Influence of Control Modes of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Generation on Grid Power Flow

Zakaria Al-Omari

Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.

DOI: 10.4236/eng.2014.613083                

Abstract

Integration of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) generation into an existing distribution system has many impacts on the system, with the power flow being one of the major issues. This impact is not generic for any network, but it may manifest itself either positively or negatively, depending on the grid configuration, interface control modes, operation mode, and load profile. Grid-connected PV systems have three control options of the local voltage controller of the interface DC-AC converter. These control modes are Power Factor control, voltage control, and Droop Voltage control. This paper aims at evaluating and comparing the impacts of those control modes on the grid power flow. A set of evaluation criteria and indices is defined and mathematically formulated. Based on the requirements of the used program (Power Factory Dig Silent V14.1.3), a computation plan (algorithm) has been proposed. The algorithm has been applied to a typical weak network and a wide range of simulations has been carried out. Simulation results have been thoroughly discussed and important findings have been concluded.

Keywords

Grid-Connected PV, Control Modes, Power Flow, Power Factory Dig Silent Software

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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