The Operation and Control of Solid-State Transformers for Smart Grid Applications

几个电力系统，包括加拿大的电力系统，在提高解除管制运行水平方面取得了重大进展。人们正在寻求这种电力系统运行模式，以降低扩展或升级输配系统的成本，提高整体效率，降低输配网络的负载量，推进节能计划，并减少对环境的影响。电力系统的解除调节运行促进了几种类型的分布式发电机组的互联，以及可能的负荷电力需求控制。对负荷需求的可能控制被引入需求响应(DR)，它可以被实现为有源DR或无源DR。有源DR意味着利用在负载侧互连的分布式发电单元。该DR广泛应用于工业负荷和商业负荷。被动DR意味着具有储能功能的电器(热水器、供暖系统和暖通空调)的开关动作。这种DR在住宅和小型商业负荷(RSCL)中非常常见。 电力系统对在RSCL中实施智能电网功能表现出越来越大的兴趣，因为这可能会导致日常或季节性高峰需求条件。RSCLS的本质倾向于被动DR的部署，尽管它很简单，但由于其对参与者数量的依赖，被动DR在RSCLS中的能力有限。针对RSCL的被动DR的有限能力可以通过部署主动DR来克服。然而，这种针对RSCL的主动DR的部署的主要挑战是在高峰需求条件下向主机电力系统注入电力的能力。 本研究的目的是在设计一种新型配电变压器的基础上，开发和测试一种用于RSCL的有源DR，这种配电变压器可以在电力系统和RSCL之间实现可控和双向潮流。这种变压器将由多电平AC-DC、DC-DC和DC-AC电力电子转换器(PECs)构成。为了完成对电力系统的电能注入，研制的变压器将配备储能装置。如本文所述，拟建变压器的设计、运行、控制和保护将在未来5年内完成。此外，将为开发的固态变压器建立原型并进行测试，以进行性能评估。所提出的变压器的性能将进一步推进非侵入式智能电网功能的实现。此外，该研究项目的成果可以帮助加拿大电力行业在提供关键智能技术方面发挥主导作用。最后，该项目的不同阶段将提供全面的机会，培训电力和能源部门的研究生和本科生。

Several power systems, including Canadian ones, have made significant progress toward increasing the levels of de-regulated operation. Such modes of operating power systems are being sought to reduce costs of expanding or upgrading transmission and distribution systems, improve the overall efficiency, reduce the loadability of transmission and distribution networks, advance energy saving programs, and reduce environmental impacts. The de-regulated operation of power systems has facilitated the interconnection of several types of distributed generation units, along with possible control of load power demands. The possible control of load demands has been introduced as the demand response (DR), which can be implemented as an active DR or a passive DR. The active DR implies the utilization of distributed generation units that are interconnected at load side. This DR is widely used in industrial loads and commercial loads. The passive DR implies ON-OFF actions for appliances that have energy storage capabilities (water heaters, heating systems, and HVACs). This DR is very common in residential and small commercial loads (RSCLs). Power systems have shown growing interests in implementing smart grid functions in RSCLs, as these can contribute to daily or seasonal peak-demand conditions. The nature of RSCLs leans toward the deployment of passive DR. Despite its simplicity, passive DR has shown limited capabilities in RSCLs due to its dependence on the number of participants. The limited capabilities of passive DR for RSCLs can be overcome by deploying active DR. However, the main challenge such a deployment of active DR for RSCLs is the ability to inject power to the host power system during peak-demand conditions. This research program aims to develop and test an active DR for RSCLs based on designing a new breed of distribution transformers that can allow controllable and bi-directional power flow a power system and RSCLs. Such a transformer is to be constructed from multi-level ac-dc, dc-dc, and dc-ac power electronic converters (PECs). In order to accomplish the power injection to the power system, the developed transformer will be equipped with energy storage units. The design, operation, control, and protection of the proposed transformer are to be completed over the next 5 years, as described herein. In addition, prototypes for the developed solid-state transformer will be built and tested for performance evaluation. The performance of the proposed transformer will further advance the implementation of noninvasive smart grid functions. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research project can help Canadian power industries take leading roles in providing key smart technologies. Finally, the different stages of this project will provide comprehensive opportunities to train graduate and undergraduate students in the power and energy sectors.