Autonomous Microgrid Restoration Using Grid-Forming Inverters and Smart Circuit Breakers: Preprint
The proliferation of distributed inverter-based resources (IBRs) raises the questions if these IBRs can be used to blackstart microgrids and distribution feeders after major outages. In this paper, we propose and evaluate an autonomous microgrid restoration concept using grid-forming (GFM) IBRs and smart circuit creakers (SCBs). The concept is first explored in simulation platform and then a hardware testbed containing actual GFM inverters is developed to demonstrate these functionalities. A combination of dispatchable virtual oscillator control (dVOC) and droop-based control schemes have been designed for GFM inverter controls in the software simulations and hardware testbed. Subsequently, operation of SCBs using two distinct principles have been demonstrated that can restore or connect portions of the network.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308; AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1878550
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5D00-78457; MainId:32374; UUID:ba438f9c-3fe6-4bf0-b3dc-d1ff18882c23; MainAdminID:63936
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Autonomous Microgrid Restoration Using Grid-Forming Inverters and Smart Circuit Breakers