Cyril Spiteri Staines

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• B.Eng(Hons), Ph.D.(Nottingham)
• Professor (Full) at University of Malta

This study presents a novel Offshore Mooring and Power Platform (OMPP) that integrates Platform-to-Ship systems to electrify anchored and bunkering ships, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in maritime applications. The OMPP consists of a 200 MW floating wind farm, a 300 MW floating photovoltaic farm, and a hybrid energy storage system...

Hydro-pneumatic energy storage is a form of compressed-air energy storage that can provide the long-duration storage required for integrating intermittent renewable energies into electrical power grids. This paper presents results based on numerical modelling and laboratory tests for a kilowatt-scale HPES system tested at the University of Malta. T...

Grid integration constraints are limiting the deployment potential of renewable energy sources in Malta. Large penetrations of photovoltaics in the low voltage (LV) distribution network pose a significant risk to grid stability due to their inherent intermittency and are known to cause overvoltages and reverse power flows. The authors evaluate how...

Solar photovoltaics in Malta have increased substantially over the years, both at large scale and residential scale. The present installed capacity is already having a negative impact on Malta's’ grid infrastructure, causing problems due to the reverse power flows (resulting from oversupply) and related issues such as voltage rise. This paper consi...

Renewable energy communities are considered as key elements for transforming the present fossil fuel-based energy systems of islands into renewable-based energy systems. This study shows how renewable energy communities can be deployed in the Maltese context to achieve higher penetration of residential-scale photovoltaic systems. Case studies for f...

Deployment of renewable energy sources in Malta is limited by grid integration constraints. Photovoltaic (PV) systems pose a significant risk to grid stability due to their inherent intermittency and result in overvoltages at the medium-voltage and low-voltage networks. Investments in utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) will facilit...

With the increase in electrical loads and the shift from hydraulic and pneumatic to electrical systems, such as in the Boeing 787s no-bleed system architecture, the concept of the More Electric Aircraft is gaining popularity. The no-bleed system architecture brings with it also the introduction of a ±270V(540V) DC power system. This paper analyses...

This paper presents the performance of a search-based sensorless position observer with high frequency pulsating injection under dynamic speed and load conditions in the low to zero speed region. The search-based estimation uses pre-commissioned look-up tables, which map the high-frequency current amplitudes to the mechanical rotor position and are...

In stand-alone or islanded DC microgrids, sharing of the load between parallel-connected converters is usually achieved using the droop control method. Two main types of droop control are used with DC microgrids: the impedance (V-I)droop control method and the admittance (I-V) droop control method. Droop control permits the sharing of load between...

This paper presents sensorless current control of a PMSM using a Search-Based Observer (SBO) employing HF injection. A continuous pulsating scheme is employed and the variation of the HF current amplitudes due to magnetic saliency is discussed for different current/speed operating points. The internal processes of the SBO are outlined with a PLL-ba...

This paper presents the analysis and selection of a suitable injection angle to be used with continuous pulsating injection and search-based sensorless control. Pulsating injection offers the possibility of different injection orientations in the stationary reference frame. The injection results in High-Frequency current signatures, which vary in s...

This dissertation presents Sensorless Control as applied to the Steer-by-Wire Application. The steer-by-wire is an integral part of the electrification of automotive vehicles whereby mechanical components are replaced by electronic sensors and electrical actuators. In this by-wire application, the column linking the handwheel and the steered wheel...

This paper is concerned with the application of both a high frequency injection voltage together with a Search-based Online Commissionable (SONIC) sensorless position observer for Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines. The proposed algorithm is based on an iterative search of position dependent saliency maps commissioned online with...

This paper presents the sensorless low/zero speed estimation and control for PMSMs using the innovative Search-based Real-Time Commissioning method (SRTC). An overview of continuous pulsating high frequency injection used in this paper is given for different injection angles in the stationary frame of reference. The variations of the saliency at di...

In stand-alone or islanded DC microgrids, load sharing between paralleled converters is usually obtained using the droop control method. There are two main types of droop control used with DC microgrids; the impedance (V-I) droop control method and the admittance (I-V) droop control method. Droop control permits load sharing between paralleled conv...

This paper is concerned with the application of a high frequency voltage together with a Search based Online Commissionable (SONIC) sensorless position observer for Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines. The proposed algorithm is based on an iterative search of position dependent saliency maps commissioned online with the aim to mak...

This paper presents a sensorless estimation algorithm for steer-by-wire applications based on the injection of a highfrequency rotating voltage. Enhancement to the basic sensorless algorithm through SMP look-up tables is proposed. The improved observer was simulated in MATLAB for a 12 V RMS 400 W permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). Open-...

Droop control is used to obtain load sharing between paralleled converters within a standalone/islanded DC microgrid. There are two main types of droop control methods used in DC microgrids; the impedance (V-I) droop and the admittance (I-V) droop. This paper presents an alternative droop control system built on the I-V droop method. The proposed a...

In this paper a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm for a small wind turbine (SWT) will be presented. The SWT considered in this paper is connected to a DC microgrid which is connected to the grid. In the proposed MPPT algorithm, a voltage value is varied according to the changes in the DC-link power to achieve maximum power output at all...

This paper presents the application of the Search based Online Commissionable (SONIC) sensorless observer algorithm to steer-by-wire in automotive applications. The tracking performance of the observer for both mechanical and electrical rotor positions for a Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine is shown. Typical steering transients...

This paper presents an innovative method for the rotor position estimation of Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines at low/zero speed conditions. The proposed algorithm is based on an iterative search of position dependent saliency maps commissioned online. The method is also applicable to machines with non-ideal sinusoidal salienci...

This paper presents the modelling and control of Buck and Boost converters to be operated in a stand-alone DC Microgrid. The Buck and Boost converters can be considered as the basis of a number of other converters, therefore the control system presented can be extended to other similar applications. The two converters can be used to interface photo...

In this paper an incremental duty cycle based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm for a small wind turbine (SWT) is presented. The proposed MPPT algorithm varies the duty cycle of a boost converter according to the changes in the output power to obtain maximum power output at all wind speeds. The proposed incremental MPPT algorithm was te...

This paper presents an incremental-type current based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system for a small wind turbine (SWT) connected to a grid-connected DC microgrid. The proposed MPPT algorithm calculates the required current, according to the increase or decrease in the DC link voltage, to obtain maximum power transfer to the DC microgrid at...

The efficient use of local renewable energy sources is a key factor to reach the EU's targets on climate change and renewable energy. In this review, the available technologies to convert solar energy into electrical and thermal energy are investigated. Photovoltaic panels, thermal collectors, heat pumps, solar cooling and energy storage systems ar...

This paper presents a sensorless estimation algorithm for steerby-wire applications based on the injection of a high frequency rotating voltage. Enhancement to the basic sensorless algorithm through SMP look-up tables is proposed. The improved observer was simulated in MATLAB for a 12 V RMS 400 W permanent magnet synchronous machine.

This paper presents a sensorless estimation algorithm for steerby-wire applications based on the injection of a high frequency rotating voltage. Enhancement to the basic sensorless algorithm through SMP look-up tables is proposed. The improved observer was simulated in MATLAB for a 12 V RMS 400 W permanent magnet synchronous machine.

This paper presents the procedure to apply compensation for the distortion created by the dead time/blanking time in H-bridge inverters, as those used in grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) inverters. It also deals with the selection of an appropriate value of dead time, by measuring the turn-on and turn-off times of the switching devices. Dead time/b...

This paper presents a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system for a small wind turbine (SWT) connected to a DC Microgrid under grid-connection conditions. The system consists of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) driven by a SWT which is interfaced to the DC microgrid through a rectification stage and boost converter. The proposed M...

This paper presents an incremental-type current based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system for a micro wind turbine (MWT) connected to a DC microgrid under grid-connected operation. The system consists of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) driven by a MWT which is interfaced to the DC microgrid through a rectification stage and a...

The total real power injected by distributed renewable energy sources (RES) in the low voltage (LV) grids can cause voltage rise effects during light load scenarios. Integrating RES in microgrid architectures can result in improved power quality of the electrical grid, by avoiding the voltage rise effect from occurring and also by providing ancilla...

This paper presents the design and implementation of a current controlled Rotor Flux Oriented PMSM for automotive steer-by-wire applications. The development of a realistic torque feedback reference is carried out by actual monitoring of a commercial vehicle. The paper shall discuss the torque dynamics of the PMSM drive with respect to position dem...

Presentation for Torque Feedback for Steer-by-Wire Systems with Rotor Flux Oriented PMSM

This paper shall present the design, simulation and implementation of a sensorless observer for three-phase permanent magnet synchronous machines which can be used for automotive steer-by-wire applications. It shall be shown that the observer has sufficient bandwidth to track steering transients enabling the sensorless speed/position estimates to b...

Presentation for Sensorless Position Tracking for Steer-by-Wire Applications

This paper presents a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system for a small wind turbine (SWT) connected to a DC Microgrid under grid-connection conditions. The system consists of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) driven by a SWT which is interfaced to the DC microgrid through a rectification stage and boost converter. The proposed M...

This article shall present the design and implementation of a MATLAB/Simulink model for the sensorless control of a PMSM in a steer-by-wire application. Simulation results for position, speed and current loops in a closed-loop sensorless mode are shown. The sensorless method is based on the tracking of saliencies by high frequency injection.

Optimization of the islanded and grid-connected operation of microgrids is important to achieve a high degree of reliability. In this paper, the authors consider the effect of current harmonics in single phase microgrids during both modes of operation. A detailed analysis of the effect of the output impedance of the considered primary control loops...

This paper presents a procedure to design a Proportional Resonant (PR) current controller with additional PR selective harmonic compensators for Grid Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Inverters. The design of the PR current control and the harmonic compensators will be carried out using Matlab. Testing was carried out on a 3 kW Grid-Connected PV Inverter...

This paper presents compensation techniques for component non-linearities in H-Bridge Inverters as those used in Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Inverters. Novel compensation techniques depending on the switching device current were formulated to compensate for the non-linearities in inverter circuits caused by the voltage drops on the switching d...

This paper presents an overview on Buck and Boost converters, and their control system for DC Microgrid operation in stand alone mode. The Buck and Boost converters can be considered as the basis of a number of other converters, therefore the control system presented can be extended to other similar applications. The Buck and Boost converters can b...

Droop control has limitations with respect to current sharing since the output current delivered by the inverters depends on their output impedance ratios. In addition, harmonic voltage drops due to the flow of harmonic currents induce voltage distortion at the point of common coupling (PCC). Virtual impedance loops were proposed in literature to i...

This paper presents the controller design of paralleled Buck converters using Droop Control to obtain common load sharing for DC Microgrid operation. Proportional Integral (PI) controllers are used to provide nested current and voltage control of the Buck converters. Droop control is applied to obtain load sharing between the paralleled converters....

This paper shall present the design and implementation of a MATLAB/Simulink Model for the sensorless control of a PMSM in a steer-by-wire application. Simulation results for position, speed and current loops in both open-loop and closed-loop sensorless modes are shown. The sensorless method is based on the tracking of saliencies by high frequency i...

Proceedings International Conference SBE Malta

Microgrids are an effective way to increase the penetration of distributed generation into the grid. They are capable of operating either in grid-connected or in islanded mode, thereby increasing the supply reliability for the end user. This paper focuses on achieving seamless transitions from islanded to grid-connected and vice versa for a single...

The paper presents commonly used power electronic topologies in Wind Energy Conversion Systems. It discusses the main differences between partially and fully rated converters, their control methods and their application in large and small scale wind turbines. The paper also presents methods of tracking the optimal power point for permanent magnet s...

This research concerns the design of an electrical machine that shall be implemented on a wave energy converter (WEC). Analysis of the available wave data and optimisation of the WEC were carried out so as to design the optimum system that will interact efficiently with the conditions of the selected location. The electrical model was designed for...

This research concerns the design of an electrical machine that shall be implemented on a wave energy converter (WEC). Analysis of the available wave data and optimisation of the WEC were carried out so as to design the optimum system that will interact efficiently with the conditions of the selected location. The electrical model was designed for...

Operation of model-based sensorless control of Alternating Current machines at low and zero speeds is unreliable and can fail. To overcome the limitations of sensorless control at low speeds, several alternative techniques have been developed to estimate speed and position. These are mainly based on detecting machine saliencies by measuring the res...

When paralleling multiple inverters that are capable of operating as an island, the inverters typically employ the droop control scheme. Traditional droop control enables the decentralized regulation of the local voltage and frequency of the microgrid by the inverters. The droop method also enables the inverters to share the real and reactive power...

This paper presents a comparison between Proportional Integral (PI) and Proportional Resonant (PR) current controllers used in Grid Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Inverters. Both simulation and experimental results will be presented. A 3kW Grid-Connected PV Inverter was designed and constructed for this research.

This paper presents a study on Proportional Resonant (PR) current control with additional PR harmonic compensators for Grid Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Inverters. Both simulation and experimental results will be presented. Testing was carried out on a 3kW Grid-Connected PV Inverter which was designed and constructed for this research.

This paper presents a study on Proportional Resonant (PR) current control with additional PR harmonic compensators for Grid Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Inverters. Both simulation and experimental results will be presented. Testing was carried out on a 3kW Grid-Connected PV Inverter which was designed and constructed for this research.

Parallel inverters having LCL output filters cause voltage distortions at the point of common coupling (PCC) in islanded microgrids when non-linear loads are present. A capacitive virtual impedance loop could be used to provide selective harmonic compensation in islanded microgrids, instead of introducing additional active or passive filters into t...

This paper presents a Model Reference Adaptive System (MRAS) applied to the sensorless control of a DFIG system. The performance of the MRAS is enhanced by introducing a voltage model bandpass filter approximation to compensate for drift. Control is performed by a rotor-side matrix converter and is limited to the most common speed range in wind sys...

This paper presents the study of a sensorless speed controlled Doubly-Fed Induction Machine (DFIM) using a Model Reference Adaptive System (MRAS). Various Stator Flux Voltage Models found in literature were implemented on a DFIM driven by a rotor side matrix converter. Simulation results for the sensorless closed loop control are presented in the r...

In this dissertation the high performance sensorless control of a Doubly-Fed Induction Machine (DFIM) with rotor-side matrix converter is presented. Control algorithms were developed for the typical range of speeds of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) which is one of the most widespread industrial applications of the DFIM. The rotor speed/posi...

This paper focuses on the islanded operation of microgrids. In this mode of operation, the microsources are required to cooperate autonomously to regulate the local grid voltage and frequency. Droop control is typically used to achieve this autonomous voltage and frequency regulation. Inverters having LCL output filters would cause voltage distorti...

This paper focuses on the islanded operation of microgrids. In this mode of operation, the microsources are required to cooperate autonomously to regulate the local grid voltage and frequency. Droop control is typically used to achieve this autonomous voltage and frequency regulation. However, droop control has real and reactive power sharing limit...

This paper focuses on the islanded operation of microgrids. In this mode of operation, the microsources are required to cooperate autonomously to regulate the local grid voltage and frequency. Droop control is typically used to achieve this autonomous voltage and frequency regulation. However, droop control has real and reactive power sharing limit...

Sensorless control is a branch in power electronics which studies how machines can be controlled without the use of speed sensors such as encoders or tachogenerators. This project was aimed at the review and design of sensorless techniques to be applied on a variable speed Double Fed Induction Machine (DFIM) which is driven through a matrix convert...

This paper gives a review of sensorless methods developed for AC drives' operation at very low and zero speed. The sensorless drives presented in this paper use reluctance spatial anisotropy to track the mechanical rotor position, allowing the use of vector control. To extract the position information additional test signals in form of active vecto...

This paper analyzes and compares different control tuning strategies for a variable speed wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on a permanent-magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). The aerodynamics of the wind turbine (WT) and a PMSG have been modeled. The control strategy used in this research is composed of three regulators, which may be base...

It has been well established in the literature that inverter nonlinearity effects afflict saliency-based sensorless drives. The inverter nonlinearity leads to the generation of signals that corrupt the useful position information. The resulting effect differs depending on the injection approach utilized in the drive. Various compensation techniques...