,((((OHFWULF3RZHUDQG(QHUJ\&RQIHUHQFH(3(&
Smart Inverters for Seamless Reconnection of
Isolated Residential Microgrids to Utility Grid
Mohsen S. Pilehvar, Student Member, IEEE, and Behrooz Mirafzal, Senior Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
pilehvar@ksu.edu; mirafzal@ksu.edu
2020 IEEE Electric Power and Energy Conference (EPEC) | 978-1-7281-6489-2/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/EPEC48502.2020.9320014
Abstract—This paper proposes an approach to achieve
seamless reconnection of isolated residential microgrids to utility
grid. Any abnormal condition on the grid side results in isolating
the residential microgrid from utility grid, and giving the full
responsibility of supplying household loads to local distributed
generation (DG) units. However, after resolving the abnormal
condition on the grid side, the residential microgrid needs to
seamlessly reconnect to the main grid. To this end, a seamless
transition algorithm is presented which monitors the system
condition in real time, and coordinates the operation of all
inverter-based DG units in residential microgrid before
reconnection to the main grid. A modified control scheme is
proposed for single-phase inverters which turns them into smart
inverters enable to interact with seamless transition algorithm.
The proposed approach synchronizes each phase voltage with its
respective grid-side voltage in order to seamlessly reconnect the
residential microgrid to the main grid. Case study results are
carried out in PSCAD/EMTDC environment to verify the validity
of proposed method.
Keywords—Residential microgrids, seamless transition, smart
single-phase inverters
I. INTRODUCTION
Individual residences in North America are typically using
single-phase feeders at distribution level which are derived from
three-phase systems via a transformer. Seamless transferring
between different operation modes, i.e. islanded and grid
connected, is a challenging issue in residential communities that
deserves more attention. This can be achieved by modifying the
control scheme of single-phase inverters and turning them into
smart inverters [1-4]. The residential microgrid can be
considered as a group of houses which are equipped with rooftop
PV panels and household BESSs connected to their respective
phase with the ability of operating in both grid-connected and
islanded modes [5]. The distributed generation (DG) units are
traditionally operating in active and reactive power (P-Q)
control mode, i.e. grid-following mode, when the residential
micogrid is connected to the main grid [6]. On the other hand,
during islanded mode of operation, DG units are responsible for
regulating the voltage and frequency (V-f) of the system, i.e.
grid-forming mode. Consequently, the DG units typically
transfer between P-Q (or grid following) and V-f (or grid
forming) control modes, depending on the operation mode of the
system, i.e. grid connected or islanded. During transitions
between operation modes, any mismatch between magnitude
and frequency of grid-side and microgrid-side voltages can
result in large transients across the household loads which are
not desirable, especially in the presence of critical loads [7-9].
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy,
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy
Technologies Office, under Award Number DE-EE0008767.
k,(((
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Thus, it is necessary to implement a mechanism to achieve
seamless transition between these two modes of operation.
Regarding three-phase microgrids, the proposed solutions in
literature to achieve seamless transitions between islanded and
grid-connected modes can be divided into three main categories.
The first category employs control algorithms into the primary
control loops of DG units to deal with transients caused by
transitions between operation modes [10]. However, due to the
parallel connection of multiple inverters in microgrids,
employing complex control algorithms at primary control level
without any coordination between inverters can lead to stability
issues. The hierarchical control schemes are used by the second
category to attain seamless mode-transition capability [11]. The
third category implements multiagent technology for a seamless
transition between islanded and grid-connected modes [12].
Although multiagent systems reduce the dependency on
communication links, coordinating agents is always a complex
process.
Regarding single-phase/residential microgrids, a
hierarchical architecture consisting of primary and secondary
control loops is presented in [13], which enables the microgrid
to transfer seamlessly between islanded and grid-connected
modes. In [14], the smooth transition between operation modes
is achieved using a mode-adaptive droop control method.
Moreover, an estimation algorithm is used in [15] to obtain the
grid parameters and implement an adaptive droop controller,
leading to seamless transition between operation modes.
Nevertheless, the aforementioned methods in [13-15] employ
the conventional droop controls, i.e. P-f and Q-V, which assume
the lines are inductive. However, in residential microgrids, the
lines are predominantly resistive, resulting in a natural linkage
between active power and voltage (P-V) [16, 17]. Therefore, in
order to avoid the poor performance of traditional droop control
in residential microgrids, it is preferable to utilize the
inverse/reverse droops, i.e. P-V and Q-f.
This paper proposes an approach to seamlessly reconnect the
residential microgrids to utility grid after resolving the abnormal
condition on the grid side. To this end, a modified control
scheme is presented for single-phase inverters, turning them into
smart inverters capable of transferring to the grid-connected
mode seamlessly. Besides, a seamless transition algorithm is
introduced which monitors the system condition in real time,
and sends commands to static transfer switches (STSs)
accordingly in order to enable the residential microgrid to
seamlessly transfer to grid-connected mode. The rest of the
paper is organized as follows. Section II describes the residential
microgrid under study equipped with the proposed seamless
transition algorithm. The principles of controller design for
 ,((((OHFWULF3RZHUDQG(QHUJ\&RQIHUHQFH(3(&

‫ݒ‬௔ ݅௔

PEI PEI
Phase-A
‫ݒ‬௔
୥୰୧ୢ ܲ୥୰୧ୢ̴௔
Substation Loads Loads Loads
୥୰୧ୢ ܲ୥୰୧ୢ̴௕ STSa
‫ݒ‬௕ ݅௕
‫ݒ‬௕ Phase-B
ܲ୥୰୧ୢ̴௖ STSb Inverter
୥୰୧ୢ
‫ݒ‬௖ ൅ Filter
STSc െ

Step-Down ‫ݒ‬ௗ௖ ݅௢ ‫ݒ‬௢

Phase-C PEI
Transformer Controller
PEI
Mode Loads Loads

‫ݒ‬௖ ݅௖ Communication Link

Seamless
Transition
Algorithm PEI

୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ

Mode Sync_GC ߠ௩̴௔ ǡ ߠ௩̴௕ ǡ ߠ௩̴௖ Loads Loads Loads

Fig. 1. Schematic of residential microgrid equipped with proposed seamless transition algorithm.

single-phase inverters employed in DG units during both grid-
connected and islanded modes are discussed in Section III. The
detailed description of proposed method for seamlessly transfer
to grid-connected mode along with modified control scheme of
single-phase inverters is presented in Section IV. Case study
results are provided in Section V to confirm the merits of
proposed seamless transition approach. Finally, Section VI
concludes this paper.
II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The schematic of residential microgrid capable of
seamlessly transfer to grid-connected mode is shown in Fig. 1.
The residential community is derived through a step-down
transformer to meet the voltage level for residential customers.
The residential microgrid includes a group of houses which are
equipped with different DG units. Each DG unit consists of an
energy source, e.g. rooftop PV panel, connected to its
respective phase through power electronics interfaces (PEIs).
Both voltage and frequency of the system are maintained by the
main grid, when the system is connected to the utility grid. In
such condition, DG units typically operate in P-Q (or grid
following) control mode to cooperate in supplying their
respective household loads. Nevertheless, during islanded
mode, the operation mode of DG units should transfer from P-
Q control to V-f (or grid forming) control in order to maintain
the voltage and frequency of the system. The residential
community shown in Fig. 1 is connected to the main grid via
STSs, i.e. STSa, STSb, and STSc, enabling residential
community to get isloated from the grid in case of abnormal
conditions. In order to enable the residential microgrid to
seamlessly reconnect to the main grid, the controllers of single-
phase inverters are modified. The main responsibility of
seamless transition algorithm is to send appropriate commands
to the STSs once its predefined criteria are met.
III. PRIMARY CONTROL SCHEME
This section explains the control scheme of each single-
phase inverter during grid-connected and islanded modes
without incorporation of proposed seamless transition
approach. The direct-quadrature (dq) reference frame
transformation has been widely used in three-phase systems
[18, 19]. Nevertheless, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in order to apply
this technique for controller design of single-phase inverters, it
can be assumed that in addition to the real variable, i.e. voltage
or current, there is also a fictitious variable with the same
magnitude and phase shift of ߨΤʹ . The d-axis and q-axis
components of voltages/currents can be obtained as follows:
‫ݔ‬௤ …‘• ߠ െ •‹ ߠ ‫ݔ‬௥
ቂ‫ ݔ‬ቃ ൌ ቂ ቃ ቂ ቃሺͳሻ
ௗ •‹ ߠ …‘• ߠ ‫ݔ‬௜
Assuming that ݀ߠ Τ݀‫ ݐ‬ൌ ߱ is the angular frequency of the
system, the active and reactive power can be calculated as
follows:
ͳ ͳ
ܲ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௤ ݅௤ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠ ݅௠ ܿ‫߮ݏ݋‬ሺʹሻ
ʹ ʹ
ͳ ͳ
ܳ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௤ ݅ௗ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠ ݅௠ •‹ ߮ ሺ͵ሻ
ʹ ʹ
where ‫ݒ‬௠ and ݅௠ are the amplitudes of voltage and current,
respectively, and ߮ is the phase shift between real parts of
voltage and current.
The inverter-based DG units employed in residential
microgrid need to be equipped with a control scheme that
enables them to operate during both grid-connected and
islanded modes. Fig. 3 shows the control scheme of an

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 ,((((OHFWULF3RZHUDQG(QHUJ\&RQIHUHQFH(3(&

‫כ‬ ‫כ‬
q-axis of the inverter, i.e. ‫ݒ‬୧୬୴̴ௗ and ‫ݒ‬୧୬୴̴௤ . In addition, ߠ௩̴ୋେ and
ߠ௜̴ୋେ are the angles of inverter output voltage and current,
vr_q respectively, which are extracted using phase-locked loops
(PLLs).
ir_q 2) Islanded Mode: During islanded mode, the signal
ߠ command “Mode” is set to “0”, and thus, both voltage and
߮ vr frequency of the system need to be regulated by the inverter-
ii_d based DG units, see Fig. 3. To this end and due to the
vi_d ir predominance of resistive lines over inductive lines in
ir_d residential communities, two inverse/reverse droop
ii_q characteristics, i.e. P-V and Q-f, are implemented in the control
vr_d d-axis scheme of single-phase inverters to achieve the desired voltage
vi_q
amplitude and angular frequency as follows:
ii
‫כ‬ ‫כ‬
‫ݒ‬௤̴୪୭ୡ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠ ൌ ξʹ൫‫ݒ‬௡ െ ݉௉ ሺܲ െ ܲ௡ ሻ൯ሺͶሻ
vi ߱୪୭ୡ ൌ ߱௡ ൅ ݉ொ ሺܳ െ ܳ௡ ሻሺͷሻ
Fig. 2. Phasor diagrams of real and imaginary voltages and currents, along with
their respective d-axis and q-axis components. where P and Q are the active and reactive power output of the
individual single-phase inverter which selects proper values to inverter, respectively, obtained by (2) and (3). ‫ݒ‬௡ and ߱௡ are
be controlled depending on the operation mode of the system. the nominal values of inverter output voltage and its angular
frequency, respectively, while ܲ௡ and ܳ௡ are, respectively, the
1) Grid-Connected Mode: During grid-connected mode, dispatched active and reactive power at ‫ݒ‬௡ and ߱௡ . Also, ݉௉
both voltage and frequency of the system are tightly regulated and ݉ொ are the droop coefficients of P-V and Q-f
by the main grid. In such condition, as shown in Fig. 3, the ‫כ‬
characteristics, respectively. As depicted in Fig. 3, ݅௤̴୍ୗ is the
signal command “Mode” is set to “1” to force the inverter to
reference value for q-axis component of inverter output current,
operate in P-Q control mode. The desired active power, i.e. ܲ ‫ כ‬, ‫כ‬
during grid-connected mode can be provided by a supervisory which is obtained by passing the subtraction of ‫ݒ‬௤̴୪୭ୡ and ‫ݒ‬௤
energy management system [20-22], while the desired reactive through a proportional-integral (PI) controller, while the
power, i.e. ܳ‫ כ‬, is typically set to zero to achieve a unity power reference value for d-axis component of inverter output current,
‫כ‬
‫כ‬
factor. ݅ௗ̴ୋେ ‫כ‬
and ݅௤̴ୋେ are the reference values for dq i.e. ݅ௗ̴୍ୗ , is set to zero. Moreover, the angles of inverter output
components of inverter output current which can be calculated voltage and current, i.e. ߠ௩̴୪୭ୡ and ߠ௜̴୪୭ୡ , are generated locally
using (2) and (3), and then fed into the inner-loop current by integrating ߱୪୭ୡ .
controller to get the desired values for pulse-width modulation

Islanded Mode Current Controller

Communication
ܳ௡ ܳ ߱௡ ܲ௡ ܲ ‫ݒ‬௡ ‫ݒ‬௤
Link
݅௤‫כ‬ ‫כݒ‬
൅ ୧୬୴̴௤ ‫ݒ‬ௗ௖
•‹ ߠ௩ ሻΤ‫ݒ‬ௗ௖

‫ݒ‬ ൅ PI ൅
݂ െ ൅
ܳ ܲ ݅௤ െ
൅

߱୪୭ୡ ‫כ‬
‫ݒ‬௤̴୪୭ୡ ‫כ‬
ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠ ߱‫ܮ‬
ߠ௩
…‘• ߠ௩ ൅ ‫ݒ‬୧୬୴̴ௗ

ͳ ‫ݒ‬௤ ൅ Filter
െ
‫כ‬

‫ݏ‬ ‫ݒ‬ௗ௖
߱‫ܮ‬
Ͳ PI
݅ௗ Inverter
‫כ‬
ሺ‫ݒ‬୧୬୴̴௤

ߠ௩̴୪୭ୡ ߠ௜̴୪୭ୡ ‫כ‬ ‫כ‬ ݅ௗ‫כ‬ ‫ݒ‬୧୬୴̴ௗ

݅ௗ̴୍ୗ ݅௤̴୍ୗ െ െ
݅௢ ‫ݒ‬௢
‫כ‬

൅ PI ൅
൅
݅௤‫כ‬ ‫ݒ‬ௗ
Ͳ Ͳ
Mode ݅ௗ‫כ‬
ߠ௜ ‫ݒ‬௤ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠ ‫ݒ‬௢
ͳ
ߠ௩ Peak
݅௠ Detection ݅௢
‫כ‬ ‫כ‬
ߠ௩̴ୋେ ߠ௜̴ୋେ ݅௤̴ୋେ ݅ௗ̴ୋେ
݅௤
ܲ ͳΤʹ ൈ LPF ൈ cos
PLL PLL ʹΤ‫ݒ‬௤ ʹΤ‫ݒ‬௤ ߮ ൅ ߠ௩
െ
݅ௗ
‫ݒ‬௢ ܳ‫כ‬ ܳ ͳΤʹ ൈ LPF ൈ sin ߠ௜
݅௢ ܲ‫כ‬
Grid-Connected Mode Power Calculation
Fig. 3. Control scheme of an individual single-phase inverter capable of operating in both grid-connected and islanded modes without implementation of proposed
seamless transition approach.

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 ,((((OHFWULF3RZHUDQG(QHUJ\&RQIHUHQFH(3(&

Check Islanded Mode

Islanded
Utility Grid ܳ௡ ܳ ߱௡ ܲ௡ ܲ ‫ݒ‬௡
(Mode = 0)

Available ݂ ‫ݒ‬

Grid-Connection ܳ ܲ
Preparation Sync_GC = 1
୥୰୧ୢ ߱୪୭ୡ ‫כ‬
‫ݒ‬௤̴୪୭ୡ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௠‫כ‬
ሺߠ௩̴୍ୗ ൌ ߠ௩ ሻ
‫כ‬ ୥୰୧ୢ
ሺ‫ݒ‬௤ ൌ ‫ݒ‬௤ ሻ ͳ
‫ݏ‬ Ͳ Inverter
୥୰୧ୢ Keep Sync_GC
୥୰୧ୢ ߠ௩̴௔ ߠ௩̴௔ Filter
൅
‫ݒ‬௔ PLL ୥୰୧ୢ
ߠ௩̴௔ െ ߠ௩̴௔ STSa, STSb, and STSc
୥୰୧ୢ
ߠ௩̴௕ ߠ௩̴௕ Open ୥୰୧ୢ
ͳ
‫ݒ‬௕
୥୰୧ୢ
PLL
୥୰୧ୢ
ተߠ௩̴௕ െ ߠ௩̴௕ ተ ൏ οߠୋେ ‫ݒ‬௤̴௔ െ
ߠ௩̴௖

Communication Link
୥୰୧ୢ
୥୰୧ୢ ߠ௩̴௖ ୥୰୧ୢ
ߠ௩̴௖ െ ߠ௩̴௖ Rate
‫ݒ‬௖ PLL No ߠ௩̴୪୭ୡ Limiter ‫ݒ‬ௗ௖ ݅௢ ‫ݒ‬௢
& Mode = 0
୥୰୧ୢ ‫ݒ‬௔ Ͳ
‫ݒ‬௔ െ ‫ݒ‬௔ Sync_GC ݅௤‫כ‬
‫ݒ‬௕ ‫ݒ‬௤ ൅
 ተ‫ݒ‬௕ െ ‫ݒ‬௕୥୰୧ୢተ ൏ ο‫ݒ‬ୋେ െ
Current ݅ௗ‫כ‬
୥୰୧ୢ ‫ݒ‬௖ Grid Connected ͳ
‫ݒ‬௖ െ ‫ݒ‬௖ ୥୰୧ୢ Controller ߠ௩
ߠ௩̴௔
‫ݒ‬ௗ௖
Yes Ͳ PI
Reclose
Mode = 1 ‫ݒ‬௢
STSa, STSb, and STSc ‫כ‬ ‫כ‬
݅௤̴୍ୗ
ߠ௩̴୍ୗ ൌ ߠ௜̴୍ୗ ݅ௗ̴୍ୗ
Power ݅௢
Fig. 4. The proposed algorithm for seamless transition to grid-connected mode. Calculation ߠ௩
Ͳ ݅௤‫כ‬
݅ௗ‫כ‬ ߠ௜
Mode
IV. SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO GRID-CONNECTED MODE ߠ௜
ͳ
ߠ௩ P Q
This section discusses the necessity of achieving a
‫כ‬ ‫כ‬
residential microgrid which can seamlessly transfer to grid- ߠ௩̴ୋେ ߠ௜̴ୋେ ݅௤̴ୋେ ݅ௗ̴ୋେ
connected mode, and proposes a seamless transition algorithm ‫ݒ‬௢
along with an improved control scheme for single-phase ݅௢
Grid-Connected Mode
inverters to attain this. The proposed technique to achieve
Fig. 5. Modified control scheme of an individual single-phase inverter (in
seamless transitions while transferring to grid-connected mode Phase-A) with implementation of proposed seamless transition approach.
is shown in Fig. 4. The main objective of seamless transition
algorithm is to turn the residential microgrid into a residential TABLE I
community in which the angle difference between the phases is SYSTEM PARAMETERS
120 degrees, and preparing it to reconnect to the main grid Parameter Symbol Value
seamlessly. Nominal voltage (line to neutral) ܸ௡ ʹͶͲ V

After resolving the abnormal condition on the grid side, the Nominal angular frequency ߱௡ 377 rad/s
residential microgrid can reconnect to the main grid, i.e. grid- P-V droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-A ݉௉ୈୋଵି௔ 0.0006 kV/kW
connected mode. To this end, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the signal Q-f droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-A ݉ொୈୋଵି௔ 0.009 Hz/kVAr
“Sync_GC” is firstly set to “1” and transferred to the controllers P-V droop coefficient of 2nd DG in Phase-A ݉௉ୈୋଶି௔ 0.0003 kV/kW
of all inverters through communication links. As can be seen in Q-f droop coefficient of 2nd DG in Phase-A ݉ொୈୋଶି௔ 0.0048 Hz/kVAr
Fig. 5, this results in feeding the angles of grid voltages, i.e. P-V droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-B ݉௉ୈୋଵି௕ 0.0003 kV/kW
୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ
ߠ௩̴௔ , ߠ௩̴௕ , and ߠ௩̴௖ , to the controllers and taking the q-axis Q-f droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-B ݉ொୈୋଵି௕ 0.0048 Hz/kVAr
୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ
components of grid-side voltages, i.e. ‫ݒ‬௤̴௔ , ‫ݒ‬௤̴௕ , and ‫ݒ‬௤̴௖ , as P-V droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-C ݉௉ୈୋଵି௖ 0.0003 kV/kW
Q-f droop coefficient of 1st DG in Phase-C ݉ொୈୋଵି௖
the reference for ‫ݒ‬௤ . Right after synchronization of grid 0.0048 Hz/kVAr

voltages with phase voltages of residential microgrid, the signal

command “Mode” is set to “1”. This leads to seamless
transferring to grid-connected mode by reclosing the grid STSs,
see Fig. 4.
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This section evaluates the performance of the system during
transition to grid-connected mode with and without the
proposed seamless transition method. To this end, the detailed
model of a residential microgrid, with the parameters listed in
Table I, is developed in PSCAD/EMTDC environment. Two
DG units, i.e. DG1-a and DG2-a, are employed in Phase-A of
the developed residential community, while Phase-B and
Phase-C each consist of one DG unit, i.e. DG1-b and DG1-c. A
delay of 4 ms is considered for the STSs. The equivalent load
resistances in Phase-A, Phase-B, and Phase-C are, respectively,
3.84 ȳ , 2.304 ȳ , and 1.152 ȳ , while the equivalent load
inductances in Phase-A, Phase-B, and Phase-C are 30.6 mH,
15.3 mH, and 10.2 mH, respectively. Consequently,
considering the nominal voltage of 240 V for single-phase
feeders, the total load demands in Phase-A, Phase-B, and
Phase-C are 15kW+j5kVAr, 25kW+j10kVAr, and
50kW+j15kVAr, respectively.
As illustrated in Fig. 6, the operator reconnects the
residential microgrid to the utility grid, i.e. Mode = 1, at t = 42.5
s. As the result, as shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), the DG units in
Phase-A and Phase-C, i.e. DG1-a, DG2-a, and DG1-c, become
unstable right after reconnecting to the main grid. This is
because of the lack of synchronization between the phase
୥୰୧ୢ
voltages, i.e. ‫ݒ‬௔ , ‫ݒ‬௕ , and ‫ݒ‬௖ , and grid-side voltages, i.e. ‫ݒ‬௔ ,
୥୰୧ୢ ୥୰୧ୢ
‫ݒ‬௔ , and ‫ݒ‬௖ , leading to extremely distorted power and
current transferred to the utility grid, see Figs. 6(c)-6(f).

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 ,((((OHFWULF3RZHUDQG(QHUJ\&RQIHUHQFH(3(&

Mode Mode
(0) to (1) (0) to (1)

The merits of proposed method in seamless reconnection of

Reactive Power (kVAr)

Active Power (kW)

residential microgrid to the main grid is confirmed in Fig. 7.

Based on the introduced seamless transition algorithm shown
in Fig. 4, after the availability of grid and at t = 40 s, the signal
Grid Grid
Islanded Connected Islanded Connected “Sync_GC” is changed from “0” to “1” in order to synchronize
the phase voltages with grid voltages. At t = 42.5 s, the
prespecified criteria for the difference between magnitudes and
(a) (b) angles of phase voltages and grid voltages are met, and
100
Qgrid-a subsequently, the signal command “Mode” is changed from “0”
80
Qgrid-b to “1”, i.e. grid-connected mode. As depicted in Figs. 7(a)-7(d),
Reactive Power (kVAr)

60
Active Power (kW)

Qgrid-c
40 right after switching to grid-connected mode, the DG units start
Grid
20
generating their desired active and reactive power, while the
0
Islanded Connected -20
quality of power delivered to/from the utility grid is
-40 Islanded
Grid
significantly improved. As can be found from Fig. 7(e), this is
-60 Connected because of synchronizing the phase voltages with their
-80
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 respective grid-side voltages before reconnecting to the utility
(c) (d)
Mode grid. Comparing Figs. 6(f) and 7(f) indicates that employing the
600 (0) to (1) va vb vc proposed seamless transition method leads to the injection of
vgrid
a
vgrid
b
vgrid
c much less distorted currents into the grid, while overcurrents
400

200
are considerably suppressed.
Islanded
0
VI. CONCLUSION
-200
Grid In this paper, a seamless transition approach has been
-400 Grid
Islanded Connected
Connected presented for residential microgrids during transition from
-600
42.46 42.5 42.54 42.58
islanded to grid-connected mode. To this end, an improved
Time (s) Time (s) control scheme for single-phase inverters has been presented.
(e) (f)
Besides, a seamless transition algorithm has been introduced
Fig. 6. Transferring to grid-connected mode without implementation of
proposed seamless transition approach. (a) Active power of DG units. (b) which monitors the system condition in real time and sends
Reactive power of DG units. (c) Active power of grid. (d) Reactive power of appropriate signal commands to the STSs in order to ensure
grid. (e) Phase voltages. (f) Phase currents. seamless transition. As the result and after resolving the
Mode Mode abnormal condition on the grid side, the residential microgrid
(0) to (1) (0) to (1)
has been reconnected to the main grid seamlessly. The stable
50
P DG1-a P DG2-a
20
QDG1-a Q DG2-a operation of DG units during abnormalities has been guaranteed
40 P DG1-b P DG1-c QDG1-b Q DG1-c by implementing the proposed method, while the power quality
Grid 10 Grid has enhanced considerably. The efficacy and superiority of the
30 Connected Connected
proposed approach in ensuring seamless transitions in
20
Islanded 0
residential microgrids has been confirmed by case study results.
Islanded
10

0 -10
VII. REFERENCES
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
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