An Improved Centralized Control Structure for Compensation of Voltage Distortions in Inverter-Based Microgrids

Recently, increased use of non-linear loads has intensified the harmonic distortion and voltage unbalance in distribution systems. Inverter Based Distributed Generators (IBDGs) can be employed as distributed compensators to improve the power quality, as well as to supply distribution systems. In this paper, an enhanced hierarchical control scheme for the compensation of voltage disturbance in an AC Micro Grid (MG) that includes of two control levels is proposed. The secondary control level is performed by a centralized controller. Data of voltage harmonics and voltage unbalance at the MG Sensitive Load Bus (SLB) is sent to the centralized controller by a measurement unit. A general case with a combined voltage harmonic and unbalance distortion is considered. The compensation coefficients for IBDG units are computed by the centralized controller, and reference commands are sent to the local controllers of the IBDG units that act as a primary level of control. In the secondary control level, harmonic analysis is performed for the MG in order to provide a guide for properly assigning the harmonics and unbalance compensation priorities to IBDGs at different locations in the distribution system. Some buses have more participation in exciting the MG resonance modes; therefore, larger harmonic compensation factors are considered for the IBDGs that are near to these buses. For other IBDGs, the voltage unbalance compensation factor is selected bigger. The control system of the IBDGs mainly includes a current controller, a virtual damping resistor loop, and a load compensation block. Effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated through simulation studies.