Controller is an essential part of microgrid for smooth transition between grid connected and island mode. What is difference between these two modes and how can we decide the optimum parameters for design of controller such that it works seamless and there shouldn't any problem of blackout?
Could you please elaborate that how the controller design is connected to complete blackouts. Are you going to incorporate both the modes simultaneously?
Here are a couple of points, I can think of, to consider:
Firstly, electricity does not know direction and will always flow from high to low bias. Your controller will have to insulate the micro-grid from the utility so that power does not feed back into the utility. Several UPS type configurations cater for this. If your utility will pay you for the excess electricity your island produces, by all means, sell it to them.
Your network should be smart enough to not overload your island supply system, e.g. everybody can switch on their hair dryer at the same time and the grid should either be able to compensate- or avoid supplying all the loads. This will be managed by a smart grid topology as well as your power controller.
Your network should have enough storage to deal with the variation in load. For example, If your island system does not have many homes, your load is going to fluctuate a lot. The load of a large city looks more like base load while small complexes have large swings in demand, so this is dependent on the size of your island.
Your controller should be able to handle an energy mix. The likely scenario will be be one with more than one source of supply, e.g. solar, wind, micro hydro, a backup generator, and of course, initially your utility connection.
several safety considerations should be mentioned:
assuming you have local power generation, local consumers, and a (possible and intermittent) connection to the main grid
1) if there is maintenance scheduled, the local controller must prevent local power to be delivered.
2) if an island mode of power generation is admitted, reconnected to the main grid must be carefully controlled for phase differences and also frequency differences.
3) do you want a "fault ride through" of your local power generators? If your local generators separate too easily from the grid, you could have a chain of black outs because of overload.
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