Virtual Inertia-Based Control for Voltage and Frequency Stabilization in EV-Integrated DC Microgrid

Abstract

Serious concerns about system stability arise as microgrids increasingly incorporate renewable energy sources, especially because power electronic-based generators have less physical inertia. To enhance the dynamic performance of DC microgrids, specifically when including electric vehicle (EV) loads, this study suggests a novel control platform based on Virtual Inertia Control (VIC). To control the frequency of the AC bus without the use of virtual synchronous generators (VSGs), the method applies VIC to a bi-directional DC–DC converter coupled to ultracapacitors or EV batteries and an additional Inertia Emulated Control (IEC). A coordinated power-sharing mechanism and economic management layer are also incorporated, accounting for real-time battery state of charge (SoC) and electricity pricing. A detailed system model is developed and tested under two scenarios: with and without EV participation. Simulation results confirm that the proposed VIC scheme ensures effective DC bus voltage regulation and AC frequency stabilization, even during transients and in low-inertia conditions. The approach offers a simple, scalable, and efficient solution for future EV-integrated DC microgrids.