IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop Optimization-Based Voltage Control For Power Generation

Guwahati: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati have developed an optimized control scheme for active power distribution networks that can enable the coordinated operation of photovoltaic (PV) power generation and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The focal point of this research is to increase the usage of solar energy for charging electric vehicles by using a coordinated control of the power distribution system that reduces voltage fluctuation.

Dr. Sanjib Ganguly, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (EEE), IIT Guwahati, along with his research scholar Arunima Dutta and colleague Dr. Chandan Kumar, have recently published their research in the prestigious journal of Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks.

Accentuating his research, Dr. Sanjib Ganguly said, "We have developed an optimization-based coordinated voltage control approach of power distribution networks to mitigate the over-voltage and under-voltage problems due to high PV generation and high EV charging, respectively."

A three-stage Model Predictive Control (MPC) approach has been developed by the research team so as to schedule the charging of EVs and other devices.

The three stages involve (a) coordination of the volt-var devices in two different time scales, (b) reception of the reactive power set points by the local controller, and (c) EV charge scheduling in accordance with the balance between the operating cost and customer satisfaction.

The lead researcher said that the three-stage model helps in maintaining bus voltage magnitudes and state-of-charge (SOC) of EV battery within safe limits with minimal usage of control resources and cost of electricity consumption.

The approach developed by the research team also provides a framework for the transition from passive power distribution to active.

''Both solar power generation and EV can enable the transition of power distribution from a passive state (unidirectional flow of power from the grid to the consumer), to an active system wherein there is a bidirectional flow of power from the grid to the point of use, and vice versa,'' IIT Guwahati said in an official statement.

''The approach proposed by Dr. Ganguly and his team will help regulate voltages generated by intermittent PV systems and also paves a way for electric vehicles to take part in the active power distribution scheme,'' the statement added.

It is worth mentioning that the sustainability of electric vehicles (EV) can be enhanced if the power used to charge these vehicles is also based on renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

However, solar energy is intermittent, which leads to voltage fluctuation problems in the power distribution networks.

Further, the charging of EVs is not coordinated at present, which leads to under-voltage of the distribution networks, and associated efficiency loss.

Hence, a coordinated control approach for the power distribution system is needed to extract maximum benefits from renewable power generation and electric vehicle power sourcing.

PV and EV inverters need to work in coordination with other Voltage Regulating Devices (VRD) to regulate the system voltages.

Electric vehicles are being increasingly considered to be the viable alternative and the solution to carbon emissions from the transportation sector.

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