A Novel Controller Design for Small-Scale Islanded Microgrid Integrated with Electric Vehicle-Based Energy Storage Management

Abstract

Small-scale islanded microgrid technology has the potential to utilize renewable sources for electrification in extreme areas where conventional transmission of power is difficult. But due to the absence of a utility grid in the islanded operation, voltage and frequency control becomes the major concern. Instead of using a centralized large battery storage system, electric vehicle- (EV-) based distributed energy storage may provide a dynamic and much cheaper energy storage solution for small-scale systems in the long run. The only issue is to effectively manage the dynamics of EV penetration for achieving the overall control in the islanded system. To address the same issue, this paper proposes a novel segregation-based inverter control structure for an islanded microgrid while employing EVs as an energy storage system, thus eliminating the need for centralized storage. The designed integrated control structure simultaneously attends to the voltage and frequency regulation need of the system, overcoming the issue of control lag, along with energy storage and management aspects in the microgrid operation for controlling the power flow under various practical scenarios. Extensive experimental studies are performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, which indicates that the proposed integrated control structure gives a satisfactory performance under various scenarios encompassing load variation, renewable energy uncertainties, and EV dynamics in comparison with conventional control schemes employed in the islanded microgrid.

Distributed Control Algorithm for DC Microgrid Using Higher-Order Multi-Agent System

“…Microgrids are made up of scattered distributed generation units (DGUs), such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind and gas turbines, biomass and fuel cells, as well as energy storage devices, such as batteries, supercapacitors, flywheels, and controllable loads, to provide the local network operator with significant control capabilities [5][6][7]. These systems can be linked to the distribution network, but may also operate in an isolated mode if the main network fails [8]. Microgrids, which are compatible with AC and DC operating standards, have been shown to have several benefits, such as improved power quality, lower transmission losses, and the capacity to operate in grid-connected and islanded modes [9].…”