A Microgrid Architecture With Multiple-Input DC/DC Converters: Applications, Reliability, System Operation, and Control

Abstract

At a component level, several issues related to the proposed architecture operation and control are analyzed. Multiple-input converter power budget equations are derived and verified through simulations and experiments. Issues in distributed architectures, such as autonomous control, and fault detection and mitigation are also addressed. An autonomous control strategy that relies only on monitoring the main bus voltage is presented. To provide adequate fault detection and mitigation, energy storage location and magnitude are also discussed. This work analyzes constant-power loads present in distributed architectures and utilizes a global passivity-based control technique to derive a control law that stabilizes the converters. This analysis is supported with simulations and experiments.