Linear consensus iterations guarantee asymptotic convergence, thereby, limiting their applicability in applications where consensus value needs to be used in real time to perform a system level task. It also leads to wastage of power and communication resources. In this article, an algorithm is proposed which enables each node to detect in a distributed manner and in finite number of iterations, when every agent in the network is within a user specified threshold of the consensus value (approximate consensus) and hence terminate further communications and computations associated with consensus iterations. This article develops a distributed algorithm for achieving this approximate consensus in presence of random time-varying bounded communication delays. Moreover, the article instantiates the algorithm developed to distributively determine the average of the initial values held by agents in finite number of iterations. Specifically, this algorithm relies on distributively determining the maximum and minimum of values held by the agents. The approach presented here offers several advantages, including reduced computational complexity, and hence, is suited for hardware implementation. An experimental test bed of Raspberry-Pi agents that communicate wirelessly over neighborhoods is employed as a platform to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed algorithm.

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Greater penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in power networks requires coordination strategies that allow for self-adjustment of contributions in a network of DERs, owing to variability in generation and demand. In this article, a distributed scheme is proposed that enables a DER in a network to arrive at viable power reference commands that satisfies the DERs local constraints on its generation and loads it has to service, while, the aggregated behavior of multiple DERs in the network and their respective loads meet the ancillary services demanded by the grid. The Net-load Management system for a single unit is referred to as the Local Inverter System (LIS) in this article . A distinguishing feature of the proposed consensus based solution is the distributed finite time termination of the algorithm that allows each LIS unit in the network to determine power reference commands in the presence of communication delays in a distributed manner. The proposed scheme allows prioritization of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in the network and also enables auto-adjustment of contributions from LIS units with lower priority resources (non-RES). The methods are validated using hardware-in-the-loop simulations with Raspberry PI devices as distributed control units, implementing the proposed distributed algorithm and responsible for determining and dispatching realtime power reference commands to simulated power electronics interface emulating LIS units for demand response.

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