Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) solar farms are typically dormant at nighttime with their entire expensive assets unused. This paper presents the first in Canada (and perhaps first in the world) utility demonstration of a novel nighttime and daytime technology of utilizing PV solar farm as a dynamic reactive power compensator (STATCOM), and named PV-STATCOM. The field demonstration was performed on a 10 kW PV solar farm installed in the utility network of Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation, in Sarnia, Ontario. It is demonstrated that the solar farm autonomously transforms into a STATCOM and ensures continuous stable operation of a critical induction motor during large disturbances which would otherwise destabilize the motor. The PV-STATCOM is thus shown to be a new FACTS device STATCOM which provides a 24/7 dynamic voltage control functionality as a STATCOM but is about 50 times less costly than an actual equivalent sized STATCOM. The PV-STATCOM is further demonstrated to be a new smart inverter which operates much faster than a conventional smart inverter and also during nighttime, which present-day smart inverters do not. Shutdown of critical induction motors used in industries such as petrochemicals, process control, mining, automotive, medicines, etc. can result in significant financial loss to the industries. This novel functionality of critical motor stabilization by solar farms as PV-STATCOM can potentially open a substantial new revenue earning opportunity for solar farms in addition to generation of active power. This paper presents the first stage results of field demonstration of PV-STATCOM technology on 13th Dec. 2016, in an ongoing project.
Highlights
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) are high power electronic devices which are widely used worldwide for providing several benefits to electric power systems
Control of PV solar farm as STATCOM, termed PVSTATCOM. (ii) it demonstrates the effectiveness of PV-STATCOM control to stabilize a critical induction motor during nighttime when conventional solar farms are idle and during daytime. (iii) it shows that the PV-STATCOM provides dynamic reactive power control at the same response speed (1-2 cycles) as a conventional STATCOM
FIELD DEMONSTRATION RESULTS The first-time field demonstration of the PV-STATCOM was performed on 16th December 2016
Summary
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) are high power electronic devices which are widely used worldwide for providing several benefits to electric power systems. Prior to 2016, field demonstrations of smart inverter functions for voltage control such as fixed (non-unity) power factor, volt-var and volt-watt, etc. The results of field demonstration of smart inverters with voltvar control and power factor control for providing voltage support in San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) distribution network were presented in [25]. On 13th December 2016, the PV-STATCOM technology was field-demonstrated in the night and day for the first time in Canada, and perhaps in the world, on a 10 kW PV solar system in the utility network of Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation, Sarnia, Ontario [32]. This paper presents detailed results of the first-stage utility-demonstration of PV-STATCOM technology for critical motor stabilization. (ii) it demonstrates the effectiveness of PV-STATCOM control to stabilize a critical induction motor during nighttime when conventional solar farms are idle and during daytime.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
