Power Management of Solar based DC Microgrid
System Enabled by Solid State Transformer
Jaynendra Kumar Saurabh Srivastava
Dep. of Electrical Engineering Dep. of Electrical Engineering
MNNIT Allahabad MNNIT Allahabad
U.P., India U.P., India
Email-ree1607@mnnit.ac.in Email-Saurabhsris@gmail.com
Abstract— DC microgrid for solar based Photovoltaic (PV)
application is picking up prominence because of its availability
and potential to fulfil the future electricity needs. Power
management control for this system is important to guarantee
high use of sustainable sources and stable operation of system. Its
intermittence nature increases the importance of power
management for this system. In this paper a power management
strategy for solar based DC microgrid (DCMG) enabled by solid
state transformer (SST) is proposed. The power management is
performed by controlling individual units, i.e. PV system is
controlled by hill climbing perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm
to operate at MPPT, Battery state of charge (SoC) is controlled
by droop controlled algorithm, power in AC MG is controlled by
hysteresis current control (HCC) method while, sliding mode
control algorithm is employed to control the load connected to
the DC MG. A MATLAB/Simulink DC microgrid model with
integration of a PV array, battery and a load through SST was
developed. The results are presented and discussed in this paper.
Keywords— DC Microgrid (DCMG), Solid state Transformer
(SST), Power Management, Photovoltaic (PV), Hysteresis current
control (HCC), Sliding mode control (SMC).
I. INTRODUCTION
Solar PV is the most prominent source among all RERs
that has the potential to fulfill future energy demands. In this
era of efficient use of energy and cost cutting, solar energy
comes into prominence. Conversion of this freely available
energy into useable form will reduce the burden on other
resources; while at the same time expand our energy reserve.
To consider this government of India has revised the target of
grid connected solar projects from 20 GW to 100 GW by 2022
under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Solar Mission (JNNSM) scheme
[1]. Solar PV is easy to integrate with the DCMG because of
its DC output nature. Efficiency and maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) are the important consideration for the
development of PV system. Due to the intermittence nature of
solar, an intelligent power management strategy is very
important to utilize the vast potential of it [2].
Maximum utilization of distribution generation (DGs)
units have been a challenge for the researchers since the focus
shifted from power generation from conventional sources to
renewable energy resources (RERs)[3]. Developing a
microgrid using DG, distributed energy storage devices
(DESDs) and loads and connecting it with the utility grid is
one of the efficient methods. Due to drawbacks of
conventional low frequency transformer (LFT) such as bulky,
high volume, low power factor, non-perfect voltage
978-1-5386-4318-1/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
Vineeta Agarwal
Dep. of Electrical Engineering
MNNIT Allahabad
U.P., India
Email-vineeta@mnnit.ac.in
regulation, poor power quality due to harmonics; an
alternative was needed to overcome them. It is well
established that DC distribution system is superior to AC
distribution system in terms of efficiency, flexibility, and
power quality. Integration of DC microgrid (DCMG) with the
existing low voltage AC distribution system is also considered
as problem for development of DC distribution system. Solid
state transformer (SST) has emerged as an efficient solution
for above discussed problems [4]. It provides the high voltage
DC (HVDC) link as well as Low voltage DC (LVDC) link
along with High frequency AC link. The high voltage side of
SST is associated with the distribution network of main grid
that makes conventional transformer redundant. The
residential AC system is associated at LV side of SST. Thus,
integration of DGs and energy storage devices (ESDs) along
with AC and DC load has become easy. This paper presents
power management strategy for solar based DC microgrid
(DCMG) enabled by solid state transformer (SST).
II. DC MICRO GRID SYSTEM
A typical DC MG enabled by solar based SST is shown
in Fig.1 (a). SST provides the flexibility to access both AC
and DC system through its DC and AC links which improves
the reliability of the system. Consequently, it has become one
of favorite unit to integrate RERs. In MG application SST
performs following functions [5, 6].
ƒ Active and reactive power compensation
ƒ Fault Isolation
ƒ Black Start capability
A solid state transformer can be considered as FACTS
device. It can be treated as multiport energy router consisting
of three basic modules i.e. AC-DC rectifier, isolated DC-DC
dual active bridge (DAB) converter and DC-AC inverter as
shown in Fig 1(b) [7]. Thus, SST has three stages, i.e. AC-DC
stage, DC-DC stage and DC-AC stage. The functions at each
stage are described by Fig.2. Four SST architectures are
shown in Fig. 3, where Fig.3 (d) is considered most suitable
for MG application because of its high flexibility and better
control performance. The DC links isolates the HV side from
LV side which enables it for independent reactive power
control. Additionally it allows better control of voltage and
current on both sides, i.e. primary and secondary [8].
Duel active bridge is a bidirectional dc-dc converter
which provides galvanic isolation between HV and LV in
SST. It comprises DC-AC and AC-DC H bridge converters.
 Fig. 4. A typical diagram of DAB

To design a DAB following parameters are required.

(a) ƒ Transformer Turn ratio
V
nTr = DAB1 (1)
VDAB 2
Where, VDAB1 = High voltage side DAB voltage
VDAB 2 = Low voltage side DAB voltage
ƒ Leakage inductance
E
n ×V ×V
 L = Tr DAB1 DAB 2 × DDAB (1 − DDAB ) (2)
Fig. 1. Solid state transformer ( (a) SST enabled DC Microgrid (b) Basic 2 × f DAB × PDAB
Structure
Where, f DAB = Switching frequency of DAB
DDAB = Ratio between the two bridges to
one half of the switching period
The leakage inductance serves two purposes [9].
1. It limits the dv dt across the switching devices during
commutation, facilitates soft switching.
2. It works as an instantaneous storage component in
DAB.
ƒ Switching Frequency
Fig. 2. Functions at different stages of SST
f DAB = 20 kHz (3)
ƒ Filter capacitor
50 × PDAB
C DAB1 = (4)
V DAB12 × f DAB
(a) (b)
50 × PDAB
CDAB 2 = (5)
VDAB12 × f DAB
CDAB1 = Capacitor of HV side of DAB
(c) CDAB 2 = Capacitor of LV side of DAB
PDAB = Rated power of DAB
ƒ DC Link capacitor
v
(d) VHVDC = 2 2 × ac1 (6)
Fig. 3. SST Architectures
π
P
along with high frequency transformer (with a great influence CHVDC > (7)
of its leakage inductance) in between The output and input of 2π × f × VHVDC × ΔVHVDC
DAB is connected to DC buses. The power transfer in a DAB vac 2
VLVDC = 2 2 × (8)
happens from the converter side which is activated by the π
lagging pulse. The lag between the two switching pulses is P
50% of the duty cycle. Typical diagram of a DAB is shown in CLVDC > (9)
Fig.4. 2π × f × VLVDC × ΔVLVDC

2
Where,
P = Rated power
vac1 = AC voltage of AC distribution system
vac 2 = AC voltage of AC microgrid
VHVDC = DC link voltage at HV side
VLVDC = DC link voltage at LV side (a)
CHVDC = Capacitor at HVDC link
C LVDC = Capacitor at LVDC link
ΔVHVDC = Voltage ripples at HVDC bus
ΔVLVDC = Voltage ripples at LVDC bus
Real power flows from the bridge with the leading phase
to the bridge with the lagging phase angle. The amount of
power flow depends on the magnitude and phase angle
difference of the dc voltages at two ends.

VHVDC × VLVDC
Po = DDAB (1 − DDAB ) (10)
2 × L × f DAB

Where, Po is the amount of power flow.

The principle of power flow and main waveforms of the
DAB converter is presented in Fig. 5(a) and 5(b) respectively.
It is assumed that all the components of the DAB are ideal.
The Bridge HDAB1 consist switches S1, S2, S3 and S4. The
gate signals for S1, S4 and S2, S4 are same. While, gate
signals for S1, S2 and S3, S4 are complementary with 50%
duty cycle signals. By controlling Switches this way, the
Voltage VDAB1 with value ±VHVDC is created HV side of the
DAB high frequency transformer (HFT). Similarly, the
voltage VDAB2 with value ±VLVDC is created in the LV side. All
the control signals of LV side are similar to the HV side with a
certain phase shift. Due to phase shift in VHVDC and VLVDC, a
voltage Vlk is developed across the leakage inductance L of the
transformer and a certain current ilk flows through it. This
current is controlled by the phase shift between the HV and
LV side voltages of the DAB transformer.
Various methods to perform the phase shift has been
discussed with their pros and cons, i.e. Single phase shift
(SPS) control, Extended phase shift (EPS) control, Dual phase
shift (DPS) control, Triple phase shift (TPS) control[10]. Here,
SPS control has been chosen to perform power flow in
proposed system because of its advantages, such as high
dynamic, small inertia and capability to perform soft switching
control. Although this control strategy suffer from circulating
current when voltage magnitude of two sides of transformer
not same. Consequently, it results more power loss and poor
efficiency. In this method the switches in the high voltage side
are triggered with the pulse of 0.5 duty cycle while the
switches in the low voltage side are excited by the pulse with
same pulse but with 50% phase shift. In Fig.5, wave forms are
drawn to show the voltage across the HV and LV winding and
the current through the inductor. The figure also shows the
switching sequence for SPS modulation for both the charging
and discharging mode [11].

(b)
Fig. 5. (a) Principle of power flow in DAB, (b) Waveform of DAB in steady
state operation
A. PV System
The elementary structural units of a PV source are the
solar cells, which operate according to the PV effect. Multiple
solar cells are connected in series and parallel to form PV
module. PV modules are connected in series and parallel to
form PV array of appropriate voltage and power according to
the PV system.
From the characteristics of the PV cell, it is found that
when the temperature of PV increases, the short circuit of PV
remains unchanged but the voltage as well as maximum power
point of PV reduces. When the irradiance increases the voltage
remains almost constant but the current and maximum power
point increases. Hence to extract maximum power from solar
system, an efficient maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
algorithm is necessary [2]. In photovoltaic systems the I-V
curve is non-linear, thereby making it difficult to be used to
power a certain load. This is done by utilizing a boost
converter whose duty cycle is varied by using a MPPT
algorithm. Various MPPT techniques have been proposed [3].
Hill climbing P&O MPPT strategy is adopted for proposed
system due to its simplicity and good performance.
The P & O algorithm works by increasing or decreasing
the array terminal voltage, or current, at regular intervals and

3
then comparing the PV output power with that of the previous
sample point. If the PV array operating voltage changes and
power increases (dP/dV PV > 0), the control system adjusts
the PV array operating point in that direction; otherwise the
operating point is moved in the opposite direction. At each
perturbation point, the algorithm continues to operate in the
same manner. The perturbation frequency should be optimum
such that controller sense small fluctuation of MPPT point and
produce measurable change in the PV array output [12]. The
flow chart of P&O algorithm for solar MPPT is presented in
Fig.6.

B. Hystersis current Control for AC residential MG

Various current control methods like hysteresis current
control and ramp comparison current control, etc. have been
proposed for voltage source inverter. The aim of current
control strategy is to obtain various outputs with maximum
fundamental components and minimum harmonics. Hysteresis
current control (HCC) has been adopted here because of
simplicity, fast dynamic response and independent from the
load parameters. Though, it has a drawback that switching
frequency is irregular [13].
Basically, HCC is an instantaneous feedback control
strategy the actual current constantly tracks the command
current within a pre assigned hysteresis band (HB). As shown
in Fig.7, if the actual current exceeds the HB, the upper device
of the half bridge is turned off and the lower device get turn
on. Similarly, as the actual current decreases and crosses the
lower band, the lower device is turned off and the upper
device is turned on. Correspondingly, output voltage alters (as
equ.11 & 12). If the HB is reduced, the harmonics in the
output current will reduce, however the switching frequency
will increase and corresponding switching losses will increase
and vice versa.
e > + h Ÿ u = +1 Ÿ vo = +VLVDC (11)
e < −h Ÿ u = −1 Ÿ vo = −VLVDC (12)
Fig. 7. Working principle of Hysteresis Current Control
C. Sliding mode control (SMC) for AC load connected to DC
MG
The inverter output voltage is a square wave having high
frequency harmonics along with fundamental. A low-pass
filter is generally connected at the output of the inverter to
reduce the high frequency harmonics component. In certain
applications like UPS, where pure sine wave is essential, good
filtering is essential. In some applications such as AC motor
drive, filtering is not important.
Various methods have been proposed for voltage control
for constant power load connected to DC system such as
sliding mode control, state feedback control etc. [14]. SMC
has been chosen for proposed system due to its robustness and
high dynamic performance. Consider, reference voltage
vref = Vo sin ωo t (13)
From the circuit (fig.8 (a)), following equation can be written.
di
L o + vo = uVLVDC (14)
dt
dv v
C o + o = iL (15)
dt R
Where, control variable u is defined by (16) and block
diagram to generate it is given in Fig. 8 (b).

u= (16)

Solving eq. (14) & (15) gives

VLVDC
vo ( s ) LC
= (17)
u ( s) s 2 + s +1
RC LC
kd
is defined as the modulator function. Where, kd is
1 + Td s
modulator gain and Td is modulator delay.
Fig. 6. Perturb and observation algorithm for PV System

4
 TABLE 1 System Parameters
(a) For Grid System
1 Grid Side Voltage 1100 Volts
2 AC Microgrid side Voltage 230Volts
3 AC Microgrid side Power Reference 2KW
(b)For PV System
1 Number of parallel strings 3
2 Number of series connected per module 3
3 Current at maximum power point per module 7.35A
4 Voltage at maximum power point per module 30V
5 Power of single solar module 220.5W
6 Power of PV System 220.5*9=1984.5W
©For Battery System
(a) 1 Battery Type Lithium Ion
2 Nominal Voltage 48 Volts
3 Rated Capacity 300Ah
VLVDC
kd LC
4 Initial State of Charge 50%
1 + Td s s2 + s +1 © For Load
RC LC
1 Load1 (R1) 13.225Ÿ
2 Load2(R2) 100 Ÿ

(b)
Fig. 8. Sliding mode control, (a) Switching Circuit, (b) Block diagram for
output voltage

III SIMULATION MODEL AND RESULTS

Fig. 9 shows the integration of SST with PV System,
Battery, and Load connected in island mode. System
parameters are described in TABLE I.
Variation in insolation affects mainly output current while
temperature change affects the output voltage as shown in Fig
10. The tracking of AC current in AC MG side when power is
transferred to the AC MG is shown in Fig. 11. It is found the
Fig. 10. Simulation result of PV output with MPPT algorithm
current is almost sinusoidal and ripples are within the pre-
specified hysteresis band limit.
From Fig.12, it can be observed that the voltages at
HVDC and LVDC links are almost constant. Only small
transient ripples appear when load is varied. Fig.13 shows the
power capacity and SoC limit of battery. Its maximum power
delivery capacity is 1 kW. The load power, voltage and
current waveforms at different load condition are shown in
Fig. 14. Load Power becomes zero when total load is
(a)
disconnected from the system.

(b)
Fig. 11. Hysterisis Current Control, (a) Normal View, (b) Zoomed View

Fig. 9. Simulation Model (a)

5
 From Fig.15, it can be concluded that grid power varies on the
basis of DG (Here PV) power and load demand. Here, AC MG
power is pre assigned up to 2 kW.
IV CONCLUSION
A solar based DC microgrid enabled by SST is integrated
with the AC main grid. SST provides HV and LV DC links
(b) which offer flexible integration to DC system. Additionally,
Fig. 12. DC Link voltages (a) HVDC link (b) LVDC link SST provides a link to AC MG. HCC and SMC has been
demonstrated on MATLAB for AC MG and AC load
connected to DC bus respectively and corresponding results
are presented. DAB is a very essential part of SST, which
controls bidirectional power flow. Detailed power flow control
of DAB has been discussed.

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Fig. 15. Power variation Waveforms (a) AC Main Grid (b) AC Microgrid