A robust damping method for voltage source converter with LCL filter under weak grid

Recent studies show that the loss of stability for a voltage-source converter (VSC) in weak-grid connection is largely related to its synchronization unit, i.e., the phase-locked loop (PLL). This paper studies the synchronization stability of a system comprised by two VSCs in parallel connection to a weak grid. A reduced transfer function based small-signal model, which can allow for the interactions between PLL and converter outer power controls, is first proposed. Then, an improved net damping criterion is used to analyze the damping and stability characters of such system under various operating conditions and different controller configurations. Compared to the conventional net damping criterion, the used criterion has wider applicability in terms of stability judgment. Case studies show that the studied system tends to be unstable at weak-grid or heavy-loading conditions. The instability can be in the form of oscillations or monotonic divergence, in which, the latter is more likely to occur for the converters without grid voltage regulation capabilities. Besides, the net damping-based sensitivity studies can provide guidance on control tuning or design for stability enhancement. Detailed model-based time domain simulations are conducted to verify the analysis results.

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Modeling and Analyzing the Effect of Frequency Variation on Weak Grid-Connected VSC System Stability in DC Voltage Control Timescale

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12234458 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (23) ◽

pp. 4458 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yang ◽

Yuan

Keyword(s):

Voltage Control ◽

System Stability ◽

Voltage Source ◽

Frequency Variation ◽

Voltage Source Converter ◽

Small Signal ◽

Small Signal Stability ◽

Dc Voltage ◽

Weak Grid ◽

Dc Voltage Control

The effect of frequency variation on system stability becomes crucial when a voltage source converter (VSC) is connected to a weak grid. However, previous studies lack enough mechanism cognitions of this effect, especially on the stability issues in DC voltage control (DVC) timescale (around 100 ms). Hence, this paper presented a thorough analysis of the effect mechanism of frequency variation on the weak grid-connected VSC system stability in a DVC timescale. Firstly, based on instantaneous power theory, a novel method in which the active/reactive powers are calculated with the time-varying frequency of voltage vectors was proposed. This method could intuitively reflect the effect of frequency variation on the active/reactive powers and could also help reduce the system order to a certain extent. Then, a small-signal model was established based on the motion equation concept, to depict the effect of frequency variation on the weak grid-connected VSC system dynamics. Furthermore, an analytical method was utilized to quantify the effect of frequency variation on the system’s small-signal stability. The quantitative analysis considered the interactions between the DC voltage control, the terminal voltage control, phase-locked loop, and the power network. Finally, case studies were conducted, and simulation results supported the analytical analyses.

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