Modeling microgrids with active loads

Abstract

It is known that active rectifier loads present a negative incremental resistance and have control loop dynamics similar to inverters that may supply a microgrid. To investigate this, a small-signal model of an active rectifier load within a microgrid is developed. The active rectifier load and microgrid are modeled in the synchronous (DQ) reference frame. A participation analysis of the model is performed and modes of the system are identified. The model is verified in a laboratory using rapid prototyping power converters where a set of load perturbations are performed to identify the modes predicted by the participation analysis.