Survivability of Prime-mover Powered Inverter-based Distributed Energy Resources for Transient Overload Conditions in a Microgrid

Inverter-based distributed energy resources (DERs) facilitate flexible operation and control in a microgrid. To achieve high power quality, the inverter-based DERs are typically controlled as voltage sources. However, during changes in the load or microgrid operation mode, the DERs with regulated voltage can exceed their capacity. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze in-depth their survivability for overload conditions. Recently experimental testing of a prime-mover powered inverter-based DER was carried out at the Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) Microgrid Testbed. This paper presents the results obtained from experimental testing. A comprehensive analysis of the survivability of inverter-based DERs is carried out for transient overload conditions in a microgrid.