Open AccessAutonomous adaptive Q(U) control for distributed generation in weak medium‐voltage distribution grids
Author(s) -
Ampofo Desmond Okwabi,
Myrzik Johanna M. A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iet energy systems integration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2516-8401
DOI - 10.1049/esi2.12010
Subject(s) - voltage , distributed generation , control (management) , ac power , exploit , computer science , voltage regulation , inverter , mode (computer interface) , power (physics) , control theory (sociology) , power control , electronic engineering , control engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , renewable energy , artificial intelligence , physics , computer security , quantum mechanics , operating system
This study seeks to exploit the reactive power capability of inverter‐based distributed generation (DG) to solve the voltageregulation challenges associated with weak medium‐voltage distribution networks in developing countries. Voltage‐dependent reactive power control, also known as the Q(U) control method, is widely used for voltage regulation. The challenge with this control mode, however, is determining its control parameters, which must be unique for each bus for optimal performance compared with implementing standardised or general parameters. This paper proposes an innovative approach to incorporate an adaptive functionality into the typical Q(U) control to enhance its performance in medium‐voltage grids. This concept, when implemented, achieved better performance than that of the Q(U) control with fixed parameters, which was unsatisfactory under certain conditions, and performance comparable to that of the centralised voltage scheme, which relies on communication facilities.