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1. Implementation of CVR in Distribution Networks by Optimal Coordination of BESS and PV Inverters Using Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm

   https://doi.org/10.1109/NAPS52732.2021.9654489  

   Ahanch, Mojtaba ; McCann, Roy ( November 2021 , IEEE Green Technologies Conference (GreenTech))

   This article proposes a new framework for the substation demand reduction and power loss minimization in distribution networks by implementing conservation voltage reduction (CVR) strategy. The proposed framework coordinates Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Smart PV inverters and voltage control devices -including OLTC and voltage regulators- so that the substation demand and network power loss are reduced while the service voltage range meets the IEEE 1547 standard (120-114 V). The suggested CVR strategy is applied to the IEEE 34-bus case study system consisting of two PV generations and BESS. The smart PV inverters are controlled based on the combined Volt/VArVolt/Watt (VVW) characteristics scheme. Also, BESS is charged and discharged with regard to the time and peaks have control modes, respectively. The Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) is implemented in MATLAB scripts for solving the optimization problem. Power flow studies are carried out using OpenDSS software. Results reveal that the new framework can achieve higher substation demand reduction considering the concurrent control of PVs and BESS. 

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2. UV‐induced degradation of high‐efficiency silicon PV modules with different cell architectures

   https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3606  

   Sinha, Archana ; Qian, Jiadong ; Moffitt, Stephanie L. ; Hurst, Katherine ; Terwilliger, Kent ; Miller, David C. ; Schelhas, Laura T. ; Hacke, Peter ( July 2022 , Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications)

   Degradation from ultraviolet (UV) radiation has become prevalent in the front of solar cells due to the introduction of UV‐transmitting encapsulants in photovoltaic (PV) module construction. Here, we examine UV‐induced degradation (UVID) in various commercial, unencapsulated crystalline silicon cell technologies, including bifacial silicon heterojunction (HJ), interdigitated back contact (IBC), passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC), and passivated emitter rear totally diffused (PERT) solar cells. We performed UV exposure tests using UVA‐340 fluorescent lamps at 1.24 W·m⁻²(at 340 nm) and 45°C through 4.02 MJ·m⁻²(2000 h). Our results showed that modern cell architectures are more vulnerable to UVID, leading to a significant power decrease (−3.6% on average; −11.8% maximum) compared with the conventional aluminum back surface field (Al‐BSF) cells (<−1% on average). The power degradation is largely caused by the decrease in short‐circuit current and open‐circuit voltage. A greater power decrease is observed in bifacial cells with rear‐side exposure compared with those with front‐side exposure, indicating that the rear side is more susceptible to UV damage. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) confirmed an increase in hydrogen concentration near the Si/passivation interface in HJ and IBC cells after UV exposure; the excess of hydrogen could result in hydrogen‐induced degradation and subsequently cause higher recombination losses. Additionally, surface oxidation and hot‐carrier damage were identified in PERT cells. Using a spectral‐based analysis, we obtained an acceleration factor of 5× between unpackaged cells (containing a silicon nitride antireflective coating on the front) in the UV test and an encapsulated module (with the front glass and encapsulant blocking 90% of the UV at 294 nm and 353 nm, respectively) in outdoor conditions. From the analytical calculations, we show that a UV‐blocking encapsulant can reduce UV transmission in the module by an additional factor of ~50.

    

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3. Addressing Abrupt PV Disturbances, and Mitigating Net Load Profile’s Ramp and Peak Demands, Using Distributed Storage Devices

   https://doi.org/10.3390/en13051024  

   Sharma, Roshan ; Karimi-Ghartemani, Masoud ( March 2020 , Energies)

   At high penetration level of photovoltaic (PV) generators, their abrupt disturbances (caused by moving clouds) cause voltage and frequency perturbations and increase system losses. Meanwhile, the daily irradiation profile increases the slope in the net-load profile, for example, California duck curve, which imposes the challenge of quickly bringing on-line conventional generators in the early evening hours. Accordingly, this paper presents an approach to achieve two objectives: (1) address abrupt disturbances caused by PV generators, and (2) shape the net load profile. The approach is based on employing battery energy storage (BES) systems coupled with PV generators and equipped with proper controls. The proposed BES addresses these two issues by realizing flexible power ramp-up and ramp-down rates by the combined PV and BES. This paper presents the principles, modeling and control design aspects of the proposed system. A hybrid dc/ac study system is simulated and the effectiveness of the proposed BES in reducing the impacts of disturbances on both the dc and ac subsystems is verified. It is then shown that the proposed PV-BES modifies the daily load profile to mitigate the required challenge for quickly bringing on-line synchronous generators. 

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4. Photovoltaic Response of Thin-Film CdTe Solar Cells under Accelerated Neutron Radiation in a TRIGA Reactor

   Powell, Kaden ; Lund, Matthew ; Wang, Meng-Jen ; Qian, Yang ; Magginetti, David ; Reese, Matthew ; Cazalas, Edward ; Sjoden, Glenn ; Yoon, Heayoung ( June 2020 , Electronic Materials Symposium)

   Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells are a promising photovoltaic (PV) technology for producing power in space owing to their high-efficiency (> 22.1 %), potential for specific power, and cost-effective manufacturing processes. In contrast to traditional space PVs, the high-Z (atomic number) CdTe absorbers can be intrinsically robust under extreme space radiation, offering long-term stability. Despite these advantages, the performance assessment of CdTe solar cells under high-energy particle irradiation (e.g., photons, neutrons, charged particles) is limited in the literature, and their stability is not comprehensively studied. In this work, we present the PV response of n-CdS / p-CdTe PVs under accelerated neutron irradiation. We measure PV properties of the devices at different neutron/photon doses. The equivalent dose deposited in the CdTe samples is simulated with deterministic and Monte Carlo radiation transport methods. Thin-film CdTe solar cells were synthesized on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate (≈ 4 cm × 4 cm). CdS:O (≈ 100 nm) was reactively RF sputtered in an oxygen/argon ambient followed by a close-spaced sublimation deposition of CdTe (≈ 3.5 μm) in an oxygen/helium ambient. The sample was exposed to a 10 min vapor CdCl2 in oxygen/helium ambient at 430˚C. The samples were exposed to a wet CuCl2 solution prior to anneal 200ºC. A gold back-contact was formed on CdTe via thermal evaporation. The final sample contains 16 CdTe devices. For neutron irradiation, we cleaved the CdTe substrate into four samples and exposed two samples to ≈ 90 kW reactor power neutron radiation for 5.5 hours and 8.2 hours, respectively, in our TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) reactor. We observed a noticeable color change of the glass substrates to brown after the neutron/gamma reactor exposure. Presumably, the injected high-energy neutrons caused the breaking of chemical bonds and the displacement of atoms in the glass substrates, creating point defects and color centers. The I-V characteristics showed noticeable deterioration with over 8 hour radiations. Specifically, the saturation current of the control devices was ≈ 25 nA increasing to 1 μA and 10 μA for the 5.5-hour and 8.2-hour radiated samples, respectively. The turn-on voltage of the control devices (≈ 0.85 V) decreased with the irradiated sample (≈ 0.75 V for 5.5-hour and ≈ 0.5 V for 8.2-hour exposures), implying noticeable radiation damage occurred at the heterojunction. The higher values of the ideality factor for irradiated devices (n > 2.2) compared to that of the control devices (n ≈ 1.3) also support the deterioration of the p-n junction. We observed the notable decrease in shunt resistance (RSH) and the increase in series resistance (Rs) with the neutron dose. It is possible that Cu ions introduced during the CuCl2 treatment may migrate into CdTe grain boundaries (GBs). The presence of Cu ions at GBs can create additional leakage paths for photocarrier transport, deteriorating the overall PV performance. We estimated the radiation dose of CdTe in comparison to Si (conventional PV) using a UUTR model (e.g., MCNP6 2D UTR Reactor simulations). In this model, we simulated Si and CdTe at the center point of the triangular fuel lattice and used an “unperturbed flux” tally in the water. Our simulations yielded a dose rate of 6916 Gy/s of neutrons and 16 Gy/s of photons for CdTe, and 1 Gy/s of neutrons and 21 Gy/s of photons for Si (doses +/- <1%). The large dose rate of neutrons in CdTe is mainly attributed to the large thermal neutron absorption cross-section of 113Cd. Based on this estimation, we calculate that the exposure of our CdTe PVs is equivalent to several million years in LEO (Low-Earth Orbit), or about 10,000 years for Si in LEO. Currently, we are working on a low-dose neutron/photon radiation on CdTe PVs and their light I-Vs and microstructural characterizations to gain better understanding on the degradation of CdTe PVs. 

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5. Hybrid AC Transmission System with Back-to-Back Converter Configuration and MTDC Operation Considering PV Energy Integration

   https://doi.org/10.1109/eGRID52793.2021.9662161  

   Ahanch, Mojtaba ; McCann, Roy ; Mantooth, Alan ( November 2021 , 2021 6th IEEE Workshop on the Electronic Grid (eGRID))

   MMC-based back-to-back (B2B) converters are promising for hybrid AC/DC transmission systems when integrating large scale PV sources. This paper proposes a novel configuration for hybrid AC transmission systems with B2B converters and multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) operation which facilitates the integration of PV energy and enhances the system stability and reliability. This is achieved by an advanced interconnection with two operation modes: 1-A bi-directional power flow via AC connections, and 2- Direct active power injection to the MTDC from PV source. Conventional outer, inner and capacitor voltage balancing control systems are utilized in this study for regulating the currents and voltages of B2B converter. Also, The Perturb and observe (P and O) technique is implemented for obtaining maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of the PV generation considering a dc-dc boost converter. The efficacy of this proposed configuration is verified through time-domain simulations carried out by MATLAB/SIMULINK. 

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