Power Quality Issues Produced by Embedded

Storage Technologies in Smart Grid Environment

Ramona VATU Oana CEAKI Monica MANCASI Radu PORUMB George SERITAN
University Politehnica of University Politehnica of University Politehnica of University Politehnica
University Politehnica of
Bucharest, Faculty Bucharest, Faculty Bucharest, Faculty of Bucharest, Faculty
Bucharest, Faculty
Energetica, Department of Energetica, Department of Energetica, Department of Energetica,Electrotehnica
Electric Power Systems Electric Power Systems Electric Power Systems Department of Electric
Department of
vatu.ramona@gmail.com ceaki.oana@yahoo.com monica.mancasi@gmail Power Systems
Measurements, Electrical
.com radu.porumb@upb.ro Apparatus and Static
Converters
george.seritan@upb.ro
accurately identify the current state-of-art of storage systems.
Abstract- The advancement of new storage technologies is a This paper addressed the issue of simulation studies for safe
powerful driver for a wide smart grids adoption by both deployment of cutting-edge electricity storage technologies
electricity utilities and customers. However, the relative novelty within electric distribution systems. The simulation results
of these technologies is posing a threat to their adequacy for
electric distribution systems operation. In spite of the clear were assessed according with electric power quality
advantages brought by storage devices, such as fast response, standards, in order to build a comprehensive picture of the
reserve, resilience, fault ride-through capability and great help storage systems adequacy within smart grids.
for electric system dispatchers, storage technology bears some
disadvantages regarding early stage for deployment and power
quality-related inadequacies. This paper addressed the issue of II. ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
simulation studies for safe deployment of cutting-edge electricity
storage technologies within electric distribution systems. The An important feature of electricity is that it cannot be
simulation results were assessed according with electric power stored directly. The power supply must continuously be
quality standards, in order to build a comprehensive picture of balanced with the demand. Constant balance between supply
the storage systems adequacy within smart grids. and demand involves operational consequences and
Index Terms--Electric distribution system, power quality, significant costs, so there must be sufficient generating
smart grids, storage. capacity to provide the highest level of demand, even if it will
be necessary for short periods of time [4].
I. INTRODUCTION Energy storage technologies include applications in a broad
Electricity storage is an ensconced concept but relatively spectrum of power systems technologies, ranging from power
unexploited. The communications industry and information quality control to energy management. Depending on the
processing technologies are essential platforms for energy main application of storage system, energy storage can be
storage technology driving to reliable performance of the seen as a source of production, support for transmission,
grid. Energy storage systems can be leveraged as a resource distribution and the end user. Energy storage offers
for distribution, transmission, production or end user [1]. significant advantages for power system operation control,
Electricity storage offers to alternative energy generation such as improving grid stability, optimizing the transmission
all the advantages of conventional generation such as: grid infrastructure, power quality increase, increased penetration
stability, power quality, improved transmission infrastructure, of renewable sources [5].
plus increases the penetration of renewable sources and wind Energy storage systems can be designed with a broad
power capacity. At the simplest level, energy storage balances portfolio of technologies like pumped storage, compressed air
the fluctuations between the electricity supply and demand storage, batteries, flywheels or super capacitors. Each
[2]. For short period of time, the requirement is primarily the technology has its own performance characteristics that make
voltage control, while for long periods of time the them optimal for certain network services and less for other
requirements become the energy management or energy network applications [6]. This feature of energy storage
supply in case of an unforeseen circumstances [3]. systems to meet the performance requirements of various
The control platform of smart grid must allow the network networks allows, also, to the same storage system to provide
operator to undertake action of power balance, effective from multiple services. These characteristics provide storage
the economic point of view, using the storage systems during systems greater operational flexibility that cannot be matched
periods of peak load curve. Economic efficiency of these by other network sources such as gas turbines or diesel
actions is based on calculations to optimize the production generators.
sources and on the voluntary control of the load at the same In figure 1 are presented the energy storage systems and the
time with an appropriate management of the congestion. In relationship between the rated power and energy stored.
the first section, a general analysis was performed, aiming to

978-1-4673-9682-0/15/$31.00 ©2015 European Union

 Choosing the proper system can be based on several and economical – by integrating energy resources with
factors, such as: storage capacity needed, the minimum period different operating profiles [9].
of storage, the loading and discharging conditions, the type of From a broader perspective, it can see that power quality
offset fluctuations, the energy density required, the necessary assurance is somehow a premise for efficiency increase in the
lifetime, the minimum number of cycles and power system production and transmission of electricity.
properties [7]. For current power systems deviations from normality can
be represented by:
• voltage level fluctuation;
100
SMES
1s
• frequency fluctuation;
1m • harmonic distortion;
10 • transient overvoltage;
FW: LS • unbalance load;
FW: HS
Power [MW]

• reactive loads [10].

1 As a result of disturbance in the system (short circuits,
UPS VRLA voltage dips, disconnecting power plants or major variations
SC Battery of consumption) has as consequences the loss of production
0.1
source, and hence the system stability. Depending on the
amount of disconnected power, the network condition may
0.01
0.1 1 10 100 1000 get worse or in some cases can lead to serious problems of
Energy storage [MWs] stability.
Fig.1 − Relation between the rated power and energy The emergence of harmonic currents in the power system is
storage for different energy storage devices
due to the non – linear loads. Another cause of emergence of
harmonic signals is the use of inverters for the conversion of
Energy storage represents an important technology for DC in AC, whose commutation cannot generate a perfect
power system with a high share of renewable sources, sinusoid.
whereas allows storing energy when this sources are available Power quality is a major concern in the electric network,
and its use at demand [8]. especially nowadays when the power converters producing
harmonics are increasingly common in all industries and in
the residential sector [11].
Flattening the
The energy storage devices have inherent interface with the
load curve
distribution system via inverters. These devices are prone to
produce harmonic distortion of current and voltage.

Back up RES IV. STUDY CASE

Integration
SSE
In order to perform a thorough analysis of the energy
storage systems, a distribution network was design using
ETAP program.
Energy storage can be achieved through several methods,
Transmission Ancillary but the chosen solution for the analysis is the usage of
and services batteries, where from technical – economical considerations,
distribution
connection to the network is via bidirectional system that
provides the battery charging and discharging, in an optimal
cycle. The analysis was performed in several steps, including
Fig.2 − The benefits of energy storage systems. voltage level assessment, power flow, short – circuit
In figure 2 are presented the benefits bought by the storage calculation and the harmonics level.
systems on power system. These are feed traditionally at 20 kV through a 630 kVA
transformer, with an alternative option of batteries system.
III. POWER QUALITY The network shown in Figure 3 represents a real – life
model of a distribution network that includes storage systems,
The importance of power quality issues will increase with electric car parking, electrical vehicles and linear and non –
the energy systems decentralization, gaining, also, different linear loads.
valence of the specific power system, both in terms of the
energy market – competition between producers/suppliers
will require high quality standards – and in terms of technical
 Fig. 5. Harmonic spectrum of network nodes

In figure 5 is represented the harmonic analysis of voltages

on the system bars. It can be observed the presence of
harmonics which are characteristic of three – phase inverters
with double bridge.

Fig. 3. Software model of the real-life electric test-network

The network shown in Figure 3 represents a real – life

model of a distribution network that includes energy storage,
linear and non – linear loads electric car parking and
electrical vehicles.

Figure 6 The individual voltage waveform

In figure 6 is presented the voltage waveform. It can be

seen that the voltage pattern of the waveform is similar for all
buses. This behavior shows that regardless of smart
technology used differently in different cases, its impact
concerning the voltage is similar, which allows
implementation of wide range of technologies to improve
power quality. These technologies, reliable and scalable can
reduce the plants costs; improve energy efficiency, enhancing
the security of electricity supply to users.

Fig. 4. Power flow analysis

Table 1: Power flow results

Voltage P Q
Bus ID
[%] [kW] [kVAr]
Bus 1 100 29.431 31.532
Bus 2 99.73 29.366 31.433
Bus 9 96.98 15.022 23.514
Bus 11 98.63 12.75 7.902 Fig. 7. The current waveform

After performing the power flow calculation, it can be seen Figure 7 represent the current waveform. It can be notice
in Table 1 that the voltage on both the 20 kV and 0.4 kV is that the model is similar with voltage pattern. The waveform
within tolerable limits. It can be seen that the voltage level on pattern represents a three – phase inverters with double bridge
bus 9 is critical, reaching the value of 96.98 %. due to the non – linear loads.
 The Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) is less than 8 %.

Fig. 10. DC power flow

Fig. 8. Power flow analysis

Figure 10 represents the power flow analysis on the DC

Figure 8 represents the power flow analysis when the
network. The storage systems supply power to the electric car
batteries are discharging.
parking and, thus, the electric vehicles are charging.
Table 2: Power flow results
Voltage P Q V. CONCLUSION
Bus ID
[%] [kW] [kVAr] This paper aimed at building a framework for the
Bus 1 100 14.389 23.513 undergraduate and post-graduate electrical engineers that
Bus 2 99.83 16.428 23.577 must address the domain of smart grids, with special interests
Bus 9 97.08 15.028 23.561 in storage systems influence on power quality. It was built
Bus 11 100 2.069 0.103 based on a real electric distribution network and was assessed
according with technological approach of calculating
After performing the power flow calculation with batteries complex analytical electric systems behavior. This paper
discharging, it can be seen in Table 2 that the voltage on both focused on the possible solution for improvement the power
the 20 kV and 0.4 kV is within tolerable limits. On bus 11 the quality for the future smart electricity networks.
voltage reaches the 100 % value, while, the voltage on bus 9 The case-study concentrated on delivering a close view of
increased very few. various smart technologies into an classic electric distribution
system. This encompases a very sensible design of the
electrical network and paying close attention to its operation
mode and the ways in which the power quality is influenced.
The whole analysis was achieved by using the integration of
various technologies, which proved to have significant
importance in improving the harmonic distortion indexes and
reduction in reactive power flow.
Future improvements of this issue will entail an economic
assessment of the proposed solution, in order to rend it
compatible with current economic practices in the field of
electric power systems management.

Fig. 9 Current waveform

In figure 9 is represented the current waveform in the case
of batteries discharge. The green waveform pattern differs
from the voltage pattern because of the batteries that are
discharging and inject power in the distribution network. The
blue waveform represents a three – phase inverters with
double bridge due to the non – linear loads and the green
waveform represents a twelve – pulse inverter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The work has been funded by the Sectorial Operational
Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013 of
the Ministry of the European Funds through the Financial
Agreement POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132395 and by the financing
contract for construction projects no. 241 I/1.10.2013, the
name of program PN II: CAPACITY, Type: module III-
project Co-financing Romanian participation at the program
PC 7, project title: large-scale Integration of Renewable
resources, Smart and sustainable Electrical type Insular-
SiNGULAR.

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