Real-Time Coordinated Control of a Grid-VSC and ESSs in a DC Distribution System for Total Power Loss Reduction Considering Variable Droop Using Voltage Sensitivities

Recent advances in direct current (DC) distribution systems that involve renewable energy sources (RESs) and energy storage systems (ESSs) have shown that DC voltage control improves operational stability. This paper proposes an efficient real-time DC voltage control strategy that reduces total power losses while maintaining the DC voltages within acceptable ranges via coordination of the grid-connected voltage source converter (GVSC) and the ESSs. A new strategy determines whether to invoke cooperative GVSC/ESS control or ESS voltage control alone. The GVSC and ESSs exhibit proportional-integral (PI) and variable droop controllers, respectively. In particular, the variable droop controllers are developed with consideration of the voltage sensitivities. The ESS outputs are then compensated by reference to the droop coefficients and the available ESS output powers. Case studies confirm that our voltage control strategy permits higher minimum DC voltages (and thus smaller total power losses) when consecutive events occur, compared with conventional strategies using PSCAD/EMTDC.