Microgrid laboratory for educational and research purposes

The microgrid concept is widely adopted due to its facilities to mixt the renewable and conventional energy sources with loads and storage elements, in an intelligent energy management system. Though, before it can be fully implemented in a real system, the microgrid solutions must be studied and tested in various conditions. This paper presents a DC configurable microgrid laboratory which offers the possibility of implementing the behavior and the control of such systems, working grid-connected, or disconnected from the grid. The laboratory consists of three types of “hardware-in-the-loop” emulators which can simulate PV panels, wind and hydro energy generating systems. The conversion and storage elements are implemented with DC-DC and AC-DC-AC converters, rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. The monitoring and control is ensured by digital programmable equipment, both for the components and the entire microgrid.