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Article

Development of a Novel IoT-Based Hierarchical Control System for Enhancing Inertia in DC Microgrids

1
Electrical Power and Machines Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Egypt
2
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Smart Cities 2025, 8(5), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8050166
Submission received: 15 June 2025 / Revised: 25 August 2025 / Accepted: 17 September 2025 / Published: 8 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Smart Grids)

Abstract

One of the main challenges faced by DC microgrid (DCMG) is their low inertia, which leads to rapid and significant voltage fluctuations during load or generation changes. These fluctuations can negatively impact sensitive loads and protection devices. Previous studies have addressed this by enabling battery converters to mimic the behavior of synchronous generators (SGs), but this approach becomes ineffective when the converters or batteries reach their current or energy limits, leading to a loss of inertia and potential system instability. In interconnected multi-microgrid (MMG) systems, the presence of multiple batteries offers the potential to enhance system inertia, provided there is a coordinated control strategy. This research introduces a hierarchical control method that combines decentralized and centralized approaches. Decentralized control allows individual converters to emulate SG behavior, while the centralized control uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enable real-time coordination among all Energy Storage Units (ESUs). This coordination improves inertia across the DCMMG system, enhances energy management, and strengthens overall system stability. IoT integration ensures real-time data exchange, monitoring, and collaborative decision-making. The proposed scheme is validated through MATLAB simulations, with results confirming its effectiveness in improving inertial response and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources within DCMMGs.
Keywords: microgrids; virtual inertia; virtual synchronous generators; IoT technology; power sharing; SoC balancing microgrids; virtual inertia; virtual synchronous generators; IoT technology; power sharing; SoC balancing

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Belal, E.K.; Yehia, D.M.; Azmy, A.M.; Ali, G.E.M.; Lin, X.; Gebaly, A.E.E. Development of a Novel IoT-Based Hierarchical Control System for Enhancing Inertia in DC Microgrids. Smart Cities 2025, 8, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8050166

AMA Style

Belal EK, Yehia DM, Azmy AM, Ali GEM, Lin X, Gebaly AEE. Development of a Novel IoT-Based Hierarchical Control System for Enhancing Inertia in DC Microgrids. Smart Cities. 2025; 8(5):166. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8050166

Chicago/Turabian Style

Belal, Eman K., Doaa M. Yehia, Ahmed M. Azmy, Gamal E. M. Ali, Xiangning Lin, and Ahmed E. EL Gebaly. 2025. "Development of a Novel IoT-Based Hierarchical Control System for Enhancing Inertia in DC Microgrids" Smart Cities 8, no. 5: 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8050166

APA Style

Belal, E. K., Yehia, D. M., Azmy, A. M., Ali, G. E. M., Lin, X., & Gebaly, A. E. E. (2025). Development of a Novel IoT-Based Hierarchical Control System for Enhancing Inertia in DC Microgrids. Smart Cities, 8(5), 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8050166

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