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Communications in Microgrids

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2018) | Viewed by 18280

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Peter Xiaoping Liu

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Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Interests: control theory and systems; teleoperation; telehaptics; haptic control; soft tissue modeling; cutting simulation
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Dr. Wenchao Meng

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Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Interests: adaptive intelligent control; cyber physical system; renewable energy system; smart grids

Dr. Hui Chen

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Coolege of Automtion Engineering, Shanghai Univeristy of Eletric Power, Shanghai, China
Interests: microgrid modelling and control; smart grids

Dr. Chuanling Zhang

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Guest Editor

Coolege of Automtion Engineering, Shanghai Univeristy of Eletric Power, Shanghai, China
Interests: systems and control; nonlinear systems; intelligent systems; smart grids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Future microgrids are expected to be small-scale power systems that can offer increased reliability and facilitate effective integration of distributed generators and energy storage devices. These new capabilities are made possible by integrating advanced communication technologies that can support efficient, secured and reliable end-to-end two-way information flows. Such advanced communication technologies are key enablers for various future microgrid applications, such as demand response, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), energy storage integration, electric vehicle (EV) charging and seamless integration of renewable energy sources. A number of different schemes for microgrid communications have recently emerged such as home area networks (HANs), field area networks (FANs) and wide area networks (WANs). The tight coupling between communication technologies and microgrids also introduces security risks that must be mitigated from a cyber–physical perspective. Moreover, the increasing sensing abilities of microgrids may also raise privacy concerns that must be addressed. The main objectives of this Special Issue dedicated to communications in microgrids are to highlight the latest advances in communications for microgrids.

Prof. Dr. Peter X. Liu
Dr. Wenchao Meng
Dr. Hui Chen
Dr. Chuanling Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

communication architectures of microgrids
resilient communications in microgrids
wireless solutions for microgrids
msecurity and privacy of microgrids
cyber-physical system modeling of smart energy systems
quality of service (QoS) of communications
optimization and control of microgrids
demand responses
economic dispatch of microgrids

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Centralized Smart Decision-Making Hierarchical Interactive Architecture for Multiple Home Microgrids in Retail Electricity Market

by Masoumeh Javadi, Mousa Marzband, Mudathir Funsho Akorede, Radu Godina, Ameena Saad Al-Sumaiti and Edris Pouresmaeil

Energies 2018, 11(11), 3144; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11113144 - 14 Nov 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3637

Abstract

The principal aim of this study is to devise a combined market operator and a distribution network operator structure for multiple home-microgrids (MH-MGs) connected to an upstream grid. Here, there are three distinct types of players with opposite intentions that can participate as a consumer and/or prosumer (as a buyer or seller) in the market. All players that are price makers can compete with each other to obtain much more possible profitability while consumers aim to minimize the market-clearing price. For modeling the interactions among partakers and implementing this comprehensive structure, a multi-objective function problem is solved by using a static, non-cooperative game theory. The propounded structure is a hierarchical bi-level controller, and its accomplishment in the optimal control of MH-MGs with distributed energy resources has been evaluated. The outcome of this algorithm provides the best and most suitable power allocation among different players in the market while satisfying each player’s goals. Furthermore, the amount of profit gained by each player is ascertained. Simulation results demonstrate 169% increase in the total payoff compared to the imperialist competition algorithm. This percentage proves the effectiveness, extensibility and flexibility of the presented approach in encouraging participants to join the market and boost their profits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communications in Microgrids)

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18 pages, 1623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Energy System Configuration Optimization for Multi-Zone Heat-Supply Network Interaction

by Bo Tang, Gangfeng Gao, Xiangwu Xia and Xiu Yang

Energies 2018, 11(11), 3052; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11113052 - 06 Nov 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2671

Abstract

The integrated energy system effectively improves the comprehensive utilization of energy through cascade utilization and coordinated scheduling of various types of energy. Based on the independent integrated energy system, the thermal network interaction between different load characteristic regions is introduced, requiring a minimum thermal grid construction cost, CCHP investment operation cost and carbon emission tax as the comprehensive optimization targets, and making overall optimization to the configuration and operation of the multi-region integrated energy systems. This paper focuses on the planning of equipment capacity of multi-region integrated energy system based on a CCHP system and heat network. Combined with the above comprehensive target and heat network model, a mixed integer linear programming model for a multi-region CCHP system capacity collaborative optimization configuration is established. The integrated energy system, just a numerical model solved with the LINGO software, is presented. Taking a typical urban area in Shanghai as an example, the simulation results show that the integrated energy system with multi-zone heat-suply network interaction compared to the single area CCHP model improved the clean energy utilization of the system, rationally allocates equipment capacity, promotes the local consumption of distributed energy, and provides better overall system benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communications in Microgrids)

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19 pages, 3490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Energy Transaction Mechanisms Based on Blockchain Technology

by Shengnan Zhao, Beibei Wang, Yachao Li and Yang Li

Energies 2018, 11(9), 2412; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092412 - 12 Sep 2018

Cited by 58 | Viewed by 5248

Abstract

With the rapid development of distributed renewable energy (DRE), demand response (DR) programs, and the proposal of the energy internet, the current centralized trading of the electricity market model is unable to meet the trading needs of distributed energy. As a decentralized and distributed accounting mode, blockchain technology fits the requirements of distributed energy to participate in the energy market. Corresponding to the transaction principle, a blockchain-based integrated energy transaction mechanism is proposed, which divides the trading process into two stages: the call auction stage and the continues auction stage. The transactions among the electricity and heat market participants were used as examples to explain the details of the trading process. Finally, the smart contracts of the transactions were designed and deployed on the Ethereum private blockchain site to demonstrate the validity of the proposed transaction scheme. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communications in Microgrids)

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17 pages, 7853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Compound Controller Design for a Buck Converter

by Yueping Sun, Li Ma, Dean Zhao and Shihong Ding

Energies 2018, 11(9), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092354 - 06 Sep 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3238

Abstract

In order to improve the performance of the closed-loop Buck converter control system, a compound control scheme based on nonlinear disturbance observer (DO) and nonsingular terminal sliding mode (TSM) was developed to control the Buck converter. The control design includes two steps. First of all, without considering the dynamic and steady-state performances, a baseline terminal sliding mode controller was designed based on the average model of the Buck converter, such that the desired value of output voltage could be tracked. Secondly, a nonlinear DO was designed, which yields an estimated value as the feedforward term to compensate the lumped disturbance. The compound controller was composed of the terminal sliding mode controller as the state feedback and the estimated value as the feedforward term. Simulation analysis and experimental verifications showed that compared with the traditional proportional integral derivative (PID) and terminal sliding mode state feedback control, the proposed compound control method can provide faster convergence performance and higher voltage output quality for the closed-loop system of the Buck converter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communications in Microgrids)

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19 pages, 19506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Disturbance-Observer-Based Model Predictive Control for Battery Energy Storage System Modular Multilevel Converters

by Yantao Liao, Jun You, Jun Yang, Zuo Wang and Long Jin

Energies 2018, 11(9), 2285; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092285 - 30 Aug 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2956

Abstract

Although the traditional model predictive control (MPC) can theoretically provide AC current and circulating current control for modular multilevel converters (MMCs) in battery energy storage grid-connected systems, it suffers from stability problems due to the power quality of the power grid and model parameter mismatches. A two discrete-time disturbance observers (DOBs)-based MPC strategy is investigated in this paper to solve this problem. The first DOB is used to improve the AC current quality and the second enhances the stability of the circulating current control. The distortion and fluctuation of grid voltage and inductance parameter variation are considered as lump disturbances in the discrete modeling of a MMC. Based on the proposed method, the output prediction is compensated by disturbance estimation to correct the AC current and circulating current errors, which eventually achieve the expected tracking performance. Moreover, the DOBs have a quite low computational cost with minimum order and optimal performance properties. Since the designed DOBs work in parallel with the MPC, the control effect is improved greatly under harmonics, 3-phase unbalance, voltage sag, inductance parameter mismatches and power reversal conditions. Simulation results confirm the validity of the proposed scheme. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communications in Microgrids)

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