Modeling and Performance Analysis of a Microturbine as a Distributed Energy Resource

This paper presents modeling, simulation, and analysis of load following behavior of a microturbine (MT) as a distributed energy resource (DER). The MT-generator (MTG) system consists of the MT coupled to a synchronous generator. Simulation is done in MATLAB for different loading conditions under islanded and grid-connected modes. The MTG model also incorporates a speed controller for maintaining constant speed at variable loads. Performance is studied both with and without the speed controller. The paper also compares the simulation results with already reported results and with real life load following data for a typical islanded MT of similar rating.