IEEE Access (Jan 2021)

Fault Management in DC Microgrids: A Review of Challenges, Countermeasures, and Future Research Trends

  • Zulfiqar Ali,
  • Yacine Terriche,
  • Le Quang Nhat Hoang,
  • Syed Zagam Abbas,
  • Mustafa Alrayah Hassan,
  • Muhammad Sadiq,
  • Chun-Lien Su,
  • Josep M. Guerrero

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3112383
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9
pp. 128032 – 128054

Abstract

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The significant benefits of DC microgrids have instigated extensive efforts to be an alternative network as compared to conventional AC power networks. Although their deployment is ever-growing, multiple challenges still occurred for the protection of DC microgrids to efficiently design, control, and operate the system for the islanded mode and grid-tied mode. Therefore, there are extensive research activities underway to tackle these issues. The challenge arises from the sudden exponential increase in DC fault current, which must be extinguished in the absence of the naturally occurring zero crossings, potentially leading to sustained arcs. This paper presents cut-age and state-of-the-art issues concerning the fault management of DC microgrids. It provides an account of research in areas related to fault management of DC microgrids, including fault detection, location, identification, isolation, and reconfiguration. In each area, a comprehensive review has been carried out to identify the fault management of DC microgrids. Finally, future trends and challenges regarding fault management in DC-microgrids are also discussed.

Keywords