Microgrid Frequency Regulation and Optimal Sizing of Emergency Generator Considering VSG Coupled Electric Vehicles

Abstract

Recently, the transition from conventional to renewable energy sources (RESs), from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), and from the main grid to microgrids (MGs) are essential goals to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the stability of power systems. However, the transitions cause new concerns in the grid including technical challenges and financial viability. This study examines the RES-based MG under realistic conditions considering the uncertainty in fleet size of EVs, emergency generator capacity, solar irradiation, and wind speed in island mode. The work aims to provide effective solutions including conventional methods alongside today’s trend namely doubly fed electrical generators (DFIG), vehicle-to-grid mechanism (V2G), maximum power point tracking controller (MPPT), voltage source inverter (VSI) with high switching frequency for technical challenges, and virtual synchronous generator (VSG) mechanism for financial viability. The paper provides a guide for resizing the emergency generators capacity depending on system instability. The observations verify that the control mechanisms reinforce the system to remain stable by decreasing the range of frequency fluctuation from 3.1 to <0.05 Hz, the peak point of frequency from 51.8 to 50.05 Hz, and the emergency generator capacity from 0.7605 to 0.3420 MVAr at MATLAB and Simulink.

Keywords:

• distributed renewable energy source
• frequency regulation
• microgrid
• optimal emergency generator sizing
• virtual synchronous generator

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Baran Gülkaya

Baran Gülkaya received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul, Turkey in 2020. Presently he is working as a functional safety engineer at Ford, Turkey. His research interests include renewable energy generation, electric vehicle, fault diagnosis and safety analysis.

Tayfur Gökçek

Tayfur Gökçek received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from Yildiz Technical University (YTU), Istanbul, Turkey, in 2019 and 2021, respectively, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the Department of Electrical Engineering. He is also a Research Assistant with the Department of Electrical Engineering, YTU. His research interests include local electricity markets, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and power system operation within the smart grid technologies.

Yavuz Ateş

Yavuz Ateş born in Sivas, Turkey in 1983. He received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2007, 2009, and 2016, respectively, all in electrical engineering. He is currently Associate Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department in Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. Dr. Ateş is serving as a reviewer for the IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification. His current research interests include electric protection systems, alternative/renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, smart grid, power quality, and electric distribution systems.

Ali Rıfat Boynueğri

Ali Rıfat Boynueğri born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1986. He received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2008, 2010, and 2014, respectively, all in electrical engineering. He is currently Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering Department and also is serving as a Deputy Director of the Clean Energy Technologies Institute of Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey. Prior to this position he was in University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA, for postdoctoral studies. Dr. Boynuegri is serving as a reviewer for the IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification. His current research interests include Laser power transmission, alternative/renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, smart grid, predictive maintenance, power quality, and reactive power compensation.