Implementation of Energy Management Scenarios in a DC Microgrid Using DC Bus Signaling

A DC microgrid with DC bus signaling (DBS) for power management offers a promising and cost-effective solution for reliable electricity access in rural and remote communities, particularly in developing nations. In this article, a three-layer modularized model of a microgrid is presented, with emphasis on the “Basic DC Microgrid Model” (Layer 1), which ensures effective power management in the microgrid at all times. Through the framework of the Layer 1 model, various energy management scenarios (EMSes) can be implemented, by varying the voltage regulation priorities of the entities. This allows us to achieve different system objectives such as reduced battery requirement or less dependence on the AC Grid. Two of the EMSes are discussed, implemented, and examined through both digital simulations and experimental tests on a laboratory prototype. The results show that the DBS scheme achieves real-time power management in a DC microgrid and that different EMSes can be easily implemented to realize varied system-level objectives.