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The ongoing replacement of synchronous machine generators (SMs) with converter-interface generators (CIGs) is raising the voltage unbalance of power systems, affecting power quality and grid stability. This paper focuses on a key power quality index for power systems, i.e., the voltage unbalance factor. The purpose of this work is twofold. First, it presents the generalization of a three-phase power flow algorithm developed by University of Padova, named PFPD_3P, to assess the voltage unbalance factors of power systems supplied by CIGs. In particular, it is demonstrated that CIGs can be modelled as three-phase PV/PQ constraints embedding their positive-, negative- and zero-sequence admittances. Then, the concept of three-phase contingency analysis is introduced. Indeed, for static security evaluation, the classical single-phase contingency analysis may no longer be sufficient, as it lacks power quality computations, e.g., voltage/current unbalance factors. Numerical simulations evaluating the unbalance factors due to different generation mix scenarios and contingencies are tested on the Italian extra-high-voltage/high-voltage (EHV/HV) grid. The choice of this network relies on its representativeness, as CIGs are the majority of new installations in the Italian generation mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial discharge inception modeling is a powerful tool for material investigation and insulation system design in order to achieve the objective of PD-free operation of insulation systems. Model validation, however, requires accurate and repeatable testing conditions, and the aim of this paper is to look at the influence of electrodes and electric field simulation on partial discharge inception model prediction accuracy. Awareness of the geometric electrode configuration is important to forecast both the typology of discharge and the corresponding partial discharge inception voltage value. It is shown, in fact, that inaccurate evaluation of electrode shape (e.g., its flat part and contour) might impact significantly on electric field estimation, the typology of incepted discharges, and, thus, on model accuracy, i.e., on partial discharge inception voltage prediction, which is the basis for the partial discharge-free design of insulating materials and systems. In particular, small electrode curvature radius variations do not significantly affect the PDIV value or PD typology identification. However, worsening electrode/insulation specimen contact can significantly impact PD inception and typology evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]