Achieve Unity Power Factor Operation Research Articles

Real-time Assessment of Ride-through Capability of Grid-tied Converter in Renewable Power Applications

This paper presents a comprehensive strategy for controlling grid-tied converters, with the primary goal of seamlessly integrating renewable power sources into the grid while ensuring stability and reliability. The control strategy is designed to achieve unity power factor operation under normal grid conditions, while also adhering to ride-through requirements to withstand voltage dips. Using the Typhoon HIL604 real-time simulation platform, extensive testing of the grid-tied converter is conducted to validate its performance. The results of the performance assessment are thoroughly analyzed and presented to exemplify the efficacy of the proposed control strategy. Notably, the paper emphasizes the converter's operation at unity power factor during normal grid conditions, indicating maximized active power delivery to the grid. Furthermore, the grid-tied converter demonstrates impressive ride-through capability during symmetrical voltage dip, achieved through the dynamic adjustment of grid current references to maintain grid stability. This research contributes to the advancement of grid-tied converter control strategies, offering insights into enhancing the integration of renewable power sources into the power grid while upholding system reliability and stability. Overall, this research offers valuable insights into the practical implementation of grid-tied converters for renewable power integration. It presents a comprehensive control strategy that not only enhances the integration of renewable power sources into the power grid but also prioritizes system reliability and stability.

Improved performance of a shunt hybrid active power filter by a robust exponential functional link network-based nonlinear adaptive filter control to enhance power quality

This research article details the design and implementation of a nonlinear adaptive filtering (NAF) technique using an exponential functional link network (EFLN) for a shunt hybrid active power filter (SHAPF) control to solve the current-associated power quality issues on the utility side at the distribution level of electrical power systems. Separation of the fundamental component from the harmonics, achieving unity power factor operation, reducing the reactive power drawn from the source, balancing the currents during transients, and reduction of total harmonic distortion (THD) of the source current are the issues considered to resolve. The proposed technique solves these issues by generating the sinusoidal reference current and separating the fundamental current from the harmonics. When compared to conventional and existing adaptive filtering techniques such as least mean square (LMS), least mean fourth (LMF), and variable step size LMS (VSS-LMS), the proposed EFLN-NAF method excels in terms of speedy convergence, adaptability in noise-specific environments and reduced steady-state coefficient error. MATLAB/Simulink software is utilized to perform the simulations to examine the suggested strategy for the chosen SHAPF topology both in static and dynamic scenarios. For a 15 kW and 3kVAr requirement of the nonlinear load, simulation results proved that the designed PPF for 2kVAr is able to share the reactive power with the APF, thereby reducing its rating and cost. The proposed method of filtering has been proven to be fast converging with 0.049 s, and the THD in steady state is brought to 1.32 % in steady-state and to 3.77 % during transient conditions, which are under standard limits. A hardware prototype of the experimental setup is constructed at the laboratory scale with OPAL-RT (OP4510) as the controller. With an active and reactive power demand of 1.1 kW and 210VAr, the designed PPF supplies 110 VAr, whereas the rest is supplied by the APF. The practical THD in source current is observed to be 2.081 %, which meets the standards. The results from both simulations and experiments are validated, and the efficacy of the proposed technique in mitigating the aforementioned power quality issues is proved.

Triple Phase Shift Control of Wireless Charging DAB LCC Resonant Converter for Unity Power Factor Operation with Optimized Rectifier AC Load Resistance

This paper presents a new triple phase shift (TPS) closed-loop control scheme of a dual active bridge (DAB) LCC resonant DC/DC converter to improve wireless charging power transfer efficiency. The primary side inverter phase shift angle regulates the battery charging current/voltage. The secondary side rectifier phase shift angle regulates the rectifier AC load resistance to match its optimized setting. The inverter-to-rectifier phase shift angle is set to achieve unity power factor operation of the DAB rectifier and inverter. The mathematical formulation of the TPS shift control is given for each phase shift angle. The analytical calculation, circuit simulation, and experimental test are carried out in a power scaled-down DAB LCC resonant wireless charging converter laboratory hardware setup to validate the proposed TPS close-loop control scheme. The PLECS circuit simulation shows that DAB LCC resonant SiC MOSFET operates at zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) with a unity power factor in emulated constant current (CC) mode battery charging. In constant voltage (CV) mode operation, one inverter/rectifier Leg does not operate at ZVS switching when Sic MOSFET is switched on near zero current. The experimental results show that the efficiency is greatly improved for CV mode charging with large DC load resistance connected if rectifier AC load resistance matching control is enabled. The measured efficiency matches well with the analytical calculation. The estimated efficiency improvement will be much more significant for EV applications in the kW power range with greater winding loss. The challenges and possible solutions to implement TPS PWM modulation in two separate inverter and rectifier control hardware are explained for future TPS control algorithm development in practical wireless charging products.

Grid integrated solar energy transfer system with a two‐layer complex coefficient filter‐based control

In this paper, a novel control strategy for grid-integrated solar energy transfer system (SETS) is proposed which enhances the grid power quality along with active power injection. Some of the conventional grid synchronization controls face problems due to imperfect estimation of fundamental active load current during both grid-side and load-side disturbances. The proposed two-layer multiple-complex coefficient filter control improves the performance of SETS by accurately estimating the fundamental active load current at adverse operating conditions. One layer extracts the fundamental positive sequence of the sensed three-phase grid voltages and derives the unit in-phase voltage templates for grid currents reference generation to achieve unity power factor operation. The second layer evaluates the average active fundamental component of the load currents, and finally derives the reference amplitude of three-phase grid currents. The two-stage SETS consists of a quadratic boost DC-DC converter to extract the maximum solar array power forming an interface between PV array and inverter. It also provides high voltage gain and decreases the length of the PV array string while maintaining a low DC-link voltage ripple, extending the service life of the SETS. The effect of a nonlinear unbalanced load is nullified and therefore the grid current's waveform quality is maintained in compliance with the IEEE-519 standard during the dynamic operating conditions. The SETS provides sinusoidal, balanced, and steady grid currents at unity power factor withstanding adverse operating conditions such as distorted grid voltages, varying irradiance and varying unbalanced nonlinear load currents. Due to its flexibility to operate in such adverse conditions, the proposed control based SETS is suitable for grid-connected applications. Simulations are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink and results validate the performance of the SETS. The hardware prototype of the proposed SETS is developed and rigorously tested under various operating conditions to validate the proposed claims.

Current Reference Control Based MPPT and Investigation of Power Management Algorithm for Grid-Tied Solar PV-Battery System

To achieve unity power factor operation, harmonic mitigation, faster dc-link voltage regulation, and smooth transfer of modes of operation, this work aims to propose an adaptive control scheme for a photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied power conversion system. The grid-tied PV system consists of a battery storage unit interfaced with the dc link using a bidirectional converter and dc link is connected to the ac bus using a voltage source converter. Apart from the mentioned control objectives, maximum power extraction from the PV systems and effective power management for seamless operation are also challenging. The shortcoming of the conventional maximum power point tracking technique to track global power under varying environmental conditions is addressed by developing a simple and efficient current reference control technique, which enables faster tracking of the global maximum power. Furthermore, a suitable power management algorithm is formulated to generate reference currents for all the power converters in the proposed system, considering various system dynamics. The viability of the control scheme for the PV-battery-based grid-tied system is validated through extensive real-time investigation under dynamic test conditions.

Single-Phase Boost Inverter-Based Electric Vehicle Charger With Integrated Vehicle to Grid Reactive Power Compensation

Vehicle to grid (V2G) reactive power compensation using electric vehicle (EV) onboard chargers helps to ensure grid power quality by achieving unity power factor operation. However, the use of EVs for V2G reactive power compensation increases the second-order harmonic ripple current component at the DC-side of the charger. For single-phase, single-stage EV chargers, the ripple current component has to be supplied by the EV battery, unless a ripple compensation method is employed. Additionally, continuous usage of EV chargers for reactive power compensation, when the EV battery is not charging from the grid, exposes the EV battery to these undesirable ripple current components for a longer period and discharges the battery due to power conversion losses. This paper presents a way to provide V2G reactive power compensation through a boost inverter-based single stage EV charger and a DC-side capacitor without adversely affecting the EV battery. The operation of the boost inverter-based EV charger with second-order harmonic and switching frequency ripple current reduction, the dynamic behavior of the system, the transition between different operating modes, the DC-side capacitor voltage control above a minimum allowed voltage, and the DC-side capacitor sizing are extensively analyzed. The performance of the proposed system is verified using an experimental prototype, and presented results demonstrate the ability of the system to provide V2G reactive power compensation both with and without the EV battery.

Intelligent Control for Doubly Fed Induction Generator Connected to the Electrical Network

<p><span lang="EN-US">In this paper we are interested in optimizing the wind power capture, using the Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG). This machine is preferred to other types of variable speed generator because of their advantages in economic terms and control. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on Direct Torque Control (DTC) which is used to control the electromagnetic torque in order to extract the maximum power, The main objective of this intelligent technique is to replace the conventional switching table by a voltage selector based on (ANN) to reduce torque and flux ripples. Moreover, the fuzzy logic controller is used to grid side converter to keep DC link voltage constant, and also to achieve unity power factor operation. The main advantage of the two control strategies proposed in this paper is that they are not influenced by the variation of the machine parameter. The pitch control is also presented to limit the generator power at its rated value. Simulation results of 1,5 MW, for (DFIG) based Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) confirm the effectiveness and the performance of the global proposed approaches.</span></p>

Experimental Validation of a Robust Continuous Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Based Grid-Interlinked Photovoltaic Inverter

This paper presents a robust continuous nonlinear model predictive control (CNMPC) for a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) inverter system. The objective of the proposed approach is to control the power exchange between the grid and a PV system, while achieving unity power factor operation. As the continuous nonlinear MPC cannot completely remove the steady-state error in the presence of disturbances, the nonlinear disturbance observer-based control is adopted to estimate the offset caused by parametric uncertainties and external perturbation. The stability of the closed-loop system under both nonlinear predictive control and disturbance observer is ensured by convergence of the output-tracking error to the origin. The proposed control strategy is verified using a complete laboratory-scale PV test-bed system consisting of a PV emulator, a boost converter, and a grid-tied inverter. High performance with respect to dc-link voltage tracking, grid current control, disturbance rejection, and unity power factor operation has been demonstrated.

Three Phase Grid Connected PhotovoltaicSystem with Maximum Power Point Tracking

This paper proposes a three phase grid connected photovoltaic system in which maximum power point of PV array is traced using perturb and observe algorithm. Power converter consists of a switch mode DC-DC boost converter and a neutral point clamped 3-level inverter. An overview of the dq transformation and sinusoidal PWM technique are presented for the inverter control system along with grid synchronization condition. The boost DC converter is controlled using an open loop maximum power point tracking technique in order to achieve fast control response to transients and changes in weather conditions. A DC link capacitor is used after the DC converter. The capacitor’s voltage is regulated using a DC link controller that balances input and output powers of the capacitor. The performance of the system is simulated via MATLAB SIMULINK. Furthermore, voltage source inverter is controlled in the rotating dq frame to inject a controllable three phase AC current into the grid. To achieve unity power factor operation, current is injected in phase with the grid voltage. A phase locked loop (PLL) is used to lock on the grid frequency and provide a stable reference synchronization signal for the inverter control system, which works to minimize the error between the actual injected current and the reference current obtained from the DC link controller.

A Transformer-Less High-Power Converter for Large Permanent Magnet Wind Generator Systems

The power conversion systems for large wind turbines are facing a great challenge as today's wind turbine power outputs approach 5 MW and above. The conventional low voltage power conversion system will suffer from a high transmission current, which significantly increases losses and cost of the cables as well as voltage drop. This paper proposes a modular, medium voltage, high-power converter topology for the large permanent magnet wind generator system, eliminating the grid-side step-up transformer, which is desirable for both onshore and offshore wind turbines. The converter modules are cascaded to achieve medium voltage output. Each converter module is fed by a pair of generator coils with 90 phase shift to get the stable dc-link power. The power factor correction (PFC) circuit enables the generator to achieve unity power factor operation and the generator armature inductance is used as ac-side PFC boost inductance. At the grid-side, H-bridge inverters are connected in series to generate multilevel medium voltage output and the voltage-oriented vector control scheme is adopted to regulate the converter active and reactive power transferred to the grid. Simulation results with a 2-MW wind turbine system and experimental results with a down-scaled 3-kW system validate the proposed topology and control methods. The proposed system can successfully deliver power from the wind generator to the grid.

Control and Performance of a Self-Commutated GTO Converter Operating in Parallel With Line-Commutated Thyristor Converters

Recently, static var generators (SVGs) or static synchronous compensators based on self-commutated converters have been put into practical use for the purpose of compensation for reactive power, power swings damping, and/or voltage control in power systems. The SVGs have also been applied to reduce voltage fluctuations appearing at high-speed train substations. When parallel resonance occurs between passive filters installed at a point of common coupling (PCC) and the power-system impedance existing upstream of the PCC, voltage/current harmonics are significantly amplified in the power system. This paper describes the control and performance for a self-commutated gate-turn-off (GTO) converter operating in parallel with conventional line-commutated thyristor converters. This hybrid power conversion system rated at more than dozens of MVA has an inductive load at the dc side. A bank of passive filters is connected not only for harmonic compensation of the line-commutated converters, but also as a constant leading reactive-power source. The GTO converter can control either leading or lagging reactive power so as to achieve unity power factor operation. In addition, it has the capability of damping out parallel resonance between the passive filters and the power-system impedance. This paper confirms the viability and effectiveness of the hybrid system by means of theory and computer simulation.

A unity power factor converter using half-bridge boost topology

A single-phase high-efficiency near-unity power-factor (PF) half-bridge boost converter circuit, which has been proposed earlier by other researchers, is presented with detailed analysis. This converter is capable of operating under variable PF. However, the focus of this paper is in achieving unity PF operation only. The efficiency of this circuit is high because there is only one series semiconductor on-state voltage drop at any instant. The existence of an imbalance in the voltages of the two DC-link capacitors, which was noted before, is confirmed here. The cause for the imbalance is analyzed using appropriate models, and a control method to eliminate it is discussed in detail. Analysis and design considerations for the power circuit using the fixed-band hysteresis current control (HCC) technique are provided. The analytical results are verified through simulation using switched and averaged circuit models of the scheme and also through experimental work. At 90-V AC input and 300-W 300-V output, the experimental prototype demonstrates an efficiency of 96.23% and a PF of 0.998. This converter, with its relatively high DC-output voltage, is well suited for the 110-V utility supply system. A circuit modification for universal input voltage range operation is also suggested.