Last updated Aug. 2021
Anastasia Sampani (ECE 2013, currently at Enel Group) specified and simulated the operation of direct current relays for the procurement and offer of active power response for frequency control by photovoltaic (PV) string inverters. As resources with zero inertia (as PV) are widely deployed in modern grids, their role in supporting system stability becomes critical. This study, resulting in a IEEE Trans. on Sustainable Energy paper, is an effort in that direction.
Ilias Sarantakos, PhD (ECE 2013, currently at the University of Newcastle) simulated the effects of aggregating loads as regulating reserve for frequency control. Thermal loads of large industries when curtailed to reduce the strain on peak conditions are not actively controlled to better serve grid stability. Ilias tested the potential of both primary and secondary frequency control from such assets.
Marina Katsampani (ECE 2010, currently at General Electric) explored to which extent a hybrid system comprising a variable wind generator and a hydro-electric power plant could improve the performance of their combined frequency response. The low-frequency volatility of wind generator output and the hydraulic shock of fast hydro-electric power plant response are issues that could be complementarily handled with proper control action.
Efstratios Taxeidis (EP&EM 2010, currently at BKW AG) tested whether wind generator volatility can be handled with storage and their combined profile can guarantee an active power regulation service under varying wind conditions. Although recently (early 2020s) battery costs have significantly dropped making value cases like arbitrage very profitable, at the time of the study, the specific hybrid had a viable prospect only if multiple ancillary services could be stacked up for additional revenue streams.
Eleni Pavlidou (ECE 2010, currently at Cundall), Athanassios Xanthopoulos (ECE 2010, currently at Boehringer Ingelheim) and Merlinda Andoni, PhD (ECE 2010, currently at Heriot-Watt University) assessed the various methods to procure reserves and perform frequency response by variable speed variable pitch wind generators. The typical control of such generators for maximum power tracking does not allow their response to frequency deviations (which indicate generation loss or sharp demand increases). Hence, the way wind generators are ‘deloaded’ or ‘spill’ some of their aerodynamic potential is critical in their contribution to support grid stability through frequency response.
L-R: Eleni, Athanassions and Merlinda.