Neural network-based active power curtailment for overvoltage prevention in low voltage feeders

As non-controllable and intermittent power sources, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems can contribute to overvoltage in low voltage (LV) distribution feeders during periods of high solar generation and low load where there exists a possibility of reverse power flow. Overvoltage is usually prevented by conservatively limiting the penetration level of PV, even if these critical periods rarely occur. This is the current policy implemented in the Northern Territory, Australia, where a modest system limit of 4.5kW/house was imposed. This paper presents an active power curtailment (APC) strategy utilizing artificial neural networks techniques. The inverter active power is optimized to prevent any overvoltage conditions on the LV feeder. A residential street located in Alice Springs was identified as a case study for this paper. Simulation results demonstrated that overvoltage conditions can be eliminated and made to comply with the Australian Standards AS60038 and AS4777 by incorporating the proposed predictive APC control. In addition, the inverter downtime due to overvoltage trips was eliminated to further reduce the total power losses in the system.

[1]  A. K. Binark,et al.  Artificial neural network approach for evaluation of temperature and density profiles of salt gradient solar pond , 2007 .

[2]  Chul-Hwan Kim,et al.  Optimal coordinated voltage control in distribution system , 2008, 2008 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery of Electrical Energy in the 21st Century.

[3]  O. Anaya-Lara,et al.  Power factor control for inverter-interfaced microgeneration , 2008, 2008 43rd International Universities Power Engineering Conference.

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

[5]  Manuel Fuentes,et al.  Procedure to carry out quality checks in photovoltaic grid-connected systems: Six cases of study , 2011 .

[6]  D. Turcotte,et al.  Active power curtailment of PV inverters in diesel hybrid mini-grids , 2009, 2009 IEEE Electrical Power & Energy Conference (EPEC).

[7]  R.N. Patel,et al.  Hybrid method for voltage regulation of distribution system with maximum utilization of connected distributed generation source , 2006, 2006 IEEE Power India Conference.

[8]  L. A. C. Lopes,et al.  Droop-based active power curtailment for overvoltage prevention in grid connected PV inverters , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics.

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

[10]  Shyh-Jier Huang,et al.  Economic analysis for demand-side hybrid photovoltaic and battery energy storage system , 1999, Conference Record of the 1999 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. Thirty-Forth IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.99CH36370).

[11]  James L. McClelland,et al.  Parallel distributed processing: explorations in the microstructure of cognition, vol. 1: foundations , 1986 .

[12]  Yun Wei Li,et al.  An Accurate Power Control Strategy for Power-Electronics-Interfaced Distributed Generation Units Operating in a Low-Voltage Multibus Microgrid , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[13]  Simon Haykin,et al.  Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Foundation , 1998 .

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

[15]  Soteris A. Kalogirou,et al.  Artificial neural networks in renewable energy systems applications: a review , 2001 .

[16]  Cheng-Ting Hsu,et al.  Optimization of Photovoltaic Penetration in Distribution Systems Considering Annual Duration Curve of Solar Irradiation , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems.

[17]  M. I. Dieste-Velasco,et al.  Performance analysis of PV plants: Optimization for improving profitability , 2012 .

[18]  Yuzuru Ueda,et al.  Advanced analysis of grid‐connected PV system's performance and effect of batteries , 2008 .

[19]  Stefania Conti,et al.  Local control of photovoltaic distributed generation for voltage regulation in LV distribution networks and simulation tools , 2009 .

[20]  Luiz A. C. Lopes,et al.  Impact of active power curtailment on overvoltage prevention and energy production of PV inverters connected to low voltage residential feeders , 2011 .

[21]  Laurene V. Fausett,et al.  Fundamentals Of Neural Networks , 1994 .

[22]  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.

[23]  P. McNutt,et al.  Impact of SolarSmart Subdivisions on SMUD's Distribution System , 2009 .

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

[25]  D. V. N. Ananth.  Performance evaluation of solar photovoltaic system using maximum power tracking algorithm with battery backup , 2012, PES T&D 2012.

[26]  F. Kupzog,et al.  Active grid integration of distributed generation utilizing existing infrastructure more efficiently - an Austrian case study , 2008, 2008 5th International Conference on the European Electricity Market.

[27]  Lingyun Liu,et al.  Analytical performance monitoring of a 142.5kWp grid-connected rooftop BIPV system in Singapore , 2012 .

[28]  Nasrudin Abd Rahim,et al.  Survey of grid-connected photovoltaic inverters and related systems , 2012, Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.

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

[30]  Ronnie Belmans,et al.  Prevention of inverter voltage tripping in high density PV grids , 2004 .

[31]  M M A Salama,et al.  Investigation of Methods for Reduction of Power Fluctuations Generated From Large Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[32]  Sami Repo,et al.  Including active voltage level management in planning of distribution networks with distributed generation , 2009, 2009 IEEE Bucharest PowerTech.

[33]  L.A.F. Ferreira,et al.  Distributed Reactive Power Generation Control for Voltage Rise Mitigation in Distribution Networks , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems.