Feeding the world's energy appetite may take innovative approaches in the future. A book by Nilanjan Ray Chaudhuri, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Dakota State University, Fargo, is the first text of its kind to examine methods to bring offshore wind energy on shore to power industry, homes and businesses.

"Multi-terminal Direct Current Grids: Modeling, Analysis, and Control," is published by the Wiley-IEEE Press.

The research by Chaudhuri and his co-authors proposes a new type of power grid technology that enables reliable transfer of power from remote offshore locations. This research enables reliable interconnection of offshore wind energy to onshore grids using direct current power transmission. "The book examines offshore energy integration through multi-terminal direct current grid and reveals the mystery of alternate current and direct current system interactions," said Chaudhuri.

To bring this huge energy from offshore locations to onshore, standard power system technology does not work.

"A multi-terminal DC (MTDC) grid interconnecting multiple alternating current systems and offshore energy sources (e.g. wind farms) across the nations and continents would allow effective sharing of intermittent renewable resources and open market operation for secure and cost-effective supply of electricity," said Chaudhuri. He points out that no operational experiences currently exist with such DC grids.

Discussions for setting up such MTDC grids, particularly in Europe, have occurred. Two major technical barriers to harnessing offshore wind through such a system need to be solved. Interaction between a MTDC grid and surrounding AC systems has yet to be understood. Commercial unavailability of efficient DC side fault current interruption technology for conventional voltage sourced converter systems also presents problems.

This book presents a comprehensive modeling, analysis and control design framework. Authors note possible methodologies for autonomous power sharing and exchange of frequency support across a MTDC grid and their impact on overall stability. Additionally, an overview of challenges and on-going research and development initiatives for DC side fault current interruption is also presented.

The book's co-authors include Dr. Balarko Chaudhuri, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Imperial College London, London, UK; Dr. Rajat Majumder, Senior Staff Consultant at Siemens Power Technologies International, Schenectady, New York, USA; and Dr. Amirnaser Yazdani, Associate Professor, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.


Book: www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118729102.html

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