Fundamental Characteristics of Laboratory Scale Model DC Microgrid to Exchange Electric Power from Distributed Generations installed in Residential Houses

Abstract

DC microgrid is a novel power system using dc distribution in order to provide a super high quality power. This dc system is suitable for dc output type distributed generations and energy storages. In this research, we assumed one type of the dc microgrids for residential houses (apartment house or housing complex). Each residence has a distributed generation such as gas engine or fuel cell. Those cogenerations are connected to the dc power line, and the electricity from the generations can be shared among the residences. The hot water from the cogeneration is used in each residence. We constructed an experimental system based on this concept in our laboratory. We have studied the fundamental characteristics and the quality of the supplied power to the loads against several fluctuations or faults. Experimental results demonstrated that the system could supply high quality power to the loads against a sudden load variation and a voltage sag of the utility grid. Afterwards, we moved the experimental system to an experimental apartment house (NEXT21). We studied the quality of the supplying power by using practical power line, and confirmed that the system was also able to supply a power to home appliances stably.