Solar PV-Powered Separately Excited Biogas DC Generator Suitable for Operation in a DC Microgrid

Abstract

This article aims to manifest a new way of the utilization of renewable resources in a distribution network. Solar power acts as a source of excitation in the field winding of a separately excited biogas DC generator for the generation of DC power. The amount of DC power required by the generator’s field winding is supplied by harnessing a minimum amount of solar energy from a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) for the operation of the bio-power generator of a rated capacity of 5 kW. It is observed, that the availability of 5% peak solar power can be utilized for full excitation of the generator and, it is observed that the full load demand at the time around 16:00 pm can be catered only by the bio-generator. In this work, it has been acknowledged that solar power can be effectively used in low insolation. In addition, it has been revealed, no auxiliary power source is needed for the operation of the generator approximately, 330.22 W of DC power is required by the field winding for full excitation of the DC generator. The present research developed a unique way of power management strategy, which can mitigate the delicate problems in a conventional distribution system.

Keywords:

• solar PV
• DC microgrid
• DC–DC converter
• separately excited DC generator

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors are grateful to the Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, IIEST, Shibpur, Howrah, India, and the Department of Electrical Engineering, RCC Institute of Information Technology, Beliaghata, Kolkata, India for the utilization of resources.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tuhin Kumar Barui

Tuhin Kumar Barui was born in 1993, in Kolkata, India. He has received his B. Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from RCC Institute of Information Technology, Kolkata, India in 2017. He completed Post Graduate degree, M. Tech from the Centre of Excellence in Green Energy and Sensor Systems (CEGESS) at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, India in 2020, with the area of specialization in Renewable Energy Sc. & Tech. He has 07 research publications in different international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He also serves as a reviewer of different international publications. He is actively involved with research activities in the field of non-conventional & renewable energy resources and power electronics devices and electrical machines.

Debasish Mondal

Debasish Mondal received his B. Tech and Master of Engineering degrees in 1998 and 2000 from the University of Calcutta and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST), India [Formerly: Bengal Engineering & Science University (BESU)] respectively. He did Ph.D. in Engg. in 2012 from the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIEST. He has around 23 years of teaching and research experience and has 48 research publications in different International Journals, Conferences and Books Chapters. He has also worked for around 06 years as an Assistant Engineer in Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd. (A Govt. of India Enterprise). He actively guides PhD scholars in collaboration with faculty members from other reputed institutions. Besides the above, he has supervised several UG student projects and also guided PG projects. He is the principal author of a book, Power System Small Signal Stability Analysis and Control: Elsevier Sc. & Tech. Publication. He was formerly associated with the Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, India from the year 2006 to 2014. At present he holds a post of Professor in the Dept. of Electrical Engg., RCC Institute of Information Technology, Kolkata, India. He serves as a HOD in the Dept. of Electrical Engg., RCC Institute of Information Technology, from the year 2019 to 2022. He is a member of the editorial team of different international & peer-reviewed journals and acted as a reviewer of reputed international and conferences. Dr. Mondal is a Sr. Member of IEEE and a Life Member of IE (I), ISTE (I) and The Robotic Society (TRS) of India. His active research interests are in the areas like power systems stability, soft computing, robust control, nonlinear control systems, optimal control systems, and the application of IoT.