Ned Mohan, Amit Jain, Philip Jose

University of Minnesota

and

Raja Ayyanar
Arizona State University

Teaching Utility Applications of
Power Electronics in a First
Course on Power Systems
2
Outline
Importance of teaching power electronics in a power
systems course
Description of proposed approach consisting of four
segments
Functional aspects of power electronics
Power device capabilities and Power Electronic Structures
Role of power electronics in utility applications
Details of the power electronics structures


3
Control Center
Micro-Turbine
Hospital
Commercial
Building
Fuel Cell
Smart House
Performance
Building
Combined Heat and Power
Plant (CHP)
Factory
Commercial Building
House
Apartment Building
Wind Power Plants
Village
Commercial
Building
Central Power
Station
Solar Power Plants
CHP House
Importance
Increasing applications of Power Electronic
Equipment in Power Systems
Availability of high power
semiconductor devices
Decentralized renewable
energy generation sources
Increased power transfer
with existing transmission
system
Effective control of power
flow needed in a
deregulated environment
Norms for Power quality
Future Power System
4
Approach
Top Down approach consisting of four segments
Function of power electronics as an interface, and the listing
of utility applications requiring power electronics interface
(1 lecture)
Power device capabilities and the resulting structures of
power electronic interfaces to exploit them (1 lecture)
Importance and the role of power electronic interfaces in
various applications (2 lectures)
Discussion of power electronics interface in appropriate
detail (3 lectures)
5
Segment 1: Function of Power
Electronics in Utility Applications






Enabling technology providing interface between two
(ac/dc) electrical systems
E.g.
Interconnection of two asynchronous ac systems
dc to ac conversion is required to connect fuel cells or
photovoltaics to the utility grid
Converter
Controller
Source Load
6
Segment 1: Listing of Power Electronic
Applications
Distributed generation (DG)
Renewable resources (wind and photovoltaic)
Fuel cells and micro-turbines
Storage: batteries, super-conducting magnetic energy
storage, flywheels
Power electronics loads: Adjustable speed drives
Power quality solutions
Dual feeders
Uninterruptible power supplies
Dynamic voltage restorers
Transmission and distribution (T&D)
High voltage dc (HVDC) and medium voltage dc
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS): Shunt and Series
compensation, and the unified power flow controller
7
Segment 2: Power Device Capabilities &
Resulting Power Electronic Structures
Power Semiconductor Devices and their Capabilities
Polarity of voltage blocked and direction of current conduction
Switching speeds and power ratings
IGBT MOSFET
Thyristor IGCT
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
4
10
2
10
4
10
6
10
8
T
h
y
r
i
s
t
o
r
IGBT
MOSFET
P
o
w
e
r

(
V
A
)
Switching Frequency (Hz)
IGCT
8
Segment 2: Structure of Power
Electronic Systems
Voltage-Link Systems
Transistors and diodes that
can block voltage of only
one polarity


Current-Link Systems
higher power bipolar voltage-
blocking capabilities of thyristors

Solid State Switches
bidirectional voltage blocking
and current conduction

AC1 AC2
AC1 AC2
9
Segment 3: Role of Power Electronics in
Important Utility Applications
Distributed Generation (DG) Applications
Power electronic interface depends on the source
characteristics
(c)
AC
DC
DC
AC
Wound rotor
Induction Generator
Generator-side
Converter
Grid-side
Converter
Wind
Turbine
Isolated
DC-DC
Converter
PWM
Converter
Max. Power-
point Tracker
Utility
1f
Wind Power Generation with
Doubly Fed Induction Motors
Photo-voltaics Interface
10
Segment 3: Role of Power Electronics in
Important Utility Applications
Power Electronic Loads: Adjustable Speed Drives

(c)
Controller
Motor
Utility
Rectifier
Switch-mode
Converter
11
Segment 3: Role of Power Electronics in
Important Utility Applications
Power Quality Solutions for
voltage distortion
unbalances
voltage sags and swells
power outages








(c)
Load
Feeder 1
Feeder 2
Dual Feeders
Power Electronic
Interface
Load
Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVR)
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Rectifier Inverter Filter
Critical
Load
Energy
Storage
12
Segment 3: Role of Power Electronics in
Important Utility Applications
Transmission and Distribution: DC Transmission
most flexible solution for connection of two ac systems
AC1 AC2
HVDC
AC1 AC2
MVDC
13
Segment 3: Role of Power Electronics in
Important Utility Applications
Transmission and Distribution: Flexible AC
Transmission Systems (FACTS)
1 2
sin
E E
P
X
o =
1
E
2
E
3
E
+ -
3
E
1
E
2
E
Shunt
converter
Series
converter
I
Shunt and Series Compensation
Series Compensation
Shunt Compensation
Utility
STATCOM
jX
14
Segment 4: Discussion of Power
Electronics Interface
Fundamental concepts for understanding the
operation of the power electronic structures
voltage-link systems
current link systems
solid state switches
15
Voltage-Link Systems
Unifying approach: Power-Pole Building Block
building block of all
voltage-link systems
AC1 AC2
dA
i
A
v
A
i
d
V
control
v
1 or 0
A
q =
A s
d T
+
-
+
-
PWM
Voltage
port
Current
port
16
Voltage-Link Systems
Power conversion using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
Power reversal with reversal of current direction







Averaged conversion
dA
i
A
v
A
i
d
V
control
v
1 or 0
A
q =
A s
d T
+
-
+
-
PWM
Voltage
port
Current
port
A
v
t
d
V
A
v
A s
d T
s
T
on
A d A d
s
T
v V d V
T
= =
17
Voltage-Link Systems
Averaged Representation of Power Pole
Average quantities are of main interest








dA
i
A
v
A
i
d
V
control
v
A s
d T
+
-
+
-
PWM
1:
A
d
dA
i
A
v
A
i
d
V
control
v
1 or 0
A
q =
A s
d T
+
-
+
-
PWM
Voltag
e
port
Current
port
( ) ( )
A A d
v t d t V =
( ) ( ) ( )
dA A A
i t d t i t =
18
Voltage-Link Systems
Synthesis of AC voltages
voltage to be synthesized


duty ratio needed


dc side current













A
i
t e 0
|
v A
d
V
d
V
2
0 t e
A
v
I
( ) sin
2
d
AN
V
v t V t e = + A
1
sin
2
A
d d t e = + A
{ }
1
( ) sin ( )
2
1

sin sin( )
2
1

cos sin( ) cos(2 )
2
dA
a
i t d t i t
d t I t
I d t d t
e
e e |
| e | e |
| |
= + A
|
\ .
| |
= + A
|
\ .
= A + A
19
Voltage-Link Systems
Implementation of bi-positional switch
A
i
d
V
+
-
A
q'
A
q
1
A A
q q ' =
(d)
dA
i
A
v
A
i
d
V
1 or 0
A
q =
A s
d T
+
-
+
-
20
Current-Link Systems
Exclusively thyristor based



One of (T
1
, T
2
, T
3
) and (T
2
, T
4
, T
6
)
conduct at a time
Average dc voltage controlled
by firing angle



Power flow reversed by reversing
voltage polarity
(d)
AC1 AC2
3 2 3
cos
d LL c d
V V L I o e
t t
=
a
i
b
i
c
i
d
v
+
-
d
I
1
T
3
T
5
T
4
T
6
T
2
T
c
L
b
L
a
L
21
Solid State Switch







Can conduct current in both directions
Turn-on or off in an ac circuit in one-half of a line-frequency
cycle
(d)
22
Conclusion
Teaching utility applications of power electronics in a
power systems course is very important
A top down approach, starting with functional aspects
and going to implementation details is suggested
Topics outlined in the four segment proposed structure
will introduce students to future practices and
technologies in power engineering
The proposed structure may be adapted based on
individual preferences