Reconfigurable DC Links for Restructuring Existing Medium Voltage AC Distribution Grids

Figures & data

TABLE 1. Challenges in existing AC grids and opportunities for DC-based system.

Challenges	Research opportunities
Increasing demand	Capacity enhancement
	Efficiency enhancement
Integrating green energy resources	AC vs DC interconnections
	EV–PV–Storage nano-grids
	Converter topologies
Meshing and redundancy	Hardware reconfigurability
	Network reconfiguration
	Fault reconfiguration
Operational flexibility	Control reconfigurability
	Ancillary services
	Big data analytics

FIGURE 1. Capacity enhancement with 3 × monopolar DC links from a three-phase AC link operating at a unity power factor.

FIGURE 2. Reconfigurable DC links for bulk power transmission into the city collection center.

FIGURE 3. Hardware reconfiguration for a modular AC–DC operation of underground cables.

FIGURE 4. Network restructuring using reconfigurable DC links.

FIGURE 5. Fault coordination with reconfigurable DC links.

FIGURE 6. Phase-to-phase interlinking with reconfigurable DC links.