Low-Voltage Ride-Through Control Strategy for a Grid-Connected Energy Storage System
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applied sciences Article Low-Voltage Ride-Through Control Strategy for a Grid-Connected Energy Storage System Yeongsu Bak 1, June-Seok Lee 2 and Kyo-Beum Lee 1,* ID 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ajou University, 206, World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Korea; [email protected] 2 Railroad Safety Research Division, Korea Railroad Research Institute, 176, Cheoldo Bangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang 16105, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-31-219-2487 Received: 13 November 2017; Accepted: 28 December 2017; Published: 2 January 2018 Abstract: This paper presents a low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) control strategy for grid-connected energy storage systems (ESSs). In the past, researchers have investigated the LVRT control strategies to apply them to wind power generation (WPG) and solar energy generation (SEG) systems. Regardless of the energy source, the main purpose of the LVRT control strategies is to inject reactive power into the grid depending on the grid-code regulations using the grid-side inverter; the proposed LVRT control strategy for grid-connected ESSs also has the same purpose. However, unlike the WPG and SEG systems having unidirectional power flow, grid-connected ESSs have a bidirectional power flow. Therefore, the charging condition of the grid-connected ESSs should be considered for the LVRT control strategy. The proposed LVRT control strategy for grid-connected ESSs determines the injection quantity of the active and reactive currents, and the strategy depends on the voltage drop ratio of the three-phase grid. Additionally, in this paper, we analyzed the variations of the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage depending on the phase of the reactive current during the charging and discharging conditions. The validity of the proposed LVRT control strategy is verified and the variations of the PCC voltage of the grid-connected ESS are analyzed by simulation and experimental results. Keywords: low voltage ride through; wind power generation system; solar energy generation system; grid-connected; energy storage system 1. Introduction In recent years, the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution have become important matters of global concern because they cause the depletion of energy resources and global warming. Accordingly, the demand for the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind power, solar energy, and biomass, has rapidly increased [1–3]. To meet the demand and reduce the problems associated with the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution, numerous studies have been conducted for green energy and renewable energy development [4–6]. The common renewable energy systems are wind power generation (WPG), which uses wind turbines, and solar energy generation (SEG), which uses photovoltaic cells. However, sources such as wind power and solar energy might be unreliable and unpredictable because of changes in environmental conditions. Therefore, energy storage systems (ESSs) are used for conserving energy generated by the renewable energy sources in battery systems. The grid-connected ESS usually generates and supplies power by connecting to a grid. It is used for conserving the additional energy with a reasonable cost, such as at night. Moreover, it can improve the energy quality and maximize its efficiency by supplying the conserved energy on requirement. The ESS has been made commercially available as typical renewable energy and energy conservation systems [7–11]. Appl. Sci. 2018, 8, 57; doi:10.3390/app8010057 www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl. Sci. 2018, 8, 57 2 of 18 Appl. Sci. 2018, 8, 57 2 of 18 Powerrequirement. generation The ESS systems has been connected made commercially to the gridavailable can as have typical a renewable negative energy impact and on energy the grid in case theconservation power scale systems of the [7–11]. systems becomes large. Therefore, several countries suggest grid-code regulationsPower to mitigate generation the negativesystems connected impacts to on the the grid grid. can Grid-codehave a negative regulations impact on differ the grid from in case country to country;the Germany’s power scale grid-code of the systems regulations becomes are large. more Therefore, rigorous several than the countries grid-code suggest regulations grid-code of other countries.regulations In general, to mitigate the grid-code the negative regulations impacts on definethe grid. that Grid-code systems regulations such as differ WPG from and country SEG have to to country; Germany’s grid-code regulations are more rigorous than the grid-code regulations of remainother connected countries. to theIn general, grid when the grid-code the voltage regulati dropsons define for a that specified systems time such and as WPG support and SEG the have grid with a reactiveto current. remain connected This requirement, to the grid when known the voltage as a low-voltage drops for a specified ride-through time and (LVRT), support the is needed grid with to avoid grid blackouts.a reactive current. This requirement, known as a low-voltage ride-through (LVRT), is needed to avoid Thegrid LVRT blackouts. requirement is crucial for grid-code regulations. Figure1 shows the LVRT requirements in GermanyThe and LVRT China. requirement The requirements is crucial arefor differentgrid-code regardingregulations. aFigure fault duration1 shows andthe LVRT the injection requirements in Germany and China. The requirements are different regarding a fault duration and quantity of the reactive power depending on the voltage drop ratio. This requirement ensures that the injection quantity of the reactive power depending on the voltage drop ratio. This requirement the systemensures connected that the system to the connected grid operates to the grid properly operates when properly the when grid the voltage grid voltage drops drops [12– 18[12–18].]. The LVRT requirementThe LVRT contributes requirement to thecontributes recovery to ofthe the recovery grid voltageof the grid by voltage supplying by supplying the reactive the reactive current in the designatedcurrent voltage in the designated range. In ordervoltage to range. satisfy In order the LVRT to satisfy requirement, the LVRT requirement, a proper controla properof control the reactive currentof in the the reactive grid-connected current in the ESS grid-connected is necessary. ESS To is control necessary. the To reactive control the power reactive and power the currentand the for the grid-connectedcurrent for inverters the grid-connected in the WPG, inverters SEG, in and the WPG, ESS is SEG, crucial. and ESS Numerous is crucial.studies Numerous have studies been have conducted been conducted for issues related to the reactive power and current compensation capabilities of such for issues related to the reactive power and current compensation capabilities of such systems [19–25]. systems [19–25]. FigureFigure 1. Low 1. Low voltage voltage ride ride through through (LVRT)(LVRT) re requirementsquirements in Ge inrmany Germany and China. and China. The WPG systems using wind turbines and the SEG systems using photovoltaic cells usually Thehave WPG a large systems power usingscale. Therefore, wind turbines the LVRT and requirement the SEG needs systems to be using thoroughly photovoltaic implemented cells in usually have a largethese systems. power scale.The LVRT Therefore, control strategies the LVRT research requiremented recently needs comply to with be thoroughly the LVRT requirement. implemented in these systems.In addition, The these LVRT strategies control focus strategies on the researched additional operations recently comply that are witheffective the and LVRT economical, requirement. In which include the continuously stable operations with dynamic breakers in the WPG systems addition,[26–30] these and strategies the maximum focus power on the generation additional with operations low voltages that inare the effectiveSEG systems and [31 economical,–33]. These which includemethods the continuously for additional stable operations operations are presented with by dynamic considering breakers the characteristics in the WPG of the systems source type. [26– 30] and the maximumThe research power on the generation LVRT contro withl strategies low voltages for the inWPG the and SEG SEG systems systems [ 31is actively–33]. These progressed, methods for additionalhowever, operations the research are presented on the LVRT by control considering strategy the for characteristicsthe grid-connected of ESSs the sourceis insufficient. type. The research on the LVRTThe control WPG and strategies SEG systems for the are WPGcharacterized and SEG by unidirectional systems is actively power flow, progressed, which are however,unlike the the grid-connected ESSs that are characterized by bidirectional power flow. Therefore, the LVRT research on the LVRT control strategy for the grid-connected ESSs is insufficient. control strategy used for the grid-connected ESSs needs to comply with the LVRT requirement, Theadditionally, WPG and the SEG characteristics systems are of characterizedbidirectional power by unidirectional flow, i.e., the charging power conditions flow, which of the are grid- unlike the grid-connectedconnected ESSs ESSs, thatneed are to be characterized considered in bythe bidirectionalLVRT control strategy. power flow.The LVRT Therefore, control strategy the LVRT for control strategythe used ESS foris presented the grid-connected in [34]. In [34], ESSs when needs the gr toid comply voltage drops with theunder LVRT charging