| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/F066945/1 |
| Title: |
MITIGATION TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING POWER QUALITY OF LOW VOLTAGE NETWORKS WITH HIGH PENETRATION OF MICRO-GENERATION |
| Principal Investigator: |
Aung, Dr MT |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Electronic and Electrical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Bath |
| Scheme: |
First Grant Scheme |
| Starts: |
01 September 2008 |
Ends: |
31 August 2011 |
Value (£): |
302,155
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Power Sys Man, Prot & Control |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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16 Apr 2008
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Engineering Systems Panel
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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THE quality of electrical power supplies has deteriorated in recent years due to the growing use of non-linear loads, such as computers, TVs, DVDs, and fluorescent lamps. This deterioration is exacerbated by the increasing amount of micro-generation connected to the network. On top of this, the government has set a target of meeting 20% of the UK's electricity demand from renewable energy and micro-generation by 2020, which will make the problem worse.Poor power quality causes potentially-damaging overheating of expensive network components including transformers, induction motors, generators, phase and neutral conductors. It also causes operational problems with network protection relays and circuit breakers resulting in interruptions to power supplies. It can also damage domestic appliances such as computers, TVs, and DVDs. Most importantly, customers' sensitive equipment may trip or malfunction causing very substantial financial loss. The total cost of poor power quality, in terms of damaged equipment and interrupted business, within the EU and US amounts to 150 billion and $400 billion per annum respectively.EU directives require operators to maintain power-quality disturbances within permissible limits set by the European standard EN 50160. Being able to maintain power quality while expanding micro-generation is thus a critical need. This will require a sophisticated new mitigation technique to:(i) solve a wide range of power-quality problems (ii) facilitate further penetration of micro-generation into the UK's Low-Voltage networks(iii) provide a higher quality of power supply to end usersThis project will research and develop a novel mitigation technique and its control algorithm. The control algorithm will be based on a versatile Pulse-Width-Modulation (PWM) constant-switching-frequency technique. This technique will be (i) faster and more precise in its response to power-quality disturbances than present algorithms, and (ii) compatible with unbalanced and distorted networks (unlike present algorithms). Thus, this will safeguard future power quality.Most of the research will be carried out at the Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution (CSPD) at the University of Bath. Laboratory experiments will be carried out at Eindhoven University of Technology under an agreed collaboration. The control algorithm will be tested on the Mitigation Hardware Device at Dublin Institute of Technology. By using existing facilities in Eindhoven and Dublin the project's cost effectiveness is kept high. The involvement of these institutes ensures strong international collaboration.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bath.ac.uk |