Overvoltages due to Synchronous Tripping of Plug-in Electric-Vehicle Chargers Following Voltage Dips

Abstract

Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging equipment incorporates protection that ensures that grid disturbances do not damage the charger or vehicle. When the grid voltage sags below 80% of nominal, undervoltage protection is likely to disconnect the charging load from the grid. Most PEV charging will occur overnight, when non-PEV load is at a minimum. This paper argues that PEV voltage-sag response, when synchronized across large numbers of PEVs, could result in the loss of a significant proportion of the total load. It is shown that this load loss can lead to unacceptably high voltages once the initiating event has been cleared. This paper explores the nature of this voltage-rise phenomenon. Analysis tools are developed to assist in determining PEV loading conditions that demarcate acceptable postdisturbance voltage response from unacceptable outcomes. Two examples, based on standard distribution test systems, are used to illustrate PEV-induced overvoltage behavior, and demonstrate applications of the analysis tools.

Review of GB electricity distribution system's electricity security of supply, reliability and power quality in meeting UK industrial strategy requirements

“…Accordingly, it can be concluded that the likely impact of voltage sags and short interruptions on an increasing share of electronic and power-electronic-based electrical equipment -if no action is taken by OFGEM or GB DNOs -will be greater. For example, according to [24], plug-in EV voltage-sag response, when synchronised across large numbers of plug-in EVs, could result in the loss of a significant proportion of the total load, which could result in unacceptably high voltages once the initiating voltage sag event is cleared. Similar voltage-sag-, swell-or interruption-events could lead to a trip/malfunction of a combination of varying levels of load-generation that could further trigger a voltage/frequency stability event.…”

Sustainability, Resiliency, and Grid Stability of the Coupled Electricity and Transportation Infrastructures: Case for an Integrated Analysis

“…In a recent study, an analysis tool was presented that determines a critical EV charging load based on the non-EV load on a distribution feeder (Kundu and Hiskens 2014). As the EV charging load fraction increases the likelihood of postdisturbance voltage rise increases.…”

“…To model the effect of EV chargers tripping on the voltage profile of the transmission grid, a model of the transmission grid needs to be considered along with a model for the residential feeder. In the research reported in this paper, the conventional IEEE 39-bus system (IEEE 10 Generator 39 bus system model) is considered as the transmission grid, while a modified IEEE 34-node system (Kundu and Hiskens 2014) is considered as the residential feeder; see the "Supplemental Data" section for diagrams and further details of those systems. In the analyzed case, a fault in the transmission grid causes a voltage sag impacting the residential feeder.…”

“…Much work in EV sustainability examines pollutant emissions, energy consumption, and resource depletion effects at the long timescale (Elgowainy et al 2010;EPRI 2007;Hawkins et al 2013;Samaras and Meisterling 2008;Sioshansi et al 2010). Research focused on the electrical grid impacts of EVs, and the transportation resilience of EVs focus on shorter timescales (Clement-Nyns et al 2010;Hadley and Tsvetkova 2009;Kintner-Meyer et al 2007; Kundu and Hiskens 2014;Marshall et al 2015). Hence, there is a lack of integrated analysis in the literature.…”

A Flexible Experimental Laboratory for Distributed Generation Networks Based on Power Inverters

“…In addition, the loads can present some degree of intelligence used to adapt its power demand depending on local measures or remote commands. In this sense, a challenging and attractive load form is the plug-in electric vehicle charged from residential distribution feeders, which can be used also to store energy and other ancillary purposes [2,3]. Thanks to the advances in power electronics, high performance power converters are commonly used as interface between the generation sources and the grid.…”