Transforming Hybrid Micro-Grids from Theory into Reality through Innovative Power Electronics Technology

在全球范围内，由于化石燃料供应有限以及对气候变化的担忧日益加剧，能源行业正在从使用化石燃料能源转向使用化石燃料能源。这种转变可以在加拿大观察到，风能和太阳能是增长最快的能源。因此，人们对开发将可再生能源推向前沿的必要技术产生了极大的兴趣。微电网可以将可再生能源系统整合到电力系统中，使其成为未来电力系统的主要组成部分。微电网有三种类型：交流微电网、直流微电网和混合微电网。由于当前电网基础设施以交流供电为基础，交流微电网一直是一个活跃的研究课题。因此，交流微电网可以用来将可再生能源整合到现有的基础设施中。然而，直流电源/负载（例如，太阳能，led，电池，智能手机，充电器，计算机，服务器）的指数增长使得直流微电网的发展是可取的。到目前为止，直流微电网的使用仅限于电信等少数应用。******混合微电网可以有效地将直流电源/负载与交流电网基础设施结合起来。因此，它们利用了直流系统的效率，同时也能够使用当前的交流电网基础设施。电源变流器是混合微电网的关键部件，它控制着微电网内部和公用电网的潮流。混合微电网的结构给电力变换器带来了一系列必须解决的新挑战。电源转换器应该能够平稳运行混合微电网，并管理其交流和直流侧之间的相互作用。因此，混合微电网需要具有更先进控制系统的电源转换器来执行其所需的功能。******我对这个拟议的研究计划的长期愿景是开发新的电力转换器，利用先进的非线性控制技术为混合微电网量身定制，使他们能够无缝地将可再生能源集成到当前的交流电网基础设施中。目前，通过通信系统使用集中控制范式来协调不同组件。不幸的是，这种方法是不可靠的，并且高度限制了混合微电网中每个组件的性能。在本研究项目中，将基于多智能体混合控制系统的使用开发一种分散控制范式，该系统可以最大限度地提高电源转换器的性能，并使混合微电网能够稳健运行。拟议中的混合微电网将为人口稠密和偏远地区提供可靠和高效的电力，使其非常适合加拿大广阔的地理环境。该研究项目将培养HQP（2名博士和5名硕士），为快速增长的能源行业提供高质量的工作，并将加拿大带到混合微电网技术的前沿。

Globally, the energy industry is shifting away from using fossil-fuel based energies due to their finite supply and rising concerns about climate change. This shift can be observed in Canada, where wind and solar energy are the fastest growing energy sources. As a result, there is a great interest in developing the technology necessary to bring renewable energy to the forefront. Micro-grids allow renewable energy systems to be integrated into the power system, making them the main building blocks of future power systems. There are three types of micro-grids: AC, DC, and hybrid micro-grids. AC micro-grids have been an active research topic, as the current grid infrastructure is based on AC power delivery. Thus, AC micro-grids can be used to integrate renewable energy sources into the current infrastructure. However, the exponential growth of DC sources/loads (e.g., solar power, LEDs, batteries, smartphones, chargers, computers, servers) make the development of a DC micro-grid desirable. Thus far, the use of DC micro-grids has been limited to a few applications such as telecom.******Hybrid micro-grids can effectively combine DC sources/loads with the AC grid infrastructure. Thus, they take advantage of the efficiency of a DC system, while also being able to use the current AC grid infrastructure. Power converters are key components used in hybrid micro-grids, because they control the power flow within micro-grids and to the utility grid. The structure of hybrid micro-grids introduces a new set of challenges that must be addressed by power converters. Power converters should be able to smoothly operate hybrid micro-grids and manage the interactions between their AC and DC sides. Thus, hybrid micro-grids require power converters with more advanced control systems to perform their desired functions.******My long-term vision for this proposed research program is to develop new power converters that utilize advanced nonlinear control techniques tailored for hybrid micro-grids, which allow them to seamlessly integrate renewable energy sources into the current AC grid infrastructure. Currently, a centralized control paradigm is used to harmonize different components through communication systems. Unfortunately, this approach is unreliable and highly limits the performance of each component within the hybrid micro-grid. In this research program, a decentralized control paradigm will be developed based on the use of a multi-agent hybrid control system that can maximize the performance of power converters and enable hybrid micro-grids to operate robustly. The proposed hybrid micro-grids will provide reliable and efficient electricity in both populated and remote areas, making it well-suited towards the vast geography of Canada. This research program will train HQP (2 PhD, and 5 MSc) for high-quality jobs in the fast-growing energy sector and bring Canada to the forefront of hybrid micro-grid technology.