Research

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19 pages, 6026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Power Smoothing Technique for Enhancing Renewable Integration in Insular Power Systems Using Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

by Edisson Villa-Ávila, Paul Arévalo, Danny Ochoa-Correa, Vinicio Iñiguez-Morán and Francisco Jurado

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010375 - 31 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1250

Abstract

The reliance on imported fuels for electricity generation and internal transportation in insular electrical systems has historically posed a significant challenge due to their geographic isolation. The vulnerability of insular ecosystems to pollution has driven the need to transition toward renewable energy sources. [...] Read more.

The reliance on imported fuels for electricity generation and internal transportation in insular electrical systems has historically posed a significant challenge due to their geographic isolation. The vulnerability of insular ecosystems to pollution has driven the need to transition toward renewable energy sources. Despite their inherent variability, wind and solar energy have gained acceptance. Integrating these renewable technologies into insular grids presents technical challenges that impact the quality of the power supply, particularly with the increasing presence of electric vehicles. Nevertheless, the batteries of these vehicles provide an opportunity to enhance network performance. This article introduces an innovative power smoothing technique that utilizes electric vehicle batteries to optimize self-consumption and reduce power fluctuations. The proposed method is an enhanced version of the ramp-rate energy smoothing method, incorporating adaptability through real-time control of the ramp-rate using fuzzy logic. It employs an aggregated model of lithium-ion batteries with a bidirectional power electronic converter. Experimental validation is carried out in the Micro-Grid Laboratory of the University of Cuenca, Ecuador. Experimental results demonstrate a significant 14% reduction in energy generation variability, resulting in a more stable electrical supply profile. Additionally, there is a marginal improvement in energy delivery, with an additional injection of 0.23 kWh compared to scenarios without the participation of electric vehicle batteries in power smoothing tasks. These findings support the effectiveness of the proposed approach in optimizing the integration of intermittent renewable generators and electric vehicle charging in insular energy systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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23 pages, 14697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Robust Current Control of a Small-Scale Wind–Photovoltaic Hybrid System Based on the Multiport DC Converter

by Farouk Mechnane, Said Drid, Nasreddine Nait-Said and Larbi Chrifi-Alaoui

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7047; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13127047 - 12 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1281

Abstract

In this paper, a robust current control of the hybrid renewable energy system (HRES), based on the PV-Wind system, is proposed. The HRES is connected to a multiport converter to synchronize the multi-source system with one DC-Bus. Due to their ability to integrate [...] Read more.

In this paper, a robust current control of the hybrid renewable energy system (HRES), based on the PV-Wind system, is proposed. The HRES is connected to a multiport converter to synchronize the multi-source system with one DC-Bus. Due to their ability to integrate many renewable energy sources (RES) individually or simultaneously, multiport converters (MPC) are an innovative method suitable for renewable energy applications. Recently, many DC-DC converter designs and topologies have emerged to ensure the highest possible efficiency of hybrid RESs. The multiport converter is a typical coupling system with several modes of operation. Thus, the design of its controller become complicated. To stabilize the DC-Bus voltage, a battery has been added to the system. In this HRES configuration, all sources are connected in parallel via the multiport DC converter. We used the multiport DC converter to minimize the intermittent character of solar and wind and control the energy flow between the different power sources and the load, as well as to increase the performance of the system. The nonlinear robust control structure is based on Lyapunov approach to overcome the nonlinear model of the system to improve robustness and guarantees the asymptotic stability. The proposed control law is implemented and tested on dSPACE-DS1104. The results show the effectiveness and the feasibility of the proposed controller. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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21 pages, 3688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

State Residualisation and Kron Reduction for Model Order Reduction of Energy Systems

by Xianxian Zhao, Xavier Kestelyn, Quentin Cossart, Frédéric Colas and Damian Flynn

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6593; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116593 - 29 May 2023

Viewed by 835

Abstract

Greater numbers of power electronics (PEs) converters are being connected to energy systems due to the development of renewable energy sources, high-voltage transmission, and PE-interfaced loads. Given that power electronics-based devices and synchronous machines have very different dynamic behaviours, some modelling approximations, which [...] Read more.

Greater numbers of power electronics (PEs) converters are being connected to energy systems due to the development of renewable energy sources, high-voltage transmission, and PE-interfaced loads. Given that power electronics-based devices and synchronous machines have very different dynamic behaviours, some modelling approximations, which may commonly be applied to run transient simulations of transmission systems, may not be optimal for future grids. Indeed, the systematic utilisation of the phasor approximation for power lines, implemented in most transient simulation programs, is increasingly not appropriate anymore. In order to avoid the requirement for full electromagnetic transient simulations, which can be resource-demanding and time-consuming, this paper proposes a combination of an event-based state residualisation approximation and the Kron reduction technique. The proposed technique has the advantage of allowing accurate transient simulations based on the optimal reduction of the number of state variables, depending on the observed variables, the considered events, and the tolerated approximation error, along with simplifying power systems equations for accelerated simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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24 pages, 12638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptation of a Cogenerator with Induction Generator to an On/Off-Grid Operation Using a Power Electronic System

by Marian Kampik, Marcin Fice and Andrzej Jurkiewicz

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5866; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105866 - 10 May 2023

Viewed by 1243

Abstract

Cogeneration sources play a very important role in the power industry with dispersed renewable sources with forced generation (e.g., photovoltaics and wind generators). They also fit into the circular economy by increasing the efficiency of fuel use, including biogas from agricultural or livestock [...] Read more.

Cogeneration sources play a very important role in the power industry with dispersed renewable sources with forced generation (e.g., photovoltaics and wind generators). They also fit into the circular economy by increasing the efficiency of fuel use, including biogas from agricultural or livestock waste. The aim of our research was to develop an effective source of electricity powered by agricultural biogas. The most important features of such a source are: operation in on-grid and off-grid mode, as well as a low cost of the device and uncomplicated operation. In addition, in Europe, the source of electricity connected to the power grid must meet the technical requirements of the “Network Codes Requirements for Generators” (NC RfG) network code. The appropriate certificate is easier to obtain using a power converter system for the source. For this purpose, an induction generator with a converter system and a small battery was planned. A converter system was developed and built, and then tests were carried out in various operating modes. During the measurements, it was confirmed that the requirements for the quality of electricity for off-grid and on-grid operation modes were met. The assumed maximum time of voltage recovery after changing the operating mode, amounting to 40 ms, was not exceeded. Furthermore, the limit values of phase voltages with unsymmetrical load, amounting to ±10% of the rated voltage, were not exceeded. In the battery usage off-grid mode, the time after a step change in the load power was not longer than 2 s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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17 pages, 7682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictive Control for Current Distortion Mitigation in Mining Power Grids

by Juan S. Gómez, Alex Navas-Fonseca, Freddy Flores-Bahamonde, Luca Tarisciotti, Cristian Garcia, Felipe Nuñez, Jose Rodriguez and Aldo Z. Cipriano

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3523; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063523 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1199

Abstract

Current distortion is a critical issue of power quality because the low frequency harmonics injected by adjustable speed drives increase heating losses in transmission lines and induce torque flickering in induction motors, which are widely used in mining facilities. Although classical active filtering [...] Read more.

Current distortion is a critical issue of power quality because the low frequency harmonics injected by adjustable speed drives increase heating losses in transmission lines and induce torque flickering in induction motors, which are widely used in mining facilities. Although classical active filtering techniques mitigate the oscillatory components of imaginary power, they may not be sufficient to clean the sensitive nodes of undesirable power components, some of which are related to real power. However, the usage of power electronic converters for distributed generation and energy storage, allows the integration of complementary power quality control objectives in electrical systems, by using the same facilities required for active power transferring. This paper proposes a predictive control-based scheme for mitigating the current distortion in the coupling node between utility grid and the mining facility power system. Instead of the classical approach of active filtering, this task is included as a secondary level objective control referred into the microgrid control hierarchy. Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation results showed that the proposed scheme is capable of bounding the current distortion, according to IEEE standard 1547, for both individual harmonics and the total rated current distortion, through inequality constraints of the optimization problem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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19 pages, 4995 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Novel Three-Phase Switched-Capacitor Five-Level Multilevel Inverter with Reduced Components and Self-Balancing Ability

by Kasinath Jena, Dhananjay Kumar, Kavali Janardhan, B. Hemanth Kumar, Arvind R. Singh, Srete Nikolovski and Mohit Bajaj

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031713 - 29 Jan 2023

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

This paper proposes a step-up 3-Ф switched-capacitor multilevel inverter topology with minimal switch count and voltage stresses. The proposed topology is designed to provide five distinct output voltage levels from a single isolated dc source, making it suitable for medium and low-voltage applications. [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a step-up 3-Ф switched-capacitor multilevel inverter topology with minimal switch count and voltage stresses. The proposed topology is designed to provide five distinct output voltage levels from a single isolated dc source, making it suitable for medium and low-voltage applications. Each leg of the proposed topology contains four switches, one power diode, and a capacitor. The switching signals are also generated using a staircase universal modulation method. As a result, the proposed topology will operate at both low and high switching frequencies. To highlight the proposed topology’s advantages, a comparison of three-phase topologies wasperformed in terms of the switching components, voltage stress, component count per level factor, and cost function withthe recent literature. The topology achieved an efficiency of about 96.7% with dynamic loading, and 75% of the switches experienced half of the peak output voltage (V_DC), whereas the remaining switches experienced peak output voltage (2V_DC) as voltage stress. The MATLAB/Simulink environment was used to simulate the proposed topology, and a laboratory prototype was also built to verify the inverter’s theoretical justifications and real-time performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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Review

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24 pages, 4140 KiB

Open AccessReview

Power System Integration of Electric Vehicles: A Review on Impacts and Contributions to the Smart Grid

by Mustafa İnci, Özgür Çelik, Abderezak Lashab, Kamil Çağatay Bayındır, Juan C. Vasquez and Josep M. Guerrero

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2246; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062246 - 07 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417

Abstract

In recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular, bringing about fundamental shifts in transportation to reduce greenhouse effects and accelerate progress toward decarbonization. The role of EVs has also experienced a paradigm shift for future energy networks as an active player [...] Read more.

In recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular, bringing about fundamental shifts in transportation to reduce greenhouse effects and accelerate progress toward decarbonization. The role of EVs has also experienced a paradigm shift for future energy networks as an active player in the form of vehicle-to-grid, grid-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-vehicle technologies. EVs spend a significant part of the day parked and have a remarkable potential to contribute to energy sustainability as backup power units. In this way, EVs can be connected to the grid as stationary power units, providing a range of services to the power grid to increase its reliability and resilience. The available systems show that EVs can be used as alternative energy sources for various network systems like smart grids, microgrids, and virtual power plants besides transportation. While the grid–EV connection offers various contributions, it also has some limitations and effects. In this context, the current study highlights the power system impacts and key contributions of EVs connected to smart grids. Regarding the power system impacts in case of EV integration into smart grids, the challenges and difficulties are categorized under the power system stability, voltage/current distortions, load profile, and power losses. Voltage/current distortions like sags, unbalances, harmonics, and supraharmonics are also detailed in the study. Subsequently, the key contributions to the smart grid in terms of energy management, grid-quality support, grid balancing, and socio-economic impacts are explained. In the energy management part, issues such as power flow, load balancing, and renewable energy integration are elaborated. Then, the fault ride-through capability, reactive power compensation, harmonic mitigation, and grid loss reduction are presented to provide information on power quality enhancement. Lastly, the socio-economic impacts in terms of employment, net billing fees, integration with renewable energy sources, and environmental effects are elucidated in the present study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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20 pages, 1803 KiB

Open AccessReview

Modern MultiPort Converter Technologies: A Systematic Review

by Levon Gevorkov, José Luis Domínguez-García, Lluis Trilla Romero and Àlber Filbà Martínez

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2579; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042579 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

The integration of renewable energy sources (RES) as distributed generation units to the power grid has been accelerated by the rising demand for energy and the growing concern over the environmental effects of conventional sources. At the same time, modern electric vehicles (EV) [...] Read more.

The integration of renewable energy sources (RES) as distributed generation units to the power grid has been accelerated by the rising demand for energy and the growing concern over the environmental effects of conventional sources. At the same time, modern electric vehicles (EV) are demonstrating a promising ability to decrease the consumption of fossil fuels. The issues related to a combination of various renewable energy sources to fulfil the load requirements can be solved by the application of multi-input–output architecture that is properly designed. In order to increase the driving range of EVs, several energy sources, including ultracapacitors and fuel cells, should be connected and operate in combination with a battery storage system. To manage these energy sources with various voltage-current characteristics, the same concept can be applied. The current trends in the field of multiport DC-DC converters are identified and examined in this research. This paper proposes a review and analysis of the most significant aspects of multiport converters, such as types based on various characteristics, their topologies, the benefits and drawbacks, and areas of application. A thorough investigation of multiport converters’ design guidelines and selection process for specific applications is presented. Based on their properties, multiport converters are categorized in this review. In comparison with other available review publications, this paper is more concise and mainly focused on the most general and important aspects of multiport technologies. Based on the provided information, the reader can discern modern trends and directions of the multiport converter development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiport Converters for Renewable Energy Sources and EV (Electric Vehicle) Applications)

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