Power Electronics Questions

on Smart Grids

Q.1) What is Smart Grid and What are its main characteristics?
Answer) The Smart Grid is the modernized electrical grid, a transmission and
distribution infrastructure that is reliable and secure, that can meet future
demand growth, while intelligently responding to behavior and actions of al
electric power users connected to it delivering power in a reliable, efficient,
economic, and sustainable manner.

- Smart Grid main characteristics:

1. Self-Heals: The modern grid will perform continuous self-assessments to

detect, analyze, respond to, and as needed, restore grid components or network
sections.
2. MOTIVATES AND INCLUDES THE CONSUMER: The active participation of
consumers in electricity markets brings tangible benefits to both the grid and the
environment, while reducing the cost of delivered electricity.
3. ACCOMMODATES ALL GENERATION AND STORAGE OPTIONS:
The modern grid will seamlessly integrate many types of electrical generation
and storage systems with a simplified interconnection process analogous to
plug-and-play.
4. OPTIMIZES ASSETS AND OPERATES EFFICIENTLY: The modern grids assets and
its maintenance will be managed in concert with one goal: to deliver desired
functionality at minimum cost.
Q.2) Discuss the definition of Microgrid, its benefits and modes of
operation?
Ans) Microgrid is a discrete energy system consisting of distributed energy
sources (including demand management, storage, and generation) and loads
capable of operating in parallel with, or independently from, the main power
grid.
- Microgrid Benefits:
1. Integrate renewable resources
2. Control of the flow of power
3. Reducing Carbone emissions and reducing losses
4. Reliable against sudden faults
5. The Customer is a part of the grid- The Microgrid has two modes of operation
as follows:
1. Grid Connected Mode: In this mode of operation the Microgrid is connected
to the main electrical grid where the flow power is bi directional from the
Microgrid to the main electrical grid and vice versa based on the load
requirements.
2. Island Mode: In this mode of operation the Microgrid is isolated from the
main electrical grid and only responsible for supplying the loads within the
Microgrid.
Q.3) What is the Function of a Grid-Tie Inverter and what is its typical
operation? Illustrate your answer with a simple circuit diagram.
Ans) The Grid-Tie inverter is used to interface the Microgrid with the main
Electrical grid through converting direct current (DC) electricity into alternating
current (AC) with an ability to synchronize to interface with a utility line. Its
applications are converting DC sources such as solar panels or small wind
turbines into AC for tying with the grid.

- Grid-Tie Inverters Typical Operation:

1. The grid-tie inverter (GTI) must synchronize its frequency with that of the grid
(e.g. 50 or 60 Hz) and limit the voltage to no higher than the grid voltage,
Through an on-board computer which senses the current AC grid waveform, and
outputs a voltage to correspond with the grid.
2. Grid-tie inverters are also designed to quickly disconnect from the grid if the
utility grid goes down. This is an NEC requirement that ensures that in the event
of a blackout, the grid tie inverter will shut down to prevent the energy it
transfers from harming any line workers who are sent to fix the power grid.
1. The Power Electronics Switches used can be MOSFETS or IGBTS.
2. The DC-Link Capacitor is used to filter the ripples in the input DC Voltage
3. The LCL filter is used to reduce the harmonics in the output AC waveform.