Network Loss Analysis of Low-Voltage Low Power DC Microgrids for Rural Electrification
erik.solvesonNetwork Loss Analysis of Low-Voltage Low Power DC Microgrids for Rural Electrification
Primary Author: Rabia Khan
Faculty Sponsor: Noel Schulz
Primary College/Unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Category: Engineering and Environmental Science
Campus: Pullman
Abstract:
Principal topic
The topic is “Network Loss Analysis of Low-Voltage Low Power DC Microgrids for Rural Electrification”. Millions of people around the globe are suffering from energy poverty, particularly the inhabitants of Africa and South-East Asia. Electrification through national grids is cost-prohibitive with limited power generation sources in the third world countries. The low voltage, low-power islanded DC microgrids are a practical option for rural electrification.
Method
In this research work, the detailed network loss analysis of four different microgrid architectures is performed using the modified Newton-Raphson power flow for DC systems. These architectures include, 1) Centralized generation centralized storage (CGCS), 2) Centralized generation distributed storage (CGDS), 3) Distributed generation centralized storage (DGCS), and 4) Distributed generation distributed storage (DGDS), which are implemented with both radial and ring interconnection schemes using time-varying load demand and PV generation.
Results/implications
Comparative performance analysis of these architectures is done using the modified Newton-Raphson power flow method at different low-voltage levels and conductor sizes. The DGDS architecture with ring interconnection is the most efficient and reliable with an advantage of scalability, usage diversity, and mutual resource sharing capability. However, ring interconnection requires extra conductors, which increase the cost. So, a tradeoff between conductor size, voltage level, cost, interconnection scheme, and reliability is to be made while selecting the components for the microgrid architecture. The efficiency of systems is higher for conductors with lower AWG sizes but it is more expensive. So, trade-off between conductor size, voltage level, cost, interconnection scheme, and reliability is important.