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About

About

Justino Miguel Rodrigues was born in Penafiel (1985) on 9th September 1985. He his Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2010 at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Sustainable Energy Systems in 2022, also at the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Porto, with a thesis titled "Advanced Control Functionalities for Smart-Transformers Integrating Hybrid MicroGrids." His PhD work was awarded the REN prize in 2023 for the best doctoral thesis in the years 2022 and 2023, focusing on the energy sector.


Currently, he is a Contracted Researcher at the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC).

He currently holding the position of head of the SmartGrids and Electric Vehicles Laboratory (SGEVL) at INESC TEC.

He has also been invited PhD professor at Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto.


He works in the fields of Engineering Sciences and Technologies, with an emphasis on Electrical Engineering, Electronics, and Informatics, specifically in Electrical Engineering and Electronics.

He is currently leading the participation of INESC TEC in the H2020 European Project POCITYF.

Is research activity is focused in the topics related to Electric power grids, Electric power distribution, Integration of renewable distributed production, Smart electric power grids, Integration of Electric Vehicles into energy systems.

Details

Details

  • Name

    Justino Miguel Rodrigues
  • Role

    Assistant Researcher
  • Since

    13th December 2010
015
Publications

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.

2020

Smart Transformers as Active Interfaces Enabling the Provision of Power-Frequency Regulation Services from Distributed Resources in Hybrid AC/DC Grids

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

Publication
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL

Abstract
Smart Transformers (STs) are being envisioned as a key element for the controllability of distribution networks in a future context of Renewable Energy Source (RES), Energy Storage System (ESS) and Electric Vehicle (EV) massification. Additionally, STs enable the deployment of hybrid AC/DC networks, which offer important advantages in this context. In addition to offering further degrees of controllability, hybrid AC/DC networks are more suited to integrate DC resources such as DC loads, PV generation, ESS and EV chargers. The purpose of the work developed in this paper is to address the feasibility of exploiting STs to actively coordinate a fleet of resources existing in a hybrid AC/DC network supplied by the ST aiming to provide active power-frequency regulation services to the upstream AC grid. The feasibility of the ST to coordinate the resources available in the hybrid distribution AC/DC network in order to provide active power-frequency regulation services is demonstrated in this paper through computational simulation. It is demonstrated that the aforementioned goal can be achieved using droop-based controllers that can modulate controlled variables in the ST.

2020

Optimal Load Restoration in Active Distribution Networks Complying With Starting Transients of Induction Motors

Authors
Sekhavatmanesh, H; Rodrigues, J; Moreira, CL; Lopes, JAP; Cherkaoui, R;

Publication
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SMART GRID

Abstract
Large horsepower induction motors play a critical role as industrial drives in production facilities. The operational safety of distribution networks during the starting transients of these motor loads is a critical concern for the operators. In this paper, an analytical and convex optimization model is derived representing the starting transients of the induction motor in a semi-static fashion. This model is used to find the optimal energization sequence of different loads (static and motor loads) following an outage in a distribution network. The optimization problem includes the optimal control of the converter-based DGs and autotransformers that are used for the induction motor starting. These models together with the semi-static model of the induction motor are integrated into a relaxed power flow formulation resulting in a Mixed-Integer Second Order Cone Programming (SOCP) problem. This formulation represents the transient operational limits that are imposed by different protection devices both in the motor side and network side. The functionality of the proposed optimization problem is evaluated in the case of a large-scale test study and under different simulation scenarios. The feasibility and accuracy of the optimization results are validated using I) off-line time-domain simulations, and II) a Power Hardware-In-the-Loop experiment.

2020

Planning of distribution networks islanded operation: from simulation to live demonstration

Authors
Gouveia, J; Gouveia, C; Rodrigues, J; Carvalho, L; Moreira, CL; Lopes, JAP;

Publication
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Abstract
The integration of distributed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at the Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) networks increases the distribution grid flexibility to deal with high penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). In addition, it also enables the deployment of key self-healing functionalities, which allow the islanded operation of small sections of the distribution network. However, new planning and real-time operation strategies are required to allow the BESS coordinated control, as well as a cost-effective and stable operation. This paper presents new tools developed for the planning and real-time operation of distribution networks integrating BESS, particularly when operating islanding. For real-time operation, a short-term emergency operation-planning tool assesses the feasibility of islanded operation of a small section of the distribution network. The long-term impact of a BESS control strategy for islanded operation is assessed through a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool. The results and implementation experience in real distribution network are also discussed.

2020

A convex model for induction motor starting transients imbedded in an OPF-based optimization problem

Authors
Sekhavatmanesh, H; Cherkaoui, R; Rodrigues, J; Moreira, CL; Lopes, JAP;

Publication
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Abstract
Large horsepower induction motors play a critical role in the operation of industrial facilities. In this respect, the distribution network operators dedicate a high priority to the operational safety of these motor loads. In this paper, the induction motor starting is modeled analytically and in a semi-static fashion. This model is imbedded in a convex distribution system restoration problem. In this optimization problem, it is aimed to determine the optimal status of static loads and the optimal dispatch of distributed generators such that: a) the induction motors can be reaccelerated in a safe way and, b) the total power of static loads that cannot be supplied before the motor energization, is minimized. The proposed optimization problem is applied in the case of a distribution network under different simulation scenarios. The feasibility and accuracy of the obtained results are validated using a) off-line time-domain simulations, and b) Power Hardware-In-the-Loop experiments.