Sharif Digital Repository

This paper proposes a fault detection and protection strategy for islanded inverter-based microgrids (IBMGs). Reliable and accurate protection is one of the main challenges in the proliferation of modern microgrids (MGs). Considering the limited fault current of the voltage-frequency controlled inverter-based distributed energy resources (VF-IBDERs), the protection is more challenging in islanded IBMGs. In this regard, the control scheme of VF-IBDER with a current limiting strategy plays an important role. Due to the limited fault currents close to the converter nominal current, the conventional fault detection methods do not work properly. In addition, bi-directional fault currents worsen... 

Inverter driven electrical machines need resolver for position estimation and efficient electronic commutations. In this paper, the resolver signals are also used for the purpose of mechanical fault diagnosis. Therefore, a comprehensive procedure based on winding function (WF) method is presented to propose a noninvasive index to identify the mechanical fault's type (static/dynamic eccentricity) and even its percentage. In this regard, once the resolver signals are measured and saved in health condition. Then, during the operation of the motor, calculating the proposed index using the healthy and faulty signals leads to predict the fault type and its percentage. The success of the proposed... 

We present a nonlinear geometric approach to fault detection and isolation (FDI) in a grid-connected inverter system. Open-switch faults in inverter power transistors together with faults in grid voltages and source current sensors are detected and isolated in the presence of disturbance. The detection process is based on dynamic model of an inverter, including a dc-bus capacitor and an output RL filter. The proposed FDI system does not rely on balanced or zero-sum conditions in the grid point and is functional under nonsinusoidal voltages and currents. IEEE  

This paper proposes a new control scheme to eliminate the 3rd harmonic in the output currents of grid-following inverters under unbalanced grid conditions. Unbalanced grids adversely affect the performance of grid-following inverters due to the oscillations appearing on the DC-link voltage with a frequency twice the line frequency. The paper is based on instantaneous active reactive control (IARC) technique due to its advantages over other existing methods. However, the presence of severe asymmetrical 3rd harmonic distortions in the inverter output currents is the main challenge with IARC method, which impairs the power quality requirements. This paper enhances the IARC scheme by proposing a... 

Using an in-house developed software the signal level, the best server cells, and the amount of interference using standard propagation models are determined in a cellular environment. The program is also able to assign the frequency channels automatically to the TRXs taking into account the carrier to interference and the traffic distribution using a genetic algorithm. In this paper, the cost function is based on the total Carrier to Interference ratio (C/I) and the traffic density of the serving area. The software by means of a genetic algorithm approaches a frequency assignment which increases the overall quality of service throughout the cellular network. The package has been used in a... 

The paper presents a vector model for a Brushless Doubly-Fed Machine (BDFM). The BDFM has 4 and 8 pole stator windings and a nested-loop rotor cage. The rotor cage has six nests equally spaced around the circumference and each nest comprises three loops. All the rotor loops are short circuited via a common end-ring at one end. The vector model is derived based on the electrical equations of the machine and appropriate vector transformations. In contrast to the stator, there is no three phase circuit in the rotor. Therefore, the vector transformations suitable for three phase circuits can not be utilised for the rotor circuit. A new vector transformation is employed for the rotor circuit... 

This study presents a powerful application of genetic algorithm (GA) for the minimization of the total harmonic current distortion (THCD) in high-power induction motors fed by voltage source inverters, based on an approximate harmonic model. That is, optimal pulse patterns (switching angles) are determined to have the THCD minimized and the fundamental output voltage regulated concurrently. As the minimization of THCD corresponds to the minimization of harmonic copper losses of the motor windings, GA optimization technique has been utilized, in comparison with conventional optimization methods due to its capabilities of searching the entire solution space with more probability of finding the... 

Cascaded split-source inverter (CSSI) is a new single-stage modular multilevel topology. Each cell of this converter converts DC to AC power in the buck or boost operation mode without any additional power switch. This paper develops a design method based on a detailed model for CSSI. This model shows that energy storage elements experience double-fundamental frequency ripples besides high-frequency ones. It accurately calculates voltage gains and capacitor voltage and inductor current ripples. On the other hand, common carrier-based multilevel modulations have been modified in terms of both reference and carrier signals to control the inverter under symmetric and asymmetric conditions. With... 

In this article, we present a cost-effective solution for switching short-circuit fault diagnosis in a three-phase quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI). The fault is announced to the processor utilizing a peripheral circuit that covers the fault detection in all switches of the inverter. After the fault detection, a nonmaskable interrupt is activated, cutting the CPU routine, and a fault-diagnosis algorithm is initiated. The exact location of the failed switch is identified through the proposed algorithm. The entire process is accomplished in advance of the critical overcurrent condition, which typically arises after a short-circuit fault. Thanks to this overtake, the proposed technique prevents... 

In this paper, the whale optimization algorithm is proposed for harmonics elimination in a cascaded multilevel inverter. In selective harmonic elimination pulse width modulation, the selected low-order harmonics are eliminated by solving nonlinear equations, while the fundamental of output waveform is adjusted to a desired value. In this paper, whale optimization algorithm is applied to a 7-level cascaded H-bridge inverter to solve the equations. Also, it was validated by experimental results, since this algorithm has an ability to search in entire solution space, the probability of catching a global best solution is very high. This method has higher accuracy and probability of convergence... 

In this paper, the whale optimization algorithm is proposed for harmonics elimination in a cascaded multilevel inverter. In selective harmonic elimination pulse width modulation, the selected low-order harmonics are eliminated by solving nonlinear equations, while the fundamental of output waveform is adjusted to a desired value. In this paper, whale optimization algorithm is applied to a 7-level cascaded H-bridge inverter to solve the equations. Also, it was validated by experimental results, since this algorithm has an ability to search in entire solution space, the probability of catching a global best solution is very high. This method has higher accuracy and probability of convergence... 

The universal paradigm shift towards green energy has accelerated the development of modern algorithms and technologies, among them converters such as Z-Source Inverters (ZSI) are playing an important role. ZSIs are single-stage inverters which are capable of performing both buck and boost operations through an impedance network that enables the shoot-through state. Despite all advantages, these inverters are associated with the non-minimum phase feature imposing heavy restrictions on their closed-loop response. Moreover, uncertainties such as parameter perturbation, unmodeled dynamics, and load disturbances may degrade their performance or even lead to instability, especially when... 

This paper proposes a control strategy for an islanded microgrid to effectively coordinate hybrid power source (HPS) units and to robustly control individual interfaced inverters under unbalanced and nonlinear load conditions. Cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverters are flexibly deployed in order to enhance the power quality and redundancy. The HPS employs fuel cell (FC) as the main and supercapacitors (SC) as complementary power sources. Fast transient response; high performance; and high power density are the main characteristics of the proposed HPS system. The presented control strategy consists of a power management strategy for the HPS units and a voltage control strategy for the... 

This paper presents an effective hybrid optimal modulation technique for a cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverter. The introduced method is generalized optimal pulsewidth modulation, which can be extended to any m-level CHB multilevel inverter operating at any switching frequency. The presented hybrid optimal modulation strategy includes the pattern exchange and optimal modulation techniques. In the optimal modulation technique, the hybrid interior-point algorithm, which is more flexible and efficient than conventional optimization techniques, is applied. The proposed hybrid optimal modulation strategy yields balanced units' output fundamental voltages, and low total harmonic distortion... 

In this paper, a reliable low power single phase grid-connected inverter for photovoltaic modules is proposed. The inverter has improved lifetime since large electrolytic capacitor is replaced with small film capacitor due to circuit topology, power processing and proper control scheme. Thus the main limiting component in single phase grid connected inverters is obviated. The proposed inverter consists of two power processing stages. First a dual active bridge (DAB) converter boosts the voltage of PV panel to approximately 440 V and eliminates impact of high dc bus voltage ripples. A proper feed forward control is proposed to regulate the dc bus voltage with high ripple. Simulation results... 

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... 

In this paper, a novel reduced switch cascaded transformer multilevel inverter is proposed. In this structure, a new structure is replaced with conventional H-bridge inverter. It consists of four high frequency switches, two line frequency switches, and two transformers which can be assembled in one core with a specific winding connection. This topology can produce 5 or 7 voltage levels depending on transformers turns ratio. The simplicity and modularity are its advantages compared to the existing structures. Beside these advantages, due to its similarity with H-Bridge converter, it is possible to use a modified technique based on conventional phase shift pulse width modulation to generate... 

Fault detection is one of the most important tasks in fault tolerant converters. In this paper, a new method is proposed to detect the faulty cell in a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. The detection technique is based on comparison of the output voltage with reference voltage made by using switching control pulses and DC-Link voltage. Because of the simplicity of this method, it is possible to use a single field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to implement this method and inverter control. The simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed fault detection technique  

In this paper, the Line-Modulated Fixed Off-Time method is used as the current control strategy for a Power Factor Corrector (PFC) pre-regulator. A zero voltage switching PWM (ZVS-PWM) auxiliary circuit is configured to perform ZVS in the switches. Soft commutation of the main switch is achieved without additional current stress. A significant reduction in the total conduction loss is achieved, since the circulating current for the soft switching flows only through the auxiliary circuit and a minimum number of switching devices are involved in the circulating current path .The proposed rectifier uses a single converter instead of the conventional configuration composed of a four-diode... 

Interleaved DC-DC boost converters are interesting choices in applications like fuel cells and photovoltaic systems. Although this converter offers low current ripple, but an open-circuit switch fault can lead to unacceptable current ripples. In this paper, a very fast and simple method is proposed to detect an open-circuit switch fault and its location. This method doesn't need any additional sensors, is efficient in CCM and DCM modes of operation, and can detect the fault in less than one switching period. Moreover, this method is suitable for implementation on an FPGA, due to the use of simple math and state machine blocks. Simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of this...