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Distributed generation (DG) is predicted to play an increasingly important role in the future power system. DGs, however, can provoke technical problems when they are added to the existing system. An islanding is one of those problems while using DGs. During that mode, the power electronic interface of DGs has both roles of keeping the point of common coupling's voltage within a required range and making islanded frequency arbitrarily at normal values. This paper investigates the operation response while keeping the conventional current controller in some cases of typical islanded loads. Then, it validates the feasibility of a proposed droop-based current controller for the islanded entity dealing with transient-to-island mode using PSCAD simulation. That proposed controller is fast switched from the conventional one using the negative-sequence impedance islanding detection method. The stability analyses of an islanded entity and islanded controller regarding frequency, voltage and transient period are also carried out in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong growth figures prove that wind is now a mainstream option for new power generation. All the successful megawatt-class wind technology developments to date are results of evolutionary design efforts based on the premise that control can significantly improve energy capture and reduce dynamic loads. The main challenge is wind stochasticity that impacts both power quality and drivetrain fatigue life for a wind generating system. In the proposed paradigm, control is exercised through a self-tuning regulator (STR) that incorporates a recursive least-squares algorithm to predict the process parameters and update the states. In above rated regimes, the control strategy incorporating a pitch regulatory system aims to regulate turbine power and maintain stable, closed-loop behavior in the presence of turbulent wind inflow. The control scheme is formulated based on a detailed performability model; the wind speed is generated by a stochastic model, while the drivetrain is modeled as a multiinertia system linked by a non- ideal (Ks ≠ ∞) shaft described by nonlinear equations. Computer simulations reveal that achieving the two objectives of maximizing energy extraction and load reduction by the STR becomes more attractive relative to the classical PID controller design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Photovoltaic (PV) system's power output is not constant and fluctuates depending on weather conditions. Fluctuating power causes frequency deviations and reduction in reliability of the isolated power utility or microgrid when large output power from several PV systems is penetrated in the utility. In this paper, to overcome these problems, a simple coordinated control method for leveling the fluctuations of combined power output from multiple PV systems is proposed. The conflicting objective of output power leveling and acquisition power increase is achieved by means of the proposed method. Here, output power command is generated in two steps: central and local. Fuzzy reasoning is used to generate the central leveling output power command considering insolation, variance of insolation, and absolute average of frequency deviation. In local step, a simple coordination is maintained between central power command and local power commands by producing a common tuning factor. Power converters are used to achieve the same output power as local command power employing P1 control law for each of the PV generation systems. The proposed method is compared with the method where a modified maximum power point tracking control is used for smoothing the short-term change in each of the PV system's output. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective for leveling output power fluctuations and feasible to reduce the frequency deviations of the isolated power utility to maintain reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of wind power generation has brought problems involving lightning strikes to the fore. Many such incidents have damaged not only the wind turbine that was actually struck but also other turbines that were not, a phenomenon that has yet to be fully explained. In this paper, the authors present a case study using a wind farm model with multiple wind turbines connected to a power system. The aim is to clarify the influence of the grounding system on surge propagation from a wind turbine that has been struck to others which have not, during a winter lightning strike. Sensitivity analyses show that the surge propagated to nearby wind turbines can sometimes become large, depending on the conditions of the grounding system, and result in the burnout of surge arresters in turbines that have not been struck, especially during winter lightning strikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent developments wind power has been gaining rapid usage as an alternative source of electrical power and there is need to formulate optimized control schemes for power generation. This paper presents a sensorless maximum power point tracking control methodology for a wind power generation system. For the sensorless vector control a sliding mode observer is utilized in the estimation of the rotor speed while the rotor position is estimated based on the flux linkage. The Powell method is introduced to improve the efficiency of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) d-axis current optimization. To ensure robustness of the proposed paradigm to parameter variations, the windmill loss coefficients determining the optimal rotor speed are identified online. Results of simulations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been growing interest in utilizing dispersed generation systems, which are grouped into micro turbine systems, co-generation systems, and so on, as a substitute for fuel oil energy and a technology to prevent global warming. Since start-up time of dispersed generation systems is short, it is possible to operate systems to supply load power corresponding to a demand. Moreover, PPSs (Power Producers and Suppliers) can participate in a power retail sales company, since deregulation of electric utilities was instituted in March 2000. However, PPSs have to keep instantaneous generating power commissioning rule, to maintain supply-and-demand balance between customer and supplier. Therefore, in this paper, we examine instantaneous generating power commissioning for dispersed generators where start-up time is short and it is possible to operate systems to supply a power load corresponding to a demand. We adopt a PI controller as a controller. The system is composed of double control loop in inner loop and in outer loop. In inner loop electric power is controlled and in outer loop electric energy is controlled. The controller parameters are designed using the pole-placement technique. The effectiveness of the proposed control system is confirmed by simulations. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 145(2): 58–66, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10200 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]