An Adaptive Control System for a dc Microgrid for

Data Centers
Daniel Salomonsson
daniel.salomonsson@ee.kth.se
Electric Power Systems
Electrical Engineering
Royal Institute of Technology
SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Lennart Soder
lennart.soder@ee.kth.se
Electric Power Systems
Electrical Engineering
Royal Institute of Technology
SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Ambra Sannino
ambra.sannino@ieee.org
ABB, Corporate Research
Power Technologies
SE-721 78 Vasteras, Sweden

AbstractIn this paper, an adaptive control system for a dc
microgrid for data centers is proposed. Data centers call for
electric power with high availability and a possibility to reduce
the electric losses and hence the need for cooling. By using
local energy sources, high reliability can be achieved, and by
using dc the number of conversion steps, and therefore also
the losses, can be reduced. The dc microgrid can also be used
to supply closely located sensitive ac loads during outages on
the utility grid. The proposed dc microgrid can be operated in
eight different operation modes described here, resulting in 23
transitions. The adaptive control system coordinates the control
of converters, sources and switches used in the dc microgrid.
The adaptive control system is tested in the simulation software
packages PSCAD/EMTDC, and the results of the most interesting
operation modes and transitions are presented. The results show
that it is possible to use the proposed dc microgrid to supply
sensitive electronic loads, and also during utility grid outages,
supply closely located sensitive ac loads. To reduce transients in
the voltage experienced by the sensitive ac loads, the dc microgrid
requires fast utility outage detection and fast switches.
I. I NTRODUCTION
Sensitive commercial consumers need power supply which
is not affected by faults and outages in the utility grids. One
possibility to ensure reliable power supply is to install local
generation close to the sensitive loads [1][3]. Using local
generation together with fast and accurate protection systems,
the sensitive loads will not be affected by disturbances in the
utility grid. When a fault occurs, an isolated grid with local
generation and sensitive loads will be created. This microgrid
can be designed to operate autonomously in island mode.
However, in normal operation the microgrid is connected to
the utility grid. Depending on the load and generation situation
the microgrid can both consume or produce electric power
from and to the utility grid, respectively. A microgrid can
therefore be considered as a controllable load/generation cell.
In most cases a microgrid is equipped with some form of
energy storage to improve the load leveling capability [4][6].
The interest for such systems has increased in the past few
years.
The sources in a microgrid are usually small (< 500 kW)
and often renewables. Example of sources are microturbines,
fuel cells, photovoltaic, hydro plants and wind power. Bat-
teries, supercapacitors and flywheels can be used as energy
storage. These types of sources and energy storages produce
either dc voltage or ac voltage with different amplitude and
frequency than the grid, and hence need a power electronic
converter to interface with the grid [7]. The sources in a
microgrid are operated to produce a certain amount of active
and reactive power (P Q-mode) when it is connected to the
utility grid, which is responsible for voltage and frequency
regulation. However, when the microgrid is operated in is-
land mode the sources must be able to perform voltage
and frequency regulation. Different operation strategies of
the sources have been studied in [8], [9]. Using controllers
with droop characteristics ensures load shedding, and voltage
and frequency stability. Experimental results of a laboratory
microgrid setup are presented in [10].
Data centers provide application service and management
for various types of data processing, such as web hosting,
Internet, intranet, telecommunication, and information tech-
nology. As the development progresses, the size of the servers
is becoming smaller simultaneously as their capacity increase
[11]. This leads to an increase of power density in data
centers. In a single rack the power is estimated to increase
from approximately 4 kW up to 40 kW in a few years [12].
Each server produces heat due to losses (conversion losses and
conduction losses). To prevent the equipment to malfunction
it must be cooled and this also requires electric power.
The large power consumption of the data centers (up to tens
of MW [13]) together with a high price of electricity result
in high cost for the owner of the data center. One possibility
to reduce the cost is to reduce the losses in the system, hence
the need for cooling.
One way for data centers to combine the need for high
reliability and the possibility to reduce the losses is the dc
microgrid. Low-voltage (LV) dc can be superior to use com-
pared with LV ac for commercial power systems with sensitive
electronic loads [14], [15]. The reason is that sources, energy
storage and loads in an ac microgrid are connected through
power electronic interfaces: dc/ac converters and ac/dc/ac
converters. By using a dc microgrid one conversion step can
be eliminated and energy storage can be directly connected.
Little research work has been published about issues re-
garding dc microgrids [16][19]. Voltage control in a dc

0197-2618/07/$25.00 2007 IEEE 2414

microgrid with multiple sources has been treated in [18]. In diesel engine
[19] different operation situations, especially the transition M

between interconnected mode and independent mode, have utility

G
been studied. However, the transition, which is critical to ac supply
sensitive loads, is highly simplified.
In this paper, the design of an adaptive control system for
a dc microgrid for data centers is presented. The dc microgrid ~ ac UPS:
supplies during normal operation only sensitive dc loads, but = PFC ac/dc converter HVAC
Energy
has the capability to supply closely located sensitive ac loads, storage heat, ventilation and
which normally are supplied from the utility grid, during = air conditioning
~ dc/ac converter
outages. One advantage with the dc microgrid proposed in this
paper is that only two converters are used, compared with six
in [19], resulting in lower cost and losses. Furthermore, the
dc microgrid has different operation modes which together ~ ~ ~
with the corresponding transitions between different modes
= = =
SMPS:
are defined and described. A data center power system is used PFC ac/dc converter
= = = dc/dc converter
as a reference system in this paper, and the performance of = = =
the adaptive control system is verified by simulations in the different computer
Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive
software packages PSCAD/EMTDC. parts operating with
load load load
different voltages
II. DATA C ENTER P OWER S YSTEM
Fig. 1 shows a typical scheme of a data center power system Fig. 1. Data center power system.
with sensitive computer loads (together with their internal
switch mode power supplies (SMPS) with power factor correc-
power system through ac/dc converters. The energy storage,
tion (PFC)) and heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
in most cases lead-acid batteries, can be directly connected
equipment [20], [21]. The power system has a connection to
to the power system. Using a dc power system increases the
the utility grid, which normally supplies the loads. If an outage
reliability compared with an ac power system since fewer
occurs on the utility grid the loads can be supplied from a
components are required [25].
standby diesel generator. During the time it takes to detect the
A dc power system for a data center can be configured
outage, disconnect the utility grid and start the diesel generator,
in different ways. In this paper two different alternatives are
the sensitive loads are supplied from an ac UPS.
proposed. One possibility is to have the utility grid and the
The function of a UPS is to maintain the load voltage within
standby generator connected to the dc power system through
a specified range during a limited time, i.e. to protect the
individual ac/dc converters as shown in Fig. 2(a). Another way
load from grid disturbances. During these disturbances the
is to have the utility and the standby generator connected to
UPS will supply the load with power from its energy storage,
a common ac bus which in turn is connected to the dc power
which usually consists of lead-acid batteries [21]. Other forms
system through an ac/dc converter as shown in Fig. 2(b). In
of energy storage, e.g. flywheels, can also be used. The size
this paper (a) will be used since it gives the possibility to
of the energy storage determines for how long time the UPS
control the power flow from the diesel generator and there is
can support the load. To increase the availability of the UPS
no need to synchronize the diesel generator with the utility
system, several UPSs can be installed in parallel.
grid. Configuration (b) is better with respect to power losses
The electric power is converted at least four times on its way
if the dc microgrid will be used to export power most of the
from the utility grid to the sensitive load, and by reducing the
time. Furthermore, in (b) there is only need for one converter.
number of conversion steps the losses, and thereby the need
for cooling, can be lowered. One way to reduce the number
of conversion steps is to use a dc power system [22]. The III. O PERATION M ODES OF DC M ICROGRID FOR DATA
rectification is then moved from the distributed SMPS with C ENTERS
PFC to a main ac/dc converter. This re-arrangement will not Fig. 3 shows a scheme of the proposed dc microgrid
result in any additional losses if the main ac/dc converter is connected to the utility grid. The dc microgrid is indicated
assumed to have at least the same efficiency as the distributed as Zone 1. Zone 2 is prioritized ac loads which are located
SMPS with PFC inside the computer loads [23]. On the other in the close vicinity of the dc microgrid, for example cooling
hand, the losses inside the ac UPS, which are in the range of equipment and/or an office building, and finally, Zone 3 is the
3 to 25 % depending on type of UPS and load factor [24], are utility grid and the loads connected to it.
eliminated.
Operating a data center power system as a dc system A. Definition of Operation Modes
requires some modifications. The utility grid and the standby The dc microgrid has three independent sources: the utility
generator, which both are ac sources, must be connected to the grid, the energy storage (emergency power) and the diesel

2415
 diesel engine TABLE I
diesel engine M
P OSSIBLE OPERATION MODES OF THE DC MICROGRID
M
utility
utility ac supply G
No. Utility Emergency Standby Zone Operation
ac supply G
power power power 2 mode
1 off off off disconnected off
Converter ~ Energy ~ Converter Converter ~ Energy 2 off off off connected off
1 storage 2 1 storage
= = = standby
3 off off on disconnected
mode
standby
= = =
=
= = =
= 4 off off on connected
= = =
~
= = =
~ support mode
5 off on off disconnected emergency mode
Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive emergency
HVAC HVAC
load load load load load load 6 off on off connected
support mode
(a) Common dc bus (b) Common ac bus 7 off on on disconnected standby mode
standby
8 off on on connected
Fig. 2. Data center power system with dc distribution system. support mode
9 on off off disconnected -
10 on off off connected import mode
utility 11 on off on disconnected -
ac supply standby
12 on off on connected
export mode
13 on on off disconnected -
emergency
14 on on off connected
SW1 diesel engine export mode
15 on on on disconnected -
Zone 3 M standby
16 on on on connected
export mode
SW2 G

SW4 SW3

Normal Prioritized Energy ~ C1 is maintaining the dc-link voltage in the dc microgrid at a

C1 ~ storage
ac load ac load = =
Zone 2
= =
= =
Sensitive Sensitive
load load
Fig. 3. DC microgrid for data centers.
generator (standby power). Since each source can be on or
off, this means that the dc microgrid can be operated in eight
different modes. For each mode the loads in Zone 2 can be
connected (switch SW4 closed) or disconnected (switch SW4
open). This results in 16 different modes which are listed in
Table I.
During operation modes using standby power it is assumed
that the loads are supplied from the diesel generator but
fast load variations can be supplied from the energy storage.
Therefore, there is no point in having the energy storage
disconnected when the standby generator is on. This means
that mode 3 and mode 7 can be considered to be the same
mode. This also holds for mode 4 and mode 8, and mode 12
and mode 16. Modes 9, 11, 13 and 15, where switch SW4
is open simultaneously as the utility grid is operating, are not
realistic cases since the loads in Zone 2 are prioritized loads.
In the end only eight modes have to be considered. These are
indicated in Table III.
During Import mode the dc microgrid and the loads in
Zone 2 and 3 are supplied from the utility grid. Converter
C2 constant level and the energy storage fully charged. The diesel
generator and converter C2 are off.
If an outage occurs in the utility grid, converter C1 and the
= loads in Zone 2 and 3 will lose their supply. Converter C1 can
= then be used to generate ac voltage after opening switch SW2.
Sensitive During this mode, Emergency support mode, power from the
load energy storage will be used to supply the dc microgrid and to
Zone 1 support Zone 2. The dc-link voltage will be unregulated during
this mode.
The diesel generator will be started if the duration of the
outage is longer than a certain time. When the diesel generator
is ready the dc microgrid can switch mode from Emergency
support mode to Standby support mode which means that
the dc microgrid and Zone 2 are now supplied from the diesel
generator (some load variation can still be supplied from the
energy storage). Converter C1 will still be used to generate
ac voltage to Zone 2 but converter C2 will now regulate the
dc-link voltage.
If the energy storage has only capacity to supply the dc
microgrid and not Zone 2, the dc microgrid will switch mode
from Emergency support mode to Emergency mode. Also
if the standby generator only has enough capacity to supply the
dc microgrid and not the prioritized ac loads, the dc microgrid
will switch mode from Standby support mode to Standby
mode.
The diesel generator and the energy storage can also be
used when the dc microgrid is connected to the utility grid.
Excess power in the dc microgrid can be exported and sold
to the utility grid using converter C1 as a controllable power
source. This can be desirable for example during peak load
in the utility grid when the price of electricity is high. These
modes are denoted Standby export mode and Emergency

2416
export mode. IV. D ESIGN OF AN A DAPTIVE C ONTROL S YSTEM
The dc microgrid requires a control system which can
B. Defining Transitions between Modes monitor the dc microgrid and the utility grid, and based on
As previously stated, the dc microgrid has eight different a number of input variables operate the components in the dc
operation modes which can be used. The dc microgrid can only microgrid to ensure a disturbance-free supply to the sensitive
change from one operation mode to another operation mode dc loads in Zone 1 and if possible also to the sensitive ac loads
which is relevant from an operational and control perspective. in Zone 2.
Each transition from one operation mode to another operation The dc microgrid has a number of components which can
mode is due to an event (planned or unplanned). In Fig. 4 be controlled. These are converter C1, the energy storage,
the 23 possible transitions for the dc microgrid are shown. All converter C2 (together with the diesel generator), switches
transitions with the corresponding events are listed in Table II. SW2 and SW3. An adaptive control system is required to
coordinate the control of these components.
Converter C1 can be operated in three different modes:
TABLE II controllable dc source (cdcs), controllable ac source (cacs) or
T RANSITIONS AND THE CORRESPONDING EVENTS FOR THE DC controllable power source (cps). When it is operated as cdcs
MICROGRID
it is regulating the dc-link voltage in the dc microgrid. When
No. Event it is operated as cacs it can be used to generate ac voltage and
1 Outage utility grid supply the loads in Zone 2 (switch SW2 must then be open).
2 Utility grid ok
3 Diesel generator/C2 ready
Finally, when it is operated as cps it can inject a controllable
4 Utility grid ok amount of active power to the utility grid. Converter C2 can
5 C1 failure/overload only be operated as cdcs. Switch SW2 is used to disconnect
6 Utility grid ok
7 C1 failure
the dc microgrid from the utility grid, and switch SW3 to
8 C1 failure/overload disconnect converter C1 from the utility grid when it is off.
9 Diesel generator/C2 failure For each operation mode, the mode of the control variables
10 Diesel generator/C2 failure
11 Utility grid ok
of the converters C1, C2, and the switches SW2 and SW3 in
12 Diesel generator/C2 ready the dc microgrid are defined. The control variables for each
13 Utility grid ok operation mode are reported in Table III.
14 Diesel generator/C2 ready
15 High electricity price TABLE III
16 Low electricity price C ONTROL VARIABLES FOR DIFFERENT OPERATION MODES OF THE DC
17 High electricity price MICROGRID
18 Low electricity price
19 Diesel generator/C2 ready
Control variables
20 Diesel generator/C2 failure No. Operation mode
C1 C2 SW 2 SW 3
21 Outage utility grid
1 Import mode cdcs off closed closed
22 Outage utility grid
2 Emergency support mode cacs off open closed
23 Energy storage failure
3 Emergency mode off off closed open
4 Standby support mode cacs cdcs open closed
5 Standby mode off cdcs closed open
6 Standby export mode cps cdcs closed closed
18 7 Emergency export mode cps off closed closed
Emergency 8 Off off off closed open
export mode
17

22
20 19 The adaptive control system must be able to monitor the
Standby
16
condition of the utility grid, the diesel generator (together with
Import mode
21 export mode
15
converter C2), the energy storage and converter C1.
13 7 11
1 If an outage occurs in the utility grid, the dc microgrid must
change operation mode to ensure a disturbance-free supply to
Emergency Emergency
Off 8
2
the loads in Zone 1 and, if possible, Zone 2. The adaptive
23 mode support mode

9 3
control system can monitor the condition of the utility grid
by measuring the voltage. Also if converter C1 or the diesel
Standby
14 support mode
4 generator/converter C2 fail the dc microgrid must change
12 10 operation mode.
5
The dc-link voltage and the current through converter C1 are
Standby 6
also important to monitor. The dc-link voltage is an indicator
mode
of the balance between generation and consumption. Too
large load results in low dc-link voltage. In that case the dc
Fig. 4. Operation modes and transitions of the dc microgrid.
microgrid must change operation mode and some loads must
be disconnected to prevent it from collapsing. The current

2417
through converter C1 is important when it is operated as
cacs since it is unregulated. The maximum load in Zone 2 is
determined by the rated current of converter C1. If the current
becomes too high some loads in Zone 2 must be disconnected.
The adaptive control system changes the control variables
based on the input variables together with the current operation
mode. If any of the input variables change state, the adaptive
control system will change the control variables, and this
results in a transition from one operation mode to another.
In Table IV the change of input variables for each transition
is reported together with the change of control variables.
V. S IMULATION R ESULTS
In this paper only a selected number of transitions will
be studied. These are the most interesting transitions which
involve outage in the utility grid, in this case transitions 1,
when the dc microgrid changes operation mode from Import
mode to Emergency support mode, and transition 22, when
it changes from Emergency export mode to Emergency
support mode. Here it is important to study the voltage
experienced by the loads in Zone 1 and 2. If the transients
are too large it is not possible to assume that the loads are not
affected.
When the utility grid comes back and the dc microgrid
shall be reconnected, it is important to synchronize the voltage
in Zone 2 with the voltage in the utility grid before switch
SW2 can be closed. Here it is also of interest to study the
voltage transients. Possible transitions to study are 2 and 4,
and transition 2 has been selected.
The transition from Import mode to Emergency export
mode and back will also be studied. Here it is of interest to
study how the transition affects the current through converter
C1 and the dc-link voltage.
The system is modelled and simulated in the software
packages PSCAD/EMTDC. The ac/dc interface is modelled as
a two-level VSC with dc-link voltage controller and current
controller. The design of the converter and its controller has
been presented earlier in [26]. The selected transitions do not
involve interaction with the diesel generator and converter C2,
which therefore are not included in this model. The energy
storage is modelled as a dc source with an internal resistance.
The sensitive dc loads are modelled as a constant power load
and the ac loads are simulated as constant resistive loads. The
size of the sensitive dc and ac loads are equal, and the loads
in Zone 3 are 25 times larger than the prioritized ac loads.
A. Transition 1 and 2
Transition 1 is when the dc microgrid changes operation
mode from Import mode to Emergency support mode due mode from Emergency support mode to Import mode
to an outage in the utility grid. From Table IV it can be seen
that the control variable to converter C1 will change from
cdcs to cacs and switch SW2 will open after the outage has
been detected by the adaptive control system. In this case it
is assumed that it takes 1 ms to detect an outage in the utility
grid.
Fig. 5(a) shows one of the three phase voltages in Zone
2 together with the utility voltage, and it can be seen that
the outage occurs after 0.02 s (the voltage drops down to
zero). When the outage has been detected, the control mode
of converter C1 changes and the converter starts to supply the
prioritized ac loads in Zone 2. The generated voltage has the
same amplitude, frequency and phase as the utility grid voltage
had before the outage.
Switch SW2 is opened to prevent converter C1 to supply
Zone 3 during the outage. The status of switch SW2 is shown
in Fig. 5(d). However, the time before the outage has been
detected and switch SW2 has opened the loads in Zone 3 are
unintentionally supplied from converter C1, and the current
through converter C1 and its filter reactance increases rapidly
(up to 2.3 p.u.). This can be seen from Fig. 5(b), which shows
one of the three phase currents through the converter. Different
detection times result in different current transients, which are
reported in Table V. The duration of all current transients are
less than 1 ms. This study shows that it is important to have a
fast detection in order not to trip the converter or to oversize it.
Also the size of the filter reactance affects the current transient.
When the outage has been detected and SW2 has opened, the
current through converter C1 and its filter reactance returns
to normal, which in turn causes a voltage transient (2.3 p.u.)
in Zone 2. This is shown in Fig. 5(a). The maximum voltage
during the transient can also be reduced by having a faster
detection (see Table V). Limiting the transients is important
to be able to keep the sensitive ac loads online. Fig. 5(b) also
shows a 180-phase shift in the current due to the change of
direction of the power flow.
After the outage the loads in Zone 1, 2 and 3 are supplied
from the energy storage. When the loads are supplied from the
energy storage the dc-link voltage is unregulated, which can
be seen in Fig. 5(c), and the voltage drop depends on the size
of the current and the internal impedance of the battery. The
transient voltage reduction depends on how fast the outage can
be detected and the loads in Zone 3 can be disconnected. A
longer time results in a larger transient voltage reduction.
TABLE V
M AXIMUM VOLTAGE AND CURRENT TRANSIENTS DURING TRANSITION 1
WITH DIFFERENT DETECTION TIMES
Detection
Voltage [p.u.] Current [p.u.]
time [ms]
0.5 1.0 1.0
1 2.3 (<1 ms) 2.3 (<1 ms)
2 4.3 (<1 ms) 6.2 (<1 ms)
When the utility grid is back the input signal will indicate
to the adaptive control system that it is possible to change
(transition 2). Before switch SW2 can be closed converter C1
must first synchronize its voltage with the utility grid. Since
the prioritized ac loads are still supplied from converter C1
the synchronization must be done with the loads connected.
The synchronization will result in a short frequency transient
for the loads. The size of the transient is determined by the
2418
 TABLE IV
A DAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM : TRANSITIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT OPERATION MODES

Input variables Control variables

No. Mode Grid Diesel Energy C1 C1
C1 C2 SW2 SW3
voltage generator storage overcurrent/failure undervoltage
1 1 10 0 1 0 0 cdcscacs off closedopen closed
2 2 01 0 1 0 0 cacscdcs off openclosed closed
3 2 0 01 1 0 0 cacs offcdcs open closed
4 4 01 1 1 0 0 cacscdcs cdcsoff openclosed closed
5 4 0 1 1 01 cacsoff cdcs openclosed closedopen
6 5 01 1 1 0 0 offcdcs cdcsoff closed openclosed
7 1 1 0 1 01 cdcsoff off closed closedopen
8 2 0 0 1 01 cdcsoff off openclosed closedopen
9 4 0 10 1 0 0 cacs cdcsoff open closed
10 5 0 10 1 0 0 off cdcsoff closed open
11 3 01 0 1 0 0 offcdcs off closed openclosed
12 3 0 01 1 0 0 off offcdcs closed open
13 8 01 0 0 0 1 offcdcs off closed openclosed
14 8 0 01 0 0 1 off offcdcs closed open
15 1 1 01 1 0 0 cdcscps offcdcs closed closed
16 6 1 1 1 0 0 cpscdcs cdcsoff closed closed
17 1 1 0 1 0 0 cdcscps off closed closed
18 7 1 0 1 0 0 cpscdcs off closed closed
19 7 1 01 1 0 0 cps offcdcs closed closed
20 6 1 10 1 0 0 cps cdcsoff closed closed
21 6 10 1 1 0 0 cpscacs cdcs closedopen closed
22 7 10 0 1 0 0 cpscacs off closedopen closed
23 3 0 0 10 0 01 off off closed open

bandwidth of the phase-locked loop (PLL) used by converter

C1. In this case the utility grid is assumed to come back after
0.05 s and then it has changed its phase with 45. The adaptive (a) 4
control system will detect that the grid is back after 1 ms, and
uZone 2 [p.u.]

2
after approximately 10 ms converter C1 has synchronized with 0
the utility grid and switch SW2 will close and converter C1 2
will change control mode from cacs to cdcs.
4
Fig. 6(a) shows one of the three phase voltages in Zone 2 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
together with the utility grid voltage. The plot shows the (b) 5
synchronization between the voltage in Zone 2 and the utility 2.5
iC1 [p.u.]

grid. The current through converter C1, shown in Fig. 6(b), has
0
a transient due to the change of power direction. The current
2.5
gradually increases when converter C1 starts to take over the
dc load current from the energy storage and the dc-link voltage 5
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
becomes regulated. The dc-link voltage is shown in Fig. 6(c).
(c) 1.2
[p.u.]

1.1
uref
dc
udc, uref

1
dc

B. Transition 17 and 18
0.9
The dc microgrid has a possibility to export power to u
dc
0.8
the utility grid. Power from the energy storage or the diesel 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
generator can be sold to the utility and money can be earned (d)
if the price of electricity is high. How often power will be
exported depends on the fuel cost and the daily price variation open
SW2

on the electricity market. When power shall be exported to the

utility grid converter C1 must change control mode from cdcs closed
to cps. The amount of power that is exported depends on the
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
reference value given to the current controller of converter Time [s]
C1. In this case converter C1 will be given the order to export
1.0 p.u. power to the utility grid after 0.02 s. In this case the Fig. 5. Transition 1: (a) phase voltage in Zone 2, (b) phase current through
power is taken from the energy storage so the dc-link voltage converter C1, (c) dc-link voltage and (d) switch SW2.
is unregulated. The system will go from Import mode to
Emergency export mode.

2419
 (a)
uZone 2 [p.u.] 4 (a) 5
2 2.5

iC1 [p.u.]
0 0
2 2.5
4 5
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
(b) 5 (b) 1.2

[p.u.]
2.5 1.1
iC1 [p.u.]

uref
dc
0

udc, uref
1

dc
2.5 0.9
udc
5 0.8
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
(c) 1.2 Time [s]
[p.u.]

1.1
uref Fig. 7. Transition 17: (a) phase current through converter C1, (b) dc-link
dc
udc, uref

1
dc

voltage.
0.9
u
dc
0.8 (a) 5
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25
2.5

iC1 [p.u.]
(d)
0
open
SW2

2.5
5
closed 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10
(b) 1.2
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25
[p.u.]

Time [s] 1.1

uref
dc
udc, uref

1
dc

Fig. 6. Transition 2: (a) phase voltage in Zone 2, (b) phase current through
converter C1, (c) dc-link voltage and (d) switch SW2.
Fig. 7(a) shows the current through converter C1. When the
converter changes control mode from cdcs to cps the current
makes a 180 phase shift since the power direction changes.
However, the amplitude remains the same.
When the dc microgrid shall go back from Emergency
export mode to Import mode converter C1 must change
control mode from cps to cdcs. Fig. 8(a) shows how the current
through converter C1 will change phase due to the change of
the direction of the power flow. Also it will gradually increase
when converter C1 starts to take over the dc load current from
the energy storage and the dc-link voltage becomes regulated,
which can be seen in Fig. 8(b).
C. Transition 22
The last case study investigates what happens if an outage
on the utility grid occurs simultaneously as power is exported
from the energy storage in the dc microgrid to the utility grid.
According to Table IV, the dc microgrid will change op-
eration mode from Emergency export mode to Emergency
support mode. The difference compared with transition 2 is
that the power already flows out from the dc microgrid to the
utility grid.
Fig. 9(a) shows one of the three phase voltages in Zone 2.
When the outage occurs the voltage drops to zero. Fig. 9(b)
shows one of the three phase currents through converter
C1. The current transient is almost 65 % larger compared
0.9
udc
0.8
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10
Time [s]
Fig. 8. Transition 18: (a) phase current through converter C1, (b) dc-link
voltage.
with Fig. 5(b). The reason is that the power already flows
out from the dc microgrid when the outage occurs. This in
turn causes a larger voltage transient which can be seen in
Fig. 9(a). Moreover, the large current transient results in a
small reduction of the dc-link voltage.
VI. C ONCLUSIONS
In this paper the design of an adaptive control system for
a dc microgrid for data centers has been treated. The dc
microgrid can be operated in eight different modes depending
on the status of the utility grid, and the emergency and standby
power. To take the system from one operation mode to another
23 transitions are defined. The proposed adaptive control
system coordinates the control of the two converters and the
two switches used in the proposed dc microgrid. Which control
mode to use is based on the input variables to the adaptive
control system.
The dc microgrid can be used to supply sensitive electronic
loads, but also during outage in the utility grid, to supply
closely located sensitive ac loads. Simulations show that it is
important to have fast detection of a utility grid outage and to

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was financed by ELFORSK, Sweden, ABB Cor-
porate Research and Swedish Energy Administration within
the Elektra program.
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