Our research primarily focuses on developing hierarchical control strategies to real world microgrid platform to experimental validation. We aim to address practical challenges in the tests of the effectiveness of control method in dynamic microgrid environments. Recent developments in microgrid research show a great number of demonstration projects, yet most theoretical studies are still validated through simulations or through experiments.
Systematic experimental platform that integrates real world micro grid control strategies remain scars limiting the practical verification and the optimization of control methods. Our protocol offers the advantage of enabling real world hardware based instrumentation of hierarchical controller strategies in microgrids, addressing the gap between simulation and practical implementation. It provides a comprehensive hands-on approach for deploying control systems on actual platforms, ensuring better system validation.
Future research in our laboratory will focus on exploring advanced control strategies for microgrids, aiming to enhance system robustness. We seek to improve the ability of microgrid operations under real world scenarios such as sudden no changes and network workforce to ensure reliable, efficient performance in practical scenarios. To construct individual distributed energy resources, or DER, connect the positive pole of the direct current, or DC source, through a wire to the input positive pole of the buck circuit, while simultaneously connecting the corresponding negative poles.
Build a mathematical model for the buck converter to facilitate the design of control parameters for simulations and experimental setups. Use the state space averaging method to construct the state space equations for a typical buck converter. Next, transform the state space equation into the transfer function form for easier proportional integral controller design.
After constructing individual DERs, connect the corresponding positive and negative output terminals of each buck circuit. To simulate line impedance, insert small resistors in series between the positive poles of each DER. For load integration, use resistors to simulate common loads in DC microgrids.
Directly connect the resistors terminals to the confluence points of the positive and negative poles of all distributed energy resources for global loads. When line impedance is present, connect resistors at the output of each buck circuit to simulate local loads. Next, press the power button on the power supply.
Adjust the voltage to the specified value using the knob. Ensure the power supply operates within the range of zero to 300 volts and a maximum power of 600 watts. Route the input and output signals of the DCDC buck converter to a signal conversion board.
Connect the signal conversion board to the simulator hardware controller using signal cables. Finally, verify the bus and load connections. Inspect all connections for accuracy and security.
To configure the droop control module, drag and drop components such as gains and difference blocks into the control module. Double click the gain module and set the droop coefficient as required. Then, for a dual loop proportional integral control setup, drag and drop the components in the stimulator.
When selecting proportional integral control gains, use the transfer function model of the buck converter from the transfer function equation. Follow the sequence of designing the inner current control loop first, and then the outer voltage control loop. Provide different input signals to the controllers of each DER to implement distributed control within the centralized simulator controller.
For example, drag signals from DER two and DER four into the control module of DER one. Next, construct the secondary control block diagram in the simulator, based on the consensus based secondary control. Adjust the response of the secondary control by modifying the control gains within the simulator.
For real-time simulator experimental setup, click the edit button to modify the program running on the simulator. Subsequently, activate the set button to complete the development property settings. After completing the model editing, click the build button to compile the model into executable code.
Monitor the software compilation window until the message compilation successful appears. Upon successful compilation, configure the program code settings, including simulation mode, real-time communication link type, and other relevant parameters. Download the compiled executable program into the controller hardware.
Then, start the program to initiate the experiment. Connect the voltage probes of the oscilloscope to the positive and negative terminals of each DER output and clamp the current probes at the output ports.
