Power Electronics Intelligence at the Grid Edge - Enables Energy Budgeting

In this paper, a self-organizing power electronic converter with control intelligence at the edge of the electric distribution network is proposed. The proposed framework, termed Power Electronics Intelligence at the Network Edge (PINE), has the potential to make the future electricity delivery system more internet-like (i.e., intelligence at the network edge). This approach addresses the need to mobilize distributed energy resources, as well as to endow the power grid with edge-based intelligence to provide local communities with at least the critical portion of their electricity needs, hence improving the overall resiliency of the electric grid. The proposed concept has many advantages including: a) energy budgeting is possible and can be enabled remotely, b) power flow is bidirectional, c) output voltage is regulated via PWM control, d) distribution voltage can vary over a wider range, e) input current is harmonic free at unity power factor. Simulation and hardware results validate the proposed concept.