Title:  Impact of Increasing Amounts of Distributed Generation on Transient Behavior of the Distribution System

Committee:

Dr. Ronald Harley, ECE, Chair , Advisor

Dr. Maryam Saeedifard, ECE

Dr. Thomas Habetler, ECE

Dr. Lucas Graber, ECE

Dr. Rhett Mayor, ME

Abstract:

The objective of this research is to investigate the transient behavior of distribution feeders with high PV penetration levels and under different external conditions. The different external conditions include variable solar irradiance, different kinds of faults, sudden changes in type and amount of load, and changes in characteristics of the distribution system. In order to achieve the objective of the research, two actual feeder models that are located in the Northeast and Southeast parts of the United States are obtained from the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Application Center (NEETRAC, Project No. 13-257). In order to investigate the transient behavior of a distribution feeder with 120% PV penetration (i.e. more power generation than consumed by loads in the feeder), the IEEE 13 Node Test Feeder is modeled in Matlab/Simulink. A PV system with user interface is developed in Matlab/Simulink that meets grid requirements of IEEE 1547. The PV system can be customized within the user interface to match different PV generation levels, and multiple PV systems can be deployed at different nodes of the IEEE 13 Node Circuit. Finally, an energy storage system model is developed in Matlab/Simulink with virtual inertia emulation capability. This energy storage system stores excess energy from PV systems when a fault occurs on the external grid that results in isolation of the feeder from the grid. Its virtual inertia emulation capability helps the PV systems in the feeder to ride through frequency deviations and continue to supply power to the loads in the feeder.