In this paper we are interested in the problem of adaptive synchronization of a voltage source converter with a possibly weak grid with unknown angle and frequency, but knowledge of its parameters. To guarantee a suitable synchronization with the angle of the three-phase grid voltage we design an adaptive observer for such a signal requiring measurements only at the point of common coupling. Then we propose two alternative certainty-equivalent, adaptive phase-locked loops that ensure the angle estimation error goes to zero for almost all initial conditions. Although well-known, for the sake of completeness, we also present a PI controller with feedforward action that ensures the converter currents converge to an arbitrary desired value. Relevance of the theoretical results and their robustness to variation of the grid parameters are thoroughly discussed and validated in the challenging scenario of a converter connected to a grid with low short-circuit-ratio.
Synchronization instability of grid-tied converters during grid faults is a serious concern. For phase-locked loop (PLL) synchronized converters, synchronization stability during grid faults requires that PLL can resynchronize with the power grid. It is of great significance for meeting grid code specifications such as reactive current support. However, the synchronization in the context of high-impedance weak grid is not always readily achieved. On one hand, the terminal voltage of converters is changeable due to being susceptible to the output current. One the other hand, there is interactio…
This paper presents a novel strategy for the synchronization of grid-following Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) in power systems with low rotational inertia. The proposed synchronization unit is based on emulating the physical properties of an induction machine and capitalizes on its inherent grid-friendly properties such as self-synchronization, oscillation damping, and standalone capabilities. To this end, the mathematical model of an induction machine is analyzed and reformulated to obtain the unknown grid frequency by processing the voltage and current measurements at the converter output.…
We consider a grid-connected voltage source converter (VSC) and address the problem of estimating the grid angle and frequency, information that is essential for an appropriate operation of the converter. We design phase-locked loop (PLL) algorithms with guaranteed stability properties, under the assumption that the grid is characterized by relatively high short-circuit-ratio (SCR) and inertia. In particular we derive, using passivity arguments, generalization of the conventional synchronous reference frame (SRF) and arctangent (ATAN) PLL, which are the standard solutions in power applications…
This paper proposes a novel strategy for the current injection based control for distributed energy resources connected to weak grids through a voltage source converter experiencing faults. The current injection controller is no longer synchronized with the point of common coupling at which the measured voltage signal can be severely affected by faults in the weak grid, but with the strong grid point at which the voltage is rigid. It is shown that the phase difference between the voltage source converter and the strong grid voltages caused by the long power lines does not affect the power cont…
Revisiting Voltage and Synchronization Stability Analysis in Grid-Following Converter-Integrated Weak Grids: Insights from Non-Minimum-Phase Zeros
Electric Power Research Institute, China Southern Power Grid（中国南方电网电力科学研究院）；College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University（浙江大学电气工程学院）；ABB Power Systems（ABB电力系统）
A unified virtual oscillator controller (uVOC) is proposed, which enables a unified analysis, design, and implementation framework for both grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) voltage source converters (VSCs). Oscillator based GFM controllers, such as dispatchable virtual oscillator control (dVOC), offer rigorous analytical framework with enhanced synchronization, but lack effective fault handling capability which severely limits practical application. The proposed uVOC facilitates synchronization with an arbitrarily low grid voltage and fast over-current limiting; this enables effecti…
Synchronization is an essential element in three-phase ac electric power systems. The large-scale integration of converter-interfaced resources leads to the power grid transformation from voltage-source-dominated to voltage-current-source-composite, which also raises new challenges to model and analyze the system synchronization. In this article, we present the intrinsic analogy of a power system to a communication system, which is here called power-communication isomorphism. Based on this isomorphism, we revisit power system synchronization stability from a communication perspective and there…
The modern power grid features the high penetration of power converters, which widely employ a phase-locked loop (PLL) for grid synchronization. However, it has been pointed out that PLL can give rise to small-signal instabilities under weak grid conditions. This problem can be potentially resolved by operating the converters in grid-forming mode, namely, without using a PLL. Nonetheless, it has not been theoretically revealed how the placement of grid-forming converters enhances the small-signal stability of power systems integrated with large-scale PLL-based converters. This paper aims at fi…
In this work, we investigate grid-forming control for power systems containing three-phase and single-phase converters connected to unbalanced distribution and transmission networks, investigate self-balancing between single-phase converters, and propose a novel balancing feedback for grid-forming control that explicitly allows to trade-off unbalances in voltage and power. We develop a quasi-steady-state power network model that allows to analyze the interactions between three-phase and single-phase power converters across transmission, distribution, and standard transformer interconnections. …
The renewable energy is connected to the power grid through power electronic converters, which are lack of make the inertia of synchronous generator/machine (SM) be lost. The increasing penetration of renewable energy in power system weakens the frequency and voltage stability. The Grid-Forming Converters (GFCs) simulate the function of synchronous motor through control method in order to improve the stability of power grid by providing inertia and stability regulation mechanism. This kind of converter control methods include virtual synchronous machine, schedulable virtual oscillator control …
The grid-forming converter is an important unit in the future power system with more inverter-interfaced generators. However, improving its performance is still a key challenge. This paper proposes a generalized architecture of the grid-forming converter from the view of multivariable feedback control. As a result, many of the existing popular control strategies, i.e., droop control, power synchronization control, virtual synchronous generator control, matching control, dispatchable virtual oscillator control, and their improved forms are unified into a multivariable feedback control transfer …
Grid-synchronization stability (GSS) is an emerging stability issue of grid-tied voltage source converters (VSCs), which can be provoked by severe grid voltage sags. Although a qualitative understanding of the mechanism behind the loss of synchronization has been acquired in recent studies, an analytical method for quantitative assessment of GSS of grid-tied VSCs is still missing. To bridge this gap, a dedicated Lyapunov function is analytically proposed, and its corresponding stability criterion for GSS analysis of grid-tied VSCs is rigorously constructed. Both theoretical analysis and simula…
A Data-Driven Optimal Control Architecture for Grid-Connected Power Converters
College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University（浙江大学电气工程学院）；Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University（清华大学电机工程系）；Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)（加泰罗尼亚理工大学）；Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at ETH Zürich（苏黎世联邦理工学院信息与电气工程系）
Disturbance-Observer-Based Grid-Forming Control for Unbalanced Grids
Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering（阿尔托大学电气工程学院）；ABB Oy Drives（ABB驱动器公司）；ABB Corporate Research（ABB企业研究院）；Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LIS（艾克斯-马赛大学、法国国家科学研究中心、LIS实验室）
The grid-following and grid-forming controls in voltage-source converters are considered as different operation modes and the synchronization mechanism of them are studied separately. In this article, the intrinsic relationships between gridfollowing and grid-forming controlled converters are established as follows: 1) the proportional gain of PLL is in inverse proportion to damping; 2) the integral gain of PLL is similar to integral droop; 3) PLL has no practical inertia but acts like grid-forming control in zero inertia cases. Further, a general stability-enhanced method combining damping an…
