Multi-Agent System with Plug and Play Feature for Distributed Secondary Control in Microgrid—Controller and Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation

Abstract

Distributed control and optimization strategies are a promising alternative approach to centralized control within microgrids. In this paper, a multi-agent system is developed to deal with the distributed secondary control of islanded microgrids. Two main challenges are identified in the coordination of a microgrid: (i) interoperability among equipment from different vendors; and (ii) online re-configuration of the network in the case of alteration of topology. To cope with these challenges, the agents are designed to communicate with physical devices via the industrial standard IEC 61850 and incorporate a plug and play feature. This allows interoperability within a microgrid at agent layer as well as allows for online re-configuration upon topology alteration. A test case of distributed frequency control of islanded microgrid with various scenarios was conducted to validate the operation of proposed approach under controller and power hardware-in-the-loop environment, comprising prototypical hardware agent systems and realistic communications network.

Smart grid lab research in Europe and beyond

“…Further, the lab has on its dispose a PV array simulator and is able to conduct hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL) experiments . With this range of facilities, they are able to conduct research in the fields of DER integration, GM, AMI, DR, ES, EV, SH, and SC . Additionally, the lab is also working on markets, ICT, and CS …”

“…37 With this range of facilities, they are able to conduct research in the fields of DER integration, GM, AMI, DR, ES, EV, SH, and SC. 38 Additionally, the lab is also working on markets, ICT, and CS. 37…”

The Role of Experimental Test Beds for the Systems Testing of Future Marine Electrical Power Systems

“…Each cell of the network has a PMU installed with additional 64 PMUs available through the wide area monitoring, protection and control platform [25]. For the purpose of conducting scalable CHIL implementations, the facility provides up to 64 distributed controllers within its distributed controller platform, an example application of which can be found in [26]. The laboratory further supports all industry relevant communications protocols and incorporates two comunications emulators: (i) an NS-3 based communications emulator and (ii) a distributed communications emulator platform [27].…”

Zoning Evaluation for Voltage Optimization in Distribution Networks with Distributed Energy Resources

“…This approach yields the optimal solution but its implementation is very expensive requiring a large communication infrastructure with adequate bandwidth to exchange information quickly and accurately [5][6][7][8].In a distributed control, the controllers of both DERs and conventional Volt/Var devices use measurements at PCC to achieve local voltage regulation as in a local control but they also exchange information with the controllers of the neighboring nodes. This approach aims at overcoming the technical problems of the local control while limiting the investments for the communication infrastructure [9,10].In a decentralized approach, the distribution system is usually partitioned into voltage control zones (VCZs). Each VCZ contains nodes weakly coupled with the nodes belonging to other VCZs from an electrical point of view; in the 'electric center' of a VCZ is placed the pilot node (PN), whose voltage variation best represents the variation of the voltage in the VCZ.…”

“…In a distributed control, the controllers of both DERs and conventional Volt/Var devices use measurements at PCC to achieve local voltage regulation as in a local control but they also exchange information with the controllers of the neighboring nodes. This approach aims at overcoming the technical problems of the local control while limiting the investments for the communication infrastructure [9,10].…”