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Knackered_lot t1_irrqji2 wrote

Reply to comment by mastapsi in The US's National Renewable Energy Laboratory wants to make decentralized microgrids as simple to set up and operate as diesel generators, and has created a prototype that is much simpler than existing microgrid technology. by lughnasadh

Oh ok. I understand the AC generator part of things, but I am less sure about how this frequency works on a renewable energy microgrid. Does the variable frequency work in a way with the AC (capacitive/inductive) reactance equation? for say, you need a lower current so in an inductive circuit, higher frequency -> higher reactance -> higher impedance -> lower current.

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mastapsi t1_irrytcm wrote

I don't think it would have much impact at all. The amount of deviation from nominal frequency is minimal, half a Hz in each direction, which is less than 1%. That's why they are using it for signaling.

Most renewables are designed to run their inverters based on a reference frequency from grid mains. For devices with no regulation capability, there would be no change to how this works. But devices that have some regulation (battery storage, hydrogen, wind) would have extra modules to interpret that frequency signal just like a droop controller would and vary their output to help balance the system.

Plus if you have existing rotating generation with droop control, like microhydro or diesel, they can tie in and still function.

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