Variable Architecture Multi-Island Microgrids for Industrial Plant Expansions

Many industrial expansion projects aim to approach a new power system mantaining it separate from existing ones, instead this paper demonstrates how integrating existing and new power systems can enhance the reliability through the management of a power system with variable architecture. The paper suggests an innovative approach to be adopted for the power system expansion for industrial plants that require high level of service continuity, consisting in a variable architecture multi-island microgrid. The salient features of the suggested system and the main functions of the Electrical Power Management System (EPMS) are illustrated. EPMS strategies allow to activate a load shedding system operation. The operation and the results under different contingency are reported. The results highlight the increasing of the service continuity.