Operation Zone Analysis of the Voltage Source Converter Based on the Influence of Different Grid Strengths

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy into the power system, the voltage source converter (VSC) for integrating renewable energy has become the most common device in the electric network. However, the operating stability of the VSC is strongly dependent on its operating control strategy, which is also highly related to the strength of the AC system. Choosing the control strategy of VSC for different strengths of AC systems becomes an essential issue for maintaining the symmetry between high proportion of renewable energy integration and stable operation of AC system. In order to obtain the operation zones of the control strategies of the VSC under different strengths of AC system, in this paper, the two common VSC control strategies, vector current control (VCC) and power synchronization control (PSC), are compared. Firstly, the principle of VCC and PSC are introduced. Then, based on the short circuit ratio (SCR) and the power limit calculation under steady-state conditions of the VSC, the operation zones of the vector current control and power synchronization control are proposed. Finally, a medium voltage modular multilevel converter (MMC) system was built in PSCAD/EMTDC and the proposed operation zones of the VCC and PSC were tested by changing the SCR of the modified IEEE 33 bus system and analyzed via the critical short circuit ratio (CSCR) analysis, the small-signal stability analysis, and transient stability analysis. The results indicate that, as the SCR decreases, the VSC based on VCC is gradually worked into unstable conditions, while the stability of VSC based on PSC gradually increases. The analysis results provide a criterion for the converter operation strategy change that could significantly improve the operating stability of the VSC in the power system and realize the symmetry of the stability of the converter and the change of the strength of the AC system.

Multi-Terminal DC Grid with Wind Power Injection

With the development of offshore wind generation, the interest in cross-country connections is also increasing, which requires models to study their complex static and dynamic behaviors. This paper presents the mathematical modeling of an offshore wind farm integrated into a cross-country HVDC network forming a multi-terminal high-voltage DC (MTDC) network. The voltage source converter models were added with the control of active power, reactive power, frequency, and DC link voltages at appropriate nodes in the MTDC, resembling a typical cross-country multi-terminal type of HVDC scenario. The mathematical model for the network together with the controllers were simulated in MATLABTM and experimentally verified using a real-time digital simulator hardware setup. The resulting static and dynamic responses from the hardware setup agreed well with those from simulations of the developed models.

An Interaction Less Duo Control Strategy for Bi-polar Voltage Source Converter in Renewables Integrated Multi-Terminal HVDC (MTDC) Grids

The PVF or PV²Fdouble droop control is commended for its ability to regulate both the dc voltage and frequency in a decentralized approach. However, a convincing response is not achieved due to an interaction between the droop characteristics of dc voltage and frequency. This interaction affects the dc voltage and frequency support of the AC system surrounded Multi-Terminal HVDC (AC-MTDC) grid. To overcome this effect, a Duo control strategy is proposed in this paper, which takes advantage of a Bi-polar Voltage Source Converter (B-VSC) topology in the MTDC grid. The virtue of proposed control technique is emphasized by comparing it with the existing $ PV²F double droop control along with three case studies and two test systems. The validation of interaction less Duo control strategy is carried out on five terminal CIGRE DC grid benchmark model integrated into two area power system (AC-MTDC grid-1) and New England IEEE 39 bus system (AC-MTDC grid-2). These test systems are simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC software.

An Interaction Less Duo Control Strategy for Bi-polar Voltage Source Converter in Renewables Integrated Multi-Terminal HVDC (MTDC) Grids

The PVF or PV²Fdouble droop control is commended for its ability to regulate both the dc voltage and frequency in a decentralized approach. However, a convincing response is not achieved due to an interaction between the droop characteristics of dc voltage and frequency. This interaction affects the dc voltage and frequency support of the AC system surrounded Multi-Terminal HVDC (AC-MTDC) grid. To overcome this effect, a Duo control strategy is proposed in this paper, which takes advantage of a Bi-polar Voltage Source Converter (B-VSC) topology in the MTDC grid. The virtue of proposed control technique is emphasized by comparing it with the existing $ PV²F double droop control along with three case studies and two test systems. The validation of interaction less Duo control strategy is carried out on five terminal CIGRE DC grid benchmark model integrated into two area power system (AC-MTDC grid-1) and New England IEEE 39 bus system (AC-MTDC grid-2). These test systems are simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC software.

The Possibility of Enhanced Power Transfer in a Multi-Terminal Power System through Simultaneous AC–DC Power Transmission

The feasibility of power transfer enhancement, through simultaneous AC–DC power transmission in a two-terminal transmission network, has been proposed earlier by the authors, and the concept is well established. To meet the increase in demand for electricity, a new technique is proposed in this article to increase the use of existing transmission lines in addition to independent control of AC and DC power flow. This paper extends the concept to a three-terminal transmission network by considering a power tapping from the middle of the line. DC is also superimposed in the already existing three-terminal AC transmission system. In the proposed topology, a multi-terminal simultaneous AC–DC system is used, which is integrated with a zig-zag transformer and more than two voltage source converter (VSC) stations. Each terminal may represent an area of the power system. Anyone/two-terminal(s) may act as sending end, whereas the remaining two/one terminal(s) may act as receiving end. Power can flow in either direction through each segment of the transmission system. At sending end, VSC converts a part of AC to DC and injects it into the neutral of the zig-zag transformer. On receiving terminal, DC power is tapped from neutral of zig-zag transformer and fed to VSC for conversion back to AC. The concept is verified in the digital simulation software PSCAD/EMTDC.

Fuzzy Mathematics-Based Outer-Loop Control Method for Converter-Connected Distributed Generation and Storage Devices in Micro-Grids

The modern changes in electric systems present new issues for control strategies. When power converters and distributed energy resources are included in the micro-grid, its model is more complex than the simplified representations used, sometimes losing essential data. This paper proposes a unified fuzzy mathematics-based control method applied to the outer loop of a voltage source converter (VSC) in both grid-connected and islanded modes to avoid using simplified models in complex micro-grids and handle the uncertain and non-stationary behaviour of nonlinear systems. The proposed control method is straightforwardly designed without simplifying the controlled system. This paper explains the design of a fuzzy mathematics-based control method applied to the outer-loop of a VSC, a crucial device for integrating renewable sources and storage devices in a micro-grid. Simulation results validated the novel control strategy, demonstrating its capabilities for real field applications.

Simulation of PEM fuel cell integrated DVR using SRF-ANFIS controller for power quality enhancement

Voltage related Power Quality (PQ) problems are attracting the eyes of researchers, as these cause huge loss in productivity and profitability for both utilities and consumers. Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) is a well-known custom power device that provides an economical solution for the alleviation of power quality problems. Generally, battery energy storage is used as an input for DVR, but batteries are still bulky and costly and must be disposed once their chemicals are used, which limits the compensation capability of DVR. Nowadays, Fuel Cell (FC) technologies have attracted much attention owing to their high efficiencies and low emissions. This project aims to model and simulate Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and is used as a DC input source for DVR. The suitable boost converter is designed and modelled to lift up the fuel cell output voltage suitable as DC link voltage for DVR. Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) controller uses Synchronous Reference Frame Theory (SRF) algorithm to generate d and q axis components of reference signal for Voltage Source Converter (VSC) of DVR. This PEMFC DVR is verified for balanced and unbalanced voltage sag, swell, and harmonics using MATLAB/SIMULINK. A simulation result proves that this PEMFC DVR is capable of providing a technically advanced and economic solution for balanced and unbalanced voltage sag and swell. During compensation, the DVR DC input voltage is also preserved as constant, which enhances the compensation capability of DVR.

Heuristic remedial actions in the reliability assessment of high voltage direct current networks

<p>Planning of high voltage direct current (HVDC) grids requires inclusion of reliability assessment of alternatives under study. This paper proposes a methodology to evaluate the adequacy of voltage source converter/VSC-HVDC networks. The methodology analyses the performance of the system using N-1 and N-2 contingencies in order to detect weaknesses in the DC network and evaluates two types of remedial actions to keep the entire system under the acceptable operating limits. The remedial actions are applied when a violation of these limits on the DC system occurs; those include topology changes in the network and adjustments of power settings of VSC converter stations. The CIGRE B4 DC grid test system is used for evaluating the reliability/adequacy performance by means of the proposed methodology in this paper. The proposed remedial actions are effective for all contingencies; then, numerical results are as expected. This work is useful for planning and operation of grids based on VSC-HVDC technology.</p>