Islanded DC microgrids composed of distributed generators (DGs), constant power loads (CPLs), parallel converters, batteries and supercapacitors (SCs) are typical nonlinear systems, and guaranteeing large-signal stability is a key issue. In this paper, the nonlinear model of a DC microgrid with a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is established, and large-signal stability criteria are obtained. The HESS consists of batteries and SCs. The derived criteria reveal the influences of the filter parameters, CPL power, DG power and the proportional control parameters of the battery converter and the SC converter on the system large-signal stability. Furthermore, important large-signal stabilization methods for regulating the HESS converter’s control parameters can easily achieve the large-signal stabilization of islanded DC microgrids without extra equipment. The paper is summarized as follows: First, the topology of and control strategy for a DC microgrid with an HESS and CPLs are proposed. Then, according to the characteristics of the HESS, the DGs and the CPLs, the system is equivalently simplified. Finally, the nonlinear model and large-signal stability criteria are both derived using the mixed potential theory, and a large-signal stabilization design method for the HESS converter’s control parameters is proposed. The experimental and simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed large-signal stabilization method.

In islanded AC microgrids, negative impedance characteristics of AC constant power loads (AC CPLs) easily introduce large signal instability to the system, while energy storage systems sometimes compensate for the dynamic characteristics of AC CPLs, and increase the system stability. Although energy storage control techniques and characteristics have gained a lot of attention, few studies have derived quantitative design guidelines for energy storage systems from the aspect of stability improvement. In order to fill this gap, this paper proposes stability control strategies for bidirectional energy storage converters considering the characteristics of AC CPLs to guarantee large signal stability of islanded AC microgrids. The presented control techniques create quantitative limits for the DC bus voltage loop control parameters of the energy storage DC/DC converter and the integral control loop control parameter of the energy storage DC/AC converter, and also interpret the positive stability influence of energy storage systems and the negative stability influence of AC CPLs. The structure of the paper is as follows. Firstly, DQ coordinate transformation is adopted, and AC microgrid nonlinear models with the energy storage system in charging and discharging states are constructed. Then, large signal models are constructed depending on mixed potential theory. Stability control strategies for bidirectional energy storage converters are obtained, and AC CPLs power, storage system equivalent resistor, and micro power source power are all taken into account. Finally, based on simulation and experimental results, it is obvious that regulating the control parameters of the energy storage converter significantly increases the large signal stability of islanded AC microgrids without extra equipment. The method is very simple and easy to implement.

Large disturbances frequently happen in isolated AC/DC Hybrid Microgrids. Unfortunately, constant power loads (CPLs) with negative impedance characteristics are equivalent to positive feedback, resulting in an increase in large disturbances. The system can easily become unstable. Consequently, large signal stability criteria are proposed in this paper. Combined with a three-dimensional region of asymptotic stability (3D RAS) method for islanded AC/DC Hybrid Microgrids, important parameters to increase stability margins were determined. Firstly, mixed potential theory was used to derive a large-signal stability criterion. The criteria gave constraints on filtering parameters, CPL power, power of the battery to charge and discharge, AC resistive loads, and DC bus voltage. Then, Lyapunov functions were constructed, and the Lasalle invariance principle was adopted to achieve 3D RAS. When large disturbances emerged, and simultaneously voltage and current varied in 3D RAS, the system always obtained stability and reached new steady-state equilibrium points. Finally, according to comparisons, bigger capacitances of the DC bus capacitor and the AC capacitor, larger battery discharging power and smaller charging power could significantly increase stability margins of islanded Microgrids. Simulations and experimental data have shown that the large signal stability criteria and the 3D RAS work.