Improvement of Stability and Load Sharing in an Autonomous Microgrid Using Supplementary Droop Control Loop

TLDR

The study investigates load sharing in autonomous microgrids and proposes a supplementary droop control loop to stabilize high‑gain droop operation. The authors employ frequency‑domain modeling, eigenvalue analysis, and time‑domain simulations, and design a supplementary droop control loop based on local power measurement and d‑axis voltage modulation, optimized via an evolutionary algorithm. High‑gain angle droop control improves load sharing but reduces stability, while the proposed supplementary loop restores stability across operating conditions without compromising load sharing.

Abstract

This paper investigates the problem of appropriate load sharing in an autonomous microgrid. High gain angle droop control ensures proper load sharing, especially under weak system conditions. However, it has a negative impact on overall stability. Frequency-domain modeling, eigenvalue analysis, and time-domain simulations are used to demonstrate this conflict. A supplementary loop is proposed around a conventional droop control of each DG converter to stabilize the system while using high angle droop gains. Control loops are based on local power measurement and modulation of the d-axis voltage reference of each converter. Coordinated design of supplementary control loops for each DG is formulated as a parameter optimization problem and solved using an evolutionary technique. The supplementary droop control loop is shown to stabilize the system for a range of operating conditions while ensuring satisfactory load sharing.