DC and AC Microgrids are key elements to integrate renewable and distributed energy resources as well as distributed energy storage systems. In the last years, efforts toward the standardization of these Microgrids have been made. In this sense, this paper present the hierarchical control derived from ISA-95 and electrical dispatching standards to endow smartness and flexibility to microgrids. The hierarchical control proposed consist of three levels: i) the primary control is based on the droop method, including an output impedance virtual loop; ii) the secondary control allows restoring the deviations produced by the primary control; and iii) the tertiary control manage the power flow between the microgrid and the external electrical distribution system. Results from a hierarchical-controlled microgrid are provided to show the feasibility of the proposed approach.

/pdf/hierarchical-control-of-droop-controlled-dc-and-ac-26q2w9lpco.pdf

Hierarchical control of droop-controlled DC and AC microgrids — a general approach towards standardization

The enabling of ac microgrids in distribution networks allows delivering distributed power and providing grid support services during regular operation of the grid, as well as powering isolated islands in case of faults and contingencies, thus increasing the performance and reliability of the electrical system. The high penetration of distributed generators, linked to the grid through highly controllable power processors based on power electronics, together with the incorporation of electrical energy storage systems, communication technologies, and controllable loads, opens new horizons to the effective expansion of microgrid applications integrated into electrical power systems. This paper carries out an overview about microgrid structures and control techniques at different hierarchical levels. At the power converter level, a detailed analysis of the main operation modes and control structures for power converters belonging to microgrids is carried out, focusing mainly on grid-forming, grid-feeding, and grid-supporting configurations. This analysis is extended as well toward the hierarchical control scheme of microgrids, which, based on the primary, secondary, and tertiary control layer division, is devoted to minimize the operation cost, coordinating support services, meanwhile maximizing the reliability and the controllability of microgrids. Finally, the main grid services that microgrids can offer to the main network, as well as the future trends in the development of their operation and control for the next future, are presented and discussed.

Control of Power Converters in AC Microgrids

The analysis of the small-signal stability of conventional power systems is well established, but for inverter based microgrids there is a need to establish how circuit and control features give rise to particular oscillatory modes and which of these have poor damping. This paper develops the modeling and analysis of autonomous operation of inverter-based microgrids. Each sub-module is modeled in state-space form and all are combined together on a common reference frame. The model captures the detail of the control loops of the inverter but not the switching action. Some inverter modes are found at relatively high frequency and so a full dynamic model of the network (rather than an algebraic impedance model) is used. The complete model is linearized around an operating point and the resulting system matrix is used to derive the eigenvalues. The eigenvalues (termed "modes") indicate the frequency and damping of oscillatory components in the transient response. A sensitivity analysis is also presented which helps identifying the origin of each of the modes and identify possible feedback signals for design of controllers to improve the system stability. With experience it is possible to simplify the model (reduce the order) if particular modes are not of interest as is the case with synchronous machine models. Experimental results from a microgrid of three 10-kW inverters are used to verify the results obtained from the model

Modeling, Analysis and Testing of Autonomous Operation of an Inverter-Based Microgrid

The increasing interest in integrating intermittent renewable energy sources into microgrids presents major challenges from the viewpoints of reliable operation and control. In this paper, the major issues and challenges in microgrid control are discussed, and a review of state-of-the-art control strategies and trends is presented; a general overview of the main control principles (e.g., droop control, model predictive control, multi-agent systems) is also included. The paper classifies microgrid control strategies into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary, where primary and secondary levels are associated with the operation of the microgrid itself, and tertiary level pertains to the coordinated operation of the microgrid and the host grid. Each control level is discussed in detail in view of the relevant existing technical literature.

Trends in Microgrid Control

In this paper, the idea of operating an inverter to mimic a synchronous generator (SG) is motivated and developed. We call the inverters that are operated in this way synchronverters. Using synchronverters, the well-established theory/algorithms used to control SGs can still be used in power systems where a significant proportion of the generating capacity is inverter-based. We describe the dynamics, implementation, and operation of synchronverters. The real and reactive power delivered by synchronverters connected in parallel and operated as generators can be automatically shared using the well-known frequency- and voltage-drooping mechanisms. Synchronverters can be easily operated also in island mode, and hence, they provide an ideal solution for microgrids or smart grids. Both simulation and experimental results are given to verify the idea.

/pdf/synchronverters-inverters-that-mimic-synchronous-generators-3yjna0swxx.pdf

Synchronverters: Inverters That Mimic Synchronous Generators

This paper deals with the design of the output impedance of uninterruptible power system (UPS) inverters with parallel-connection capability. In order to avoid the need for any communication among modules, the power-sharing control loops are based on the P/Q droop method. Since in these systems the power-sharing accuracy is highly sensitive to the inverters output impedance, novel control loops to achieve both stable output impedance and proper power balance are proposed. In this sense, a novel wireless controller is designed by using three nested loops: 1) the inner loop is performed by using feedback linearization control techniques, providing a good quality output voltage waveform; 2) the intermediate loop enforces the output impedance of the inverter, achieving good harmonic power sharing while maintaining low output voltage total harmonic distortion; and 3) the outer loop calculates the output active and reactive powers and adjusts the output impedance value and the output voltage frequency during the load transients, obtaining excellent power sharing without deviations in either the frequency or the amplitude of the output voltage. Simulation and experimental results are reported from a parallel-connected UPS system sharing linear and nonlinear loads.

Output impedance design of parallel-connected UPS inverters with wireless load-sharing control

This paper presents a novel control strategy for parallel inverters of distributed generation units in an AC distribution system. The proposed control technique, based on the droop control method, uses only locally measurable feedback signals. This method is usually applied to achieve good active and reactive power sharing when communication between the inverters is difficult due to its physical location. However, the conventional voltage and frequency droop methods of achieving load sharing have a slow and oscillating transient response. Moreover, there is no possibility to modify the transient response without the loss of power sharing precision or output-voltage and frequency accuracy. In this work, a great improvement in transient response is achieved by introducing power derivative-integral terms into a conventional droop scheme. Hence, better controllability of the system is obtained and, consequently, correct transient performance can be achieved. In addition, an instantaneous current control loop is also included in the novel controller to ensure correct sharing of harmonic components when supplying nonlinear loads. Simulation and experimental results are presented to prove the validity of this approach, which shows excellent performance as opposed to the conventional one.

A wireless controller to enhance dynamic performance of parallel inverters in distributed generation systems

In this paper, a novel wireless load-sharing controller for islanding parallel inverters in an ac-distributed system is proposed This paper explores the resistive output impedance of the parallel-connected inverters in an island microgrid The control loops are devised and analyzed, taking into account the special nature of a low-voltage microgrid, in which the line impedance is mainly resistive and the distance between the inverters makes the control intercommunication between them difficult In contrast with the conventional droop-control method, the proposed controller uses resistive output impedance, and as a result, a different control law is obtained The controller is implemented by using a digital signal processor board, which only uses local measurements of the unit, thus increasing the modularity, reliability, and flexibility of the distributed system Experimental results are provided from two 6-kVA inverters connected in parallel, showing the features of the proposed wireless control

Decentralized Control for Parallel Operation of Distributed Generation Inverters Using Resistive Output Impedance

This paper investigates the characteristics of the active and reactive power sharing in a parallel inverters system under different system impedance conditions. The analyses conclude that the conventional droop method cannot achieve efficient power sharing for the case of a system with complex impedance condition. To achieve the proper power balance and minimize the circulating current in the different impedance situations, a novel droop controller that considers the impact of complex impedance is proposed in this paper. This controller can simplify the coupled active and reactive power relationships, which are caused by the complex impedance in the parallel system. In addition, a virtual complex impedance loop is included in the proposed controller to minimize the fundamental and harmonic circulating current that flows in the parallel system. Compared to the other methods, the proposed controller can achieve accurate power sharing, offers efficient dynamic performance, and is more adaptive to different line impedance situations. Simulation and experimental results are presented to prove the validity and the improvements achieved by the proposed controller.

Jose Matas

Papers

Hierarchical control of droop-controlled DC and AC microgrids — a general approach towards standardization

Output impedance design of parallel-connected UPS inverters with wireless load-sharing control

A wireless controller to enhance dynamic performance of parallel inverters in distributed generation systems

Decentralized Control for Parallel Operation of Distributed Generation Inverters Using Resistive Output Impedance

Design and Analysis of the Droop Control Method for Parallel Inverters Considering the Impact of the Complex Impedance on the Power Sharing