Sanjay K. Chaudhary

Negative Sequence Current Control in Wind Power Plants With VSC-HVDC Connection

Large offshore wind power plants may have multi-MW wind turbine generators (WTG) equipped with full-scale converters (FSC) and voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission for grid connection. The power electronic converters in the WTG-FSC and the VSC-HVDC allow fast current control in the offshore grid. This paper presents a method of controlling the negative sequence current injection into the offshore grid from the VSC-HVDC as well as WTG-FSCs. This would minimize the power oscillations and hence reduce the dc voltage overshoots in the VSC-HVDC system as well as in the WTG-FSCs; especially when the offshore grid is unbalanced due to asymmetric faults. The formulation for negative sequence current injection is mathematically derived and then implemented in electromagnetic transients (EMT) simulation model. The simulated results show that the negative sequence current control mitigates the power oscillations and therefore limits the dc voltage excursions in the VSC-HVDC system during the asymmetric faults.

Chopper controlled resistors in VSC-HVDC transmission for WPP with full-scale converters

Large and distant offshore wind power plants can be efficiently connected to the onshore power grid network using VSC-HVDC (Voltage Source Converter based HVDC) transmission. Chopper controlled resistors can be used to limit the DC line over-voltage when there is a fault on the onshore AC grid and power transfer to the grid is obstructed. Considering the development of full scale converter based wind turbine generators (WTG), use of unit rated chopper controlled resistors for each of the full scale AC-DC-AC converter system of the individual turbines has been proposed in place of the one on the HVDC line side. Both the cases have been simulated and their performances are found to be similar. Thus, it justifies that the chopper resistors in the full scale converters are sufficient to handle the low voltage fault ride through (LVRT) conditions.

Wind Farm Grid Integration Using VSC Based HVDC Transmission - An Overview

The paper gives an overview of HVAC and HVDC connection of wind farm to the grid, with an emphasis on voltage source converter (VSC)-based HVDC for large wind farms requiring long distance cable connection. Flexible control capabilities of a VSC-based HVDC system enables smooth integration of wind farm into the power grid network while meeting the grid code requirements (GCR). Operation of a wind farm with VSC-based HVDC connection is described.

Sizing of an Energy Storage System for Grid Inertial Response and Primary Frequency Reserve

Large-scale integration of renewable energy sources in power system leads to the replacement of conventional power plants (CPPs) and consequently challenges in power system reliability and security are introduced. This study is focused on improving the grid frequency response after a contingency event in the power system with a high penetration of wind power. An energy storage system (ESS) might be a viable solution for providing inertial response and primary frequency regulation. A methodology has been presented here for the sizing of the ESS in terms of required power and energy. It describes the contribution of the ESS to the grid, in terms of inertial constant and droop. The methodology is applied to a 12-bus grid model with high wind power penetration. The estimated ESS size for inertial response and primary frequency regulation services are validated through real-time simulations. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the ESS can provide the response similar to that provided by the CPPs.

Power flow analysis for DC voltage droop controlled DC microgrids

This paper proposes a new algorithm for power flow analysis in droop controlled DC microgrids. By considering the droop control in the power flow analysis for the DC microgrid, when compared with traditional methods, more accurate analysis results can be obtained. The algorithm verification is carried out by comparing the calculation results with detailed time domain simulation results. With the droop parameters as variables in the power flow analysis, their effects on power sharing and secondary voltage regulation can now be analytically studied, and specialized optimization in the upper level control can also be made accordingly. Case studies on power sharing and secondary voltage regulation are carried out using proposed power flow analysis.

Power Flow Analysis for Low-Voltage AC and DC Microgrids Considering Droop Control and Virtual Impedance

In the low-voltage (LV) ac microgrids (MGs), with a relatively high R/X ratio, virtual impedance is usually adopted to improve the performance of droop control applied to distributed generators (DGs). At the same time, LV dc MG using virtual impedance as droop control is emerging without adequate power flow studies. In this paper, power flow analyses for both ac and dc MGs are formulated and implemented. The mathematical models for both types of MGs considering the concept of virtual impedance are used to be in conformity with the practical control of the DGs. As a result, calculation accuracy is improved for both ac and dc MG power flow analyses, comparing with previous methods without considering virtual impedance. Case studies are conducted to verify the proposed power flow analyses in terms of convergence and accuracy. Investigation of the impact to the system of internal control parameters adopted by DGs is also conducted by using proposed method.

Power flow analysis for droop controlled LV hybrid AC-DC microgrids with virtual impedance

The AC-DC hybrid microgrid is an effective form of utilizing different energy resources and the analysis of this system requires a proper power flow algorithm. This paper proposes a suitable power flow algorithm for LV hybrid AC-DC microgrid based on droop control and virtual impedance. Droop and virtual impedance concepts for AC network, DC network and interlinking converter are reviewed so as to model it in the power flow analysis. The validation of the algorithm is verified by comparing it with steady state results from detailed time domain simulation. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm makes it a potential method for planning, dispatching and operation of droop controlled LV hybrid AC-DC.

Economic Dispatch for Operating Cost Minimization Under Real-Time Pricing in Droop-Controlled DC Microgrid

In this paper, an economic dispatch problem for total operation cost minimization in dc microgrids is formulated. An operating cost is associated with each generator in the microgrid, including the utility grid, combining the cost-efficiency of the system with demand response requirements of the utility. The power flow model is included in the optimization problem, thus the transmission losses can be considered for generation dispatch. By considering the primary (local) control of the grid-forming converters of a microgrid, optimal parameters can be directly applied to this control level, thus achieving higher control accuracy and faster response. The optimization problem is solved in a heuristic method. In order to test the proposed algorithm, a six-bus droop-controlled dc microgrid is used in the case studies. Simulation results show that under variable renewable energy generation, load consumption, and electricity prices, the proposed method can successfully reduce the operating cost by dispatching economically the resources in the microgrid.

Control and operation of wind turbine converters during faults in an offshore wind power plant grid with VSC-HVDC connection

Voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage dc (HVDC) transmission is an attractive technique for large offshore wind power plants, especially when long cable transmission is required for connection to the onshore grid. New multi-MW wind turbines are likely to be equipped with full scale converters to meet the stringent grid code requirements. In such a scenario, the offshore grid is terminated to the power electronic converters on all the ends. This paper presents a control scheme for the synchronization and control of the grid side converters (GSC) of the wind turbine generators (WTG). Current limit control enables the GSC to sustain the fault currents during short circuits in the offshore wind collector system grid. However, power transmission is affected, and the fault has to be isolated. It can be resynchronized after the fault has been cleared and the breaker reclosed. Healthy WTG converters can remain connected. The scheme is demonstrated through PSCAD/EMTDC simulation.

Harmonic resonances in Wind Power Plants: Modeling, analysis and active mitigation methods

This work reviews the state-of-the-art in the field of harmonic resonance problems in Wind Power Plants (WPPs). Firstly, a generic WPP is modeled according to the equivalent circuits of its passive and active components. Main focus is put on modeling active components, i.e. the ones based on power converters. Subsequently, pros and cons of frequency and time domain analysis methods are outlined. The next sections are devoted to mitigation methods implemented in the power electronics converters. From the wind turbine perspective, different techniques to enhance the robustness of the controller are analyzed. Subsequently, the suitability for active damping of harmonics using STATCOM devices is assessed, with focus both on control techniques and power converter technologies.