Distributed Control of DC Grids: Integrating Prosumers' Motives

In this paper, a novel distributed control strategy addressing a (feasible) psycho-social-physical welfare problem in islanded Direct Current (DC) smart grids is proposed. Firstly, we formulate a (convex) optimization problem that allows prosumers to share current with each other, taking into account the technical and physical aspects and constraints of the grid (e.g., stability, safety), as well as psycho-social factors (i.e., prosumers' personal values). Secondly, we design a controller whose (unforced) dynamics represent the continuous time primal-dual dynamics of the considered optimization problem. Thirdly, a passive interconnection between the physical grid and the controller is presented. Global asymptotic convergence of the closed-loop system to the desired steady-state is proved and simulations based on collected data on psycho-social aspects illustrate and confirm the theoretical results.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a novel distributed control strategy to address a psycho-social-physical welfare problem in islanded DC smart grids. By formulating an optimization problem considering technical and physical constraints of the grid and psycho-social factors of prosumers, the proposed strategy enables prosumers to share current with each other. The controller design and the passive interconnection between the physical grid and the controller ensure global asymptotic convergence of the closed-loop system to the desired steady-state, which is confirmed by simulations based on collected data.