Decentralized Optimal Control for Photovoltaic Systems Using Prediction in the Distribution Systems

• Published in: Energies
• Main Authors: Chi-Thang Phan-Tan, Martin Hill
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Subjects: low-voltage distribution network; overvoltage; photovoltaic; multi-objective optimization; prediction; decentralized control
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3973
• ISSN: 1996-1073

The high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems and fast communications networks increase the potential for PV inverters to support the stability and performance of microgrids. PV inverters in the distribution network can work cooperatively and follow centralized and decentralized control commands to optimize energy production while meeting grid code requirements. However, there are older autonomous inverters that have already been installed and will operate in the same network as smart controllable ones. This paper proposes a decentralized optimal control (DOC) that performs multi-objective optimization for a group of PV inverters in a network of existing residential loads and autonomous inverters. The interaction of independent DOC groups in the same network is considered. The limit of PV inverter power factor is included in the control. The DOC is done by the power flow calculation and an autoregression prediction model for estimating maximum power point and loads. Overvoltage caused by prediction errors resulting in non-optimal commands from the DOC is avoided by switching to autonomous droop control (ADC). The DOC and ADC operate at different time scales to take account of communication delays between PV inverters and decentralized controller. The simulation of different scenarios of network control has proved the effectiveness of the control strategies.