Real-Time Simulations for Testing of a Low-Voltage Microgrid with MMC-DSTATCOM

• Main Authors: Ertay, M. Mustafa, Chowdhury, Dhiman, Biswas, Md Multan, Ginn, Herbert L.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Distribution networks; Low voltage; Microgrids; MMC-DSTATCOM; overruns; Reactive power; real-time simulation; Real-time systems; Renewable energy sources; RT-LAB; Switching converters
• ISSN: 2473-0165
• DOI: 10.1109/PEMC51159.2022.9962933

This paper presents a real-time simulation model of a low-voltage (LV) microgrid comprising renewable energy sources, a battery energy storage system (BESS) and a modular multilevel converter (MMC)-distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) for reactive power compensation to support a distribution network and utility loads. The model is developed using MATLAB/Simulink® and the real-time test environment is composed of an OPAL-RT simulator. In offline and RT-Lab-based online simulations, the model is investigated for grid-feeding, grid-supporting, grid-following and grid-forming operations of the microgrid inverters. The MMC-DSTATCOM operation is tested for different reactive power control scenarios both in grid-following and grid-forming modes. In this study, one of the major challenges that affects real-time simulations is employing switching power electronic converter models and their controls with significantly low overruns in the RT-Lab platform. It is observed that microgrid and switching converter operations are successfully realized in real-time simulations with significantly low overruns for 25\ \mu\mathrm{s} step-size.