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Dugan, Roger C.

Publications and source records attributed to Dugan, Roger C..

Test-Based Modeling of Photovoltaic Inverter Impact on Distribution Systems

Distributed PV has important effects on overcurrent, overvoltage and islanding protection. These effects are more difficult to analyze because the faulted behavior of PV inverters is less well understood than for rotating machines. Full transient models of the inverter can be accurate, but that approach requires inverter design details and simulation software that doesn’t easily interoperate with utility protection system software. Further, anomalous model behaviors often emerge at different grid conditions, and these are difficult to fix in a proprietary model. Testing provides another approach to characterize inverters, validate models or answer questions of application. This earlier work found major impacts from the inverter design, firmware, operating point and balance-of-system components. Our objective is to characterize PV inverters from black-box testing, leading to standard test reports that could provide parameter sets for widely-implemented models in software tools. The tool vendors can then develop standard inverter models, as they did for rotating machines and exciters. Besides fully detailed transient models, inverters can be represented with steady-state current sources, dynamically controlled current sources or non-linear frequency-dependent black boxes. Type-test data could support the last three kinds of model. Short circuit and sag tests would encompass the basic fault types, reporting the maximum transient and rms currents over all power levels and points-on-wave within four time ranges : 1) 0 to 1 cycles, for close and latch consideration 2) 1 to 4 cycles, for equipment withstand 3) 4 to 30 cycles, for interrupt ratings 4) 30 cycles and beyond, for backup protection analysis Open circuit tests would vary output power and power factor, and report the maximum rms voltage from 1 to 10 cycles after the event. Without models, the type-test data could also provide upper limits on the expected overvoltages and overcurrents.

Wieserman, Laura M.↗

Analytic Considerations and Design Basis for the IEEE Distribution Test Feeders

One of the greatest challenges for the analysis of distribution systems is the high level of diversity across the world. For nearly 20 years the Test Feeder Working Group of the Distribution System Analysis Subcommittee has been developing distribution test feeders. The purpose of these test feeders is to provide openly-available models of distribution systems that reflect the diversity in systems and the analytic challenges they present. Because of their utility and accessibility, the test feeders have been used for a wide range of research, some of which they were not originally intended to cover. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the variety of existing distribution systems, and to clarify the specific analytic challenges that each test feeder was originally designed to examine. Additionally, the paper will provide guidance on which feeders are best suited for various types of analysis. The purpose of this paper is to provide the original intent of the Working Group and to inform researchers so that they may make an informed decision on which of the test feeders are most appropriate for their work.

Schneider, Kevin P.↗