ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF ELECTRIC SPRING AS A TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SMART LOADS

Abstract

Renewable energy sources (RESs) would constitute 20% of our electricity requirements by 2040. However, intermittency associated with RESs poses questions of grid instability and power imbalance between generation and demand. This thesis utilizes power electronics technology to make smarter loads so that they can manage intermittency without disruption of services, using the concept of electric spring (ES). This thesis explores more about how the ES can be controlled and utilized to create smart loads. The operating principles, behaviour, and performance of the ES for voltage regulation are formulated using mathematical, theoretical, and experimental analysis. Also, a novel control scheme for simultaneous power factor correction and voltage regulation is introduced and validated through simulation and hardware-in-loop studies. Further, a novel control scheme is developed for tapping the potential of motor loads and a new generation of smarter motor drives are created.