Control-Based Two-Layer Protection for Short-Circuit Fault at an LVDC Feeder Branch

Yang, Jiajun; Brueske, Sebastian; Buticchi, Giampaolo; Gu, Chunyang; Guenter, Sandro; Wheeler, Pat

Abstract

Low-voltage dc distribution offers high efficiency for grid integration of dc-based technologies such as photovoltaic and battery storage systems and new loads such as charging stations for electric vehicles due to reduced number of conversion stages. However, the selection of protection devices, protection coordination and selectivity is still subject to research. This work proposes to use a two-layer protection technique utilizing the control capability of power converters in case of a short-circuit fault at branch level of a low voltage dc feeder. The first layer is limiting the bus current using a virtual resistance in the droop control to avoid tripping of the grid-forming converter. The second layer implements a soft fuse tripping technique for selectivity. The control concept is presented and the system stability is analyzed using impedance-based stability analysis. Experimental results on a hardware-in-the-loop setup verify the findings.

Citation

Yang, J., Brueske, S., Buticchi, G., Gu, C., Guenter, S., & Wheeler, P. (2022). Control-Based Two-Layer Protection for Short-Circuit Fault at an LVDC Feeder Branch. Energies, 15(11), Article 4054. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15114054

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 17, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 17, 2022
• Journal: Energies
• Electronic ISSN: 1996-1073
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 11
• Article Number: 4054
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en15114054
• Keywords: Energy (miscellaneous); Energy Engineering and Power Technology; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Control and Optimization; Engineering (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8310130
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/11/4054