An Active Voltage Stabilizer for a DC Microgrid System

This paper analyzes the low-frequency stability challenges that exist in a complex DC microgrid (MG) system. The converters that belong to a DC MG are categorized into different groups based on their control approach. The small-signal model of the DC MG is presented, and the conditions for system stability are derived. In some DC MG applications, there is the possibility of installing off-the-shelf converters with little flexibility and access for controller auto-tuning. To tackle this, a hardware-based active voltage stabilizer solution is proposed to stabilize the DC MG. The active stabilizer’s functionality, based on an isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, is elucidated, and a suitable control strategy is proposed. The active stabilizer and its associated control configuration involve only local voltage sensing and are non-intrusive. A dual active bridge (DAB) converter-based active stabilizer is implemented, and hardware-based steady-state and transient experimental results from a DC MG test-bench are provided to validate the functionality and effectiveness of the proposed active stabilizer.