Power flow formulation for LVDC microgrids with nonlinear load models

Low voltage direct current microgrids are seen as key components of the future smart grids together with their AC counterparts. In the analysis of such microgrids the loads are modelled most of the times as constant power loads (CPL). This paper proposes a quantification of the flexibility introduced by several DC loads, generally available in low voltage DC microgrids as in-use appliances. The analysis is based on a power flow formulation that takes into account the droop control coefficients and that includes the actual non-linear characteristics of such loads. The models we use for the flexible DC loads were experimentally derived through a measurement scenario built on steady-state time intervals of 10s.