Optimal Configuration of Fault Location Measurement Points in DC Distribution Networks Based on Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

The escalating deployment of distributed power sources and random loads in DC distribution networks hasamplified the potential consequences of faults if left uncontrolled. To expedite the process of achieving an optimalconfiguration of measurement points, this paper presents an optimal configuration scheme for fault locationmeasurement points in DC distribution networks based on an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm.Initially, a measurement point distribution optimization model is formulated, leveraging compressive sensing.The model aims to achieve the minimum number of measurement points while attaining the best compressivesensing reconstruction effect. It incorporates constraints from the compressive sensing algorithm and networkwide viewability. Subsequently, the traditional particle swarm algorithm is enhanced by utilizing the Haltonsequence for population initialization, generating uniformly distributed individuals. This enhancement reducesindividual search blindness and overlap probability, thereby promoting population diversity. Furthermore, anadaptive t-distribution perturbation strategy is introduced during the particle update process to enhance the globalsearch capability and search speed. The established model for the optimal configuration of measurement points issolved, and the results demonstrate the efficacy and practicality of the proposed method. The optimal configurationreduces the number of measurement points, enhances localization accuracy, and improves the convergence speedof the algorithm. These findings validate the effectiveness and utility of the proposed approach.

Operation Control Method of Relay Protection in Flexible DC Distribution Network Compatible with Distributed Power Supply

A novel operation control method for relay protection in flexible DC distribution networks with distributed power supply is proposed to address the issue of inaccurate fault location during relay protection,leading to poor performance.The method combines a fault-tolerant fault location method based on long-term and short-term memory networks to accurately locate the fault section.Then,an operation control method for relay protection based on adaptive weight and whale optimization algorithm(WOA)is used to construct an objective function considering the shortest relay protection action time and the smallest impulse current.The adaptive weight and WOA are employed to obtain the optimal strategy for relay protection operation control,reducing the action time and impulse current.Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in accurately locating faults and improving relay protection performance.The longest operation time is reduced by 4.7023 s,and the maximum impulse current is limited to 0.3 A,effectively controlling the impact of large impulse currents and enhancing control efficiency.

Stability Analysis and Control of DC Distribution System with Electric Vehicles

The DC distribution network system equipped with a large number of power electronic equipment exhibits weak damping characteristics and is prone to low-frequency and high-frequency unstable oscillations.The current interpretation of the oscillation mechanism has not been unified.Firstly,this paper established the complete statespace model of the distribution system consisting of a large number of electric vehicles,characteristic equation of the distribution network system is derived by establishing a state-space model,and simplified reduced-order equations describing the low-frequency oscillation and the high-frequency oscillation are obtained.Secondly,based on eigenvalue analysis,the oscillation modes and the influence of the key system parameters on the oscillation mode are studied.Besides,impacts of key factors,such as distribution network connection topology and number of dynamic loads,have been discussed to suppress oscillatory instability caused by inappropriate design or dynamic interactions.Finally,using the DC distribution example system,through model calculation and time-domain simulation analysis,the correctness of the aforementioned analysis is verified.

Line Fault Detection of DC Distribution Networks Using the Artificial Neural Network

ADC distribution network is an effective solution for increasing renewable energy utilization with distinct benefits,such as high efficiency and easy control.However,a sudden increase in the current after the occurrence of faults in the network may adversely affect network stability.This study proposes an artificial neural network(ANN)-based fault detection and protection method for DC distribution networks.The ANN is applied to a classifier for different faults ontheDC line.The backpropagationneuralnetwork is used to predict the line current,and the fault detection threshold is obtained on the basis of the difference between the predicted current and the actual current.The proposed method only uses local signals,with no requirement of a strict communication link.Simulation experiments are conducted for the proposed algorithm on a two-terminal DC distribution network modeled in the PSCAD/EMTDC and developed on the MATLAB platform.The results confirm that the proposed method can accurately detect and classify line faults within a few milliseconds and is not affected by fault locations,fault resistance,noise,and communication delay.

Key technologies for medium and low voltage DC distribution system

Development of the medium and low voltage DC distribution system is of great significance to a regional transmission of electric energy,increasing a penetration rate of new energy,and enhancing a safety of the operation of the AC/DC interconnected grid.This paper first summarizes the medium and low voltage DC distribution system schemes and plans put forward by many countries,and then elaborate status of under-construction medium and low voltage DC distribution system project cases in China.Based on these project cases,this paper analyzes key issues involved in the medium and low voltage DC distribution system topologies,equipment,operation control technologies and DC fault protections,in order to provide theoretical and technical reference for future medium and low voltage DC distribution system-related projects.Finally,this paper combines a current China research status to summarize and give a prediction about the future research direction of medium and low voltage DC distribution system,which can provide reference for the research of medium and low voltage DC distribution system.

Multi-converter Approach to Higher Power Density DC-DC Converter for 380 V DC Distribution System

Multi-converter approach based on the series and parallel connection topology of modular power converters has been proposed to realize higher power density DC-DC converter. The availability of the proposed approach has been verified through the design consideration and the experiment. The design consideration for two DC-DC converters has been carried out by utilizing the power converter exact loss simulator, and the design parameters to maximize their power densities have been extracted taking the trade-off between the conversion efficiency and the power density into account. The prototypes of a 2,400 W, 256-384 V boost chopper using SiC-MOSFETs and a 300 W, 32-48 V GaN-FETs boost chopper have been also developed based on the design. The SiC chopper achieved the efficiency of 97.8% and the power density of 12,8 W/cm3, and the GaN chopper accomplished 98.9% and 18.6 W/cm3 in the experiment. These results show the validity of the design and the availability of the proposed approach. The multi-converter approach enables the cost reduction of the modular power converters, and contributes to realizing the widespread use of power electronics converters in the future 380 V DC distribution system.

Design Consideration for High Power Density GaN Buck-Rectifier in ISOP-IPOS Converter based dc Distribution, System

GaN （gallium nitride） buck-rectifier has been proposed to realize high power density ISOP （input series and output parallel）-IPOS （input parallel and output series） converter-based dc distribution system. The ultra-low loss bi-directional switch can be developed by the GaN power device because of the low on-resistance, the high-speed switching behavior and its own device structure. The buck-rectifier using the GaN bi-directional switches has the potential to achieve higher power density than the commonly utilized boost-rectifier. Availability of the GaN-HEMT （high electron mobility transistor） for the buck rectifier has been verified taking the theoretical limit of the on-resistance and the switching loss energy into account. Design consideration for a high power density buck-rectifier has been also conducted and the application effect of the GaN bidirectional switches has been evaluated quantitatively. The ISOP-IPOS converter-based dc （direct current） distribution system takes full advantage of the buck-rectifier and the rectifier using GaN devices contributes to realizing higher power density dc distribution system.

Power and Voltage Control Based on DC Offset Injection for Bipolar Low-voltage DC Distribution System

The bipolar low-voltage DC(LVDC) distribution system has become a prospective solution to better integration of renewables and improvement of system efficiency and reliability. However, it also faces the challenge of power and voltage imbalance between two poles. To solve this problem, an interface converter with bipolar asymmetrical operating capabilities is applied in this paper. The steady-state models of the bipolar LVDC distribution system equipped with this interface converter in the gridconnected mode and off-grid mode are analyzed. A control scheme based on DC offset injection at the secondary side of the interface converter is proposed, enabling the bipolar LVDC distribution system to realize the unbalanced power transfer between two poles in the grid-connected mode and maintain the inherentpole voltage balance in the off-grid mode. Furthermore, this paper also proposes a primary-side DC offset injection control scheme according to the analysis of the magnetic circuit model, which can eliminate the DC bias flux caused by the secondaryside DC offset. Thereby, the potential core magnetic saturation and overcurrent issues can be prevented, ensuring the safety of the interface converter and distribution system. Detailed simulations based on the proposed control scheme are conducted to validate the function of power and voltage balance under the operation conditions of different DC loads.

Reverse Droop Control-based Smooth Transfer Strategy for Interface Converters in Hybrid AC/DC Distribution Networks

Hybrid AC/DC distribution networks are promising candidates for future applications due to their rapid advancement in power electronics technology.They use interface converters(IFCs)to link DC and AC distribution networks.However,the networks possess drawbacks with AC voltage and frequency offsets when transferring from grid-tied to islanding modes.To address these problems,this paper proposes a simple but effective strategy based on the reverse droop method.Initially,the power balance equation of the distribution system is derived,which reveals that the cause of voltage and frequency offsets is the mismatch between the IFC output power and the rated load power.Then,the reverse droop control is introduced into the IFC controller.By using a voltage-active power/frequency-reactive power(U-P/f-Q)reverse droop loop,the IFC output power enables adaptive tracking of the rated load power.Therefore,the AC voltage offset and frequency offset are suppressed during the transfer process of operational modes.In addition,the universal parameter design method is discussed based on the stability limitations of the control system and the voltage quality requirements of AC critical loads.Finally,simulation and experimental results clearly validate the proposed control strategy and parameter design method.

Review on Z-Source Solid State Circuit Breakers for DC Distribution Networks

DC technologies will be essential building blocks for future DC distribution networks.As in any DC system,these networks will face crucial threats imposed by short-circuit DC faults.Protection is thus of great interest,and it will likely rely on DC circuit breakers(DCCBs).Among available configurations,Z-source solid-state circuit breakers(Z-SSCBs)are promising candidates for protecting low and medium-voltage distribution networks,as well as DC equipment due to their structural and control simplicity and low cost.In this paper,start-ofthe-art of Z-SSCBs topologies is reviewed.To set the context,the use of DC technologies for grid integration of renewables,DC power transmission,and the main types of DCCBs to protect DC transmission and distribution corridors are discussed.The Z-SSCB topologies are then classified into unidirectional and bidirectional.Advantages and disadvantages of different configurations are compared and analyzed based on existing research.Finally,a perspective on the future development of Z-SSCBs is discussed and potential challenges are elucidated.

Research on Scheduling Strategy of Flexible Interconnection Distribution Network Considering Distributed Photovoltaic and Hydrogen Energy Storage

Distributed photovoltaic(PV)is one of the important power sources for building a new power system with new energy as the main body.The rapid development of distributed PV has brought new challenges to the operation of distribution networks.In order to improve the absorption ability of large-scale distributed PV access to the distribution network,the AC/DC hybrid distribution network is constructed based on flexible interconnection technology,and a coordinated scheduling strategy model of hydrogen energy storage(HS)and distributed PV is established.Firstly,the mathematical model of distributed PV and HS system is established,and a comprehensive energy storage system combining seasonal hydrogen energy storage(SHS)and battery(BT)is proposed.Then,a flexible interconnected distribution network scheduling optimization model is established to minimize the total active power loss,voltage deviation and system operating cost.Finally,simulation analysis is carried out on the improved IEEE33 node,the NSGA-II algorithm is used to solve specific examples,and the optimal scheduling results of the comprehensive economy and power quality of the distribution network are obtained.Compared with the method that does not consider HS and flexible interconnection technology,the network loss and voltage deviation of this method are lower,and the total system cost can be reduced by 3.55%,which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Multi-objective Day-ahead Polarity Switching Optimization for Voltage Unbalance in Bipolar DC Distribution Networks

Bipolar direct current(DC)distribution networks can effectively improve the connection flexibility for renewable generations and loads.In practice,concerns regarding the potential voltage unbalance issue of the distribution networks and the frequency of switching still remain.This paper proposes a day-ahead polarity switching strategy to reduce voltage unbalance by optimally switching the polarity of renewable generations and loads while minimizing the switching times simultaneously in the range of a full day.First,a multi-objective optimization model is constructed to minimize the weighted sum of voltage unbalance factors and the sum of number of switching actions in the day based on the power flow model.Second,a two-step solution strategy is proposed to solve the optimization model.Finally,the proposed strategy is validated using 11-node and 34-node distribution networks as case studies,and a switching and stabilizing device is designed to enable unified switching of renewable generations and loads.Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can effectively reduce the switching times without affecting the improvement of voltage balance.

Localization of Oscillation Source in DC Distribution Network Based on Power Spectral Density

Direct current(DC)bus voltage stability is essential for the stable and reliable operation of a DC system.If an oscillation source can be quickly and accurately localized,the oscillation can be adequately eliminated.We propose a method based on the power spectral density for identifying the voltage oscillation source.Specifically,a DC distribution network model combined with the component connection method is developed,and the network is separated into multiple power modules.Compared with a conventional method,the proposed method does not require determining the model parameters of the entire power grid,which is typically challenging.Furthermore,combined with a novel judgment index,the oscillation source can be identified more intuitively and clearly to enhance the applicability to real power grids.The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated using the MATLAB/Simulink software and PLECS RT Box experimental platform.The simulation and experimental results verify that the proposed method can accurately identify oscillation sources in a DC distribution network.

A voltage resonance-based single-ended online fault location algorithm for DC distribution networks

A novel single-ended online fault location algorithm is investigated for DC distribution networks. The proposed algorithm calculates the fault distance based on the characteristics of the voltage resonance. The Prony's method is introduced to extract the characteristics. A novel method is proposed to solve the pseudo dual-root problem in the calculation process. The multiple data windows are adopted to enhance the robustness of the proposed algorithm. An index is proposed to evaluate the accuracy and validity of the results derived from the various data windows. The performances of the proposed algorithm in different fault scenarios were evaluated using the PSCAD/EMTDC simulations. The results show that the algorithm can locate the faults with transient resistance using the 1.6 ms data of the DC-side voltage after a fault inception and offers a good precision.

Topology of Current-limiting and Energy-transferring DC Circuit Breaker for DC Distribution Networks

With the development of power electronic technologies and distributed power generation,DC distribution networks attract increasing attention due to their various advantages compared with traditional AC distribution networks.However,DC fault protection is one of the major issues in DC distribution networks.To improve their reliability and protect the semiconductor devices under DC faults,a current-limiting and energy-transferring DC circuit breaker topology is proposed in this paper.By applying passive components and thyristors,the proposed topology is capable of quickly limiting the fault current and transferring the faulty energy.The working principle,mathematical model and parameter designing method of the proposed topology are presented in this paper.The simulation results verify that the proposed DC circuit breaker could effectively limit the fault current and quickly interrupt the fault current.Cost and conduction power loss evaluation proves the practicality of the proposed topology in medium-voltage DC distribution networks.

The Averaged-value Model of a Flexible Power Electronics Based Substation in Hybrid AC/DC Distribution Systems

The concept of a flexible power electronics substation(FPES)was first applied in the Zhangbei DC distribution network demonstration project.As a multi-port power electronics transformer(PET)with different AC and DC voltage levels,the FPES has adopted a novel topology integrating modular multilevel converter(MMC)and four-winding medium frequency transformer(FWMFT)based multiport DC-DC converter,which can significantly reduce capacitance in each sub-module(SM)of a MMC and also save space and cost.In this paper,in order to accelerate speed of electromagnetic transient(EMT)simulations of FPES based hybrid AC/DC distribution systems,an averaged-value model(AVM)is proposed for efficient and accurate representation of FPES.Assume that all SM capacitor voltages are perfectly balanced in the MMC,then the MMC behavior can be modeled using controlled voltage sources based on modulation voltages from control systems.In terms of the averaged current transfer characteristics among the windings of the FWMFT,we consider that all multiport DC-DC converters are controlled with the same dynamics,a lumped averaged model using controlled current and voltage sources has been developed for these four-port DC-DC converters connected to the upper or lower arms of the MMC.The presented FPES AVM model has been tested and validated by comparison with a detailed IGBT-based EMT model.Results show that the AVM is significantly more efficient while maintaining its accuracy in an EMT simulation.

Coordinated Control Strategy for Operation Mode Switching of DC Distribution Networks

Due to the advantages such as low line cost,low transmission loss,and high power supply reliability,DC distribution networks have become the main development trend for future distribution networks.In this paper,a typical DC distribution network with multiple voltage levels is considered as a research object.It is proposed that the interface converters between DC buses with different voltage levels be implemented through the series-parallel combination of full-bridge LLC resonant converters.To realize the decentralized self-discipline control of DC voltage under various working conditions,different slack buses are prepared according to the voltage ranges of the DC buses,and the voltage regulation modes of the DC distribution network are divided into main voltage regulation mode,backup voltage regulation mode,and off-grid voltage droop regulation mode.By introducing a voltage coefficient related to DC voltage deviation as a basis for mode switching,the voltage fluctuations caused by slow switching between control modes in the method of traditional voltage margin control is reduced,facilitating fast and smooth switching between different voltage regulation modes.Finally,a simulation model for DC distribution networks is constructed utilizing MATLAB/Simulink.Simulation results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed voltage regulation modes and switching methods for DC distribution networks.Finally,an experimental platform is also constructed to verify the feasibility of the mode switching method proposed in this paper.

Non-permanent Pole-to-pole Fault Restoration Strategy for Flexible DC Distribution Network

As the structures of multiple branch lines(MBLs)will be widely applied in the future flexible DC distribution network,there is a urgent need for improving system reliability by tackling the frequent non-permanent pole-to-pole(P-P)fault on distribution lines.A novel fault restoration strategy based on local information is proposed to solve this issue.The strategy firstly splits a double-ended power supply network into two single-ended power supply networks through the timing difference characteristics of a hybrid direct current circuit breaker(HDCCB)entering the recloser.Then,a method based on the characteristic of the transient energy of fault current is proposed to screen the faulty branch line in each single-ended power supply network.Also,a four-terminal flexible DC distribution network with MBLs is constructed on PSCAD to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed strategy.Various factors such as noise,fault location,and DC arc equivalent resistance are considered in the simulation model for testing.Test results prove that the proposed strategy for fault restoration is effective,and features high performance and scalability.

A positive Buck-Boost voltage balancer for DC distribution system

This paper analyzes the load unbalance problem and voltage fluctuation problem in a 3-wire DC distribution system.It also analyzes a solution to these problems;a positive Buck-Boost voltage balancer is proposed and explored in order to fulfill the requirements of high quality power supply for the loads on its load side.Compared with the conventional balancer,a positive Buck-Boost converter is added to solve the voltage fluctuation problem,and the theories and methods of the voltage balancer are extended to analyze the working principle,derive the design equations,explore the stability,and calculate the efficiency.Both simulations and small power experiments are carried out to verify the validity of the working principle,the topology,and the control strategy.

Research on power electronic transformer applied in AC/DC hybrid distribution networks

The AC/DC hybrid distribution network is one of the trends in distribution network development, which poses great challenges to the traditional distribution transformer. In this paper, a new topology suitable for AC/DC hybrid distribution network is put forward according to the demands of power grid, with advantages of accepting DG and DC loads, while clearing DC fault by blocking the clamping double sub-module(CDSM) of input stage. Then, this paper shows the typical structure of AC/DC distribution network that is hand in hand. Based on the new topology, this paper designs the control and modulation strategies of each stage, where the outer loop controller of input stage is emphasized for its twocontrol mode. At last, the rationality of new topology and the validity of control strategies are verified by the steady and dynamic state simulation. At the same time, the simulation results highlight the role of PET in energy regulation.