Open Access
Control strategy for a droop-controlled grid-connected DFIG wind turbine
(IEEE, 2022) Oraa Iribarren, Iker; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
The application of droop control techniques without inner current control loops to doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines does not allow to provide a stable response at all operating points in terms of rotational speed and active and reactive power. After modeling the system dynamics and analyzing the causes of instability, this paper proposes a control strategy that allows to stabilize the system response at all possible operating points. Simulation results performed in MATLAB/Simulink validate the proposed control strategy proving its effectiveness.
Open Access
Robust active damping strategy for DFIG wind turbines
(IEEE, 2021) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) with an LCL filter are widely used for wind power generation. In these energy conversion systems, there is an interaction between the grid-side converter (GSC) and the rotor-side converter (RSC) control loops, the generator and the LCL filter that must be properly modeled. Such interaction between the GSC and the RSC proves to have a significant influence on the stability. Several active damping (AD) methods for grid-connected converters with an LCL filter have been proposed, nevertheless, the application of these techniques to a DFIG wind turbine is not straightforward, as revealed in this article. To achieve a robust damping irrespective of the grid inductance, this article proposes an AD strategy based on the capacitor current feedback and the adjustment of the control delays to emulate a virtual impedance, in parallel with the filter capacitor, with a dominant resistive component in the range of possible resonance frequencies. This work also proves that, by applying the AD strategy in both converters simultaneously, the damping of the system resonant poles is maximized when a specific value of the grid inductance is considered. Experimental results show the interaction between the GSC and the RSC and validate the proposed AD strategy. © 1986-2012 IEEE.
Open Access
On the testing, characterization, and evaluation of PV inverters and dynamic MPPT performance under real varying operating conditions
(Wiley, 2007) Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; López Taberna, Jesús; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Marroyo Palomo, Luis; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
The increasing number of photovoltaic inverters that are coming on to the PV marketstresses the need to carry out a dynamic characterization of these elements and theirmaximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms under real operating conditions.In order to make these conditions repeatable at the laboratory, PV array simulatorsare used. However, actual simulators, including the commercial simulators, recreateonly a single or small set of PV array characteristic curves in which quite commonlytheoretical calculations are included in order to simulate irradiance and temperatureartificial variations. This is far from being a recreation of the real and long dynamicbehavior of a PVarray or generator. The testing and evaluation of the performance ofPV inverters and MPPT algorithms has to be carried out when the PV system movesdynamically according to real operating conditions, including processes such asrapidly changing atmospheric conditions, partial shadows, dawn, and nightfall. Thispaper tries to contribute to the analysis of this problem by means of an electronicsystem that both measures the real evolution of the characteristic curves of PVarraysat outdoor operation and then recreates them at the laboratory to test PV inverters.This way the equipment can highlight the different performances of PV inverters andMPPT techniques when they operate under real operating conditions. As an example,two commercial inverters are tested and analyzed under the recreated behavior of aPV generator during 2 singular days that include processes of partial shading and fastirradiance variations.
Open Access
Dual-stage control strategy for a three-level neutral point clamped converter with selective harmonic mitigation PWM
(IEEE, 2023-11-01) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Norambuena, Margarita; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Lezana, Pablo; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Grid-connected converters must meet the requirements imposed by grid codes, such as harmonic emission limits and grid voltage support during voltage dips. Selective harmonic mitigation pulsewidth modulation (SHMPWM) is a very interesting technique for high power converters to meet the maximum harmonic emission levels, while keeping a low switching frequency. However, the combination of this modulation with a proportional integral (PI) controller requires slow dynamics, which makes it difficult to comply with the dynamic response requirements of grid codes. As an alternative, model predictive control (MPC) offers a very fast dynamic response, but a wide spread harmonic spectrum in steady state. Thus, the combination of MPC with a PI controller with SHMPWM is advantageous. In this work, a dual-stage control strategy is implemented. During transients, finite control set MPC (FCS-MPC) is activated to rapidly drive the current to the desired reference, while in steady state, the PI controller with SHMPWM is used. Therefore, the dual-stage control strategy allows to comply with the two requirements of grid codes, becoming a suitable strategy for grid-connected converters.
Open Access
Modeling a grid-forming DFIG wind turbine
(IEEE, 2023-08-31) Oraa Iribarren, Iker; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This paper presents a small-signal state-space model that allows analyzing the dynamics of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines in which grid-forming control strategies are implemented. Specifically, in this paper, a droop-controlled DFIG wind turbine is modeled. The system is modeled in the dq-axis, synchronized with the grid voltage, which simplifies the modeling by not having to linearize the terms dependent on the rotational speed of the dq-axis. Independent models for each element of the system are obtained, which are then combined to model the complete system under study. This modeling methodology provides great flexibility, allowing for easy inclusion of the LC harmonic filter, and enabling future incorporation of the grid-side converter to analyze its interaction with the rotor-side converter. The developed model is validated through simulation, demonstrating that it accurately reproduces the dynamic response of the system under study.
Open Access
Deadbeat voltage control for a grid-forming power converter with LCL filter
(IEEE, 2023) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Pérez, Marcelo A.; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Grid-forming power converters are controlled as voltage sources to regulate the grid voltage and frequency. These converters can increase power system strength if they impose a voltage waveform resilient to grid transients. For this reason, in this paper, we propose a deadbeat control strategy of the capacitor voltage for high power converters with LCL filter. To damp the LCL resonant poles, an active damping strategy is developed, based on a modification of the deadbeat control law. With this purpose, a notch filter is applied to the electrical variables allowing to emulate different damping resistances for the fundamental component and the harmonics. As a result, the active damping does not introduce tracking errors of the fundamental frequency component, while it provides damping to the filter resonance. The proposed strategy does not require knowledge of the grid impedance, an interesting feature in grid-connected power converters because the grid impedance is generally unknown. Experimental results validate the proposed strategy.
Open Access
The promising combination of thermoelectric generators with IoT technologies for autonomous monitoring systems
(2019) Garacochea Sáenz, Amaia; Catalán Ros, Leyre; Casi Satrústegui, Álvaro; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Astrain Ulibarrena, David; Ingeniaritza; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Monitoring stations becomes essential in any volcanic system in the world but, because of their remote location, both the electricity supply and the communications represent a technological challenge. The present work studies the feasibility of an autonomous volcanic monitoring system powered by thermoelectric generators for one of the monitoring stations of the Teide National Park (Canary Island), where temperatures of 80°C at few centimeters from the surface are found. The stable generation and robustness of thermoelectricity in combination with a new communication system based on LoRa (a low power wireless technology) make this solution a good alternative.
Open Access
On the limits of the capacitor-voltage active damping for grid-connected power converters with LCL filter
(IEEE, 2018) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Active damping strategies are widely extended to avoid stability issues at the LCL filter resonant poles in grid-connected voltage source converters. The capacitor voltage derivative active damping effectively damps the filter resonant poles without additional sensors, but it loses its effectiveness as the resonance frequency approaches the converter control Nyquist frequency, influenced by the existing delays in the control loop. To reduce this limitation, the delays can be reduced by performing a multisampled derivative, however, even though the stability limits might be extended, the oversampled approach might increase noise amplification problems. An appropriate filtering solution is required in the feedback path in order to reduce noise amplification and eliminate aliasing problems, without compromising the stability, as a result of a modification in the active damping feedback path. This work examines the limits of applicability of the capacitor voltage derivative strategy taking into account the filters used in the AD path, providing experimental results to validate the presented approach.
Open Access
Multisampled-capacitor-voltage active damping for parallel interleaved grid connected voltage source converters with LCL filter
(IEEE, 2017) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Parallel interleaved converters for high power renewable energy systems present stability issues at the LCL resonance frequency. A multisampled measurement and filtering strategy is proposed to stabilize the system based on the capacitor voltage derivative active damping, overcoming its limitations for low switching power converters. The effects of the delays on the stability of the active damping strategy would be analysed. The solution developed is robust against grid inductance variations, ensuring the fulfilment of the stringent harmonic grid codes.
Open Access
Influence of the power supply on the energy efficiency of an alkaline water electrolyser
(Elsevier, 2009) Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Marroyo Palomo, Luis; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Diéguez Elizondo, Pedro; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza; Química Aplicada; Kimika Aplikatua; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Electric energy consumption represents the greatest part of the cost of the hydrogen produced by water electrolysis. An effort is being carried out to reduce this electric consumption and improve the global efficiency of commercial electrolysers. Whereas relevant progresses are being achieved in cell stack configurations and electrodes performance, there are practically no studies on the effect of the electric power supply topology on the electrolyser energy efficiency. This paper presents an analysis on the energy consumption and efficiency of a 1 N m3 h1 commercial alkaline water electrolyser and their dependence on the power supply topology. The different topologies of power supplies are first summarised, analysed and classified into two groups: thyristor-based (ThPS) and transistor-based power supplies (TrPS). An Electrolyser Power Supply Emulator (EPSE) is then designed, developed and satisfactorily validated by means of simulation and experimental tests. With the EPSE, the electrolyser is characterised both obtaining its I–V curves for different temperatures and measuring the useful hydrogen production. The electrolyser is then supplied by means of two different emulated electric profiles that are characteristic of typical ThPS and TrPS. Results show that the cell stack energy consumption is up to 495 W h N m3 lower when it is supplied by the TrPS, which means 10% greater in terms of efficiency.