Application of rapid prototyping tools for a hierarchical microgrid control implementation

This paper presents the application of rapid prototyping tools for the implementation of hierarchical microgrid automation and control algorithms in Real-Time/FPGA platforms based on a Triphase 3PExpress and a National Instruments CompactRIO platforms (NI cRIO). A three layer hierarchical control structure has been used, where the primary layer implements the power electronics controls, the secondary layer implements the microgrid controls and automation strategy, and the tertiary layer implements the energy management algorithms. The rapid prototyping tools offer an environment that allows the implementation of concepts related to the coordination, control and management of a Commercial and Industrial (C&I) building microgrid to provide high quality power to both the local loads (e.g. harmonic distortion) and the grid (e.g. ancillary services). The microgrid is composed of a three-phase diesel generator, a Li-ion battery, a motor-generator test rig for wind turbine emulation, a load bank with resistive, inductive and capacitive passive load emulation capabilities, a resistive load bank, a fault emulator and a back to back converter to emulate loads or distributed resources.