Experimental Testbed for Load Control on an AC/DC Microgrid

Microgrids are becoming increasingly popular in the world of power systems to mitigate the effects of high impact events that can lead to blackouts. They are also integral to including distributed renewable energy generation in the grid. A major challenge in effective implementation of DC microgrids, in particular, is the lack of adequate testing platforms. This thesis primarily aims to build a testbed of an AC/DC microgrid in a laboratory environment using programmable sources and loads. A central measurement and control platform is developed to monitor and actuate all the loads from a single unit. While this enhances data measurement, it also enables simultaneous operation of the loads. The use of such state-of-the-art technology gives a better understanding of integration of microgrids into existing power systems. Having a microgrid testbed allows for the study of the control of hybrid AC/DC microgrids under various operating conditions. This thesis uses this capability to test a load shedding problem on a 3 bus and 4 bus AC/DC microgrid. An algorithmic solution to the problem is proposed and implemented in hardware. The results are compared to more traditional control strategies. The microgrid testbed developed in this thesis can prove integral to future research work on AC/DC microgrid controllers. The central control platform can also be used for future research into the effect of communication networks on the performance of the microgrid and power system as a whole.M.S., Electrical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201