scholarly journals A Cascaded DC-AC-AC Grid-Tied Converter for PV Plants with AC-Link

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 409
Author(s):  
Manuel A. Barrios ◽  
Víctor Cárdenas ◽  
Jose M. Sandoval ◽  
Josep M. Guerrero ◽  
Juan C. Vasquez

Cascaded multilevel converters based on medium-frequency (MF) AC-links have been proposed as alternatives to the traditional low-voltage inverter, which uses a bulky low-frequency transformer step-up voltage to medium voltage (MV) levels. In this paper, a three-phase cascaded DC-AC-AC converter with AC-link for medium-voltage applications is proposed. Three stages integrate each DC-AC-AC converter (cell): a MF square voltage generator; a MF transformer with four windings; and an AC-AC converter. Then, k DC-AC-AC converters are cascaded to generate the multilevel topology. This converter’s topological structure avoids the per-phase imbalance; this simplifies the control and reduces the problem only to solve the per-cell unbalance. Two sets of simulations were performed to verify the converter’s operation (off-grid and grid-connected modes). Finally, the papers present two reduced preliminary laboratory prototypes, one validating the cascaded configuration and the other validating the three-phase configuration.

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4186
Author(s):  
Saddam Shueai Alnamer ◽  
Saad Mekhilef ◽  
Hazlie Mokhlis ◽  
Nadia M. L. Tan

This research proposes a four-level T-type inverter that is suitable for low-power applications. The presented topology outranks other types of inverters in terms of a smaller number of semiconductor devices, absence of passive components such as clamping diodes and flying capacitors, low switching and conduction losses, and high efficiency. The proposed topology is free from voltage deviation and unbalanced voltage occurrences that are present in other multilevel converters having clamping diodes or flying capacitors. The proposed inverter can extend to N levels using unequal dc-link voltage sources for medium-voltage application. The inverter employs the simple fundamental frequency staircase modulation technique. Moreover, this paper presents a current commutation strategy to prevent the occurrences of short circuit and minimizing the number of required switching devices and switching transitions, resulting in improving the efficiency of the inverter. This paper also analyses the theoretical converter losses showing lower switching and conduction losses when compared to existing four-level inverters. The experimental validation of the proposed inverter shows its operating feasibility and a low output voltage THD.


Author(s):  
Kartik Prasad Basu ◽  
Moley Kutty George

Most faults in medium voltage (MV) distribution lines are temporary line to ground (LG) faults. Three-phase auto reclosing (TPAR) is commonly used to remove this fault with temporary disconnection of all the phases. Multi-shot single-phase auto reclosing (SPAR) may also be used to remove the LG fault. But it produces highly unbalanced and low voltage across the load during the reclosure dead time. It is proposed to connect a zigzag winding grounding transformer at the load bus to maintain the 3-phase load voltage when one phase opens during the SPAR. With low value of grounding resistance the 3-phase voltage during the SPAR dead time becomes approximately balanced. Directional over current relays may be used for the protection. Analysis of a MV radial distribution system having a zigzag transformer connected to the remotest load bus is presented with the computation of voltages during the dead time of SPAR.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Pompodakis

<p><b>Conventional power flow (CPF) algorithms assume that the network resistances and reactances remain constant regardless of the weather and loading conditions. Although the impact of the weather in power flow analysis has been recently investigated via the weather-dependent power flow (WDPF) approaches, the magnetic effects in the core of ACSR conductors have not been explicitly considered. ACSR conductors are widely used in distribution networks. Therefore, this manuscript proposes a three-phase weather-dependent power flow algorithm for 4-wire multi-grounded unbalanced microgrids (MGs), which takes into consideration the impact of weather as well as the magnetic effects in the core of ACSR conductors. It is shown that the magnetic effects in the core can significantly influence the power flow results, especially for networks composed of single-layer ACSR conductors. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm explicitly considers the multi-grounded neutral conductor, thus it can precisely simulate unbalanced low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) networks. In addition, the proposed approach is generic and can be applied in both grid-connected and islanded networks. Simulations conducted in a 25-Bus unbalanced LV microgrid highlight the accuracy and benefit of the proposed approach. </b></p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Pompodakis

<p><b>Conventional power flow (CPF) algorithms assume that the network resistances and reactances remain constant regardless of the weather and loading conditions. Although the impact of the weather in power flow analysis has been recently investigated via the weather-dependent power flow (WDPF) approaches, the magnetic effects in the core of ACSR conductors have not been explicitly considered. ACSR conductors are widely used in distribution networks. Therefore, this manuscript proposes a three-phase weather-dependent power flow algorithm for 4-wire multi-grounded unbalanced microgrids (MGs), which takes into consideration the impact of weather as well as the magnetic effects in the core of ACSR conductors. It is shown that the magnetic effects in the core can significantly influence the power flow results, especially for networks composed of single-layer ACSR conductors. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm explicitly considers the multi-grounded neutral conductor, thus it can precisely simulate unbalanced low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) networks. In addition, the proposed approach is generic and can be applied in both grid-connected and islanded networks. Simulations conducted in a 25-Bus unbalanced LV microgrid highlight the accuracy and benefit of the proposed approach. </b></p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Vengadeshwaran Velu ◽  
Norman Mariun ◽  
Mohd Amran Mohd Radzi ◽  
Nashiren Farzilah Mailah

Three-phase system has numerous advantages over the single-phase system in terms of instantaneous power, stability, and cost. Three-phase systems are not available in every location particularly in remote rural areas, hill stations, low voltage distribution homes, and so forth. Having a system that is capable of converting directly the readily available single-phase system to three phases will have greater usability in various applications. The routine techniques adopted in the direct ac-ac single-phase-to-three-phase converters do not yield the best desired outputs because of their complexity in the segregation process and bidirectional nature of the input signal. Other initiatives use ac-dc-ac converters which are huge and costly due to dc link energy storage devices. Further, none of these systems provide a convincing result in producing the standard three-phase output voltages that are 120° away from each other. This paper proposes an effective direct ac-ac single-phase-to-three-phase conversion technique based on space vector pulse width modulation based matrix converter system that produces a convincing three-phase output signals from a single-phase source with balanced modulation index characteristics. The details of the scientific programming adopted on the proposed technique were presented.


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