Plug-and-play Microgrid Control via Distributed Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating microgrid systems during normal conditions and sudden faults, such as disconnection from a utility grid, is challenging due to the dynamic and nonlinear nature of these systems, which can result in unstable power distribution and voltage fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A control design approach utilizing a transformed state space to specify disturbances in terms of power, rate of change of power, and energy changes, enabling plug-and-play capabilities by ensuring that components can stabilize electrical power and maintain voltage within predetermined ranges through distributed adjustments and feedback control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed feedback control is implemented to stabilize power and voltage during faults, then system stability and reliability improve, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distributed controllers at each microgrid node, with each controller independently managing local power and voltage stabilization. This segmentation allows the complex control function to be distributed across multiple simple units rather than requiring a single complex centralized controller, thereby improving reliability through redundancy while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms where each distributed controller continuously monitors local power and voltage conditions and adjusts its output accordingly. This feedback approach enables automatic stabilization during faults without requiring complex predictive algorithms, achieving reliability improvement through simple reactive control that responds to actual system conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If plug-and-play capabilities are enabled for microgrid components, then adaptability and ease of operation improve, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes universal interface standards and common control protocols that allow different microgrid components (solar panels, diesel generators, loads) to be interconnected through standardized terminals. This universality enables plug-and-play capability where components can be added or removed without custom integration work, achieving adaptability improvement while containing coordination complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
Each microgrid component is equipped with autonomous control capabilities that allow it to self-integrate into the network upon connection. The distributed controllers automatically detect new components, establish communication, and coordinate power flow without requiring manual configuration or complex centralized arbitration, thereby enabling plug-and-play operation while managing system coordination complexity through decentralized autonomy.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are concepts, systems and methods for operating microgrid systems both during normal operation conditions and during sudden, unexpected occurrences of a fault which results in a source becoming disconnected from a primary supply. This is achieved through control systems and method based upon multi-layered modeling of system controllable components and their interactions. This approach results in controllable components capable of operation in a “plug-and-play” manner.