Control of microgrids
Control of microgrids …
Microgrids require wide-range control to ensure
system security, optimal operation, emission
reduction and seamless transfer from one operating
mode to the other without violating system
constraints and regulatory requirements.
This control is achieved through a central controller
(CC) and the dedicated microsource controllers
(MCs) connected to the microsources and the storage
devices.
Micro Grid Configuration-Revision
• Operation & Control of Microgrids is controlled and
coordinated by Microsource Controllers (MCs) and Central
Controller (CC).
(1)Microsource Controller (MC):
• Control the voltage profile at load end and power flow of the
microsource independently.
• Ensures each microsource supplies its share in standalone
mode.
• Participates in Demand side management (DSM), load
tracking management and economic generation scheduling by
controlling the storage devices.
Micro Grid Configuration-Revision
(2)Micro Grid Central controller (MGCC Or CC):
Overall Control, maintain power quality, Provides
power dispatch and voltage set points for all MCs,
Coordinate protection.
Energy Management Module (EMM) and Protection
Coordination Module (PCM) are its functional
modules.
CONTROL FUNCTIONS FOR
MICROSOURCE CONTROLLER
(1) Active and reactive power control .
(2) Voltage control.
(3) Storage requirement for fast load tracking.
(4) Load sharing through P-f control.
(1) Active and reactive power control
Active and reactive power control…
• The VSI in the converter system controls both magnitude(V)
and phase angle (δ1) of the output voltage (V∟δ1) at
converter terminal (Bus-1).
• The microsource supplies controlled power to the Microgrid
bus (Bus-2) at a voltage of E< δ2 through an inductor of
reactance X.
• V<δ1 leads E <δ2 by the power angle δ= δ1 - δ2 .
• The active power flow (P) is controlled by controlling δ(Or
Frequency).
• Reactive power (Q) is controlled by controlling V .
2 Microsources &1 storage
Voltage Control
Why Voltage Control of Microgrid bus essential ?
• Voltage control at the Microgrid bus is essential for overall
stability and reliability of Microgrids .
• Microgrids with a large number of microsources may suffer
from reactive power oscillations leading to circulating
currents.
• . In a conventional grid this current is restricted by the large
impedance between generators .
• In Microgrids, the feeders are mostly radial with small
impedance between the sources. These circulating currents
might exceed the rated currents of the microsources even with
small differences in their voltage set points.
Voltage Control...:
How to control these circulating current?
• Circulating currents can be controlled by using Voltage –
Reactive power (V-Q) droop controllers with droop
characteristics.
• Controller increases the local voltage set point when the
microsource reactive currents become predominantly inductive
and to decrease the set point when the current becomes
capacitive .
Voltage Control...:
• The reactive power limits is set by VA rating (VAR; S) of the
inverter and active power (P) output of the microsource as per
the relation:
Load sharing through P-f control…
• In grid-connected mode, Microgrid loads are supplied both
from the main utility grid and the microsources.
• When utility supply is interrupted, the Microgrid switches over
to the stand-alone mode.
• During change over, the voltage phase angles of the
microsources also change, leading drop in their power output.
Hence, local frequency also changes, in which case each
microsource quickly picks up its share of load without any
new power dispatch schedule from the CC.
• Since droop regulation decreases the Microgrid frequency, the
MC should incorporate a control function to restore the
operation to the rated frequency with proper load sharing.
Load sharing through P-f control
Storage requirement for fast load tracking
• For grid-connected Microgrids, the initial power
balance during connection of new loads is taken care
of by the large inertia of utility generators.
• However, for standalone operation, the Microgrid
needs to ensure initial power balance through its
storage devices, which effectively provide the system
inertia for the Microgrid.
• The DC storage devices are connected to the DC bus
of the microsource, whereas AC storage devices are
connected directly to the Microgrid bus.
• The MC ensures proper utilisation of the storage
devices for fast load tracking.
