Operation and Control of Distributed Generation

Systems
T.I. Mofokeng
Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering
College of Science,Engineering and Technology
University of South Africa
Florida,Johannesburg, South Africa
39354563@mylife.unisa.ac.za

Abstract—Distributed generation sources , are sources of
electrical energy which are no localized into a centralised grid and
are either designed for peak load power or for alternative energy
generation. In today’s , energy field . Distributed generation
sources are commonly referred to as alternative energy sources.
Considering the emergence in the application of distributed
generation sources for grid injection. It is ideal to analyse and
observe the operation and control of such an energy system.
The energy system is modelled in MATLAB. Simulation results
indicate the production of current and voltage of such as system
and the system response of the energy system connected to a
centralized grid
Index Terms—Photo-voltaic,boost converter , MATLAB
I. I NTRODUCTION
The introduction of advanced electrical power engineering
technologies have allowed the implementation of more effi-
cient and sustainable methods of applying power engineering
methods to different aspects of human society. A particular
aspect of power engineering is power systems and control.
A power system is an organized electrical body with various
elements that consist of it. Intention of the power system is
based on the desired characteristic of the load demand and
the application of the power system. However , in certain
cases additional energy is introduced to the power system
to acquire more power from different sources for power
quality or power demand from respective loads in the form
of DG. The promulgation of DG is a major break through
the generation of electrical energy from different sources. A
recent study published in South Africa [1] , which presents
the investigation in the application of distributed generation
with the use of renewable energy sources as a means to
mitigate the power crisis faced by the national grid operator.
Present the South African government case , in which it
proposes the adopted increase in the allocation of small-scale
embedded generation of at 500 MW. By making a specific
provision for embedded distributed generation from renewable
energy sources. Furthermore , the reports presence several
data estimation of the impact of the distributed generation
model against the current generation model the South African
government is using which is based on the use of coal , nuclear
and hydro energy sources. The use of distributed generation
will be great investment from energy security. Unfortunately,
such technologies are bound to possess complex engineering
aspect. These are some of the key complex engineering issues
regarding DGs. In particular , operation and control aspects.
Due to large penetration of DG, there is risk of control and
stability issues. If a circuit breaker in a distribution system
opens, it could results in an isolation of a DG unit. If the loss-
of-mains is not detected by the DG unit, for example due to
insufficient fault current, the DG unit will continue to operate.
If the DG unit is able to match active and reactive power of
the load in the islanded system precisely, then the islanded
system could continue to operate without any problem. It is,
however, very unrealistic that DG will exactly match the load
in the system during the time the circuit breaker opens, hence
large frequency or voltage variations will occur when the DG
unit tries to supply load. Hence, most interconnection rules
require a loss of- main detection system which automatically
disconnects the DG unit in case of a loss of main and the
unit remains disconnect until the grid is restored [ 3 – 4].
Therefore, the intention of this investigative study is to study
the operation and control of distributed generation of a grid
tied photo-voltaic system .
II. M ODEL D EVELOPMENT
The are various distributed generation system in the field of
alternative energy. However, focus will be given to the popular
photo voltaic system. Solar photo voltaic are designed and
operated with various architectures some are either stand alone
or grid connected based. However, fundamentally all system
contain a couple of power converters , PV module and charge
controller.
A. Photo-voltaic Module
In order for the electrical energy to be injected into the grid.
Solar energy is harnessed by means of a PV module. The PV
module is created out of semiconductor elements which when
placed in the sun or in an environment of sufficient temperature
and irradiance. There is a production of electrical energy from
from the semiconductor cells. Because the photo-voltaic model
is a source of current generation. We define the solar as a diode
equivalent with the respective equivalent circuit
Fig. 1. Solar Cell Diode Model
V divided into two modes. Mode 1 begins when transistor S1
Id = Io e VT − 1 (1)
This model can be further developed to compose the equiva-
lent circuit module, which represents the photo voltaic module.
Since a PV module is a current source generator , thus :
Fig. 2. Equivalent Circuit Model of Solar PV Module
The equation for this equivalent can be defined as follows ,
V (V + IRs )
Ii = Io e VT
−1− (2)
Rsh
B. DC to DC Converters
The are several types of DC-DC converter. DC-DC con-
verters are utilized as switching mode regulators to convert dc
voltage, which is unregulated to variable DC output voltage.
The regulation is normally achieved by pulse width modulation
at a fixed frequency and the switching device is normally
by bipolar junction transistor or metal oxide silicon field
effect transistor. These elements act as solid state switches.
The ripple content is normally reduced by an LC filter. The
designer can select the switching frequency by choosing the
values of R and C of frequency oscillator. A rule of thumb ,
to maximize efficiency , the minimum oscillator period should
be about 100 times longer than the transistor switching time.
There are four basic topologies of [5]:
• buck converter
• boost converter
• buck - boost converter
• Cuk converter
In this research the buck converter was utilised for the
photo-voltaic system. The buck converter average output is
less then the input voltage applied.
Fig. 3. Buck Converter
Transistor S1 acts as controlled switch and diode D is an
uncontrolled switch. They operate as a two single pole single
through bidirectional switches. The circuit operation can be
is switched on at t = 0. The input current , which rises,
flows through inductor L, filter capacitor C, and load R. Mode
2 begins when transistor S1 is switched off a t = t1. The
freewheeling diode D conducts due to energy stored in the
inductor, and the inductor current continues to flow through L,
C, load and diode D . The inductor current falls until transistor
S1 is switched on again in the next cycle[5].
The equation for average voltage output:
Va = kVs (3)
The equation for average current output:
Ia = kVs (4)
where k is the duty cycle defined , to be the ratio of the
input voltage to output voltage.
C. Maximum Power Point Tracking
Maximum Power Point Tracking , commonly referred to
as MPPT. Is a method of operating and controlling the
magnitude of the production of energy that is harnessed from
solar radiation. The MPPT is a particular tracking algorithm
based on a control system. The MPPT algorithms are used
to obtain the maximum power from the solar array based on
the variation in the irradiation and temperature. The voltage
at which PV module can produce maximum power is called
‘maximum power point’ (or peak power voltage). Maximum
power varies with solar radiation, ambient temperature and
solar cell temperature. The MPPT adjust the pulse width of
the DC/DC converter or DC/AC of the inverter[6-7].
There are many control algorithms which maybe used to
track or acquire the maximum amount of energy from a photo-
voltaic module. Commonly used techniques :
• Perturb and Observe (hill climbing method)
• Incremental Conductance method
• Fractional short circuit current
• Ripple Correlation Control
1) Perturb and Observe: This algorithms measures the
prior value power in terms of the new value and then makes
the decision of whether the voltage for the PV array can
incremented decremented by means of a perturbation on the
duty cycle of the power converter. A perturbation in the maximum power point scheme, discrete inverter with grid
operating voltage of the DC link between the PV array and connection.
the power converter. The two parameters the algorithms is
dependent on is the sample rate and the reference voltage[6-
7].

Fig. 6. Overall System Model

IV. S IMULATION RESULTS

The first simulation, the boost converter is simulated with
photo-voltaic module

Fig. 4. Perturb and Observe

2) Incremental Conductance: The incremental conductance

algorithm uses two voltage and current sensors to sense the
output voltage and current of the PV array. In incremental
conductance method the array terminal voltage is always
adjusted according to the MPP voltage it is based on the
incremental and instantaneous conductance of the PV module.
When the ratio of change in output conductance is equal to the
negative output conductance, the solar array will operate at the
maximum power point. This method exploits the assumption Fig. 7. PV module and boost converter system response
of the ratio of change in output conductance is equal to the
negative output Instantaneous conductance[6-7] . The simulation is conducted at t=0s to 0.5 s. At the
beginning, the irradiation of 1000 and a temperature of 25
degrees . As seen from Figure 5. The power represented by
the Pmean in Kilowatt’s produces a peak active power of 60
kW on spike , then further settling at a the output 16 kW at
steady state, The voltage output begins with a transient surge
output of 170 V, which then settles to a DC voltage of 150 V
at steady state. The output power, voltage and current depends
on the conditions of irradiance and temperature.
The second simulation the overall model is simulated with
a grid connection

Fig. 5. Incremental conductance

III. P ROPOSED S YSTEM M ODEL

A. Simulation model
A simulation model is modelled in MATLAB Simulink, the
model consist of a photo voltaic module , boost converter Fig. 8. Boost Converter Output
 The boost converter and MPPT control scheme is simulated ACKNOWLEDGMENT
coherently with the PV module and the grid connection.. The Acknowledgment to Mr. Kevin Lawson
performance of the boost converter is observed in Figure 6. the
output voltage of the boost converter is observed to be several R EFERENCES
times greater then the input voltage from the PV module. The R EFERENCES
boost converter boosts the input voltage from 150 V, then [1] Africa Power Ventures , “ Decentralised Generation Study : Analysis of
outputs a voltage between 500 and 1500 kV. 500 V would the Value Proposition for Renewable Energy Distributed Generation in
be the nominal voltage output. South Africa “ , SAWEA , Pretoria , SA, Final Report Ver. 1.0 , 2019
, 1.
[2] S. Singh, “ Distributed Generation in Power Systems : An Overview
and Key Issues “ , Int. Conf. Indian Engineering Congress , Surathkal ,
Kerala , India , 2019
[3] D.T McGillis ,“Intelligent-Based Approach To Islanding Detection In
Distributed Generation,” IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, Vol. 22, Iss. 2,
pp. 828-835, 2007.
[4] M.M.A Salama, “Islanding Detection Of Grid Connected Distributed
Generators Using TLSESPRIT,” Electric Power Systems Research,Vol.
77, pp. 155 –162, 2007.
[5] S. Kalogirou, “Solar energy engineering : processes and systems, solar
energy engineering processes and systems 1st edition “,London,UK:
Elsevier,2009,pp. 483.pp. 488-487.
[6] J.P. Dunlop P.E, “Batteries and Charge Control in Stand-Alone Photo-
voltaic Systems: Fundamentals and Applications,” Florida Solar Energy
Center/University of Central Florida, Cocoa,FL,USA, MA, Rep. FSEC-
Fig. 9. Output voltage and current from PV system injected to grid
CR-1292-01,Jan 1997.pp 8- 22.
[7] F. F. Rakotomananandro , “ Study of Photovoltaic System “ , 2011.
The overall simulation is operated under condition of inter-
faced to grid. The PV output is applied to the boost converter
which the boost converter facilitates the change in voltage
magnitude. For the sake of the simulation , a discrete inverter
is applied as seen in the computer simulation solution section
with grid connection. The simulation is executed at t=0s to 0.5
s. At the beginning, the irradiation of 1000 and a temperature
of 25 degrees.
As result a the PV module delivers a voltage of 150 V
and 20 kW. The boost converter increases the voltage. As
seen from the simulation output figures. The boost converter
is operating at the variation of the duty cycle to track the
maximum power of the PV module. The boost converter output
is then connected to a three phase inverter to convert the DC
power into three phase AC power for grid injection.
V. C ONCLUSION
Generally the investigative study was carried out in ac-
cordance with the a specific procedure. The operation and
control of a distributed generation system was modelled and
simulated. The system response from the graph output indicate
operation of the system.Mainly , that with the presence of a
control scheme , more power is acquired from the PV module
then anticipated.The results are satisfactory, however, more
research may be conducted on the different types of con-
trol schemes for boost converters and inverter for alternative
energy purposes. Furthermore ,from the conduction of this
research it may be further stated due to the amount of active
power generated by such a theoretical system.Low embedded
alternative energy systems may also be utilized in conjunction
with centralised systems for base load requirements. As the
amount of power extracted from solar radiation may be ma-
nipulated through processes and schemes that involve power
converters and transformers. The conceptual design has been
proven to be functional