A Controllable Distributed Energy Resource Transformer-Based Grounding Scheme for Microgrids

A microgrid (MG) may lose its grounding provided by the main distribution grid in islanded mode, which could cause equipment insulation damage, hazards to personnel, and protection malfunction. Existing MG grounding schemes include the grounding transformer-based scheme and distributed energy resource (DER) transformer-based scheme. However, the grounding transformer-based scheme will increase MG’s cost, and the DER transformer approach will affect the main grid in the grid-connected mode. Moreover, future MGs may have multiple source locations. In each source location, the source and critical load can potentially operate as a sub-MG, requiring a grounding when it stands alone. In this scenario, the drawbacks of existing grounding schemes will be further magnified. In this paper, a novel controllable DER transformer-based grounding scheme is proposed, where a controllable switch is added to the neutral wire of the transformer. The proposed scheme can disable grounding capability in the grid-connected mode and enable it in the islanded mode by changing the transformer connection. The proposed approach can avoid impacts on the main distribution grid and eliminate the need for additional transformers. The design methodology of the proposed grounding scheme is provided. Simulation verification is conducted on a realistic MG model and experimental verification is conducted.