Consensus control of electric spring using back-to-back converter for voltage regulation with ultra-high renewable penetration

Abstract

Recent advances in a power electronic device called an electric spring (ES) provide feasible solutions to meeting critical customers' requirements for voltage quality. A new version of the ES was introduced based on a back-to-back converter (ESBC) configuration which extends the operating range and improves the voltage suppression performance to facilitate ultra-high renewable penetration. This paper proposes an efficient control method to facilitate the voltage regulation function of an ESBC with non-critical loads. Particularly, the proposed method is suitable for various load characteristics. We also develop a consensus algorithm to coordinate multiple ESs for maintaining critical bus voltage in distribution systems with ultra-high renewable penetration. The proposed operation of the ESBC is verified by simulation of a modified IEEE 15-bus distribution network. The results show that the ESBC can effectively regulate system voltage and is superior to the original version of the ES.

Electric Spring and Smart Load: Technology, System-Level Impact, and Opportunities

“…In [55], a two-level voltage management scheme with load tap changer and capacitor banks at the upper level and ES at the lower level is demonstrated using consensus control allowing different voltage regulation devices to work together to maintain the voltage of critical buses by sharing the responsibility. Reference [71] also uses a consensus algorithm to coordinate multiple ESs for maintaining critical bus voltage in distribution systems with ultra-high renewable penetration. This yields similar voltage suppression capability as the conventional ES but better voltage support with the ESs sharing the burden using limited communication.…”

Hardware structures, control strategies, and applications of electric springs: a state‐of‐the‐art review

“…Therefore, the ES‐3 does not provide a direct effect on P SL . These stable‐state models have been used to implement collaborative control schemes that allow improving the PQ in distribution systems [50] and study the joint operation of ESs with distributed generation and dynamic loads that represent the behaviour of electric vehicles [40].…”

“…On the other hand, consensus control is another voltage regulation control scheme for multiple ESs [50, 55, 56]. It is based on graph theory and is suitable to operate with sparse topologies and limited local communication.…”

“…A case study presented in [55] shows that the behaviour of a set of ES‐1 operating in an IEEE‐34 node test feeder achieves cooperation in sharing reactive power and voltage regulation during fault conditions. The study case implemented in [50] is based on a set of ES‐3 operating as agents and an IEEE‐15 bus distribution system. Transient response, communication sensitivity, and voltage regulation are analysed.…”

Hybrid Electric Springs for Grid-Tied Power Control and Storage Reduction in AC Microgrids

“…After reformulating (15) and (16) in per-unit (p.u.) system with the base of P nom , the capacity limit of smart load can be derived as…”