Dynamic in-motion wireless charging systems: Modelling and coordinated hierarchical operation in distribution systems

Abstract

The high adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the rising need for charging power in recent years calls for advancing charging service infrastructures and assessing the readiness of the power system to cope with such infrastructures. This paper proposes a novel model for the integrated operation of dynamic wireless charging (DWC) and power distribution systems offering charging service to in-motion EVs. The proposed model benefits from a hierarchical design, where DWC controllers capture the traffic flows of in-motion EVs on different routes and translate them into estimations of charging power requests on power distribution system nodes. The charging power requests are then communicated with a central controller that monitors the distribution system operation by enforcing an optimal power flow model. This controller coordinates the operation of distributed energy resources to leverage charging power delivery to in-motion EVs and mitigate stress on the distribution system operation. The proposed model is tested on a test distribution system connected to multiple DWC systems in Salt Lake City, and the findings demonstrate its efficiency in quantifying the traffic flow of in-motion EVs and its translation to charging power requests while highlighting the role of distributed energy resources in alleviating stress on the distribution system operation.