Leader-Follower Distributed Frequency Control for Networked Microgrids Using Model Predictive Control and Graph Theory

• Published in: Conference record of the Industry Applications Conference pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Abdelfatah, Mohannad, Tan, Wen-Shan, Raj Irudayaraj, Andrew Xavier, Wu, Yuan-Kang
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 15.06.2025
• Subjects: Distributed Control; Frequency control; Frequency Regulation; Graph theory; Leader-Follower Control; Load modeling; Mathematical models; Microgrids; Model Predictive Control; PD control; PI control; Power system stability; Predictive control; Topology
• ISSN: 2576-702X
• DOI: 10.1109/IAS62731.2025.11061512

This paper develops a distributed load frequency control design that employs Model Predictive Control (MPC) within a leader-follower control scheme based on graph theory for networked microgrid (NMG) systems. The proposed NMG model contains three equivalent microgrids (MGs) with fully connected topologies that share tie-lines between them. Each MG includes diesel generators, renewable energy sources, and energy storage systems. The mathematical model was depicted through state-space notations. The frequency control system employed Laplacian-based distributed control, which selected MG1 as the leader to receive information from neighbouring MG2 and MG3, thus minimising communication needs without compromising stability or performance. A basic centralised MPC controller was tested in the model against a variable load for all MGs, and then the results were compared with the proposed distributed MPC (DMPC). The DMPC implementation resulted in superior performance, as it achieved a consistent settling time of just 5 s, which is 2.5 times faster than centralised MPC (12-60 s) and over 28 times faster than PID control (140-180 s), while maintaining steady state error below 0.07 Hz for system frequency control after its testing phase.