We consider the problem of stability analysis for droop-controlled inverter-based microgrids with meshed topologies. The inverter models include variable frequencies as well as voltage amplitudes. Conditions on the tuning gains and setpoints for frequency and voltage stability, together with desired active power sharing, are derived in the paper. First, we prove that for all practical choices of these parameters global boundedness of trajectories is ensured. Subsequently, assuming the microgrid is lossless, a port-Hamiltonian description is derived, from which sufficient conditions for stability are given. Finally, we propose for generic lossy microgrids a design criterion for the controller gains and setpoints such that a desired steady-state active power distribution is achieved. The analysis is validated via simulation on a microgrid based on the CIGRE (Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Electriques) benchmark medium voltage distribution network.

Abstract-We propose a consensus-based distributed voltage control (DVC), which solves the problem of reactive power sharing in autonomous inverter-based microgrids with dominantly inductive power lines and arbitrary electrical topology. Opposed to other control strategies available thus far, the control presented here does guarantee a desired reactive power distribution in steady-state while only requiring distributed communication among inverters, i.e., no central computing nor communication unit is needed. For inductive impedance loads and under the assumption of small phase angle differences between the output voltages of the inverters, we prove that the choice of the control parameters uniquely determines the corresponding equilibrium point of the closed-loop voltage and reactive power dynamics. In addition, for the case of uniform time constants of the power measurement filters, a necessary and sufficient condition for local exponential stability of that equilibrium point is given. The compatibility of the DVC with the usual frequency droop control for inverters is shown and the performance of the proposed DVC is compared to the usual voltage droop control [1] via simulation of a microgrid based on the CIGRE (Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Electriques) benchmark medium voltage distribution network.

Microgrids have been identified as key components of modern electrical systems to facilitate the integration of renewable distributed generation units. Their analysis and controller design requires the development of advanced (typically model-based) techniques naturally posing an interesting challenge to the control community. Although there are widely accepted reduced order models to describe the dynamic behavior of microgrids, they are typically presented without details about the reduction procedure-hampering the understanding of the physical phenomena behind them. Preceded by an introduction to basic notions and definitions in power systems, the present survey reviews key characteristics and main components of a microgrid. We introduce the reader to the basic functionality of DC/AC inverters, as well as to standard operating modes and control schemes of inverter-interfaced power sources in microgrid applications. Based on this exposition and starting from fundamental physics, we present detailed dynamical models of the main microgrid components. Furthermore, we clearly state the underlying assumptions which lead to the standard reduced model with inverters represented by controllable voltage sources, as well as static network and load representations, hence, providing a complete modular model derivation of a three-phase inverter-based microgrid.

Abstract-We consider the problem of frequency synchronization and power sharing in a lossy droop-controlled autonomous microgrid with distributed rotational and electronic generation (MDREG). At first, we establish equivalence of the dynamics of a regulated synchronous generator and a droopcontrolled inverter with low pass filter. We then give a necessary and sufficient condition for local synchronization of the microgrid by using ideas from graph theory and second order consensus algorithms. In addition, we show that sources in an MDREG can achieve a desired active power distribution via frequency droop control and provide synchronization conditions for a lossless microgrid as a special case. Our analysis is further validated via a simulation example of a lossy microgrid based on the CIGRE benchmark medium voltage distribution network.

Abstract-We consider the problem of voltage and frequency stability for an autonomous inverter-based microgrid. An LMIbased decentralized feedback control design is derived that stabilizes the system under the consideration of droop-like controllers aiming to achieve power sharing among the different generation units. We provide a design procedure that accounts for uncertainties in line impedances and loads while guaranteeing zero steady-state frequency deviation.