Model predictive coordination of sources and loads for smoothing tie-line power fluctuations in a wind-integrated industrial aluminum microgrid

For the grid-connected industrial microgrid accessed with high proportion renewable energy generation, this paper investigates the problem of tie-line power fluctuation caused by wind power variations. As a type of high energy consuming industrial load, the electrolytic aluminum load (EAL) has great potentials on providing regulation capacity for the microgrid. Based on this feature, the detailed control method of EALs and the source-load coordinated control model for tie-line power fluctuation suppression are discussed. In addition, by using model predictive control (MPC) method, a source-load coordinated controller is designed by considering the regulating characteristics of thermal generators and EALs. Taking wind-induced tie-line power fluctuation smoothing as the control objective, the source-load coordinated controller optimizes the active power regulation of thermal power generators and the power consumption of EALs. Based on the case studies of an actual industrial microgrid in Inner Mongolia, China, the proposed source-load coordinated controller is validated to own the positive dynamic performance on dealing with wind power fluctuations.