Voltage Source Operation of the Energy-Router Based on Model Predictive Control

The energy router (ER) is regarded as a key component of microgrids. It is a converter that interfaces the microgrid(s) with the utility grid. The energy router has a multiport structure and bidirectional energy flow control. The energy router concept can be implemented in nearly zero energy buildin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Indrek Roasto, Oleksandr Husev, Mahdiyyeh Najafzadeh, Tanel Jalakas, Jose Rodriguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/10/1892
Description
Summary:The energy router (ER) is regarded as a key component of microgrids. It is a converter that interfaces the microgrid(s) with the utility grid. The energy router has a multiport structure and bidirectional energy flow control. The energy router concept can be implemented in nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) to provide flexible energy management. We propose a concept where ER is working as a single grid-forming converter with a predefined voltage reference. The biggest challenge is to maintain regulated voltage and frequency inside the NZEB in the idle operation mode, where traditional regulators, e.g., proportional-resonant (PR), proportional-integral-derivative (PID), will not meet the control design requirements and could have unstable behavior. To gain the stability of the system, we propose model predictive control (MPC). The design of the MPC algorithm is explained. A simulation software for power electronics (PLECS) is used to simulate the proposed algorithm. Finally, the simulation results are verified on an experimental prototype.
ISSN:1996-1073