A Conceptual Framework of a Hierarchically Networked Agent-based Microgrid Architecture

This paper presents a conceptual framework of an electric power microgrid with a distributed control architecture comprising a sensor network of hierarchical agents. The salient sensory features of the different constituent types of intelligent agents are presented. The concept of a minimal microgrid is introduced for the purpose of defining the microgrid architecture. Inroads leveraging the state-of-the-art in sensor networks architecture are made to the communications network of the microgrid architecture. A three tier hierarchically distributed network for microgrid control and service management is presented.