A 13.8-kV 4.75-MVA microgrid laboratory test bed

Microgrid concepts and applications have become more promising during recent years because of the potential for improving system operation, particularly, under emergency conditions. The design and hardware realization of a microgrid laboratory test bed enabling research and development for microgrids, smart-grid systems, and distributed energy integration is presented in this paper. The state-of-the-art regenerative back-to-back voltage source converter topology is used for implementing and emulating the testing capabilities in the MVA range which are defined by IEEE Std 1547.7^TM-2011. An overview of the proposed 13.8-kV microgrid test bed functions and goals are shown. Detailed power electronic circuit hardware, experimental prototype design, and control algorithms are addressed. Hardware test results of case study are shown which display the uniqueness of the proposed test bed which is planned for the research of future microgrids.