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Virginia Tech

Protection and Cybersecurity in Inverter-Based Microgrids

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Developing microgrids is an attractive solution for integrating inverter-based resources (IBR) in the power system. Distributed control is a potential strategy for controlling such microgrids. However, a major challenge toward the proliferation of distributed control is cybersecurity. A false data injection (FDI) attack on a microgrid using distributed control can have severe impacts on the operation of the microgrid. Simultaneously, a microgrid needs to be protected from system faults to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of power to loads. However, the irregular response of IBRs to faults makes microgrid protection very challenging. A microgrid is also susceptible to faults inside IBR converters. These faults can remain undetected for a long time and shutdown an IBR. This dissertation first proposes a method that reconstructs communicated signals using their autocorrelation and crosscorrelation measurements to make distributed control more resilient against FDI attacks. Next, this dissertation proposes a protection scheme that works by classifying measured harmonic currents using support vector machines. Finally, this dissertation proposes a protection and fault-tolerant control strategy to diagnose and clear faults that are internal to IBRs. The proposed strategies are verified using time-domain simulation case studies using the PSCAD/EMTDC software package.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2023

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mohammadhassani, Ardavan
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Mehrizi-Sani, Ali
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Li, Qiang
  • Stilwell, Daniel J.
  • Liu, Chen-Ching
  • Eldardiry, Hoda

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:38078
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115665

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Mohammadhassani, Ardavan. Protection and Cybersecurity in Inverter-Based Microgrids. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/115665