Smart Grid

Operation and Control of AC- DC Hybrid Microgrid – I,II

Prof. Narayana Prasad Padhy
Electrical Engineering Department

1
 Background – AC Microgrid
➢ AC Microgrid is proposed to facilitate the interconnection of renewables to
conventional power system to reduce generation from fossil fuels, this
requires the conversion of many DC sources such as PV and fuel cells to be
converted to AC (Hence need of DC-AC conversion).
➢ The main bus here (common bus) is AC.
➢ The AC microgrid is connected to the utility grid for excess/deficit power
sharing and for increasing the reliability of the loads.
➢ In case of main grid failure, all the connected DGs and loads need to
communicate (exchange power) in the AC platform.
➢ Modern Electronic loads work on DC platform, (thus there is a need of AC-
DC conversion). In these types of microgrid DC-AC-DC conversion stages are
more common.

2
 Background- DC Microgrid
➢ The recent surge in the concept of DC Microgrid, facilitates direct
connection of renewables like PV, fuel cell and also DC loads.
➢ The main bus here (common bus) is DC.
➢ The DC microgrid is connected to the utility grid for excess/deficit
power sharing and for increasing the reliability of the loads.
➢ In case of main grid failure, all the connected DGs and loads need to
communicate (exchange power) in the DC platform.
➢ However, the DC microgrid alone does not allow direct interconnection
of renewables like wind (Require AC-DC conversion).
➢ Also, industrial and motor loads cannot be directly fed through DC grid
(DC-AC connection is mandatory) .

3
 Background- AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid

➢ The main bus here (common bus) is both AC and DC.

➢ The hybrid microgrid is connected to the utility grid for excess/deficit power
sharing and for increasing the reliability of the loads.

➢ In case of main grid failure, all the connected DGs and loads can
communicate in both AC and DC platform.

➢ It is a combination of AC and DC microgrid to be named as hybrid microgrid.

4
 Background- AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid

➢ Both AC and DC microgrids contains DGs, loads and may be storage

system.

➢ Both the microgrids are connected together through single/multiple AC-

DC inverter which helps to transfer excess/deficit power from one
microgrid to another.

➢ The main control objectives of AC/DC Hybrid microgrid is to achieve

power balance within the individual microgrid most of the time.

5
 Structures of AC-DC Coupled Hybrid Microgrid

DC-DC
DC-AC AC/DC/AC

DC-AC
Both AC/DC AC-DC Both AC/DC
AC-DC sources/loads
sources/loads

DC-AC

AC-DC Coupled Hybrid Microgrid Structure-1

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

6
 AC-DC Coupled Hybrid Microgrid Structure-1
Key features
➢ Both DC and AC buses have DGs and SEs, and these buses are linked by
Inter linking Converters (ILCs).
➢ The AC–DC coupled hybrid microgrid has Distributed generations (DGs)
and Storages (SEs) on both AC and DC buses.
➢ There is a need of robust coordination between the DC and AC sub-
systems for the voltage and power control.
➢ In general, this structure is considered if major power sources include
both DC and AC powers.
➢ However, DC–AC–DC or AC–DC–AC conversions are inevitable in this type
of structures as both DC/AC sources and loads are connected to both the
buses. ( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

7
 Structures of AC-DC Coupled Hybrid Microgrid

PV array
==
DC-DC
Wind
system
Converter

==
Utility

=
Grid

Battery
Only DC Diesel

==
Generator Only AC
sources/loads DC-AC
sources/loads
Converter
Ultracapacitor
AC Load
DC
Load

DC Microgrid AC microgrid

AC-DC coupled Hybrid Microgrid Structure-2 (Source X. Liu, P. Wang & P. C. Loh, 2011)

8
 AC-DC Coupled Hybrid Microgrid Structure-2
Key features
➢ Mainly AC sources and loads are connected to the AC network whereas
DC sources and loads are tied to the DC network.

➢ This structure has the key benefit that the processes of multiple DC–AC–
DC or AC–DC–AC conversions reduces significantly in an individual ac or
dc grid.

➢ This structure improves overall efficiency and reduces the system cost
with reduced number of power converters by connecting sources and
loads to the AC and DC buses with minimized power conversion
requirements.
9
Control Strategies and Power Management Schemes

➢ For the operation of hybrid AC/DC microgrid,

control strategies and power management
schemes are the most important aspects.

➢ The power management strategies determine output

active and reactive powers of DGs and SEs, and control
the voltages and frequency at the same time.

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

10
 Controls of AC-DC Grid
Controls Challenges in AC-DC Grid
➢ Due to the absence of a global variable which can be used for power-
sharing, voltage and frequency regulation.
➢ In autonomous mode of operation, power-sharing between AC and
DC microgrids cannot be achieved by conventional P-f and Q-V
droop control.
➢ Power management system (PMS) should share the power demand
between the existing AC and DC sources by a specified droop method.
➢ As nonlinear loads also form a part of microgrid loads, harmonic
power-sharing should also be taken into account.
➢ A trade off between reactive power-sharing and voltage regulation.
(Source S. K. Sahoo et al 2017)

11
 Controls of AC-DC Grid

Controls Challenges in AC-DC Grid

➢ The specified droop control should be independent of line impedance

between the inverter and common AC/DC bus.

➢ For proper load sharing among the AC and DC sources, a robust

energy management system can be employed to maintain optimality
and reliability of the microgrid.

(Source S. K. Sahoo et al 2017)

12
 Operating Modes of Grid

➢ Grid Connected Mode

➢ Isolated Mode

Source (X. Liu, P. Wang & P. C. Loh, 2011, F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

13
 Grid Connected Mode
➢ In a grid-connected mode, the power management strategies can be
classified into two types.

➢ Dispatched Power Mode: Here, the power exchange between the

microgrid and the main grid is dispatched from a higher level
control/optimization scheme.

➢ Un-Dispatched Output Power Mode: Here, the microgrid output power

is not dispatched.

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

14
 Grid Connected Mode
Dispatched Power Mode :
➢ In this mode, DGs and SEs operate on power control mode. The
power control can be realized by current control or voltage control.
• Current Control Mode : In a current control mode, which is
popularly used in grid-connected operations, DG’s output
current is controlled in order to track the reference power, and
the output voltage and frequency are determined by the grid.
• Voltage Control Mode : In a voltage control mode, which can be
used in both grid-connected and stand-alone operation modes,
DG’s output voltage is controlled to regulate its output power,
and DG behaves like a synchronous generator.
(Source Y. W. Li et al 2004, F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W.
Li, 2015)

15
 Grid Connected Mode
Dispatched Power Mode :

➢ In a dispatched output power mode, the microgrid behaves like a

controllable source or load to the main grid and can provide valuable
grid-support or load management functions as a whole. To realize
this, SEs are inevitable.

(Source Y. W. Li et al 2004, F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W.

Li, 2015)

16
 Grid Connected Mode
Dispatched Power Mode :

➢ To produce the dispatched microgrid output power, power balancing

schemes within the microgrid are used to share dispatched power
among input power sources.

➢ For example, renewable-energy based DGs can work on their

maximum power point (MPP), and other power sources can provide
power deficiency between generation and demand considering
input power sources operation range, response time, etc.
(Source Y. W. Li et al 2004, J. M. Guerrero et al 2011)

17
 Grid Connected Mode
Un-Dispatched power mode :

➢ In grid-connected un dispatched output power operation mode, all

generated powers are fed to the grid; DGs work on MPPT, and SEs
are typically charged.

➢ Moreover, SEs can be controlled to smooth DGs output power

oscillation especially for DGs with intermittent nature such as wind
and PV systems.

(Source C. T. Rodrı’juez et al, 2013)

18
 Grid Connected Mode

➢ In grid-connected operation mode (both in dispatched and un-

dispatched power mode), the microgrid can be used for the grid
support (for example, grid voltage and frequency regulations) by
controlling active and reactive powers delivered to the grid.

➢ This grid support will be included in the dispatched/reference

microgrid power in the dispatched power control mode. In an un-
dispatched power mode, the grid support function will be realized
individually through the DG or SE ILCs.

( Source X. Liu, P. Wang & P. C. Loh 2011 , F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

19
 Role of Individual Devices-Grid Connected Mode.
Inter Linking Converters (ILC), DGs and SEs.
➢ The ILC in an AC–DC-coupled microgrid can be in a bidirectional power control
mode, DC voltage control mode or AC voltage control mode.
Dispatched Power Mode.
➢ With dispatched microgrid output power, two methods can be used for DC link
voltage control and dispatched power generation.
▪ In the first method, ILC works on DC link voltage regulation mode to set the DC
bus voltage on its desired value. In this mode, coordination between DGs–SEs on
DC bus and DGs–SEs on AC bus is necessary to produce the dispatched output
powers.
▪ In the second operation mode, DGs–SEs regulate the DC link voltage on its
reference value while ILC and DGs–SEs on AC bus collectively provide the
dispatched power. In this operation mode, ILC works on power control mode.
20
 Role of Individual devices-Grid connected mode.
Inter Linking Converters (ILC), DGs and SEs.

Un-Dispatched Power Mode.

• DGs in both DC and AC buses work on MPPT.
• SEs are charged if necessary or discharged for smoothing output power
injected to the grid.
• ILC regulates dc link voltage on its desired value and injects all power
generated by DGs–SEs in dc bus to the load/grid.

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

21
 Stand Alone Mode
➢ DC bus voltage and AC bus voltage and frequency should be controlled
simultaneously.
➢ Power balance should happen in both AC and DC bus.
➢ For AC bus voltage and frequency control, ILC works on ac link voltage control
mode and controls an AC bus voltage and frequency. On the other hand, the DC
bus voltage can be controlled directly or indirectly.
➢ In a direct DC link voltage control, DGs and/or SEs regulate a DC link voltage on its
reference value (with droop control, for example).
➢ In an indirect DC link voltage control mode, power balancing between demand
and generation regulates DC link voltage.
➢ In this operation mode, with the presence of parallel ILCs, it is possible that some
of the converters work on an AC link voltage control mode and the others control
the DC link voltage and balance the generation and demand powers.
( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

22
 Role of Individual Devices-Stand Alone Mode.
Inter Linking Converters (ILC), DGs and SEs.

➢ In a stand-alone operation mode, coordination among ILC, DGs–SEs on a AC

bus, and DGs–SEs on DC bus is essential to regulate DC bus voltage, AC bus
voltage and frequency, and balance microgrid total generation and demand
powers at the same time.
➢ The power management strategies such as droop, master–slave, can be used
for AC subsystem voltage and frequency regulation and demand power
sharing.
➢ For the DC subsystem control, a DC bus voltage can be controlled by DGs–SEs
on DC bus directly (for example, utilizing droop control method in DC bus) or
indirectly (for example, utilizing power balancing control strategy).
( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

23
 Role of Individual Devices-Stand Alone Mode.
Inter Linking Converters (ILC), DGs and SEs.
➢ It is important to note that in a stand-alone operation mode, ILC plays an important role
in power management and control. Depend on types of control strategies used in AC and
DC buses, this converter can be used on DC-bus control mode, AC bus control mode, or
output power control mode as discussed.

➢ However, providing coordination among these control strategies (AC-bus, DC-bus, and
ILC control strategies) is the most important objective in this operation mode. For
example, in the condition that DC bus voltage is controlled by DGs–SEs connected to
DC bus, and AC bus voltage is controlled by DGs–SEs connected to AC bus, the ILC is
responsible to manage the power flow between AC and DC sides in order to equalize the
demand and generated power.
( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

24
Overview of Power Management Strategy
AC-DC
hybrid
Microgrid
Grid Stand
connected alone

Dispatched Un Dispatched DC bus voltage DC bus voltage

power output power output control control

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

25
 Power Management Strategies During Transient and
Different Loading Conditions.
A : Power Management During Switching of Transient Operating Modes.

1. Grid connected Standalone Operation.

There are mainly two groups of control strategies for microgrid transition
from grid-connected operation to stand-alone operation:
➢ Switch of control strategies from current/power control mode in grid-
connected operation to the voltage control mode in stand-alone
operation.
➢ Uniformed control in both grid-connected mode and stand-alone
mode.
( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

26
Switch of Control Strategies:

• Different control strategies are used in grid connected and stand-alone

operation modes, and the control strategy is switched between these two
controllers.
• DGs are working on current control mode in grid-connected operation mode
are switched to voltage control mode to ensure continuous supply of power
to sensitive loads and sharing load demand among voltage controlled DGs.
• This switching of control can be applied to DC/DC converter, dc/ac converter
as well as interfacing or interlinking converters.
• For a seamless transition, there are a number of recently proposed methods.
where, the line current of DG can be reduced to zero before switching to a
stand-alone voltage control mode. It is also possible for faster transition
without reducing the DG line current to zero.
(Source W. Rong-Jong et al 2013, Z. Yao et al 2010)

27
Switch of Control Strategies:

• To realize this control scheme switch, an islanding detection algorithm

(passive, active, and communication-based detection schemes is usually
used to determine the disconnecting time instance, which is used to switch
the microgrid controller from grid-connected to stand-alone mode.

• After isolation, the voltage controller is immediately applied, and

synchronization unit works as an oscillator at a fixed frequency.

• In case of multiple DGs, droop control or other stand-alone operation

control strategies can be applied.

(Source W. Rong-Jong et al 2013, Z. Yao et al 2010)

28
Uniform Control:
• In the second group, the power management and control strategies are the
same in both grid-connected and stand-alone operation modes, and it is not
necessary to modify the control strategy during the transitions.

• Therefore, it is challenging to design and implement a robust control

strategy to work on grid-connected, stand-alone, and transient modes.

• For this group of control methods, islanding detection algorithm is not

necessary in theory, but is usually needed due to utility requirements as
well as for better control performance.

• This group may include smaller DG units that work in MPPT or current
control mode in both grid-connected and stand-alone operations.
29
Uniform Control:
• For larger DGs and energy storage units which are dominant microgrid power
sources, with some modifications voltage control mode is implemented in
different operation modes to avoid control scheme transients.

• For example, conventional droop method have been modified in using the
concept of virtual impedance, and combining PI controller with droop control,
to be used in both grid-connected and stand-alone operation modes in the
presence of DGs.

• As another example, conventional hierarchical control have been modified, in

order to improve weak disturbance rejection performance of conventional
voltage and power sharing controllers to be used in both operation modes of
microgrid. (Source J. Kim et al 2011, J. M. Guerrero et al 2009)

30
Power Sharing Among DGs During Transients

• It should share the power demand among DGs to continue supplying

power to the loads within the microgrid.

• Transient power sharing among DGs or energy storage units are

important for both groups of control strategies, and during stand-
alone operation, the power electronic interfaced DGs initially picks up
the majority of any load step, in some cases poor transient load
sharing exist in the presence of DGs and conventional synchronous
generators.

(Source A. Paquette et al 2014, Q.-C. Zhong et al 2011

31
Power Sharing Among DGs During Transients

• In order to improve the transient power sharing, the coordination

among DGs and conventional synchronous generators is necessary. For
example, control strategy has been modified for the droop control in
order to improve the transient load sharing by changing the droop
slope during transient and restoring it to normal in steady state.

• The synchronverter and synchronous converters are other methods

that allow the power electronic interfaced DGs to follow the
conventional synchronous generators principles and may help the
transient load sharing.
(Source A. Paquette et al 2014, Q.-C. Zhong et al 2011

32
2. Stand Alone Grid Connected Operation.

➢ In the transition from stand-alone to grid-connected operation mode,

other than the control scheme (switch from voltage control to
current/power control or through the uniformed control scheme), an
important task is that the microgrid voltage should be synchronized with
the grid voltage before reconnection.

For synchronization of the microgrid to the main grid, there are mainly two
types:
1) Passive synchronization.
2) Active synchronization.

33
Passive Synchronization

➢ For passive synchronization, the microgrid voltage and main grid voltage
are monitored and the two grids are connected when they have the same
phase angle.
➢ This method is based on the assumption that microgrid and the main grid
have very close voltage magnitude and slightly different frequency (which
is typically the case).
➢ The passive synchronization is the easiest and probably the most
practical method so far. However, this method will lead to some
transients upon reconnection of the two grids (due to not exactly
matched voltage magnitude), and it does not guarantee a fast and
controllable synchronization process.

34
Active synchronization.

➢ Active synchronization can achieve fast synchronization and seamless

connection of the microgrid and the main grid, and has attracted
considerable research efforts.
➢ However, since the microgrid consists of different types of DGs, severely
changing electrical loads, and storage devices, the synchronization of a
microgrid is quite different in comparison to a single traditional machine.
➢ For active synchronization, coordination of multiple DGs and energy storages
is required. In some cases, synchronization unit is embedded in the control
strategies; while in others, separate synchronization unit provides the
synchronization signals in order to provide microgrid reconnection to the
grid.

35
Active synchronization.

Depending on utilized control strategy, the active synchronization strategies

can be classified into two groups.

1) One/more DGs initiate the synchronization process and the other

DGs follow them.
2) All DGs take part in the synchronization process simultaneously.

36
Active synchronization.
➢ The first group of synchronization strategy is mainly used in the microgrids
that some DGs are working on current control mode.

➢ The second group of synchronization strategy is mainly used in the

microgrids that all DGs are working on the voltage control mode.

➢ After synchronization, the microgrid will be reconnected to the grid at the

voltage zero crossing.

➢ In both types of synchronization strategies, communication system is

essential in order to communicate the system information among power
sources. (Source M. Ashabani et al 2014)

37
B : Power Management Strategies Under Different Loading Conditions.

➢ In hybrid microgrids, loads and/or the grid conditions can have significant
impacts on the performance of microgrid. As a result, robust current or voltage
control is needed in these conditions. In the presence of nonlinear/unbalance
loads, which result in unbalance voltage at PCC, various control strategies have
been used.

➢ On the other hand, constant power loads (CPLs) cause instability problems in
the microgrids because of their negative impedance characteristics.

( Source D. Marx et al 2012)

38
B : Power Management Strategies Under Different Loading Conditions.

➢ These problems have been studied in different researches using small-signal

method and large signal methods, and various solutions have been proposed to
ensure the system stability. These include oscillation compensation technique
used to increase stability margin, active-damping techniques to overcome the
negative impedance instability problem, nonlinear control of AC/DC converters.

➢ In addition, in some cases, CPLs are controlled to provide ancillary services to

microgrids, such as harmonic minimization caused by power electronic
nonlinear load, shunt active filter.

(Source N. Jelani et al 2012)

39
B : Power Management Strategies Under Different Loading Conditions.
➢ In addition to CPLs, which affect the microgrid stability, frequency and
voltage dependant loads can influence the microgrid stability. It has been
shown that in a stand-alone operation, the frequency and voltage
deviations are dependent on each other. Therefore, microgrid may reach
unstable operating state as a consequence of load’s voltage and frequency
dependence.
➢ For example, induction motors are frequency- and voltage-dependant loads
in the microgrids, where conventional P/Q control strategies cannot
guarantee the microgrid stability with these loads.
➢ In the presence of frequency and voltage dependant loads, accurate loads
models are essential for control system design in order to enhance the
stability and transient performance.
( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

40
 Future Research Areas of Hybrid Microgrid

➢ Power Management ➢ Transient Power Management

➢ Power Quality issues ➢ Economic Concerns

➢ Parallel Operation of ILCs ➢ New Semiconductor Technologies

➢ Communication Systems

( Source F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, 2015)

41
 References
1. F. Nejabatkhah and Y. W. Li, "Overview of Power Management Strategies of Hybrid
AC/DC Microgrid," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 7072-
7089, Dec. 2015.
2. X. Liu, P. Wang and P. C. Loh, "A Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid and Its Coordination Control,"
in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 278-286, June 2011.
3. S. K. Sahoo, A. K. Sinha and N. K. Kishore, "Control Techniques in AC, DC, and Hybrid
AC-DC Microgrid: A Review," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power
Electronics, vol. PP, no. 99, pp. 1-1.
4. Y. W. Li, D. M. Vilathgamuwa, and P. C. Loh, “Design, analysis and real-time testing of
controllers for multi-bus microgrid system,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 19, no. 5,
pp. 1195–1204, Sep. 2004.
5. J. M. Guerrero, J. C. Vasquez, J. Matas, L. G. de Vicu˜na, and M. Castilla, “Hierarchical
control of droop-controlled AC and DC microgrids—A general approach toward
standardization,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 158–172, Jan. 2011.

42
 References
6. K. T. Tan, P. L. So, Y. C. Chu, and M. Z. Q. Chen, “Coordinated control and
energy management of distributed generation inverters in a microgrid,”
IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 704–713, Apr. 2013.
7. C. T. Rodrı’guez, D. V. de la Fuente, G. Garcer´a, E. Figueres, and J. A. G.
Moreno, “Reconfigurable control scheme for a PV microinverter working in
both grid-connected and island modes,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 60,
no. 4, pp. 1582–1595, Apr. 2013.
8. W. Rong-Jong, L. Chih-Ying, H. Yu-Chih, and C. Yung-Ruei, “Design of high-
performance stand-alone and grid-connected inverter for distributed
generation applications,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1542–
1555, Apr. 2013.
9. Z. Yao, L. Xiao, and Y. Yan, “Seamless transfer of single-phase grid interactive
inverters between grid-connected and stand-alone modes,” IEEE Trans.
Power Electron., vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 1597–1603, Jun. 2010.
43
 References
10. J. Kim, J. M. Guerrero, P. Rodriguez, R. Teodorescu, and K. Nam, “Mode adaptive
droop control with virtual output impedances for an inverter based flexible ac
microgrid,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 689–702, Mar. 2011.
11. J. M. Guerrero, J. C. Vasquez, J. Matas, M. Castilla, and L. G. de Vicuna, “Control
strategy for flexible microgrid based on parallel line-interactive UPS systems,”
IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 726–736, Mar. 2009.
12. A. Paquette and D. Divan, “Transient droop for improved transient load sharing in
microgrids,” in Proc. IEEE Energy Conver. Congr. Expo. Conf., Sep. 2014, pp. 84–
91.
13. Q.-C. Zhong and G. Weiss, “Synchronverters: Inverters that mimic synchronous
generators,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 1259–1267, Apr. 2011.
14. M. Ashabani and Y. A.-r. I. Mohamed, “New family of microgrid control and
management strategies in smart distribution grids analysis, comparison and
testing,” IEEE Trans. Power Syst., vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 2257–2269, Sep. 2014.

44
 References
15. D. Marx, P. Magne, B. Nahid-Mobarakeh, S. Pierfederici, and B.
Davat, “Large signal stability analysis tools in DC power systems with
constant power loads and variable power loads—A review,” IEEE
Trans. Power Electron., vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 1773–1787, Apr. 2012.
16. N. Jelani and M. Molinas, “Shunt active filtering by constant power
load in microgrid based on IRP P-Q And CPC reference signal
generation schemes,” in Proc. IEEE Power Syst. Technol. Conf., Nov.
2012, pp. 1–6.

45
Thank You

46