Using Simscape Electrical to Simulate Microgrids | Microgrid System Development and Analysis, Part 3

In this third video on microgrids, the modeling and simulation of power systems in MATLAB^® and Simulink^® is introduced with Simscape Electrical™. See how Simscape Electrical can be used to schematically represent a one-line microgrid diagram using blocks that represent different distributed energy resources (DERs). The DERs in this example include renewables, such as solar, a diesel GenSet, and an energy storage system (ESS). Using the simple microgrid that is built in this video, you see how desktop simulation can be used to subject the distribution system with residential load changes or unintentional islanding of the microgrid. Load flow analysis in Simscape Electrical is also introduced.

Since microgrid systems commonly have inverter-based controls for solar and ESS, different levels of simulation fidelity can be useful to study the microgrid operation. Simscape Electrical can be used to simulate Phasor or Electromagnetic Transients (EMT). Depending on the requirements of the simulation study, Phasor, EMT, or a combination of both can be used. An example of a segmented IEEE 123 node network is introduced that illustrates a hybrid Phasor-EMT simulation.

In addition to desktop simulation for analysis, you learn how the same desktop simulations can be transferred to a real-time platform for hardware-in-the-loop simulation. This example uses Simulink Real-Time™ and a Speedgoat real-time machine. The Simscape Electrical model is converted to a C-code representation and then compiled for use on the real-time operating system.