Improving Stability of Low-Inertia Systems using Virtual Induction Machine Synchronization for Grid-Following Converters

Abstract

This paper presents a novel strategy for synchronization of grid-connected Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) in power systems with low rotational inertia. The proposed model 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. A detailed mathematical model of an induction machine is derived, which includes the possibility of obtaining the unknown grid frequency by processing the voltage and current measurements at the converter output. This eliminates the need for the phase-locked loop unit, traditionally employed in grid-following VSC control schemes, while simultaneously preserving the applied system-level and device-level control. Furthermore, the appropriate steps for obtaining an index-1 DAE representation of the induction-machine-based synchronization unit within the VSC control scheme are provided. The EMT simulations validate the mathematical principles of the proposed model, whereas a small-signal analysis provides guidelines for appropriate control tuning and reveals interesting properties pertaining to the nature of the underlying operation mode.