Program Overview

Control of Grid Connected Photovoltaic and Wind Turbine Systems

Module Description

The module focuses on the control of grid-connected photovoltaic and wind turbine systems, covering the operation principles of common PV and WT systems, inverter topologies, pulse width modulation techniques, maximum power point trackers, and control methods for grid-connected inverters.

Prerequisite

The module is based on knowledge achieved when studying the 2nd semester on the Master of Science in Energy Engineering with an electrical specialisation or Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Engineering with specialisation in Offshore Energy Systems or the Master of Science in Advanced Power Electronics.

Content, Progress, and Pedagogy

Learning Objectives

• Understand the operation principle of most common PV and WT systems
• Have knowledge about the most important single- and three-phase inverter topologies, used in renewable energy systems
• Have knowledge about the various pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques used with different inverter topologies
• Understand maximum power point trackers
• Have knowledge about different phase-lock loop (PLL) and control methods, current, voltage and power loops used in control schemes of grid connected inverters
• Have knowledge about grid requirements, standards describing anti-islanding methods, THD limits, etc. that grid connected inverters must comply with

Skills

• Be able to implement different PWM strategies for single- and three-phase converters
• Be able to verify different PLL methods based on laboratory experiments
• Be able to design/tune a control scheme for a grid connected converter

Competences

• Be able to create mathematical models for PV cells, panels and arrays
• Be able to develop simulation models for different PV and WT converter
• Be able to implement a grid connected converter control
• Understand the purpose and methods for grid support by renewable systems

Type of Instruction

The course will be planned and organised in close interaction with on-going research and development activities at the Department of Energy Technology and its collaborators. Project topics are accounted for when determining the course content. Guest lecturers will also be involved if this is relevant to the course aims. All lectures include exercises focusing on the presented material. Some of the exercises will be done using MATLAB and Simulink. Several exercises will be performed in the PV-lab using experimental set-ups, like current control for a grid connected converter using dSPACE 1103.

Extent and Expected Workload

Since it is a 5 ECTS course module, the work load is expected to be 150 hours for the student.

Exam

Exams

• Name of exam: Control of Grid Connected Photovoltaic and Wind Turbine Systems
• Type of exam: Written and oral exam
• Each student should submit all the laboratory exercises in the form of a report.
• The oral examination will be based on the submitted report and the presented material.
• ECTS: 5
• Assessment: 7-point grading scale
• Type of grading: Internal examination
• Criteria of assessment: The criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the Module

• Danish title: Regulering af nettilsluttede solcelle-og vindmřllesystemer
• Module code: N-EE-K3-14
• Module type: Course
• Duration: 1 semester
• Semester: Autumn
• ECTS: 5
• Language of instruction: English
• Empty-place Scheme: Yes
• Location of the lecture: Campus Aalborg, Campus Esbjerg
• Responsible for the module: Tamas Kerekes
• Used in: Curriculum for the Master of Science (MSc) Programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering 2017, Curriculum for the Master of Science (MSc) Programme in Energy Engineering 2017, Curriculum for the Master's Programme in Advanced Power Electronics 2019

Organisation

• Study Board: Study Board of Energy
• Department: Department of Energy
• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Science