Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants
The massive penetration of renewable energy sources in electrical systems has been displacing synchronous generators (SGs) from conventional power plants in the last few years. Renewable generation plants are usually connected to power grids through electronic power converters, which cannot provide...
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| Format: | Article |
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IEEE
2021-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Access |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9424561/ |
| _version_ | 1818859606053486592 |
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| author | Jose Luis Rodriguez Amenedo Santiago Arnaltes Gomez Jaime Alonso-Martinez Marcial Gonzalez De Armas |
| author_facet | Jose Luis Rodriguez Amenedo Santiago Arnaltes Gomez Jaime Alonso-Martinez Marcial Gonzalez De Armas |
| author_sort | Jose Luis Rodriguez Amenedo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The massive penetration of renewable energy sources in electrical systems has been displacing synchronous generators (SGs) from conventional power plants in the last few years. Renewable generation plants are usually connected to power grids through electronic power converters, which cannot provide the same power generation services as SGs due to their mode of operation. Recently, different concepts have been proposed for electronic converter control in an attempt to emulate the performance of SGs, resulting in the so-called grid-forming converters (GFCs). This paper proposes a new GFC control strategy based on the reactive power synchronization (RPS) method, which decouples the synchronizing power and the active power control of renewable generation source to which a converter is connected. For this purpose, this study assesses three power sources: batteries, photovoltaic (PV) plants, and full-converter wind turbines. Moreover, the study proposes models and controls for each of these sources, whose dynamics exert a decisive influence on the grid services provided by renewable energy plants. Thereafter, the study proposes a GFC–RPS control scheme and verifies its effectiveness in different applications; for example, inertial response, which provides power immediately through a fast frequency response after a grid has experienced a load variation. Unlike storage systems and wind turbines, PV plants can only render these services if they are not operating at maximum power. Further, the study validates the GFC–RPS control strategy for regulating AC voltage at the output terminals of a converter. Finally, the paper assesses GFC hot swapping during the transition from a grid-connected to an isolated-operation mode while feeding a dynamic load. Results revealed that both the voltage and frequency remain stable, thereby demonstrating that the proposed GFC–RPS control indeed acts as a true voltage source and emulates the behavior of a conventional SG. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T09:14:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-667ec7e049934280b3e2bc8aecb97d03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T09:14:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Access |
| spelling | doaj.art-667ec7e049934280b3e2bc8aecb97d032022-12-21T20:28:07ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362021-01-019679896800710.1109/ACCESS.2021.30780789424561Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power PlantsJose Luis Rodriguez Amenedo0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0585-4596Santiago Arnaltes Gomez1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9226-2387Jaime Alonso-Martinez2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5729-3498Marcial Gonzalez De Armas3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6046-2405Department of Electrical Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, Leganés, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, Leganés, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, Leganés, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, Leganés, SpainThe massive penetration of renewable energy sources in electrical systems has been displacing synchronous generators (SGs) from conventional power plants in the last few years. Renewable generation plants are usually connected to power grids through electronic power converters, which cannot provide the same power generation services as SGs due to their mode of operation. Recently, different concepts have been proposed for electronic converter control in an attempt to emulate the performance of SGs, resulting in the so-called grid-forming converters (GFCs). This paper proposes a new GFC control strategy based on the reactive power synchronization (RPS) method, which decouples the synchronizing power and the active power control of renewable generation source to which a converter is connected. For this purpose, this study assesses three power sources: batteries, photovoltaic (PV) plants, and full-converter wind turbines. Moreover, the study proposes models and controls for each of these sources, whose dynamics exert a decisive influence on the grid services provided by renewable energy plants. Thereafter, the study proposes a GFC–RPS control scheme and verifies its effectiveness in different applications; for example, inertial response, which provides power immediately through a fast frequency response after a grid has experienced a load variation. Unlike storage systems and wind turbines, PV plants can only render these services if they are not operating at maximum power. Further, the study validates the GFC–RPS control strategy for regulating AC voltage at the output terminals of a converter. Finally, the paper assesses GFC hot swapping during the transition from a grid-connected to an isolated-operation mode while feeding a dynamic load. Results revealed that both the voltage and frequency remain stable, thereby demonstrating that the proposed GFC–RPS control indeed acts as a true voltage source and emulates the behavior of a conventional SG.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9424561/Grid-forming power converterrenewable energy sourcesreactive power synchronizationfast frequency responseconverter hot swapping |
| spellingShingle | Jose Luis Rodriguez Amenedo Santiago Arnaltes Gomez Jaime Alonso-Martinez Marcial Gonzalez De Armas Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants IEEE Access Grid-forming power converter renewable energy sources reactive power synchronization fast frequency response converter hot swapping |
| title | Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants |
| title_full | Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants |
| title_fullStr | Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants |
| title_short | Grid-Forming Converters Control Based on the Reactive Power Synchronization Method for Renewable Power Plants |
| title_sort | grid forming converters control based on the reactive power synchronization method for renewable power plants |
| topic | Grid-forming power converter renewable energy sources reactive power synchronization fast frequency response converter hot swapping |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9424561/ |
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