Microgrid Control Architecture for Reactive Power and Grid Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microgrid controllers do not effectively optimize the overall power grid and fail to contribute reactive power to minimize losses or improve voltage profiles, nor do they adequately address significant power swings due to large loads connected randomly to the microgrid.

Innovation Solution

The Integrated Microgrid Management System (IMMS) provides a control system that optimizes energy and cost management for microgrids, ensuring reliability and resiliency by integrating dispatchable and non-dispatchable resources, managing real and reactive power, and allowing microgrids to operate in both grid-connected and islanded modes, while contributing to overall power grid optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If microgrid controllers optimize operation within the microgrid itself under fixed electrical boundaries, then local energy management efficiency is improved, but contribution to overall power grid optimization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal energy management efficiencyVSAvoidcontribution to overall power grid optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines local microgrid control functions with global distribution management system functions into an integrated control architecture. The microgrid controller exchanges information with the DMS and participates in distribution system optimization while maintaining local autonomy, resolving the contradiction between local efficiency and global contribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The microgrid controller is designed with multi-functionality to perform both local optimization tasks (energy management, load control) and global contribution tasks (reactive power support, voltage regulation, distribution optimization). This universal design enables the controller to serve multiple purposes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If microgrid controllers manage only real power within fixed boundaries, then local power supply reliability is improved, but reactive power management and voltage profile optimization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal power supply reliabilityVSAvoidreactive power losses and voltage profile degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts both real and reactive power output based on real-time grid conditions, load demands, and operational priorities. This dynamic control enables the microgrid to respond flexibly to changing conditions while maintaining reliability and optimizing reactive power management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters including reactive power output, voltage setpoints, and power factor based on grid conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the microgrid contributes to voltage profile optimization and reduces reactive power losses while maintaining local reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If microgrid controllers operate independently without interoperating with DMS, then local operational simplicity is improved, but value to distribution companies and overall grid optimization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal operational simplicityVSAvoidvalue to distribution companies and grid optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control architecture is segmented into hierarchical layers with the microgrid controller maintaining independent local control functions while adding communication capabilities to interface with the DMS. This segmentation preserves operational simplicity at the local level while enabling grid-wide optimization through information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary communication interface between the microgrid controller and the distribution management system. This intermediary enables value-added functions such as demand response participation, distributed generation coordination, and distribution optimization while preserving the simplicity of local microgrid operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10901383B2Systems and methods for integrated microgrid management system in electric power systems

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 OPUS ONE SOLUTIONS ENERGY CORP

AI summary

An integrated microgrid management system includes hardware operating as a node on an electrical power network. The node includes memory storing program code, a communications channel operatively connected to a plurality of controllable power devices, and a processor. In an embodiment, the processor is configured to implement a three-phase AC unbalanced model of a microgrid network, for both low and medium voltage networks. The processor is further configured to implement a topology processor that creates a map identifying controllable power devices that are connected to the network and how said controllable power devices are connected. The processor also implements an online power flow engine that uses the map and the three-phase AC unbalanced model of the network to generate commands to control the plurality of controllable power devices. Adaptive self-configuration logic and an optimization engine that performs multi-objective optimization are further disclosed.