Online Overvoltage Prevention Control of Photovoltaic Generators in Microgrids

For grid-connected microgrids with high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) generation, overvoltage caused by reverse power flow is a major factor that limits PV power output. To tackle the challenge, this paper proposes a new online overvoltage prevention (OOP) control strategy to maintain PV terminal voltages within specified range while maximizing the PV energy yields. The proposed method is based on a precise active power limit prediction using the dynamic Thevenin equivalent. The active power output of PV array can be modulated in real time such that the voltage at a point of interconnection (POI) is always maintained within a specified range without triggering overvoltage protection. Simulation results using the IEEE 33-bus single-phase test system and IEEE 34-bus three-phase system have validated the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed control method.

[1]  F. Jurado,et al.  Lightning and Surge Protection in Photovoltaic Installations , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[2]  Yang Wang,et al.  A new node voltage stability index based on local voltage phasors , 2009 .

[3]  H. Laukamp,et al.  Plugging into the Zeitgeist , 2009, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine.

[4]  H. Helmholtz.  Ueber einige Gesetze der Vertheilung elektrischer Ströme in körperlichen Leitern mit Anwendung auf die thierisch‐elektrischen Versuche , 1853 .

[5]  M. Thomson,et al.  Network Power-Flow Analysis for a High Penetration of Distributed Generation , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems.

[6]  Yuzuru Ueda,et al.  Analysis Results of Output Power Loss Due to the Grid Voltage Rise in Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Power Generation Systems , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[7]  Hisham M. Soliman,et al.  Voltage control by tap-changing transformers for a radial distribution network , 1997 .

[8]  Juan C. Vasquez,et al.  Voltage Support Provided by a Droop-Controlled Multifunctional Inverter , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[9]  T.G. Hazel,et al.  Voltage Regulation at Sites With Distributed Generation , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[10]  Shouxiang Wang,et al.  Reliability-oriented distribution network reconfiguration considering uncertainties of data by interval analysis , 2012 .

[11]  Giuseppe Fusco,et al.  Constrained least squares methods for parameter tracking of power system steady-state equivalent circuits , 2000 .

[12]  K.R. Padiyar,et al.  Design and performance evaluation of subsynchronous damping controller with STATCOM , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[13]  F. Gubina,et al.  Local voltage-stability index using tellegen's Theorem , 2007, 2007 IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting.

[14]  S. K. Basu,et al.  A new algorithm for the reconfiguration of distribution feeders for loss minimization , 1992 .

[15]  Tongwen Chen,et al.  Investigation on the thevenin equivalent parameters for online estimation of maximum power transfer limits , 2010 .

[16]  J.L. Santos,et al.  Voltage stability evaluation using the the relation between impedances , 2004, Proceedings of the 12th IEEE Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37521).

[17]  Joe H. Chow,et al.  A Measurement-Based Framework for Dynamic Equivalencing of Large Power Systems Using Wide-Area Phasor Measurements , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid.

[18]  Roger C. Dugan,et al.  Roadmap for the IEEE PES test feeders , 2009, 2009 IEEE/PES Power Systems Conference and Exposition.

[19]  R Tonkoski,et al.  Coordinated Active Power Curtailment of Grid Connected PV Inverters for Overvoltage Prevention , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy.

[20]  A. Sannino,et al.  Voltage control with inverter-based distributed generation , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[21]  Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz.  Some laws concerning the distribution of electric currents in volume conductors with applications to experiments on animal electricity , 2004, Proc. IEEE.

[22]  C. L. Masters.  Voltage rise: the big issue when connecting embedded generation to long 11 kV overhead lines , 2002 .