Stability and Control of Microgrids : An Electric Mine Case Study

Sammanfattning

The stability and control of microgrids in electric mines are critical to ensuring reliable and sustainable energy management. This thesis addresses the significant challenges posed by grid stability and energy management within the mining industry, which is pivotal for clean energy transitions. The escalating demand for metals and minerals necessitates robust solutions for low inertia and short circuit capacity issues in mining operations. The proposed solution involves integrating grid-forming inverters and validating droop control strategies through simulations under various transient scenarios. A comprehensive simulation setup was developed to validate these control strategies within a microgrid environment tailored to electric mines. The results demonstrate significant improvements in grid stability under various scenarios, highlighting the effectiveness of grid-forming inverters with passive loads. Subsequently, a motor drive was implemented to test the grid-forming converters and microgrid with active load; however, unfortunately, stability could not finally be achieved, leaving this area for future research. The conclusions of this research offer a pathway for improved energy management in the mining sector, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable mining operations.