Towards Resilient Operation of Multi-Microgrids: An MISOCP-Based Frequency-Constrained Approach

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel MISOCP-based framework for real-time frequency control and load management in multi-microgrid systems during islanding events, ensuring stability and optimal operation.

Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive optimization and control framework for multi-microgrid frequency stability using MISOCP reformulation and a cutting plane algorithm.

Findings

Effective frequency stability during islanding demonstrated.

Scalable computation achieved with the proposed algorithm.

Optimal load shedding and topology control validated through experiments.

Abstract

High penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) is transforming the paradigm in power system operation. The ability to provide electricity to customers while the main grid is disrupted has introduced the concept of microgrids with many challenges and opportunities. Emergency control of dangerous transients caused by the transition between the grid-connected and island modes in microgrids is one of the main challenges in this context. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a comprehensive optimization and real-time control framework for maintaining frequency stability of multi-microgrid networks under an islanding event and for achieving optimal load shedding and network topology control with AC power flow constraints. The paper also develops a strong mixed-integer second-order cone programming (MISOCP)-based reformulation and a cutting plane algorithm for scalable computation. We believe this is the first time in the literature that such a framework for multi-microgrid network control is proposed, and its effectiveness is demonstrated with extensive numerical experiments.