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Symmetrical components and power analysis for a two-phase microgrid

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Conference Paper · February 2014

DOI: 10.1109/PECI.2014.6804548

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 Symmetrical Components and Power Analysis for a
Two-phase Microgrid System
M. Alibeik*, E. C. dos Santos Jr.*, and F. Blaabjerg**
*Purdue School of Engineering and Technology
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
**Aalborg University, Denmark
e-mail: malibeik@iupui.edu, eudossan@iupui.edu, fbl@et.aau.dk

Abstract- This paper presents a mathematical In the modern society, the utility grid is supposed to
model for the symmetrical components and power guarantee load management, demand side management,
analysis of a new microgrid system consisting of as well as to use the market price of electricity and
three wires and two voltages in quadrature, which forecasting of energy (e.g., based on wind and solar
is designated as a two-phase microgrid. The two- renewable sources) in order to optimize the whole dis-
phase microgrid presents the following advantages: tribution system [4]. An electric power system requires
1) constant power through the power line at balanced several goals in its optimized operation [5], such as
condition; 2) two voltages available by using a three- high efficiency, high availability, good quality of service
wire system; 3) optimized voltage utilization com- and high level of security [6]. Those objectives can be
pared to a three-phase system; and 4) a direct connec-
tion of both symmetrical two-phase and single-phase
machines. Unlike the unbalanced three-phase system,
which can be represented by three sets of symmetrical
components, the unbalanced two-phase system is
broken up into only two symmetrical components.
Simulation results are employed to demonstrate the
feasibility of the theoretical study.

I. I NTRODUCTION C
The current research dealing with microgrid has been
developed considering the electric power systems avail-
able today, such as dc, ac single-phase and mainly
ac three-phase systems. However, the first poly-phase
electric power system used two phases with a 90 degree C
phase difference, and it was employed during the early
1890s [1]. Westinghouse Electric Corporation employed
a two-phase generator for the first ac powerhouse with C C
25Hz at Niagara Falls when operations started in 1895
[2]. At that time, the use of a two-phase system was C
motivated by the conviction that it would provide satis-
factory voltage regulation [3]. In 1898, the Pacific Light
and Power Company installed two-phase generators near Power line:
Los Angeles, CA [1]. Since the development of the - Three-phase
- Two-phase
three-phase induction motor with its inherent advantages - Single-phase
over the other types of machines, the three-phase system
has become the standard commercial type of service Fig. 1. Microgrid environment highlighting the physical electrical
provided by electric companies. link of different sources and loads. C stands for power converter.

978-1-4799-4881-9/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE

obtained in the new power distribution systems through symmetrical components and power analysis of the
advances in control, communication and information two-phase microgrid system.The method of symmetrical
technology, as well as extensive use of power electronics components was first developed for dealing with unbal-
[7]. Notice that the power line type is not necessarily anced three-phase systems in 1918 by C. L. Fortescue
defined anymore by a centralized generation unit that [14].
delivers the same type of energy to all loads connected
to it, as it used to be in the first poly-phase electric II. P OWER A NALYSIS
power system at Niagara Falls. Actually this arrangement
For a two-phase power system, instantaneous voltages
has lasted for more than 100 years. Now the power
vα and vβ and instantaneous currents iα and iβ can be
distribution process goes through electronic devices that
expressed as instantaneous space vectors v and i, given
allow more flexibility regarding how the electric link is
respectively by:
defined. [ ] [ ]
Fig. 1 shows a microgrid being fed by a strong energy vα iα
v= and i = (1)
source (e.g. wind farm) as well as weak energy sources vβ iβ
(e.g., residential PV and smaller wind sources). In Fig.
1 the blocks with C mean power converters interfacing The instantaneous active power of a two-phase circuit p
the energy sources and the power line. Loads are also can be given by
spread throughout the line. Research efforts have been p=v·i (2)
developed towards: 1) dc microgrid [8], 2) single-phase p = vα iα + vβ iβ (3)
60 Hz ac microgrid [9], 3) single-phase high-frequency
ac microgrid [10], 4) three-phase three-wire microgrid where “·” means scalar product of vectors. On the other
[11], 5) three-phase four-wire microgrid [12], and 6) hand, the vector product of v and i defines a new
more recently the two-phase microgrid with voltages instantaneous space vector q as follows
∆
in quadrature [13]. The physical structure of the power q =v×i (4)
line can also be explored. The two-phase power system
Vector q is designated as the instantaneous reactive
presents some advantages as compared to the single-
power vector of the two-phase circuit, or as the nonactive
phase and three-phase systems.
power vector of the two-phase circuit. The magnitude of
Fig. 2 shows the two-phase microgrid system along
|q| is designated as the instantaneous reactive power, i.e.,
with different sources of energy and loads connected to
it. The two-phase microgrid system has the following  
advantages: 1) constant power at balanced conditions, q = |q| = v × i ⇒ q = vα iβ − vβ iα (5)
instead of a pulsing power in the single-phase microgrid;
As done for the three-phase power systems and for
2) two voltages available by using a three-wire system,
three-phase microgrids [15], the p and q can be written
√ line-line (Vll ) and phase (Vph ) voltages with Vll =
i.e.,
as:
2Vph ; 3) optimized voltage utilization compared to a
three-phase system; and 4) direct connection of both p = p + pe (6)
symmetrical two-phase and single-phase machines. q = q + qe (7)
where p, q and pe, qe represent the average and oscillating
components of p and q , respectively. As shown in
Fig.3, assuming vα = Vα cos (ωt), vβ = Vβ sin (ωt + ε),
iα = Iα cos (ωt + ϕ), iβ = Iβ sin (ωt + ϕ + ε), then the
active and reactive powers are given respectively by

e
Fig. 2. Two-phase microgrid system. f

This paper presents a mathematical model for the Fig. 3. Unbalanced voltages and currents in a two-phase system.
 Vα Iα Vβ Iβ
p=( + )cos(ϕ)
2 2
Vα Iα Vβ Iβ
+[ cos(2ωt + ϕ) − cos(2ωt + 2ε + ϕ)]
2 2
(8)

Vα Iβ Vβ Iα
q= sin(ϕ + ε) − sin(ε − ϕ) Two-phase
2 2 Source Three-phase
Vα Iβ Iα Vβ Motor
+ sin(2ωt + ϕ + ε) − sin(2ωt + ε + ϕ)
2 2 (a)
(9)
Considering a balanced case, Vα = Vβ = V , Iα = Iβ =
I , and ε = 0 then the instantaneous active and reactive
powers are given respectively by

p = V I cos (ϕ) (10)

q = V I sin (ϕ) (11)
Since the power delivered by the source and the power Single-phase
Source Three-phase
consumed by the load are constants [Fig. 4(a)], there is Motor
no low-frequency components on the dc-link capacitors, (b)
which benefits its design in terms of the capacitance
Fig. 4. Power processed by a three-phase motor drive system fed
needed. In the case of a single-phase power line, the by: (a) two-phase and (b) single-phase voltage source.
pulsating power generated at the source side, as in Fig.
4(b), introduces some challenges on the dc-link capacitor
design. In this case, the pulsating power coming from the negative component of the phasors.
power line goes to the capacitance since the load deals
with constant power. A higher capacitance is required as Fig. 5 summarizes the process to obtain the positive
compared to the Fig. 4(a). and negative components of the two-phase system. In this

III. S YMMETRICAL C OMPONENTS

The unbalanced phasors of a two-phase system can
be resolved into a two balanced system of phasors using
their symmetrical sets of components. The symmetrical
sets of components in a two-phase system are positive
and negative components. The positive sequence of the
components consist of two equal phasors in terms of
magnitude are in quadrature in terms of angle. These
two phasors have the same phase sequence as the original
phasors. The negative sequence components also consist
of two equal phasors in terms of magnitude and in
quadrature in terms of angle. These two phasors have
the opposite phase sequence from the original phasors.
If Xα and Xβ are two variables (e.g., voltage or
current) of the unbalanced two-phase system, then from
the above descriptions it can be concluded that:
Xα = Xα(+) + Xα(−) (12)
(+) (−) Fig. 5. The process of modeling an unbalanced two-phase system
Xβ = Xβ + Xβ (13)
using its symmetrical components.
In (12) and (13) the superscript (+) refers to the
positive component and the superscript (-) refers to the figure it is obvious that each of the unbalanced vectors
is the sum of its symmetrical components as it has been of a three-phase three-wire system, just the line-line
shown in (12) and (13). For writing the symmetrical voltages are available, as presented in Fig. 6(b).
components in terms of the unbalanced phasors, first The availability of voltages with different amplitudes
each component of Xβ can be written as the product throughout the power line has considerable importance
of a component of Xα and j = 1̸ 90◦ . in a microgrid environment. Many of the sources/loads
(+) connected to a microgrid have different voltage require-
Xβ = −jXα(+) (14)
ments, which means that the converter’s design could be
(−)
Xβ = jXα(−) (15) optimized if different voltages were available.
The proposed two-phase microgrid presents two volt-
substituting (12) - (13) into (14) - (15) leads to : ages available by using only three wires, as depicted
Xα = Xα(+) + Xα(−) (16) in Fig. 6(c). For this system, the relationship between
√
phase and line-line voltages is given by Vll = 2Vph .
Xβ = −jXα(+) + jXα(−) (17)
It is worth mentioning that high-voltage-ratio converters
It can be concluded from (16) and (17) that: normally have lower efficiency than those one with
smaller voltage-ratio conversion, which means that either
[ ] [ ]
(+) Vph or Vll could be used to avoid low-voltage-ratio
Xα Xα
=A (−) (18) converters and increase efficiency of the system as a
Xβ Xα whole.
[ ]
1 1 A numerical example was considered to demonstrate
where A=
−j j the importance of having two voltages available in a
micro-grid environment. Let’s assume the case where a
From (18) it is obvious that: battery (or any other device demanding dc voltage) with
[ ] a desired dc voltage equal to 310 V (5 kW) must be
(+) [ ]
Xα Xα connected to a three-phase ac link with 220 V RMS (310
(−) = A−1 (19) V peak), as presented in Fig. 7(a). For this particular
Xα Xβ
[ 1 ] scenario, the converter loss of the dc-ac conversion
1j
stage is equal to 90 W , which includes switching and
where A−1 = 21 2
−1j
2 2
conduction losses of the power switches [16]. Fig. 7(b),
on the other hand, shows the case where a 220 V (5 kW)
The process for the symmetrcial component of Xβ is
battery must be connected to the same three-phase link.
similar to the above process with this difference that each
In this case an additional dc-dc power conversion stage
component of Xα should be written as a product of a
must be added to the system to deal with the voltages
component of Xβ with j = 1̸ 90◦ .
requirement. As a consequence the power converter loss
increases to 145 W .
1 1
Xα(+) = Xα + jXβ (20) The dc-dc converter, and consequently its additional
2 2 losses, can be eliminated if the proposed two-phase
1 1
Xα(−) = Xα − jXβ (21) micro-grid system is employed, as observed in Figs. 7(c)
2 2
−1 1 and 7(d). Fig. 7(c) shows the case where the higher
(+)
Xβ = jXα + Xβ (22) voltage (310 V) is required for the dc side, which means
2 2
(−) 1 1 that the ac side of the converter should be connected to
Xβ = jXα + Xβ (23) the line-to-line of the ac link. Fig. 7(d), in turn, shows
2 2
the case where the lower voltage (220 V) is required for
Since the symmetrical components of the α and β are
the dc side, meaning that the ac side of the converter
known, the unbalanced two-phase system can be simply
should be connected to the phase voltage of the ac link.
represented using (12) and (13).

IV. P OWER L INE WITH T WO VOLTAGES AVAILABLE V. S IMULATED R ESULTS

In a three-phase system the difference between two
phase
√ voltages defines a line-line voltage (with Vll =
3Vph ), but both phase and line-line voltages are avail-
able only in a three-phase four-wire system (three wires
plus neutral wire), as observed in Fig. 6(a). In the case
Fig. 8 shows the simulation results obtained to validate
the method proposed for two-phase symmetrical compo-
nents. Fig. 8(a) shows an unbalanced set of voltage in a
two-phase system with different amplitudes and an angle
displacement of 50 degrees.
 Three-phase Four-wire System
A
va vab
B
vb
vca vbc
C
vc
N
^

^
Vab
Vc
^

Vca 145
90
^

Va (a) (b)

Vb

Vbc

(a)
Three-phase Three-wire System
A 90 127
vab
B (c) (d)
vca vbc
C Fig. 7. Interconnection between dc and ac variables with three-phase
^

Vab microgrid for: (a) higher and (b) lower voltages; and with two-phase
^ microgrid for: (c) higher and (d) lower voltages.
Vca

Figs. 8(b) and 8(c) show the symmetrical components

obtained in Section III for the voltages in Fig. 8(a).
For validation purposes, such symmetrical components
^
are added together and the result is shown in Fig. 8(d).
Vbc
Notice that Figs. 8(a) and 8(d) are identical. This case
(b) is being shown in Table I as case 1, which indicates the
Two-phase Three-wire System values obtained for symmetrical components of vα and
a
vβ . In Table I, there are two other unbalanced cases: case
vab va 2, both vectors have the same amplitude of 150 V and
b
vb
the angle difference of ̸ 100◦ , and case 3, is the case
N in which two vectors are balanced in terms of angle but
they have different amplitudes.
^

Vb For the three-phase system, the major cause of voltage

unbalance is the uneven distribution of single-phase
loads, that can be continuously changing across a three-
^
phase link [17]. The single-phase loads are equally
Va distributed among the phases to minimize the unbalance
caused by this type of load. Sometimes there is no
combination among the single loads to avoid a system
^

Vab unbalance.
A simple example has been used in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10
(c)
to illustrate the scenario in which an unbalanced system
Fig. 6. Voltages availability for: (a) three-phase four-wire system, (b) is inevitable for the three-phase system. But it does not
three-phase three-wire system, and (c) two-phase three-wire system.
cause unbalance for the two-phase system. Fig. 9(a)
shows two single-phase loads connected to the three-
phase link. Fig. 9(b) shows the balanced three-phase
voltages among the three-phase link. Fig. 9(c) shows the
 TABLE I
S IMULATED S YSTEM FOR THREE UNBALANCED CASES IN A TWO - PHASE MICROGRID .

Unbalanced
Two-phase
(+) (+) (−) (−)
System vα vβ vα vβ vα vβ
Case 1 150̸ 50◦ 100̸ 0◦ 117̸ 65.83◦ 117̸ −24.17◦ 48.78̸ 8.78◦ 48.78̸ 90.878◦
Case 2 150̸ 0◦ 150̸ 100◦ 13.073̸ −85◦ 13.073̸ −175◦ 149.429̸ 5◦ 149.429̸ 95◦
Case 3 100̸ 0◦ 150̸ 90◦ 25̸ 180◦ 25̸ 90◦ 125̸ 0◦ 125̸ 90◦

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Fig. 8. Unbalanced two-phase system: (a) two unbalanced vectors, (b) Symmetrical Positive Components, (c) Symmetrical Negative
Components, and (d)two sets of symmetrical components.

three-phase currents among the three-phase link and as it VI. C ONCLUSION

is shown in this figure, the currents are unbalanced due
to the even number of distributed loads. Fig. 9(d) shows
the pulsating power among the three-phase link. This
ends up as an unbalanced system. However, if the two-
phase link is employed, it leads to a balanced system,
as in Fig. 10(a). Fig. 10(b) and 10(c) show the balanced
two-phase voltages and currents. In this case unlike the
three-phase link, the currents are also balanced due to the
even number of distributed loads. Fig. 10(d) shows the
power among the two-phase link, and as expected this
power is a constant. On the other hand, if an odd number
of single-phase loads are considered, the three-phase
solutions are likely to present advantages as compared
to the two-phase system.
The symmetrical components and power analysis of
a new microgrid system consisting of three wires and
two voltages in quadrature are proposed in this paper.
The main advantages of the two-phase microgrid system
are: 1) constant power at balanced condition; 2) two
voltages available by using a three-wire system, i.e., line-
line and phase voltages; 3) optimized voltage utilization
compared to a three-phase system; and 4) direct con-
nection of both symmetrical two-phase and single-phase
machines. Also, it was demonstrated that two voltages
available at two-phase microgrid system lead to avoid
low-voltage-ratio converters and increase efficiency of
the system as a whole.
 (a) (b)

(c) (d)

Fig. 9. Simulation of Three-phase System, (a) Three-Phase Link, (b) Three-Phase Balanced Voltages, (c) Three-Phase Unbalanced Currents,
(d) Power at the Three-Phase Link.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Fig. 10. Simulation of Two-phase System, (a) Two-Phase Link, (b) Two-Phase Balanced Voltages, (c) Two-Phase Balanced Currents, (d)
Power at the Two-Phase Link
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