Real-time agent-based control of plug-in electric vehicles for voltage and thermal management of LV networks: Formulation and HIL validation

Ensuring a stable and reliable operation of current and future distribution networks represents a major challenge for system operators aggravated by the global proliferation of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). While the introduction of a controlled charging process would be advantageous to minimise the impacts PEVs cause in the system, a suitable, efficient and ready to be implemented solution is still missing. The present work addresses this issue by proposing a smart charging management solution capable to simultaneously combat the main network impacts derived from the energy needs of the vehicles. This is done by means of an agent-based hierarchical real-time algorithm which combines a local decentralised nodal voltage management with a centralised thermal control conceived to minimise the impact upon participating users. The effectiveness of the proposed system is tested both using a simulation environment considering multiple PEV penetration levels and employing commercially available charging stations and cars through hardware-in-the-loop simulations. The results reveal how all network violations are successfully attenuated by peak shaving the total aggregated charging demand and ensuring a correct system operation for all penetration scenarios while inflicting no impact on the participating users.