Optimizing power sharing and voltage control in DC microgrids using a novel adaptive droop control strategy based on current consensus algorithm

Abstract

In DC microgrids, a contradiction between power equalization and bus voltage control exists under conventional droop control. To address this issue, this study proposes a current consensus algorithm-based adaptive droop control for hierarchical controlled DC microgrids. The strategy includes primary, secondary, and current-consensus algorithms. In the primary and secondary control layers, an improved droop control strategy is realized, where the secondary layer provides adaptive parameters for primary control. Also, a current consensus algorithm is suggested to ensure equal current sharing, where the iterative calculation results are sent as the input for two control layers. Based on the novel strategy, a small signal analysis is carried out to investigate the relationship between system stability and controller parameters. Finally, simulation and experiments are conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in complex operating conditions such as resistive load step-change and plug-and-play situation. Experiment and simulation results indicate that the novel control strategy guarantees accurate bus voltage control with a maximum steady-state error of 1.58 % and simultaneously achieves power equalization regardless of line impedance differences and the abrupt change of system status. Moreover, the comparative experiment between the traditional droop control and the proposed strategy verifies the superiority of this novel method.