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About

About

I graduated in Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto - FEUP (2003), and completed his PhD in Power Systems in November 2008, also in the University of Porto.

I am with the Centre for Power and Energy Systems of INESC TEC since September 2003, being senior researcher since 2009. I am also the “Network Studies and RES & DER Integration” Area leader in the Centre for Power and Energy Systems of INESC TEC since September 2015. In February 2009 I joined the Department of Electrical Engineering of FEUP as Assistant Professor, being involved in the lecturing activities in the Integrated Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as in the Doctoral Programs (Doctoral Program in Sustainable Energy Systems and Doctoral Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering). 

I have been involved (either as a technical leader of research teams or as a Researcher) in several EU-funded projects, namely:

1.      MICROGRIDS: Large Scale Integration of Micro Generation to Low Voltage Grids;

2.      MORE-MICROGRIDS: Advanced Architectures and Control Concepts for More Microgrids;

3.      MERGE: Mobile Energy Resources for Grids of Electricity;

4.      TWENTIES: Transmission system operation with large penetration of Wind and other renewable Electricity sources in Networks by means of innovative Tools and Integrated Energy Solutions;

5.      HYPERBOLE: HYdropower plants PERformance and flexiBle Operation towards Lean integration of new renewable Energies;

6.      EU-SysFLEX: Pan-European system with an efficient coordinated use of flexibilities for the integration of a large share of RES.

I have been also involved in technical consultancy activities regarding wind farms connection to the grid. Additionally, I have been also providing technical consultancy regarding large-scale integration of renewable energy sources in isolated power systems while adressing system dynanmic and transient stability. 

The main domains of my current research activities are related with large scale integration of renewable power sources in isolated and interconnected power systems, power system dynamics and microgrids operation and control.

Interest
Topics
Details

Details

  • Name

    Carlos Moreira
  • Cluster

    Power and Energy
  • Role

    Senior Researcher
  • Since

    01st March 2003
055
Publications

2023

A Novel Three-Phase Multi-Objective Unified Power Quality Conditioner

Authors
Monteiro V.; Moreira C.L.; Lopes J.P.; Antunes C.H.; Osorio G.J.; Catalao J.P.S.; Afonso J.L.;

Publication
IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics

Abstract
The decarbonization of the economy and the increasing integration of renewable energy sources into the generation mix are bringing new challenges, requiring novel technological solutions in the topic of smart grids, which include smart transformers and energy storage systems. Additionally, power quality is a vital concern for the future smart grids; therefore, the continuous development of power electronics solutions to overcome power quality problems is of the utmost importance. In this context, this paper proposes a novel three-phase multi-objective unified power quality conditioner (MO-UPQC), considering interfaces for solar PV panels and for energy storage in batteries. The MO-UPQC is capable of compensating power quality problems in the voltages (at the load side) and in the currents (at the power grid side), while it enables injecting power into the grid (from the PV panels or batteries) or charging the batteries (from the PV panels or from the grid). Experimental results were obtained with a three-phase four-wire laboratory prototype, demonstrating the feasibility and the large range of applications of the proposed MO-UPQC.

2023

Improving Dynamic Security in Islanded Power Systems: Quantification of Minimum Synchronous Inertia Considering Fault-Induced Frequency Deviations

Authors
Gouveia, J; Moreira, CL; Peças Lopes, JA;

Publication
Electricity

Abstract
In isolated power systems with very high instantaneous shares of renewables, additional inertia should be used as a complementary resource to battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for improving frequency stability, which can be provided by synchronous condensers (SCs) integrated into the system. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology to infer the system dynamic security, with respect to key frequency indicators, following critical disturbances. Of particular interest is the evidence that multiple short-circuit locations should be considered as reference disturbances regarding the frequency stability in isolated power grids with high shares of renewables. Thus, an artificial neural network (ANN) structure was developed, aiming to predict the network frequency nadir and Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF), considering a certain operating scenario and disturbances. For the operating conditions where the system frequency indicators are violated, a methodology is proposed based on a gradient descent technique, which quantifies the minimum amount of additional synchronous inertia (SCs which need to be dispatch) that moves the system towards its dynamic security region, exploiting the trained ANN, and computing the sensitivity of its outputs with respect to the input defining the SC inertia.

2021

Influence of Load Dynamics on Converter-Dominated Isolated Power Systems

Authors
Gouveia, J; Moreira, CL; Lopes, JAP;

Publication
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL

Abstract
The operation of isolated power systems with 100% converter-based generation requires the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS) using grid-forming-type power converters. Under these operating conditions, load dynamics influences the network frequency and voltage following large voltage disturbances. In this sense, the inclusion of induction motor (IM) load models is required to be properly considered in BESS power converter sizing. Thus, this paper presents an extensive sensitivity analysis, demonstrating how load modeling affects the BESS power converter capacity when adopting conventional control strategies while aiming to assure the successful recovery of all IM loads following a network fault. Furthermore, this work highlights that generators with converter interfaces can actively contribute to mitigate the negative impacts resulting from IM loads following a network fault. Thereby, two distinct control strategies are proposed to be integrated in the power electronic interfaces of the available converter-based generators: one to be adopted in grid-following converters and another one suitable for grid-forming converters. The proposed control strategies provide an important contribution to consolidating insular grid codes, aiming to achieve operational scenarios accommodating 100% penetration of converter-based generation with a significative percentage of the IM load composition without resorting to a significative increase in BESS power converter sizing.

2021

Rule-based adaptive control strategy for grid-forming inverters in islanded power systems for improving frequency stability

Authors
Gouveia, J; Moreira, CL; Lopes, JAP;

Publication
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Abstract
Operating isolated power systems with increasing shares of renewable energy sources requires the integration of battery energy storage systems in order to assure enhanced frequency regulation capabilities. The control mode of power converters interfacing battery energy storage systems to the grid can be based on grid-forming type structures given its superior performance with respect to the mitigation of network frequency disturbances. Nevertheless, in case of network faults, the interactions between existing synchronous units and the grid-forming type converters may adversely affect the global system behavior. Therefore, this paper addresses the study-case of a MW-scale isolated power system with large shares of converter-interfaced renewable generation, operating with both synchronous machines and a grid-forming type power converter. An optimal grid-forming control parameter tuning procedure considering different disturbances is presented, aiming to reduce the associated battery energy storage system power regulating effort following the disturbances. Moreover, it is proposed and discussed the need of a novel rule-based adaptive control solution to switch between different sets of control parameters used in grid-forming type converters depending on the network status following a fault-type disturbance. Extensive numerical simulations performed over different operating scenarios illustrate the performance of the proposed solution.

2021

Fault-Ride-Through Approach for Grid-Tied Smart Transformers without Local Energy Storage

Authors
Rodrigues, J; Moreira, C; Lopes, JP;

Publication
ENERGIES

Abstract
The Smart Transformer (ST) is being envisioned as the possible backbone of future distribution grids given the enhanced controllability it provides. Moreover, the ST offers DC-link connectivity, making it an attractive solution for the deployment of hybrid AC/DC distribution grids which offer important advantages for the deployment of Renewable Energy Sources, Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) and Electric Vehicles. However, compared to traditional low-frequency magnetic transformers, the ST is inherently more vulnerable to fault disturbances which may force the ST to disconnect in order to protect its power electronic converters, posing important challenges to the hybrid AC/DC grid connected to it. This paper proposes a Fault-Ride-Through (FRT) strategy suited for grid-tied ST with no locally available ESS, which exploits a dump-load and the sensitivity of the hybrid AC/DC distribution grid's power to voltage and frequency to provide enhanced control to the ST in order to handle AC-side voltage sags. The proposed FRT strategy can exploit all the hybrid AC/DC distribution grid (including the MV DC sub-network) and existing controllable DER resources, providing FRT against balanced and unbalanced faults in the upstream AC grid. The proposed strategy is demonstrated in this paper through computational simulation.

Supervised
thesis

2022

Contributions for improving the stability of autonomous power systems with low synchronous inertia

Author
José Miguel Rodrigues Gouveia

Institution
UP-FEUP

2022

Comportamento Dinâmico de Sistemas de Transmissão com Inércia Reduzida

Author
Ana Sofia Carvalho da Silva

Institution
UP-FEUP

2022

Advanced Control Functionalities for Smart-Transformers Integrating Hybrid MicroGrids

Author
Justino Miguel Ferreira Rodrigues

Institution
UP-FEUP

2022

Islanding Operation and Black Start Strategies for Multi-Microgrids using the Smart Transformer

Author
Mário Jorge Teixeira Couto

Institution
UP-FEUP

2022

Controlo de tensão em redes de distribuição com transformadores eletrónicos

Author
Vera Lúcia Cardoso Nunes

Institution
UP-FEUP