Xichen Jiang with adviser A. Domínguez-García The current power system is undergoing radical changes to meet new Smart Grid standards. These standards involve integrating new technology, which increases system complexity and adds uncertainty. Reliability is a pivotal issue. One tool receiving considerable attention is synchronized PMUs, which are synchronized through Navstar GPS signals and provide […]
A Global Maximum Power Point Tracking Method for PV Module-Integrated Converters
Sairaj Dhople with adviser A. Domínguez-García This work proposes a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method to seek the global MPP in PV modules. The method infers partial shading—and hence the possibility of multiple maxima—by monitoring bypass-diode voltages and initiating a global search routine only if a bypass diode turns on. Under nominal conditions, conventional […]
Performance and Efficiency Enhancement of Induction Machine Drives: Duality-Based Control of VSI and CSI
Srikanthan Sridharan with Adviser P.T. Krein Our research goal is to enhance performance and efficiency of motor drives over a wide load and speed range. High performance reported in the literature for variable frequency VSI (voltage source inverter) drives is not usually seen for CSI (current source inverter) drives, especially in the low power range. […]
A Distributed Approach to Frequency Regulation in Small-Footprint Power Systems
Stanton T. Cady with adviser A. Domínguez-García The focus of this work is to develop and implement distributed algorithms that can be utilized to regulate electrical frequency in a small-footprint power system. We rely on a local controller connected to synchronous generators that are capable of performing simple computations and exchanging information wirelessly with other […]
Distributed Algorithms for Voltage Control in Distribution Networks
Brett Robbins with adviser A. Domínguez-García Driven by the US DOE Smart Grid initiative, and its European counterpart Electricity Networks of the Future, electric power distribution systems will undergo radical transformations in structure and functionality. These transformations are enabled by the integration of (i) advanced communication and control, (ii) renewable-based variable generation resources, e.g., photovoltaics, […]
Power Grid Stability Analysis based on Synchronized Phasor Measurements
Jiangmeng Zhang with adviser A. Domínguez-García This research focuses on the acquisition and utilization of phasor measurement unit (PMU) phasors in stability analysis of the power grid. First, a method to monitor system stability by processing the PMU data in the frequency domain is proposed. Next, a modified Thevenin equivalent model is presented. From this, […]
Observer Based Fault Detection Filters for Inverters and STATCOMs
Xiangyu Ding with adviser A. Domínguez-García With the ever growing use of power electronics in the power grid, the issue of their failure is becoming increasingly important. In this research, a study is presented on an observer-based piece-wise linear fault detection filter for power electronics systems health monitoring. Using a state-space modeling approach, we mathematically […]
A Set-Theoretic Framework to Assess the Impact of Variable Generation on Power Flow
Christine Chen with adviser A. Domínguez-García Previously we investigated the impact of uncertainty in renewable resources on the small-signal dynamic performance of the power system at the electricity transmission level. In the past year, we extended the application to assess the effect of renewable resource uncertainty on bus voltages at the distribution level. In the […]
Passivity-Based Synchronization of Inverters in a Microgrid
Brian Johnson with adviser P. T. Krein A highly distributed infrastructure of energy sources and storage can be used to enhance energy supply reliability. These resources will allow regional areas to separate from the larger power grid in the event of failure and form a self-sustained network called a microgrid. In this work, it is […]
Photovoltaic Differential Power Converter Trade-Offs as a Consequence of Panel Variation
Katherine A. Kim with adviser P. T. Krein Photovoltaic elements have inherent variation between cells and panels due to manufacturing tolerance, degradation, and situational differences. This variation increases over the system lifetime and creates MPP current mismatch that reduces output power when PV elements are strung in series. Traditionally, mismatch loss is addressed using cascaded […]