Nonlinear Control of a DC MicroGrid for the Integration of Photovoltaic Panels

TL;DR

This paper presents a nonlinear control scheme for a scalable DC MicroGrid integrating photovoltaic panels, storage, and loads, ensuring robustness and flexibility to meet new grid connection standards.

Contribution

It introduces a 'Plug and Play' distributed control approach based on 'System of Systems' philosophy for flexible, reliable integration of renewables and storage in DC MicroGrids.

Findings

Successful control of multiple energy sources and loads in a DC MicroGrid

Scalable control scheme adaptable to larger systems

Enhanced robustness to uncertainties and intermittency

Abstract

New connection constraints for the power network (Grid Codes) require more flexible and reliable systems, with robust solutions to cope with uncertainties and intermittence from renewable energy sources (renewables), such as photovoltaic arrays. The interconnection of such renewables with storage systems through a Direct Current (DC) MicroGrid can fulfill these requirements. A "Plug and Play" approach based on the "System of Systems" philosophy using distributed control methodologies is developed in the present work. This approach allows to interconnect a number of elements to a DC MicroGrid as power sources like photovoltaic arrays, storage systems in different time scales like batteries and supercapacitors, and loads like electric vehicles and the main AC grid. The proposed scheme can easily be scalable to a much larger number of elements.