Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “distributed voltage regulation”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Distributed photovoltaic systems: Utility interface issues and their present status

Major technical issues involving the integration of distributed photovoltaics (PV) into electric utility systems are defined and their impacts are described quantitatively. An extensive literature search, interviews, and analysis yielded information about the work in progress and highlighted problem areas in which additional work and research are needed. The findings from the literature search were used to determine whether satisfactory solutions to the problems exist or whether satisfactory approaches to a solution are underway. It was discovered that very few standards, specifications, or guidelines currently exist that will aid industry in integrating PV into the utility system. Specific areas of concern identified are: (1) protection, (2) stability, (3) system unbalance, (4) voltage regulation and reactive power requirements, (5) harmonics, (6) utility operations, (7) safety, (8) metering, and (9) distribution system planning and design.

Hassan, M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Estimating the impact of tariff-driven behind-the-meter storage operation on distribution grid investments

Increasing growth of distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicles (EV) can strain local distribution networks and require costly upgrades. Distributed battery storage, often deployed alongside PV, can be used to mitigate those costs, depending on how batteries are operated. This study evaluates the potential deferral value of distributed battery storage across a range of tariff structures, focusing on the rate structures most commonly available to residential customers today and related variants. Deferrals are evaluated with a least-cost distribution grid expansion optimization model to identify requirements on line reconductoring, transformer upgrades, and voltage regulator installations under each tariff. Results show that TOU rates and net billing tariffs can yield meaningful deferral value, depending on specific tariff structure features. Under the best performing tariff structure tested, storage produced a median annualized deferral value of $7.18 per kW of storage capacity ( kW S ) across all feeders in the sample, though deferral values were considerably larger for feeders with peak loads that coincide with utility system peak, i.e., timing of TOU peak period. In contrast, under an unrestricted TOU design with no restrictions on grid charging or discharging, the median deferral value was $0/ kW S illustrating the critical importance of tariff structure details.

Rodriguez-Garcia, Luis↗
DOE OSTI2021

Performance Evaluation of Distributed Energy Resource Management Algorithm in Large Distribution Networks

This paper presents performance evaluation of hierarchical optimization and control for distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) in large distribution networks via an advanced hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform. The HIL platform provides realistic testing in a laboratory environment, including the accurate modeling of a full-scale distribution system of 11,000 nodes, the DERMS software controller, and 90 power hardware photovoltaics (PVs) and battery inverters. The applied DERMS algorithm is designed based on a realtime optimal power flow algorithm and implemented with acceleration design that performs fast dispatch of simulated PVs and real physical hardware DER devices every 4 seconds.

DERMS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Direct Drive Hall Thruster System Development

The sta:us of development of a Direct Drive Ha!! Thruster System is presented. 13 the first part. a s:udy of the impacts to spacecraft systems and mass benefits of a direct-drive architecture is reviewed. The study initially examines four cases of SPT-100 and BPT-4000 Hall thrusters used for north-south station keeping on an EXPRESS-like geosynchronous spacecraft and for primary propulsion for a Deep Space- 1 based science spacecraft. The study is also extended the impact of direct drive on orbit raising for higher power geosynchronous spacecraft and on other deep space missions as a function of power and delta velocity. The major system considerations for accommodating a direct drive Hall thruster are discussed, including array regulation, system grounding, distribution of power to the spacecraft bus, and interactions between current-voltage characteristics for the arrays and thrusters. The mass benefit analysis shows that, for the initial cases, up to 42 kg of dry mass savings is attributable directly to changes in the propulsion hardware. When projected mass impacts of operating the arrays and the electric power system at 300V are included, up to 63 kg is saved for the four initial cases. Adoption of high voltage lithium ion battery technology is projected to further improve these savings. Orbit raising of higher powered geosynchronous spacecraft, is the mission for which direct drive provides the most benefit, allowing higher efficiency electric orbit raising to be accomplished in a limited period of time, as well as nearly eliminating significant power processing heat rejection mass. The total increase in useful payload to orbit ranges up to 278 kg for a 25 kW spacecraft, launched from an Atlas IIA. For deep space missions, direct drive is found to be most applicable to higher power missions with delta velocities up to several km/s , typical of several Discovery-class missions. In the second part, the status of development of direct drive propulsion power electronics is presented. The core of this hardware is the heater-keeper-magnet supply being qualified for the BPT-4000 by Aerojet. A breadboard propulsion power unit is in fabrication and is scheduled for delivery late in 2003.

Hoskins, W. Andrew↗
DOE OSTI2020

Grid Code Essentials and Streamlining Process for Interconnections

This presentation was part of a webinar entitled "A Practitioner's Guide to Implementing Solar Rooftop Programs and Navigating Net-Metering Policies," hosted by USAID Clean Power Asia and included speakers the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute as well as NREL. This presentation outlines grid codes in general, and IEEE Std 1547-2018 specifically, and discusses their adoption into interconnection requirements. Key capabilities, now enabled by IEEE Std 1547-2018, such as voltage regulation and frequency ride-through are described.

DER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimizing Grid Regulation with Gravity Energy Storage Systems: A Comparative Analysis with Different Motor Inertias

The integration of renewable energy sources into power grids necessitates solutions for grid support and stability during fluctuations in electricity generation and demand. Gravity energy storage systems (GESS) are emerging as a promising technology for managing the balance between energy supply and demand. However, their capacity to optimize energy flow and offer voltage and frequency regulation amid imbalances in generation and demand is less reported. This paper investigates the control of GESS for optimizing energy flow during voltage and frequency regulation. The study evaluates the regulation capabilities of GESS with different motor inertias during a Texas grid event: one with a high-speed, low-inertia motor and another with a low-speed, high-inertia motor. Results indicate that both GESS scenarios provide fast frequency response by converting potential energy into kinetic energy and vice versa, with a response time of 1.5 s from the frequency variation. This aligns with grid requirements for primary frequency response from traditional synchronous generators and motors with large inertia. Furthermore, a GESS based on a highinertia motor may be able to operate over a broader range of frequency variations, whereas a low-inertia system may be limited by thermal constraints of the motor.

ENERGY STORAGE,POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Building Large-Scale U.S. Synthetic Electric Distribution System Models

Rapid increases in distributed energy resources on distribution systems are prompting research efforts to improve and evaluate electric power distribution algorithms; however, there is a shortage of realistic, large-scale, U.S.-style test systems for the evaluation of such advanced algorithms. Some available tools to build large-scale test systems are of European style, and their application to studies focused on the United States might not be desirable given very different characteristics between the European and U.S. distribution designs. Motivated by this need, this paper develops detailed algorithms to build large-scale U.S. distribution systems and incorporates them in a new Reference Network Model, RNM-US. The approach starts with information from street maps and a catalog with electric equipment that includes power lines, transformers, voltage regulators, capacitors, and switching devices. The paper presents the algorithms through an illustrative case study of the different steps that comprise the process of building a synthetic distribution grid. Finally, the paper presents a medium- and a large-scale data set covering 10 million electrical nodes and 120,000 km of power lines, demonstrating the applicability of the proposed method to build very large-scale synthetic distribution systems.

27 ARPA - Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy↗
DOE OSTI2021

Parametric Comparative Analysis between Virtual Synchronous Generator and Droop-based Inertia for Inverter-Based Microgrids

This paper presents a parametric comparative analysis between the virtual synchronous generator (VSG) method and the droop control method to emulate inertia in the voltage-source inverter (VSI). Droop controllers are commonly used to regulate sharing power in microgrids and distribute power generation proportionally among VSI’s depending on their rated power. Additionally, VSG has been used to regulate the Rate-of-Change-of-Frequency (RoCoF) of the microgrid using virtual inertia. Although both methods can be used to regulate the frequency variation, the influence of each method on the closed loop eigenvalues is not the same. In this work, the transient response of the frequency is analyzed for each method to determine their advantages and disadvantages regarding frequency regulation in microgrid applications. The results were verified by conducting experimental trials using VSI’s. These experiments demonstrated that VSG is more suitable for regulating RoCoF and frequency nadir than droop controllers since it provides inertial support and improves frequency response.

Campo-Ossa, Daniel D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Faster-than-real-time Simulation with Demonstration for Resilient DER Integration

The US electric grid is facing operational, stability, and security challenges. Transmission system operators need some measure of visibility into distribution system renewable generation. Distribution system generation needs to support transmission system voltage. The grid is experiencing an expansion in measurement systems. How to take full advantage of this expansion and defend against attacks, both cyber and physical, poses additional challenges. The Faster-than-real-time Simulation with demonstration for Resilient DER Integration project set out to do the following: a. Flatten the voltage profile through the feeders and system for cost saving and voltage stabilization needs. b. Increase the amount of intermittent distributed energy resources (IDERs) that could be deployed on a utility feeder and provide 100% or more energy needed for the demands on that feeder, and c. based on an accurate model (Digital Twin) of the utilities system, be able to detect any abnormalities on the utilities distribution system. To manage the voltage and increase IDER penetration (a,b), Graph Trace Analysis is employed in a time-series, optimal power flow to coordinate the time-varying feedback control setpoints of a distribution feeder’s utility control devices. Under the coordinated control are a Load Tap Changing Transformer, a voltage regulator, and five switched capacitor banks. The feeder serves over 2000 customers, the feeder secondaries are modeled, and the feeder has 2.3 MW of PV generation, corresponding to a 17.4% penetration of PV generation. The feeder model has over 12,000 components, where every customer load bus and PV generator are modeled. The accuracy of the power flow solution is compared against historical meter voltage measurements, the improvement in conservation voltage reduction energy savings as a function of the coordinated control desired voltage profile is investigated, and the increase in PV penetration of the coordinated control over the existing control is presented. To achieve improved control performance while observing system operation constraints, bellwether Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) voltage measurements are used to adjust the desired voltage profile used by the optimal power flow analysis. To detect and alleviate or negate attacks or failures on the distribution and transmission utility grids (c) the grid needs to be resilient and self-healing. In this project software was designed to do just that. At the center of the software is an Integrated System Model (ISM) that spans from transmission to secondary distribution. The ISM is employed in real-time abnormality detection, voltage stability forecasting, and multi-mode control. Testing results are presented for: 1—attacks on utility infrastructure; 2—energy savings from optimal control; 3—distribution system control response during a low voltage transmission system event; 4—cyber-attacks on PV inverters, where physical inverters are used in hard-ware-in-the-simulation-loop studies. Contributions of this work include real-time analysis that spans from three-phase transmission through secondary distribution; an approach for detecting abnormalities that employs measurements from three independent measurement systems; and a multi-mode distribution system control that responds to cyber-attacks, physical attacks, equipment failures, and transmission system needs.

Integrated System Model, Graph Trace Analysis, Adv↗
DOE OSTI2020

Distributed Cooperative Control of Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid

This paper presents a distributed cooperative control-based power management algorithm for a hybrid AC/DC microgrid. The proposed algorithm for a hybrid microgrid system controls the power flow through the interface converter between the AC and DC microgrids. This algorithm allows power sharing between the distributed generators in the microgrid according to their power ratings. Moreover, it enables the fixed scheduled power delivery through the interface converters in both directions at different operating conditions while maintaining voltage regulation and improving the frequency profile. The effectiveness of the controller is confirmed by simulation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Multi-Site Networked Hardware-in-Loop Platform for Evaluation of Interoperability and Distributed Intelligence at Grid-Edge

Electric power systems have experienced large increases in the number of intelligent, connected and controllable devices being deployed, leading to a high degree of distributed intelligence at the grid-edge. These devices, both utility-owned and consumer-owned, include but are not limited to: renewable generation sources, energy storage, remote switches, voltage regulators, and smart controllable loads such as electric vehicles. These new devices provide significant potential for increased operational flexibility that can be leveraged to achieve system reconfiguration, resiliency improvements, power quality improvements, and distribution system automation. However, there are two significant challenges that must be addressed before these assets can be leveraged for operations: interoperability and system level validation prior to deployment. Because of the complexity of distributed control systems, and their interactions with legacy centralized controls, a purely simulations-based approach for pre-deployment validation is not sufficient. It requires hardware-in-loop testing to emulate the operational hardware devices and evaluate their performance. Additionally, securely integrating multiple test facilities at utility operators and vendors might enable rapid scale-up of evaluation platforms, and remove the need for multiple expensive standalone installations. Presented in this paper, is the development of a multi-site evaluation platform that employs Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), distributed control devices, real-time hardware-in-loop assets, secure communication links, and protocol adapters. This platform uses standards-based approaches and open-source tools, and hence can serve as a template for other researchers and institutions to implement their multi-site evaluation frameworks for pre-deployment testing.

Essakiappan, Somasundaram↗
DOE OSTI2021

Visual Tool for Assessing Stability of DER Configurations on Three-Phase Radial Networks

Here, we present a method and tool for evaluating the placement of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) on distribution circuits in order to control voltages and power flows. Our previous work described Phasor-Based Control (PBC), a novel control framework where DERs inject real and reactive power to track voltage magnitude and phase angle targets. Here, we employ linearized power flow equations and integral controllers to develop a linear state space model for PBC acting on a three-phase unbalanced network. We use this model to evaluate whether a given inverter-based DER configuration admits a stable set of controller gains, which cannot be done by analyzing controllability nor by using the Lyapunov equation. Instead, we sample over a parameter space to identify a stable set of controller gains. Our stability analysis requires only a line impedance model and does not entail simulating the system or solving an optimization problem. We incorporate this assessment into a publicly available visualization tool and demonstrate three processes for evaluating many control configurations on the IEEE 123-node test feeder (123NF).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Performance Evaluation of Distributed Energy Resource Management Algorithm in Large Distribution Networks

This paper presents performance evaluation of hierarchical optimization and control for distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) in large distribution networks via an advanced hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform. The HIL platform provides realistic testing in a laboratory envi-ronment, including the accurate modeling of a full-scale dis-tribution system of 11,000 nodes, the DERMS software con-troller, and 90 power hardware photovoltaics (PVs) and bat-tery inverters. The applied DERMS algorithm is designed based on a real-time optimal power flow algorithm and im-plemented with acceleration design that performs fast dis-patch of simulated PVs and real physical hardware DER devices every 4 seconds.

distributed energy management system (DERMS)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Data-Driven Load Diversity and Variability Modeling for Quasi-Static Time-Series Simulation on Distribution Feeders

This paper presents a data-driven load modeling methodology for distribution system quasi-static time-series (QSTS) simulation considering both diversity and variability characteristics of distribution loads. Based on our previous work in [1]-[2], a variability library and diversity library have been established based on the realistic high-resolution data collected from actual utility feeders. Given the load profile for the start-of-circuit load of a feeder, the loads on the feeder nodes can be modeled with both diversity and variability instead of being directly scaled from the substation load profile according to the distribution allocation factors. With diversified load models, the load-induced impact on the feeder operation characteristics, such as voltage ramp and regulator operations, can be better considered in QSTS simulation. The proposed modeling methodology has been tested on both the IEEE 123-bus feeder and an actual utility feeder model, and the simulation results have demonstrated the merits of deploying the proposed load modeling methodology.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dynamic hosting capacity analysis for distributed photovoltaic resources—Framework and case study

Distributed photovoltaic systems can cause adverse distribution system impacts, including voltage violations at customer locations and thermal overload of lines, transformers, and other equipment resulting from high current. The installed capacity at which violations first occur and above which would require system upgrades is called the hosting capacity. Current static methods for determining hosting capacity tend to either consider infrequent worst-case snapshots in time and/or capture coarse time and spatial resolution. Because the duration of violations cannot be captured with these traditional methods, the metric thresholds used in these studies conservatively use the strictest constraints given in operating standards, even though both worse voltage performance and higher overloads may be temporarily acceptable. However, assessing the full details requires accurately capturing time-dependence, voltage-regulating equipment operations, and performance of advanced controls-based mitigation techniques. In this paper, we propose a dynamic distributed photovoltaic hosting capacity methodology to address these issues by conducting power flow analysis for a full year. A key contribution is the formulation of time aware metrics to take these annual results and identify the hosting capacity. Through a case study, we show that this approach can more fully capture grid impacts of distributed photovoltaic than traditional methods and the dynamic hosting capacity was 60%–200% higher than the static hosting capacity in this case study.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Comparison of Probabilistic Forecasts for Predictive Voltage Control

This paper explores predictive cooperative voltage control in distribution systems with highly variable sources such as photovoltaics (PV). The goal is to maintain the voltage profile within the limits despite the fluctuations due to sudden changes in solar power generation. The predictive voltage control method relies on probabilistic solar power and load forecasts to select the optimum Voltage Regulator (VR) taps appropriately. VR taps are selected to minimize the risk of voltage violation. A modified version of the IEEE 123 system is used as the case study. A 100% penetration of solar power is assumed for the distribution system with profiles for solar generation and loads added to the system. Three different probabilistic forecast models (Quantile Regression (QR), Gaussian distribution and volatility forecasting using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH)) are explored in this study. The results for the VR taps and Voltage Deviation Index (VDI) are compared to find the most effective forecast model.

Panamtash, Hossein↗
DOE OSTI2021

TPCPF: Three-Phase Continuation Power Flow Tool for Voltage Stability Assessment of Distribution Networks With Distributed Energy Resources

This article presents a three-phase unbalanced continuation power flow algorithm for voltage stability assessment of distribution systems with high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs). Analyzing distribution system voltage stability with DER will allow high penetration of renewable energy necessary for the sustainability goals. The developed algorithm can analyze voltage stability for both the meshed and radial systems and the balanced and unbalanced three-phase distribution systems. The developed tool allows the voltage stability analysis to facilitate the planning, operation, control, and distribution system management. The impact of DER on the voltage stability of several test cases has been analyzed considering constant power (P Q) and regulated-voltage (P V ) modes of operation for DER units. Moreover, different voltage stability case studies are presented to demonstrate the impact of unbalance, load increment, and network topology on the maximum loading capacity. Finally, results using the IEEE 13-node feeder, the 18-bus balanced shipboard system, the 13-node CIGRE benchmark system, and the 136-bus redial distribution feeder demonstrate that the developed continuation power flow tool can efficiently perform voltage stability analysis for active distribution systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Using distributed power electronics-based devices to improve the voltage and frequency stability of distribution systems

Methods include, in response to a line frequency variation of a power grid, adjusting a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator coupled to the power grid at a grid edge to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the adjusting the regulated voltage setpoint is configured to reduce the line frequency variation to stabilize the line frequency of the power grid. Apparatus include a voltage regulator configured to couple to a power grid at a grid edge and to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the voltage regulator is further configured to adjust a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator in response to a line frequency variation of the power grid to reduce the line frequency variation and stabilize the line frequency of the power grid.

Du, Wei↗