Analysis and control of electrical networks dominated by power electronic converters

研究主题-能源研究领域-能源网络根据气候变化委员会的说法，英国政府承诺到2050年实现温室气体净零排放(相对于1990年的水平)，这将要求国家能源供应大幅(如果不是全部)脱碳。实现这一目标的一项核心措施是开发电网，该电网主要由分布式太阳能、风能和电能储存系统组成的网络驱动。这将挑战电网的传统运行原则，因为这些类型的发电机通过电力变流器向电网供电，而变流器不提供与传统大型同步发电机(如燃煤电厂的涡轮机)相关的固有稳定性特征。稳定的电网对于向全国终端用户全面提供安全的能源供应至关重要，特别是因为据预测，向运输和供暖部门供应的电力中来自电力的比例也需要增加。在这些条件下运行英国电网的最佳方法和/或基本可行性是一个悬而未决的研究问题。本项目将通过对电力系统在完全由不同类型的功率转换器中的电力电子设备驱动时的潜在稳定性进行数学检验来研究这一问题，并据此提出控制和操作策略以减轻某些类型的不稳定性。预计，从智能电表等设备获得的关于电力系统状态的越来越多的数据，再加上这些高度可控的电源转换器的能力，可以促进这些新策略的实施。还预计，通过与国家电网、通用电气电网解决方案和智能电网解决方案等公司合作，任何智力成果都可以转移到工业实践中。这个问题需要从整个系统的角度来看待转炉控制和电网运行，随着脱碳的进展，这可能需要对基本原则进行系统的重新思考。

Research theme - EnergyResearch area - Energy NetworksAccording to the Committee on Climate Change the UK government's commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (relative to 1990 levels) will require significant, if not total, decarbonisation of the national energy supply. A core measure to achieve this is developing an electrical grid that is largely driven by networks of distributed solar power, wind power and electrical energy storage systems. This would challenge the traditional operating principles of the grid as these types of generators supply the grid through power converters which do not provide the inherent stability characteristics associated with traditional large synchronous generators, such as the turbines in a coal power plant. A stable electricity grid is vital to the overall provision of a secure energy supply to end users across the country, especially as it is predicted that the proportion of the energy supplied to the transport and heating sectors that comes from electricity will also need to increase. The optimal method and/or the fundamental feasibility of operating the UK electricity grid under these conditions without instability is an open research question. This project will investigate this question by mathematically examining the underlying stability of the electrical system when it is solely driven by the power electronics in different types of power converters, and use this to propose control and operational strategies to mitigate certain types of instability. It is anticipated that the increasing amount of data available on the electrical system state from devices such as smart meters, combined with the capabilities of these highly controllable power converters, could facilitate the implementation of these novel strategies. It is also anticipated that any intellectual works could be transferable to industrial practice by engaging with companies such as National Grid, GE Grid Solutions and Smarter Grid Solutions. The problem is one which requires a whole-system perspective on both converter control and grid operation, which as decarbonisation progresses may need a systematic rethinking of fundamental principles.