator. The experimental results show that the controller provides robust voltage control for a wide range of load parameters, and even maintains... 

In deregulated power systems, distribution network operators (DNO) are responsible for maintaining the proper operation and efficiency of distribution networks. This is achieved traditionally through specific investments in network components. The event of distributed generation (DG) has introduced new challenges to these distribution networks. The role of DG units must be correctly assessed to optimise the overall operating and investment cost for the whole system. However, the distributed generation owners (DGOs) have different objective functions which might be contrary to the objectives of DNO. This study presents a long-term dynamic multi-objective model for planning of distribution... 

Distributed power generation and the ever-growing load demand have caused fault current levels to exceed the nominal rating of the power system devices, and fault current limiters are more needed. Superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) forms an important category of current limiters. In this paper, a novel flux-based model for the inductive shield-type high-temperature SFCL is developed based on the Bean model. This model is employed to simulate the SFCL performance in a sample circuit. Utilizing the model, the signal characterization of the limited current is determined. A prototype laboratory scale SFCL has been fabricated with superconducting rings. Yttrium barium copper oxide... 

A microgrid is a controllable component of the smart grid defined as a part of distribution network capable of supplying its own local load even in the case of disconnection from the upstream network. Microgrids incorporate large amount of renewable and non-renewable distributed generation (DG) that are connected to the system either directly or by power electronics (PE) interface. The diversity of technologies used in DGs and loads, high penetration of DGs, economic operation of DGs, dynamics of low-inertia conventional DGs and PE interfaced inertialess DGs and smart operation by means of enhanced communication infrastructure have raised challenges in widespread utilization of microgrids as... 

The increasing use of electrical energy in nowadays modern societies and industries has brought about a sharp need for more efficient means of electricity generation. It seems rather logical to increase the electricity production proportional to the increasing rate of the demand. Distributed Generation (DG) has been recently accepted to be one of the most efficient means of electricity generation, particularly near to the load centers. The DG has been also considered in the generation expansion planning of power systems. In this paper, three main factors associated with the DGs placement procedure is scrutinized through a multi-objective optimization approach. One of the main factors... 

Today, the interest on distributed generation has been increasing, especially due to technical development on generation systems that meet environmental and energy policy concerns. One of the most important distributed energy technologies is Combined Heat and Power (CHP). CHP is small and self-contained electric generation plan that can provide power for household applications, commercial or industrial facilities and hence its applications are overtly increasing. It can reduce power loss and enhance service reliability in distribution systems. One of the influential factors for the users is the purchasing cost of CHP which is largely dependent on its type, capacity and efficiency. Therefore... 

This paper presents a control strategy for the autonomous (islanded) operation of a distributed generation (DG) unit. The DG unit supplies a balanced load through a voitage-sourced converter (VSC). To maintain the autonomous operation in the islanded mode, the DG unit should provide its dedicated load with a sinusoidal voltage with a constant magnitude and a constant frequency. The dynamic model of the islanded DG system is represented by a set of nonlinear equations. Since the objective is to regulate voltage and frequency of the islanded DG about their rated values, the nonlinear model is linearized about the operating point. The obtained linearized model represents a multivariable LTI... 

This paper proposes a hybrid possibilistic-probabilistic evaluation tool for analyzing the effect of uncertain power production of distributed generations (DGs) on active losses of distribution networks. The considered DG technologies are gas and wind turbines. This tool is useful for distribution network operators (DNOs) when they are faced with uncertainties which some of them can be modeled probabilistically and some of them are described possibilistically. The generation pattern of DG units changes the flow of lines and this will cause change of active losses which DNO is responsible for compensating it. This pattern is highly dependent on DG technology and also on decisions of DG... 

Distributed Generation (DG) has received increasing attention during the last decade. Advantage and constraints of DG application are well known to both DG owner and electric utility. Various technologies are available for DG units among them gas GenSet is, in particular, more attractive to the investors as the technology provides the control on DG generation. However, there are various financial risks associated with dispatchable DG units that prohibit wide private investment in such technologies. This paper examines the use of financial tools to manage dispatchable DG economic risks. A comprehensive framework has been proposed to consider various economic risks to DG owner. Suitable models... 

Distributed generation (DG) units are often interfaced to the main grid using power electronic converters including voltage-source converters (VSCs). A VSC offers dc/ac power conversion, high controllability, and fast dynamic response. Because of nonlinearities, uncertainties, and system parameters’ changes involved in the nature of a grid-connected renewable DG system, conventional linear control methods cannot completely and efficiently address all control objectives. In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive control scheme based on adaptive backstepping strategy is presented to control the operation of a grid-connected renewable DG unit. As compared to the popular vector control technique, the... 

With anticipated proliferation of electric vehicles and distributed generations in near future, dynamic thermal rating (DTR) as a tool for unlocking network capacities, is becoming critical for distribution network operators. DTR is gaining a great and still growing focus of attention in today's power industries. However, potential benefits of DTR, although have been envisioned to be significant, have not yet been studied quantitatively. This paper intends to comprehensively assess the potential impacts of DTR on the performance of a realistic Finnish distribution network. For doing so, first a step-by-step procedure is devised. Then, weather data and loading information of circuits in the... 

The islanding of a distributed generation (DG)-fed distribution system generally results in frequency drop, which means less power is generated than it is needed. The only way of dealing with this problem is shedding loads as the system cannot generate any more electricity. Load shedding is intended to restore balance between generated and consumed power. This paper proposes a new method for load shedding based on the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) at the first step and on voltage drop at subsequent steps. For this purpose, three lookup tables were created in order to prioritize loads to be shed according to the willingness of subscribers to pay and the RoCoF. The strength of the... 

This study presents a passive model to detect islanding conditions of synchronous distributed generation resources in a distribution network or a microgrid. The proposed approach uses the classification and regression tree algorithm for distinguishing between islanding and non-islanding situations. It utilises the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) and harmonic content of the equivalent reactance seen at the location of distributed generation as input features for decision tree construction. Indeed the thresholds of the proposed input features are extracted by the decision tree algorithm. The output if-then rules of the decision tree algorithm are then utilised to make a new relay logic for... 

Distribution systems management is becoming an increasingly complicated issue due to the introduction of new technologies, new energy trading strategies and new deregulated environment. In the new deregulated energy market and considering the incentives coming from the technical and economical fields, it is reasonable to consider Distributed Generation (DG) as a viable option to solve the lacking electric power supply problem. This paper presents a mathematical distribution system planning model considering three planning options to system expansion and to meet the load growth requirements with a reasonable price as well as the system power quality problems. DG is introduced as an attractive... 

Congestion management is one of the most important functions of independent system operator (ISO) in the restructured power system. This paper presents two new methodologies for optimal sitting and sizing of distributed generations (DGs) in the restructured power systems for congestion management. The proposed methodologies are based upon locational marginal price (LMP) and congestion rent that forms a priority list of candidate buses to reduce the solution space. The proposed priority list facilitates the optimal placement as well as the level of output power of DGs. The proposed methods are implemented on the IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 57-bus test systems to illustrate their effectiveness. An... 

This paper presents a dynamic multi-objective model for distribution network expansion, considering the distributed generations as non-wire solutions. The proposed model simultaneously optimizes two objectives namely, total costs and technical constraint satisfaction by finding the optimal schemes of sizing, placement and specially the dynamics (i.e., timing) of investments on DG units and/or network reinforcements over the planning period. An efficient heuristic search method is proposed to find non-dominated solutions of the formulated problem and a fuzzy satisfying method is used to choose the final solution. The effectiveness of the proposed model and search method are assessed and... 

This paper presents a long-term dynamic multi-objective model for distributed generation investment. The proposed model optimizes three objectives, namely active losses, costs and environmental emissions and determines the optimal schemes of sizing, sitting of DG units and specially the dynamics of investment over the planning period. The Pareto optimal solutions of the problem are found using a GA algorithm and finally a fuzzy satisfying method is applied to select the optimal solution considering the desires of the planner. The solutions of Pareto optimal front are analyzed to extract general useful information for planners about the appropriate DG technologies and placement schemes. The... 

This paper presents a new framework for planning studies of modern distribution networks. Presence of electric vehicles (EVs) and various technologies of distributed generation (DG) technologies are considered in the studies as two upcoming events of the future systems. In this regard, place and capacity of DG units along with the reinforcement of distribution lines are determined running a multi-objective (MO) optimization algorithm. Total losses of the distribution network along with annualized cost of expansion plans including investment, operation and maintenance costs are introduced as the main criteria which should be optimized in the proposed framework. An effective Posteriori... 

This paper presents a stochastic framework for day-ahead scheduling of microgrid energy storage systems (ESSs) in the context of multi-objective (MO) optimization. Operation cost of microgrid in normal conditions and load curtailment index in case of unscheduled islanding events (initiated by disturbances in the main grid) are chosen as main criteria of the proposed scheme. In practice, duration of disconnection from the upstream network is unknown in unscheduled islanding incidents and cannot be predicted with certainty. To properly handle the uncertainties associated with time and duration of such events as well as microgrid load and renewable power generation, stochastic models are... 

Distributed generation (DG) units are increasingly installed in the power systems. Distribution companies (DisCo) can opt to purchase the electricity from DG in an energy purchase contract to supply the customer demand and reduce energy loss. This paper proposes a framework for optimal contract pricing of independent dispatchable DG units considering competition among them. While DG units tend to increase their profit from the energy purchase contract, DisCo minimizes the demand supply cost. Multi-leader follower game theory concept is used to analyze the situation in which competing DG units offer the energy price to DisCo and DisCo determines the DG generation. A bi-level approach is used...