Browsing by Author "Barros, J. Dionísio"
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- Backstepping predictive control of hybrid microgrids interconnected by neutral point clamped convertersPublication . Barros, J. Dionísio; Rocha, Luis Lamy; Silva, J. FernandoIn this work, DC and AC parts of hybrid microgrids are interconnected by a neutral point clamped-NPC converter controlled using a new backstepping predictive (BP) method. The NPC converter is controlled to operate in the DC microgrid voltage control mode or in the AC microgrid power control mode. The novel backstepping predictive controller is designed using the dq state space dynamic model of the NPC converter connected to the hybrid microgrid. The designed BP controller regulates the DC voltage or AC injected power, balances the capacitor voltages, controls the AC currents, and enforces the near unity power factor. Simulation (MATLAB/Simulink) and experimental (laboratory prototype) results show that the converter can regulate the DC voltage in the DC microgrid interconnection point, by adjusting the AC power conversion to compensate variations on the loads or on the distributed renewable energy sources in the DC microgrid. AC currents are sinusoidal with low harmonic distortion. The obtained BP controller is faster at balancing capacitor voltages than PWM (pulse width modulation) control with carrier offset. The fast AC power response allows the converter to be used as a primary frequency regulator of the AC microgrid. This research is appropriate for power and voltage control in hybrid microgrids with renewable energy.
- New backstepping controllers with enhanced stability for neutral point clamped converters interfacing photovoltaics and AC microgridsPublication . Barros, J. Dionísio; Silva, J. Fernando A.; Rocha, Luis LamyThis work presents a new approach to obtain pulse width modulation (PWM) backstepping controllers with enhanced stability for neutral point clamped (NPC) multilevel converters to deliver energy from photovoltaic (PV) panels into AC microgrids. Stability enhanced backstepping non-linear controllers are obtained from the equations of the dq frame converter model to regulate the PV voltage to track the power point, and to balance the capacitor voltages through DC biasing of the PWM carriers, using a novel dynamic equation of the capacitors incremental unbalance voltage, while controlling the grid injected AC currents. Besides, the proposed controllers can change the PV panels operating point to curtail inject power for AC voltage / frequency regulation. The NPC converter and AC microgrid are simulated in MATLAB / Simulink and implemented in the laboratory to evaluate the performance of the PV energy conversion using the new stability enhanced backstepping PWM control. Simulation and experimental results show that, regarding predictive controllers, the novel stability enhanced backstepping requires lower microprocessor power than predictive controllers while presenting a similar behavior in PV voltage and power point tracking regulation, or for voltage / frequency regulation of the microgrid. AC injected currents show low levels of total harmonic distortion similar to predictive controllers and can operate at near unity power factor.