• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

A higher penetration of renewable energy sources and adoption of renewable portfolio standard(RPS), the penetration of distributed generators(DGs) into power distribution network is becoming a threat for the safe operation of distribution network. The ground fault current of DGs can cause parasitic trip and mal-trip of protective device in the power distribution network. KEPRI has developed a simulation program for current setting of protective devices in DGs connected distribution network. In this study, we analyzed fault currents of a sample network in two cases, i.e. case 1 is for no DG connection, case 2 for a DG connection. We performed protection coordination for relays installed in the network and analyzed the contribution of a DG.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.234-243
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• 2019

Studying the control strategy of a microgrid under the load unbalanced state helps to improve the stability of the system. The magnitude of the power fluctuation, which occurs between the power supply and the load, is generated in a microgrid under the load unbalanced state is called negative sequence reactive power $Q^-$. Traditional power distribution methods such as P-f, Q-E droop control can only distribute power with positive sequence current information. However, they have no effect on $Q^-$ with negative sequence current information. In this paper, a stationary-frame control method for power sharing and voltage unbalance compensation in islanded microgrids is proposed. This method is based on the proper output impedance control of distributed generation unit (DG unit) interface converters. The control system of a DG unit mainly consists of an active-power-frequency and reactive-power-voltage droop controller, an output impedance controller, and voltage and current controllers. The proposed method allows for the sharing of imbalance current among the DG unit and it can compensate voltage unbalance at the same time. The design approach of the control system is discussed in detail. Simulation and experimental results are presented. These results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in the compensation of voltage unbalance and the power distribution.

• KIEE International Transactions on Power Engineering
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• v.5A no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2005

This research investigates the influences of distributed generations (DG), which are interconnected to the bus by the dedicated lines, on the overcurrent relays (OCR) of the neighboring distribution feeders and also proposes a novel method to reduce the negative effects on the feeder protection. Due to the grid connected DG, the entire short-circuit capacity of the distribution networks increases, which may raise the current of the distribution feeder during normal operations as well as fault conditions. In particular, during the switching period for loop operation, the current level of the distribution feeder can be larger than the pickup value for the fault of the feeder's OCR, thereby causing the OCR to perform a mal-operation. This paper proposes the adaptive setting algorithm for the OCR of the distribution feeders having the neighboring dedicated feeders for the DG to prevent the mal-operations of the OCR under normal conditions. The proposed method changes the pickup value of the OCR by adapting the power output of the DG monitored at the relaying point in the distribution network. We tested the proposed method with the actual distribution network model of the Hoenggye substation at the Korea Electric Power Co., which is composed of five feeders supplying the power to network loads and two dedicated feeders for the wind turbine generators. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive protection method could enhance the conventional OCR of the distribution feeders with the neighboring dedicated lines for the DG.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.382-388
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• 2009

Recently, hydrogen energy has been anticipated to change the paradigm of conventional power systems because it can expand sustainable energy utilization and conceptually provide remarkable flexibility to power system operation. Since hydrogen energy can be converted to electric energy through fuel cells, fuel cells are expected to play an important role in the future hydrogen economy. In this paper, a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is modeled as an equivalent circuit and its steady-state characteristics investigated using the model. PEMFCs can be connected to power systems through power conditioning systems, which consist of power electronic circuits, and which are operated as distributed generators. This paper analyzes the effects of the characteristics of the PEMFC internal voltages and investigated the dynamic responses of the PEMFC under fault conditions. The results show that the fault current contribution of the PEMFC is different from those of conventional generators and is closely related to its operating point.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1650-1657
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• 2017

In this study, the distributed secondary voltage control of islanded microgrids with multi-agent consensus algorithm is investigated. As an alternative to a time-triggered approach, an event-triggered scheme is proposed to reduce the communication load among inverter-based distributed generators (DGs). The proposed aperiodic control scheme reduced unnecessary utilization of limited network bandwidth without degrading control performance. By properly establishing a distributed triggering condition in DG local controller, each inverter is only required to send voltage information when its own event occurs. The compensation of voltage amplitude deviation can be realized, and redundant data exchange related to fixed high sampling rate can be avoided. Therefore, an efficient use of communication infrastructure can be realized, particularly when the system is operating in steady state. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by simulations on a microgrid test system.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.2149-2154
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• 2009

Electric power quality in power transmission/distribution systems has considerably been deteriorated with the increase in the capacity of distributed generators (DGs). It is because inverters, connecting DGs to conventional power grids, tend to generate harmonic current and voltage. For harmonic mitigation, a large amount of research has been done on passive and active filters, which have been operating successfully in many countries. This paper, therefore, presents how to adopt the filters to an inverter-based DG, with considering a system consisting of both inverter-based DG and harmonic filters. In particular, this paper describes the simulation results using the PSCAD/EMTDC: firstly, the relationship between total harmonic distortion(THD) of current and output power of DG: secondly, the harmonic mitigation ability of passive and active filters. The system, furthermore, is obliged to satisfy the regulations made by Korean Electric Power Corporation(KEPCO). In the regulations, power factor should be maintained between 0.9 and 1 in a grid-connected mode. Thus, this paper suggests two methods for the system to control its power factor. First, the inverter of DG should control power factor rather than an active filter because it brings dramatic decrease in the capacity of the active filter. Second, DG should absorb reactive power only in the range of low output power in order to prevent useless capacity increase of the inverter. This method is expected to result in the variable power factor of the system according to its output power.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1513-1522
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• 2018

This paper proposes a new islanding detection method for inverter-based distributed generators by continuously injecting a negligible amount of 2nd order harmonic current. The proposed method adopts a proportional resonant (PR) controller for the output current control of the inverter, and a PR filter to extract the 2nd order harmonic voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC). The islanding state can be detected by measuring the magnitude ratio of the 2nd order harmonic voltage to the fundamental voltage at the PCC by injecting a 2nd order harmonic current with a 0.8% magnitude. The proposed method provides accurate and fast detection under grid voltage unbalance and load unbalance. The operation of the proposed method has been verified through simulations and experiments with a 5kW hardware set-up, considering the islanding test circuit suggested in UL1741.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.57-66
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• 2009

Microturbines system (MTS) are currently being deployed as small scale on-site distributed generators for microgrids and smart grids. In order to fully exploit DG potentialities, advanced integrated controls that include power electronics facilities, communication technologies and advanced modeling are required. Significant expectations are posed on gas microturbines that can be easily installed in large commercial and public buildings. Modeling, control, simulation of microturbine generator based distributed generation system in smart grid application of buildings for both grid-connected and islanding conditions are presented. It also incorporates modeling and simulation of MT with a speed control system of the MT-permanent magnet synchronous generator to keep the speed constant with load variation. Model and simulations are performed using MATLAB, Simulink and SimPowerSystem software package. The model is built from the dynamics of each part with their interconnections. This simplified model is a useful tool for studying the various operational aspects of MT and is also applicable with building cooling, heating and power (BCHP) systems

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.1805-1811
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• 2017

Recently, DC systems are considered as efficient electric power systems for renewable energy based clean power generators. This discloses several critical issues that are required to be considered before the installation of the DC systems. First of all, voltage/current switching stress, which is aggravated by large fault current, might damage DC circuit breakers. This problem can be simply solved by applying a superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) as proposed in this study. It allows a simple use of insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) as a DC circuit breaker. To evaluate the proposed resistive type SFCL application to the DC circuit breaker, a DC distribution system is composed of the practical line impedances from the real distribution system in Do-gok area, Korea. Also, to reflect the distributed generation (DG) effects, several DC-to-DC converters are applied. The locations and sizes of the DGs are optimally selected according to the results of previous studies on DG optimization. The performance of the resistive type SFCL applied DC circuit breaker is verified by a time-domain simulation based case study using the power systems computer aided design/electromagnetic transients including DC (PSCAD/ EMTDC(R)).

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2221-2230
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• 2016

Voltage and frequency stability issues occur in existing centralized power system due to the high penetration of renewable energy sources, which decrease grid absorptive capacity of them. The grid-connected inverter that mimics synchronous generator characteristics with inertia characteristic is beneficial to electric power system stability. This paper proposed a novel three-phase four-wire grid-connected inverter with an independent neutral line module that mimics synchronous generators. A mathematical model of the synchronous generator and operation principles of the synchronverter are introduced. The main circuit and control parameters design procedures are also provided in detail. A 10 kW prototype is built and tested for further verification. The primary frequency modulation and primary voltage regulation characteristics of the synchronous generator are emulated and automatically adjusted by the proposed circuit, which helps to supports the grid.