Overview of Model Predictive Control of Converters for Islanded AC Microgrids

This paper presents an overview of the recent advances in the application of model predictive control (MPC) to the control of the primary and secondary tiers of islanded AC microgrids (MGs). At the primary level of an islanded AC MG, MPC offers the advantages of faster dynamics, maximum utility of bandwidth and more stable inverter DC-link voltage. The superior dynamic features of MPC also enhance MG secondary control as well. The study shows that MPC has found effective applications in voltage source converters for power sharing, power quality regulation as well as frequency, voltage and current control in centralized, decentralized and distributed MG topologies. The challenges and future trends of MPC’s relevance to the MGs for the future smart grid are also discussed. We have presented real-time hardware-in-the-loop test results of the MPC-based control of AC inverters in an islanded AC microgrid.