Neural network-based active power curtailment for overvoltage prevention in low voltage feeders

  • Authors:

  • Wai Kean Yap;Lisa Havas;Elizabeth Overend;Vishy Karri

  • Affiliations:

  • Centre for Renewable Energy, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia;Centre for Renewable Energy, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia;Centre for Renewable Energy, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia and Power and Water Corporation, Ben Hammond Complex, Stuart ...;Centre for Renewable Energy, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia and Australian College of Kuwait, P.O. Box 1411, Safat 13015, ...

  • Venue:
  • Expert Systems with Applications: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2014

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Abstract

As non-controllable and intermittent power sources, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems can contribute to overvoltage in low voltage (LV) distribution feeders during periods of high solar generation and low load where there exists a possibility of reverse power flow. Overvoltage is usually prevented by conservatively limiting the penetration level of PV, even if these critical periods rarely occur. This is the current policy implemented in the Northern Territory, Australia, where a modest system limit of 4.5kW/house was imposed. This paper presents an active power curtailment (APC) strategy utilizing artificial neural networks techniques. The inverter active power is optimized to prevent any overvoltage conditions on the LV feeder. A residential street located in Alice Springs was identified as a case study for this paper. Simulation results demonstrated that overvoltage conditions can be eliminated and made to comply with the Australian Standards AS60038 and AS4777 by incorporating the proposed predictive APC control. In addition, the inverter downtime due to overvoltage trips was eliminated to further reduce the total power losses in the system.