Abstract:
Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a distribution system are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an alternating current (AC) distribution system including a first substation including a first transformer and a protective device; a first distribution network portion coupled to the first transformer; a second substation; a second distribution network portion; a DC interconnection system coupled between the first distribution network portion and the second distribution network portion; and a control system. The control system is structured to detect a fault in the first transformer or the transmission network, isolate the first distribution network from the fault, determine a set point of the DC interconnection system, and operate the DC interconnection system using the set point so as to transfer a portion of the MV AC from the second distribution network portion to the first distribution network portion.
Abstract:
A DC connection system for renewable power generators includes a first monopole DC collection network (112), a second monopole DC collection network (114) and a first bipole transmission system (116). The first monopole DC collection network (112) aggregates positive-valued DC voltage outputs of a first cluster of renewable power generators (100) onto a positive terminal (Udc+) of the first monopole DC collection network (112). The second monopole DC collection network (114) aggregates negative-valued DC voltage outputs of a second cluster of renewable power generators (102) onto a negative terminal (Udc-) of the second monopole DC collection network (114). The first bipole transmission system (116) is coupled to the positive and negative terminals (Udc+, Udc-) of the monopole DC collection networks (112, 114), for transferring the aggregated power to a power grid substation (104).
Abstract:
An energy generation system includes a turbine (102), an electric generator (100), a step-up transformer (106), and a converter (104). The turbine (102) is operable to extract energy from a fluid flow and convert the extracted energy into mechanical energy. The electric generator (100) is operable to convert the mechanical energy from the turbine (102) into AC electrical energy. The step-up transformer (106) is operable to transfer the AC electrical energy at a lower voltage from the electric generator (100) to a higher voltage. The converter (104) is operable to convert the AC electrical energy at the higher voltage to DC electrical energy. The converter (104) includes a converter leg (110) for a phase of the AC electrical energy. The converter leg (110) has an upper arm with a first plurality of sub-modules (112) and a lower arm with a second plurality of sub-modules (114). Each sub-module (112, 114) is operable to function as a controlled voltage source.
Abstract:
It is presented an apparatus for reducing reactive power consumption of auxiliaries in an electrical power generation plant. The apparatus comprises: at least one adjustable speed drive with an associated motor; at least one reactive power consuming auxiliary device; at least one sensor for measuring a reactive power; and a controller. The controller is connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one adjustable speed drive, for controlling the at least one adjustable speed drive such that a reactive power of the at least one adjustable speed drive at least partly compensates a reactive power consumed by the at least one reactive power consuming auxiliary device. A corresponding method and computer program product are also presented.
Abstract:
A protection device (100/300) includes a diode (102) having its forward direction in a normal power flow of a region of a DC collection system, a first switch (104) in parallel with the diode (102), a second switch (106) in series with the diode (102) and a control unit (108) for controlling the switches (104, 106). The first switch (104) can be opened so that current can flow through the diode (102) in the forward direction without the first switch (104) bypassing the diode (102), and closed if no current is flowing through the diode (102) in the forward direction and power is needed upstream of the diode (102). The second switch (106) can be closed so that current can flow through the diode (102) in the forward direction to an AC grid interface of the DC collection system, and opened if no current is flowing through the diode (102) in the forward direction due to a fault in a DC feeder ('Feeder 1', 'Feeder 2') to which the protection device (100/300) is coupled.
Abstract:
Connection schemes for offshore power generation with an internal collection grid include a power generation system (22) which includes a plurality of generator-rectifier subsystems (23). The scheme further includes a medium voltage DC (MVDC) collection network with positive pole cables (42) and negative pole cables (44) connected to the DC outputs of the generator-rectifier subsystems (23). At least one offshore substation (50) includes a positive bus bar (54) and a negative bus bar (56) correspondingly connected to the positive pole cables (42) and negative pole cables (44) of the MVDC collection network and a plurality of main DC-DC converters (58). Each main DC-DC converter (58) includes modules connected to the MVDC bus bars (54, 56) and each module has a positive and a negative output with the modules' outputs serially connected to one another. The schemes may also include a high voltage DC transmission system connected to the modules' outputs and at least one DC/AC converter at a substation.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to medium voltage alternating current (MV AC) distribution networks. Isolating a fault in a feeder line of an MV AC distribution network may cause a healthy portion of a feeder line to be disconnected from all power sources. Network control systems may be able to reconnect the healthy portion to another feeder line using controllable switches such as tie switching devices coupled to the end of each feeder line. Existing MV AC distribution networks suffer from a number of shortcomings and disadvantages. There remain unmet needs including increasing reconfigurability following feeder line fault response, preventing subsequent overloads after network reconfigurations, and reducing network downtime for healthy feeder line portions. For instance, conventional distribution networks do not receive power from multiple connected feeder lines after a fault response, risking an overload in a single newly connected feeder line and reducing power transfer ability. In view of these and other shortcomings in the art, there is a significant need for the unique apparatuses, methods, systems and techniques disclosed herein.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to power collection systems. In some power collection systems, such as a power collection system for a large solar panel array, the voltage of the collected power must be increased to medium voltage levels to allow for efficient power transmission from the solar panel array to the utility grid. In some power collection systems, medium voltage direct current (MVDC) power transmission is more efficient to collect power compared to medium voltage alternating current power transmission. Existing power collection systems suffer from a number of shortcomings and disadvantages. There remain unmet needs including decreased protection system response time, decreased system downtime, and increased system flexibility. For instance, circuit breaker and relay based protection schemes may not adequately protect collection system components in MVDC collection systems where fault currents increase rapidly. Furthermore, in some power collection systems, a single fault may shut down an entire power collection system until it can be repaired by a technician. There is a significant need for the unique apparatuses, methods, systems and techniques disclosed herein.
Abstract:
While transient current magnitudes at different locations within a DC distribution system themselves are not a reliable indicator of fault location, it is recognized herein that accumulating energy or pseudo energy values provides a reliable basis for tripping the protection element at a fault location. Thus, in one aspect of the teachings herein, pseudo energy values are accumulated independently during a fault condition, for each of one or more protected branch circuits and the protection element for each such branch circuit is tripped responsive to the accumulated pseudo energy values reaching a defined pseudo energy threshold. The pseudo energy thresholds are defined so that the protection element in the branch circuit where the fault is located will trip first.
Abstract:
A system (100) for producing electrical power based on wind energy is disclosed, which system (100) is capable of predicting its power output. The system (100) comprises a set of wind turbine units (105), a first plurality of sensors (120) each of which is adapted to sense at least one wind characteristic at some of the wind turbine units (105), and a second plurality of sensors (130) remotely located with respect to the wind turbine units (105) and each of which sensors (130) is adapted to sense at least one wind characteristic. At least one wind characteristic is estimated at the wind turbines (105) not having one of the first plurality of sensors (120) based on sensing by the first plurality of sensors (120) and an estimate of changes in wind characteristic at wind turbine units (105) caused by presence of other wind turbine units (105). The magnitude of electrical power production by the set of wind turbine units (105) at least one predefined point in time in the future is predicted based on the estimated wind characteristics and sensed wind characteristics.