Integrated Local and Coordinated Overvoltage Control to Increase Energy Feed-In and Expand DER Participation in Low-Voltage Networks

Author(s)

Alonso, Augusto M. S. ; Arenas, Luis De Oro ; Brandao, Danilo, I ; Tedeschi, Elisabetta ; Marafao, Fernando P.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY; v. 13, n. 2, p. 13-pg., 2022-04-01.

Abstract

Large amounts of active power injection by inverter-interfaced distributed energy resources (DER) is a common cause of overvoltage in low-voltage networks. Hence, local active and reactive power control (i.e., Volt/Watt and Volt/VAR, respectively) are adopted to limit voltage rise, leading to active power curtailment. This paper proposes an automatic control strategy to steer non-dispatchable (nd-DER) and dispatchable (d-DER) inverters in low-voltage networks, mitigating overvoltage through integrated local and coordinated Volt/Watt and Volt/VAR functionalities. Moreover, active power curtailment is avoided whenever possible. The method does not require i) the implementation of optimization algorithms or ii) knowledge about line impedance parameters or the location of DERs. The control approach exploits the power flow dispatchability of low-voltage networks comprising one point-of-common coupling with the distribution grid, allowing DERs close to the distribution transformer to also contribute to voltage regulation by only using a low-bandwidth communication link. Simulation results show the flexibilities of the proposed approach and demonstrate that active power injection can be increased by up to 25% for the considered scenario in comparison to conventional local Volt/Watt or Volt/VAR schemes. Experimental results based on a laboratory prototype with three inverter-interfaced DERs certify the applicability of the approach to real-life implementations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/22304-8 - Design and control methodologies for defining proper power quality interfaces for voltage disturbance compensation
• Grantee: Luis Armando de Oro Arenas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/08645-9 - Interdisciplinary research activities in electric smart grids
• Grantee: João Bosco Ribeiro do Val
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/12875-8 - Network control systems & power electronics technologies applied to smart grids
• Grantee: Augusto Matheus dos Santos Alonso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/24652-8 - Development of a methodology for cooperative control of distributed generators in microgrids with multiple operational considerations
• Grantee: Augusto Matheus dos Santos Alonso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate