Decision Process for Identifying Appropriate Devices for Power Transfer between Voltage Levels in Distribution Grids

Nassipkul Dyussembekova (), Reiner Schütt, Ingmar Leiße and Bente Ralfs
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Nassipkul Dyussembekova: Institute for the Transformation of the Energy System (ITE), Fachhochschule Westküste—University of Applied Sciences, Markt 18, D-25746 Heide, Germany
Reiner Schütt: Institute for the Transformation of the Energy System (ITE), Fachhochschule Westküste—University of Applied Sciences, Markt 18, D-25746 Heide, Germany
Ingmar Leiße: Department of Energy and Life Science, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, D-24943 Flensburg, Germany
Bente Ralfs: Institute for the Transformation of the Energy System (ITE), Fachhochschule Westküste—University of Applied Sciences, Markt 18, D-25746 Heide, Germany

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: During the energy transition, new types of electrical equipment, especially power electronic devices, are proposed to increase the flexibility of electricity distribution grids. One type is the solid-state transformer (SST), which offers excellent possibilities to improve the voltage quality in electricity distribution grids and integrate hybrid AC/DC grids. This paper compares SST to conventional copper-based power transformers (CPT) with and without an on-load tap changer (OLTC) and with additional downstream converters. For this purpose, a corresponding electricity distribution grid is set up in the power system analysis tool DIgSILENT PowerFactory 2022. A DC generator like a photovoltaic system, a DC load like an electric vehicle fast charging station, and an AC load are connected. Based on load flow simulations, the four power transformers are compared concerning voltage stability during a generator-based and a load-based scenario. The results of load flow simulations show that SSTs are most valuable when additional generators and loads are to be connected to the infrastructure, which would overload the existing grid equipment. The efficiency of using SSTs also depends on the parameters of the electrical grid, especially the lengths of the low-voltage (LV) lines. In addition, a flowchart-based decision process is proposed to support the decision-making process for the appropriate power transformer from an electrical perspective. Beyond these electrical properties, an evaluation matrix lists other relevant criteria like characteristics of the installation site, noise level, expected lifetime, and economic criteria that must be considered.

Keywords: DC distribution; voltage control; load flow simulation; solid-state transformer; copper-based power transformer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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