2018 IEEE 13th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems (ICIIS)
IEC 61850 Communication Assisted
Synchronization Strategy for Microgrids
Mohd Asim Aftab1, S.M. Suhail Hussain2, Vivek Kumar1, Taha Selim Ustun2 and Ikbal Ali1
1 Electrical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
2
Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA), Koriyama, Japan
email: mohdasimaftab4@gmail.com, s.suhail.md@gmail.com
Abstract—In this paper, out of phase re-closing of islanded
microgrid with utility grid is considered. Active
synchronization of microgrid with the help of synchrophasors
through Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) is considered.
Synchronization is achieved by satisfying the microgrid re-
connection requirements specified by IEEE 1547 std. The
voltages and phase angles are measured by IEC 61850-90-5
PMUs. The 61850-90-5 PMU, MGCC and DER controller
communication are modeled according to IEC 61850 and
implemented with UDP/IP. The phase angle differences at
PCC, if any before synchronization, are eliminated by MGCC.
MGCC coordinates the DERs, as per constraints, to produce
the required active power in microgrid to eliminate the phase
angle difference. The synchronization process is demonstrated
through simulations.
Keywords—Microgrid Synchronization, IEC 61850-90-5
PMU, Communication, IEC 61850.
I. INTRODUCTION
In order to meet the growing energy demands across the
globe, reliably and securely, the concept of microgrid was
introduced by consortium for electric reliability technology
solutions (CERT) [1]. A microgrid consists of large number
of distributed generators (DG) as well as loads. It can
efficiently provide power to the consumers by reducing the
transmission losses thanks to DGs being located closer to
loads. A microgrid can operate in grid connected and
islanded modes in order to ensure reliable and flexible power
to the consumers while reducing the carbon footprints by
incorporating renewable energy resources (RES) as their part
of generation.
When a microgrid is islanded, due to operation of
protective devices or due to scheduled maintenance, it needs
to be synchronized with the utility grid at the point of
common coupling (PCC) before reconnection.
Synchronization of the islanded microgrid to the electrical
grid is very important, since an unsynchronized operation
can lead to flow of short circuit currents and large torsional
vibrations of generator shaft which could ultimately lead to
blackouts. The primary condition for synchronization of a
microgrid with the utility grid is to match the voltage, slip
frequency and the phase difference between the two systems
[2]. Furthermore, since the microgrid consists of many DGs,
and unpredictable loads, the techniques for its
synchronization are different from traditional
synchronization techniques [3].
Several studies advocate the use of Phasor Measurements
Units (PMUs) for active synchronizing of the microgrid [4-
5]. A PMU provides precise time tagged values of voltage,
current and frequency phasors which make it appropriate to
be employed for its use in microgrid reconnection. Laverty
et.al [6] proposed a scheme for phase angle mismatch based
on the synchrophasor data. Authors in [7] presented a
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technique for DG synchronization employing PMU data.
Authors in [8] proposed frequency matching method
between the microgrid and electrical utility with the help of
synchrophasor data.
In this paper, Phasor Measurements Units (PMUs) are
employed for active synchronization of the microgrid. Since
the microgrid controller (MGCC) and the controllers of DGs
are at different locations, a communication assisted
synchronization strategy for microgrid reconnection is
required. Recently, IEC 61850 emerged as a communication
standard for electrical substation automation [9]. It has also
increasingly been used in utility automation to provide
interoperability among various vendor specific devices/
IEDs. IEC 61850 uses object oriented data modeling and
provides standardized communication of various
services/functions in a substation. In order to have a secure,
future proof communication assisted synchronization scheme
for microgrid, an IEC 61850 based communication approach
has been employed in this paper. To have IEC 61850 based
communications, the information modeling of microgrid
controller IED, DG controller IED and PMU IED is to be as
per IEC 61850. The IEC 61850 information models for DG
controller IED and microgrid controller IED developed in
[10] are considered in this paper. Similarly, IEC 61850-90-5
[11] PMU IED developed in [12] has been used in this paper.
Active synchronization through PMU is achieved by,
firstly, transferring the synchronization parameters through
IEC 61850-90-5 based PMU and, then, achieving
resynchronization of microgrid with utility grid through
simulations. A communication assisted active microgrid
synchronization scheme satisfying IEEE 1574 standard has
been proposed in this paper. The waveforms before and after
synchronization at the PCC are presented.
II. PMU BASED RESYNCHRONIZATION STRATEGY FOR
MICROGRIDS
The reconnection of islanded microgrid to the utility grid
at the PCC is explained in this section. A microgrid is
expected to operate in normal condition even after it is
islanded. Also as the fault (or maintenance operation) is
cleared/over, microgrid is permitted to be reconnected to the
utility grid only when grid restoration is achieved. The
reconnection must be carried out after effective
resynchronization with the utility grid. The necessary
condition for resynchronization is that the voltage magnitude
at both sides of the PCC must be same with an acceptable
error of 3%, frequency of operation of the microgrid must
match with the utility grid and error must be below 0.1 Hz.
The phase difference between the voltages must not be
greater than 10 degrees for proper operation [2]. Out of step
reclosing can result into high amounts of inrush currents,
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overvoltage and system oscillations which could lead to trip TABLE I

conditions. REQUIREMENTS FOR MICROGRID RESYNCHRONIZATION
In a microgrid with various DGs and loads, the frequency Rating of Frequency Phase Angle Voltage Acceptable
and voltage is governed by the dominant generator/generator DERs Difference Difference Difference THD (%)
(kVA) (Hz) (deg) (%)
group, usually a diesel generator. Since the renewable DGs
(such as PV, wind) are intermittent in nature, their power Below 500 0.3 20 10 Below 5
electronic converters are designed to follow the
master/dominant source of generation. When 500-1500 0.2 15 5 Below 5
synchronization is attempted, the voltage magnitude of the
microgrid and interconnecting utility grid are close to 1 pu.
More than 0.12 10 3 Below 5
The phase angle value obtained from the PMUs at the utility 1500
grid side and microgrid side are compared in a synchrocheck
relay. If the difference in the phase angle value is greater
than tolerable range, the MGCC sends command to the DG III. IEC 61850 BASED MESSAGE EXCHANGE FOR MICROGRID
controller to regulate the generation of active power which RESYNCHRONIZATION
balances the phase angle difference.
Also the renewable DGs have an intermittent nature of The reference values for the microgrid are taken from the
power output and frequent switching of RES occurs which grid-forming generator, which is diesel generator in this
requires synchronization at the Electrical Connection Point paper. In resynchronization process, other DGs follow the
(ECP), where a DG is connected to the microgrid. Whenever diesel generator. Consider a test system of Fig. 1, where the
a DG is to be synchronized with the microgrid, the output microgrid is islanded due to a fault/scheduled maintenance.
voltage of the DG is maintained at 1 pu by controlling the After the fault is cleared (or maintenance is over), the IEC
field excitation of diesel generator, and of other DGs by 61850-90-5 PMU captures the voltage magnitude and the
regulating firing angle of power electronic interface. The phase angle at both sides of the PCC. The information model
synchronization parameter limits set by IEEE 1547 for of IEC 61850-90-5 PMU is shown in Fig. 2. The voltage
frequency difference, voltage difference and phase angle magnitude is mapped by TVTR node and the phase angle by
difference must be within limits [2]. Also the total harmonic TANG node of the IEC 61850-90-5 PMU. Detailed
distortion (THD) from power electronic devices must not modeling and analysis of IEC 61850-90-5 PMU is presented
exceed 5%. The requirements for microgrid in literature [10]-[11]. The Data Objects (DOs) of the logical
resynchronization are listed in Table I. nodes TVTR, TANG and MMXU are used for mapping the
In order to achieve effective synchronization at the PCC, microgrid and grid parameters to be matched for
coordinated operation at the MGCC and respective PMUs is resynchronization. The respective values of the parameters
required. This operation is achieved through a robust, required for resynchronization are transferred through the
reliable and interoperable communication strategy for the DOs of different logical nodes of IEC 61850-90-5 PMU at
intelligent devices of the microgrid. the synchrocheck relay.

DRAT,DGEN
DCST,DSFC RSYN
MMXU,RSYN Sync
DER Check
TVTR TVTR
Controller Relay
TANG TANG
MMXU MMXU
E PMU PMU
IEC 61850-90-5 IEC 61850-90-5

XCBR
CSWI XCBR
CSWI
DFCL
Actuator ECP
PCC
DSTK Diesal M
DFPM Generator M M
ZRCT MMTR Electrical
XCBR MMTR MMTR
MMXU Energy Storage Power System
ZINV CSWI
Fuel Battery
Energy
ZBAT Converter ECP
Cell
Storage
ZBTC
ZRTC M
DVPM
MMTR
DPVA
DRCT
DRCS
DPVC MGCC
DTRC
DRCC MMXU
MMXU MGCC-Microgrid Central Controller
DER PCC-Point of Common Coupling
Controller ECP-Electrical Connection Point
PV Plant E-Exciter
M-Meter Communication flow
Electrical Connection
Fig. 1. Microgrid resynchronization employing IEC 61850-90-5 PMU

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 2018 IEEE 13th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems (ICIIS)
Fig. 2. IEC 61850-90-5 based information model of PMU
IV. SIMULATION STUDY FOR ACTIVE RESYNCHRONIZATION
In order to demonstrate the re-synchronization using IEC
61850-90-5 PMUs, a microgrid is simulated. The microgrid
model developed is presented in Fig. 3. It consists of three
DERs, viz. PV generator, diesel generator and battery storage
as per the rating of DERs to feed the loads. The microgrid
system is designed in Simulink MATLAB. The method of
synchronization is simulated using three phase connector
blocks in MATLAB. This block connects the microgrid
system to operate in Islanded and grid connected mode as per
requirement. The switching pattern is provided with PI based
control technique with the conventional pulse width
modulation. The Photovoltaic farm used in the Simulink
model has four PV arrays, each can deliver a maximum of
100 kW at 1000 W/m2 sun irradiance. The PV array
Fig. 3. Simulink model for active re-synchronization of microgrid.
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incorporates 86 strings connected in parallel where each
string consists of 7 Sun Power SPR-415E modules in series.
Each photovoltaic array is connected to a boost converter,
which is controlled by MPPT (Maximum Power Point
Trackers) individually. The MPPTs used to get maximum
possible power by varying the PV array terminal voltage.
Initial input irradiance to the Photovoltaic array model in
Simulink is taken 1000 W/m2 & operated temperature taken
is 45‫݋‬C. The model in Simulink is connected with the linear
load and the synchronization under acceptable limit is
provided with logic gate arrangement. Three microgrid
parameters Voltage, Frequency and phase mismatches are
measured through the Simulink model arrangements and
these mismatches are analyzed to create synchronized
connection with both islanded and grid connected mode.
The microgrid has to be synchronized with the utility grid
adhering to the conditions given in Table I. In Table I, the
tolerance limit of harmonic distortion and deviation of all
three microgrid is provided. The total installed capacity of
the DERs is below 500kVA, therefore, the acceptable limits
are as follows: for frequency deviation 0.3Hz, phase
deviation 20deg, voltage deviation 40V (on a 400V system)
and for THD less than 5%. Utility’s and microgrid’s
waveforms before resynchronization are shown in Fig. 4(a)
and Fig. 4(b) respectively. The voltage profile shown in Fig.
4(b) depicts the transient performance of microgrid system
under islanded mode therefore due to impulse switching of
microgrid the voltage profile undergoes fluctuations which
will later die out after the transition time of 0.4 Sec.
The transient due to the synchronization of microgrid
with the utility grid shows the impulse response of the
microgrid system and it will reach to the steady state as per
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Fig. 4 (a). Utility Grid’s waveforms before resynchronization.

Fig. 4 (b). Microgrid’s waveforms before resynchronization.

the error convergence control of PI based controller. In

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 2018 IEEE 13th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems (ICIIS)
Fig. 6. Frequency, Phase Angle and Voltage Mismatches after the proposed scheme is applied
figure 4(a) and 4(b) all three parameters are analyzed for
both grid and microgrid system respectively. The parameters
analyzed are phase, frequency and voltage for the study of
smooth synchronization of microgrid system with the utility
grid. The mismatch of all parameters measured are under the
tolerance band provided in table-I.
When all the three parameter tolerance band conditions
are simultaneously fulfilled, microgrid is connected to the
main grid through point of common coupling (PCC).
In order to realize the re-synchronization process on the
developed microgrid, the strategy for checking different
required parameter limits is shown in Fig. 5. After applying
the developed synchronization scheme, the mismatches in
measured parameters are within the stipulated limits as
shown in Fig. 6. At any instant when all the conditions given
in Table 1 are satisfied, microgrid can reconnect to the utility
grid in a safe manner. Thus, this process demonstrates the
resynchronization process for a microgrid employing IEC
61850-90-5 based communication.
Fig. 5. Designed logic for realizing re-synchronization process
V. CONCLUSIONS
Microgrid resynchronization is different from
traditional grid resynchronization due to unpredictable
loads, multiple DGs with renewables and non-renewable
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source of power generation. Among the various difficulties
in microgrid resynchronization, out of phase reclosing of
microgrid is a serious issue as it leads to overvoltage, heavy
inrush current and damage to system equipment. This paper
proposes an IEC 61850 assisted active synchronization
strategy for microgrid using phasor measurement unit.
With the employment of IEC 61850 communication
for active synchronization, the approach presented is
reliable, interoperable and futuristic. The developed
simulation model for active synchronization of microgrid by
converging the synchronization parameters within the
tolerance limits presents the applicability of the proposed
technique.
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[9] IEC 61850: Communication networks and systems for power utility
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