Real-Time Co-Simulation Implementation for Voltage and Frequency Regulation in Standalone AC Microgrid with Communication Network Performance Analysis across Traffic Variations

Ola Ali and Osama A. Mohammed ()
Additional contact information
Ola Ali: Energy Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
Osama A. Mohammed: Energy Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-29

Abstract: Effective communication networks are crucial for ensuring reliable and stable operation and control in smart microgrids (MGs). This paper proposes a comprehensive analysis of the interdependence between power and communication networks in the real-time control of a standalone AC microgrid to address this vital need. Thus, the role of communication network design is emphasized in facilitating an effective centralized secondary control to regulate the voltage and frequency of an MG. Consequently, voltage and frequency deviations from the droop-based primary control should be eliminated. This study employs a real-time co-simulation testbed setup that integrates OPAL-RT and network simulator (ns-3), supporting a rigorous evaluation of the interplay between the communication networks and control within the MG. Experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed communication infrastructure in seamlessly enabling real-time data exchange among the primary and secondary control layers. Testing scenarios have been implemented, encompassing low-traffic patterns with minimal load variations and high traffic characterized by more frequent and severe load changes. The experimental results highlight the significant impact of traffic variations on communication network performance. Despite the increase in traffic, the effectiveness and reliability of the designed communication network have been validated, underscoring the vital role of communication in ensuring the resilient and stable operation of cyber–physical standalone AC microgrids.

Keywords: microgrids (MGs); interdependence analysis; co-simulation; OPAL-RT; network simulator (ns-3); traffic variations; communication network performance; cyber–physical MGs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/19/4872/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/19/4872/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:19:p:4872-:d:1487945

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().