Issue
Sci. Tech. Energ. Transition
Volume 79, 2024
Emerging Advances in Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems and Integration
Article Number 75
Number of page(s) 8
DOI https://doi.org/10.2516/stet/2024081
Published online 02 October 2024

© The Author(s), published by EDP Sciences, 2024

Licence Creative CommonsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1 Introduction

The advent of novel energy technologies and escalating electricity demands have spurred the use of standalone microgrids in regions devoid of main grid connectivity, including high plateaus, sea islands, and isolated rural locales. The concept of the virtual synchronous generator (VSG), pioneered by Italian researchers [1], has gained widespread adoption for frequency regulation in these microgrids. Distinct from traditional control methodologies, the VSG offers enhanced inertia support and superior transient response capabilities [2], effectively addressing the challenges of absent or low inertia in independent microgrids [3]. Typically, the VSG’s regulation of virtual inertia and damping coefficient is based on a synthesis of automatic control theory with empirical knowledge [4]. However, the prevalent fixed-parameter approach of VSG operation has shown limitations in adaptability to varying loads, resulting in constrained frequency regulation capacity and reduced control flexibility.

In contrast to the fixed parameters of conventional synchronous generators [5], the VSG’s inertia and damping coefficients can be dynamically adjusted to suit specific operational contexts [6]. Recent advancements include an automated virtual inertia regulation method based on real-time power input signals and system frequency deviations [7], significantly enhancing frequency response speed and providing increased inertia for improved frequency stability during power and frequency disturbances [8]. An advanced VSG model incorporating an enhanced torque governor with angular frequency inertia has been developed [9], effectively diminishing the rate of frequency variation. Additionally, an adaptive approach that concurrently considers the damping coefficient and virtual inertia have been proposed [10], augmenting dynamic frequency response and mitigating the extent of frequency reductions. A novel adaptive inertia strategy, which utilizes the benefits of both high and low inertia, has been introduced [11], facilitating a rapid frequency recovery and enhancing the microgrid’s resilience to disturbances. However, challenges remain, as evidenced by the impact of virtual impedance on bus voltage stability [12], and the intricacies of balancing rotational inertia with virtual impedance for frequency stability. In response, a hybrid control method combining adaptive inertia and damping, integrated with interleaving control techniques, has been proposed to further refine frequency stability.

To improve the stability and adaptability of VSG control, substantial research has been dedicated to utilizing virtual inertia to decelerate frequency variation rates and expedite the return to steady-state conditions [13]. However, these methods often overlook the adjustable spectrum of system inertia and the consequential effects arising from the interplay between virtual inertia and damping coefficient. Furthermore, the majority of adaptive control strategies for VSG parameters, which feature adaptive regulation, are predominantly tailored for grid-connected microgrids, with scant attention to standalone microgrids. In light of these challenges, we introduce a novel adaptive VSG control approach, characterized by the synergistic and adaptive regulation of both virtual inertia and damping coefficient (termed synergetic adaptive VSG control).

2 Analysis of the VSG control mechanism

The VSG plays a pivotal role in stabilizing the frequency of microgrids by emulating the external characteristics of conventional synchronous generators [14]. In comparison to droop control [15] and voltage-frequency (VF) control [16], VSG control is distinguished by its incorporation of virtual inertia response and damping effect, attributes that significantly contribute to the enhanced transient stability of microgrids [17].

The VSG’s unique advantages stem from its integration of virtual inertia and damping coefficient, providing both inertia support and damping effects during transient phases [18]. the active power can be decomposed into components generated by virtual inertia, ∆PJ, and those by the damping coefficient, ∆P D . Consequently, the equations can be derived:(1) (2) (3)

where ∆P G  = P ref P signifies the inverter’s output active power, w n is the rated angular velocity, ∆f = (ww 0 )/2π is the frequency difference, and f is the inverter’s transient frequency.

During transient load disturbances, ∆P G remains constant and Δf is typically minimal. Consequently, equation (4) can be inferred from (1). In this transient state, the role of virtual inertia becomes paramount in controlling the rate of frequency variation. An increase in virtual inertia correlates with a reduced rate of frequency variation.(4)

As the rate of frequency change accelerates, the frequency difference (Δf) increases, which leads to a corresponding decrease in the frequency variation rate. When Δf reaches a substantial value or stabilizes at a new steady state, the frequency variation rate nears zero, as outlined in equation (5). In this state, the damping coefficient assumes a dominant role in determining the magnitude of Δf. Consequently, an increased damping coefficient results in a reduced Δf. Utilizing this characteristic, Δf can be effectively controlled within a predetermined range through the adaptive adjustment of the inverter’s damping coefficient.(5)

The interplay between virtual inertia and damping coefficient is crucial in shaping the system’s frequency response during power disturbances, with each alternately assuming prominence. This dynamic indicates an inherent coupling relationship between the two, akin to the function of a proportional-derivative (PD) controller, where J and D correlate to the proportional and derivative gains, respectively.

To enhance the understanding of the VSG operation and its impact on the stability of the microgrid [19], the small-signal analysis illustrates that as J increases, the pole gravitates towards the imaginary axis, paradoxically leading to heightened system instability. This outcome is contrary to the initial objective of augmenting virtual inertia to enhance the system’s inertia support. Conversely, an increase in D enhances the damping effect, propelling the pole further from the imaginary axis, and thereby bolstering system stability. However, a higher D also leads to an increased steady-state error, necessitating adaptive control of D to maintain acceptable power quality. The insights from this characteristic analysis underpin the development of a VSG control methodology that adaptively regulates virtual inertia and damping coefficient, based on their operational mechanisms and their interrelated dynamics [20].

Building upon this small-signal analysis, it is imperative to ascertain the relationship between J and D and their optimal value ranges in accordance with the system’s actual parameter regulation capabilities. This involves utilizing the second-order transfer function G(s) of the active power circuit, derived from the small-signal analysis, to investigate system dynamic-performance metrics, specifically the angular frequency of natural vibration (w z ) and the damping ratio (ε). The analysis revealed that while virtual inertia predominantly influences w z , both virtual inertia and damping coefficient concurrently affect ε. The relationships between these parameters are encapsulated in the following equations:(6) (7)

The configuration of J typically draws inspiration from conventional synchronous generators, with the angular frequency of natural vibration (w z ) set within the range of 0.628–15.700. This allows for the determination of the optimal value range for J, denoted as [J min , J max ]. In alignment with principles of automatic control theory, the damping ratio (ε) is set to 0.707, recognized as the optimal damping ratio for a second-order system. Consequently, the desired value range for the damping coefficient (D), [D min , D max ], is computed using equation (7).

These defined value ranges for virtual inertia and damping coefficient serve as constraints in the synergetic adaptive VSG control method, providing theoretical benchmarks for setting VSG control parameters. Additionally, under circumstances where system frequency deviation reaches its upper threshold, an alternate mode is employed to regulate the damping coefficient. In this mode, the damping coefficient operates independently of the virtual inertia and is permitted to surpass its predefined limits, thereby optimizing frequency stability.

3 Synergetic adaptive VSG control method

The small-signal analysis of the VSG underscores the significant impact of virtual inertia on the transient frequency response. Accordingly, the adaptive control of parameters is based on the following core principle: an increase in virtual inertia is employed to curb frequency variations and slow down their rate when the frequency deviates from the rated value. Conversely, during the frequency recovery phase, virtual inertia is reduced to accelerate the frequency variation rate and hasten the frequency normalization process. This principle guides the adaptive regulation of virtual inertia, which is articulated as follows:(8)

where J represents the virtual inertia of the inverter, k J is the gain coefficient, f is the transient frequency, f n is the rated frequency, and s is the complex frequency domain differential operator. It is also crucial to set the virtual inertia to its maximum during significant load fluctuations. The gain coefficient k J is thus determined using the subsequent equation:(9)

where ∆f max represents the maximum frequency deviation.

The damping coefficient in VSG control functions analogously to the primary first-order frequency regulation observed in conventional synchronous generators [21]. It is instrumental in determining the extent of frequency adjustment required for reestablishing the steady state following load variations. For standalone microgrids, it is crucial that the maximum frequency fluctuation ∆f max remains below a predetermined threshold. In this study, f max is set at 0.3 Hz, in accordance with the GJB 235B-2020 specifications applicable to Class III electrical stations.

Consequently, during typical operations of a standalone microgrid, ∆f is expected to be less than ∆f max . If ∆f surpasses this pre-established range, the adaptive regulation of the damping coefficient (D) can be determined by incorporating the maximum load variation ∆PG and the maximum frequency deviation ∆f max into equation (5). When ∆f remains within the predefined range, the interplay between the damping coefficient and virtual inertia must adhere to equation (7), reflecting their coupling relationship. The following constraints are thus applicable to the damping coefficient in the complex frequency domain:(10)

where f i  = f min when f < 50 Hz, and f i  = f max otherwise. K D is set to 0 when ∆f < ∆f max , and to 1 otherwise. K i represents the damping integral coefficient.

To maintain frequency fluctuations within the specified limits during substantial load changes, the following equation is derived, based on the final value theorem:(11)

When the frequency deviation remains below the predetermined maximum fluctuation, the proposed method adeptly regulates virtual inertia and damping coefficients within their respective optimal ranges. This synergetic adaptive control is meticulously attuned to frequency fluctuations, effectively decelerating frequency deviation during system disturbances and facilitating rapid frequency stabilization post-disturbance. In scenarios where the frequency deviation surpasses the specified maximum, a specialized control mode for the damping coefficient is activated, designed to curtail further frequency divergence.

4 Experimental validation

The novel VSG control strategy introduced here distinctively manages both the rate and magnitude of frequency variation by utilizing the flexible adjustability of virtual inertia and damping coefficient. Employing equations (6) and (7), the calculated desirable ranges for virtual inertia and damping coefficient were determined to be 0.0062–3.869 and 0.135–84.15, respectively. The resistor is 0.05 Ω, filter inductor is 2 mH, filter capacitor is 0.01 mF.

4.1 Experimental validation with resistive load

To assess the efficacy of the proposed VSG control method under resistive load conditions, the maximum frequency deviation was set to 0.8 Hz. In this simulation scenario, the inverter power command was established at 40 kW, with the system initially bearing a 40 kW resistive load. A comparative analysis was then conducted by introducing an additional 50 kW power load. For this comparative study, the VSG control with constant parameters was employed. Set the fixed virtual inertia J1 to 0.62 kg·m2 and the fixed damping coefficient D1 to 16.88 N·s/m.

Figure 1(a) shows a notable short-term overshoot of 11.2 kW in P1 at the moment of increasing the load by 50 kW. In contrast, Figure 1(b) shows that P2 experienced no overshoot, which corroborates the effectiveness of adaptive control in preventing instantaneous power overloads.

thumbnail Figure 1

Comparative power fluctuation graphs with 50 kW load variation under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

Figures 2 and 3 depict the frequency response during the process of load increase and decrease. For f 1 , the frequency took 1.8 s to decrease from 50 Hz to 35.4 Hz and subsequently 1.6 s to return to 50 Hz. Concurrently, f 2 exhibited an increase in virtual inertia to 3.869 kg·m2 following the load increase, before reverting to its initial value. The damping coefficient (D) rose to 44.6 N·s/m and then stabilized at 31.6 N·s/m, effectively decelerating the rate of decrease in f 2 . It took 5.7 s for the frequency to drop from 50 Hz to 49.2 Hz, after which it maintained stability. Upon load reduction, the damping coefficient reverted to its initial value, leading to an accelerated recovery of f 2 in 0.75 s.

thumbnail Figure 2

Comparative frequency fluctuation graphs with 50 kW load variation under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

thumbnail Figure 3

Fluctuation graphs of virtual inertia and damping coefficient during 50 kW power variation. (a) Virtual inertia (J) fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient (D) fluctuation.

4.2 Experimental validation with motor load

To evaluate the proposed method’s performance under motor load conditions, was set to 0.2 Hz. The inverter power command was fixed at 40 kW with an initial 40 kW load. A comparative analysis was performed involving the simultaneous application of a 1 kW resistive load and the initiation of a 3 kW motor under no load, followed by a 3 kW increase in motor power. Specific parameters are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1

Parameter setting for simulating the system subjected to electric motor loads.

P Dref is the rated power of the electric motor load, P 1 to the load on the electric motor at startup, and P 2 to the additional load applied. J M denotes the rotational inertia of the electric motor.

Observations from Figure 4 through Figure 6 indicate that at the instance of the motor’s no-load start, P1 experienced a change of 87 kW, causing f 1 to initially drop to 49.05 Hz before recovering to 49.75 Hz. P2 underwent a change of 66.7 kW, with f 2 decreasing to 49.9 Hz. This result demonstrates the proposed method’s capability in effectively mitigating issues related to motor start-up overload and rapid frequency drops, highlighting its robustness and adaptability under varying load conditions, including those involving motor startups.

thumbnail Figure 4

Comparative power waveform graphs with motor load under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

thumbnail Figure 5

Frequency waveform graphs of inverter with motor load under different VSG control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

thumbnail Figure 6

Fluctuation graphs of virtual inertia and damping coefficient during inverter operation with motor load. (a) Virtual inertia fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient fluctuation.

Upon introducing an additional 3 kW load to the motor, the frequency response f 1 decreased over a span of 2.4 s from 49.75 Hz to 48.9 Hz and subsequently took 2 s to recover back to 50 Hz. In the case of f 2 , following the load increase, the virtual inertia (J) escalated to 0.85 kg·m2 before returning to its baseline value. Concurrently, the damping coefficient (D) increased to 19.3 N·s/m and then stabilized at 9 N·s/m, effectively slowing down the rate at which f 2 decreased. The frequency required 6 s to diminish from 49.9 Hz to 49.8 Hz and subsequently maintained stability. When the load was decreased, D reverted to its initial value, enabling f 2 to accelerate its recovery within 2 s. These experimental outcomes are detailed in Table 2.

Table 2

Experimental conclusions with motor load for two control methods.

4.3 Experimental validation with pulsating load

To evaluate the method’s performance under pulsating load conditions, was set to 0.4 Hz. The inverter’s power command was established at 40 kW, with an initial 40 kW load. A comparative analysis was undertaken by applying a pulsating load with a peak power of 20 kW and employing constant-parameter VSG control. The specific parameters for this setup are provided in Tables 1 and 3. T is the pulse period, and T 0 is the pulse width.

Table 3

Parameter setting for simulations of a system subjected to a pulse load.

Figure 7 demonstrates that both control method did not significantly impact power. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate that after introducing the pulsating load, f 1 required 2.5 s to decrease from 50 Hz to 39.44 Hz and an equal duration to return to 50 Hz.

thumbnail Figure 7

Power waveform graphs of inverter with pulsating load under different control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

thumbnail Figure 8

Frequency waveform graphs of inverter with pulsating load under different control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

thumbnail Figure 9

Fluctuation graphs during inverter operation with the pulsating load. (a) Virtual inertia fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient fluctuation.

After the load increase, J rose to 3.88 kg·m2 before diminishing to its original value. Simultaneously, D increased to 40.85 N·s/m and eventually reached its threshold. As the power pulsated, f 2 stabilized at 49.6 Hz. During this period, the rate of decrease in f 2 was moderated. It took 1 s for the frequency to drop from 50 Hz to 49.6 Hz, after which it sustained stability. With the load reduction, D reverted to its initial value, facilitating a quicker recovery for f 2 within 2 s.

5 Conclusion

The traditional VSG control methodologies have shown limitations in fully utilizing the flexible adjustment of virtual inertia and damping coefficient for enhancing frequency control capabilities in standalone microgrid systems. It is easy to cause stability problems caused by improper setting of virtual inertia and damping coefficient. To address this limitation, we developed a novel VSG control approach that features synergetic adaptive regulation of virtual inertia and damping. This method meticulously considered the intrinsic coupling relationship between frequency difference, frequency variation rate, virtual inertia, and damping coefficient, in addition to the magnitude of power variations. By strategically optimizing the settings of virtual inertia and damping coefficient, our proposed technique effectively managed both temporal and spatial frequency variations within predefined ranges under diverse load conditions, thereby substantially improving the operational stability of standalone microgrids. The significance of this method was particularly pronounced in remote or border areas, where varied loads such as radars and motors were prevalent. The versatility of our approach lies in its ability to effectively mitigate frequency deviations, expedite frequency recovery, and constrain frequency differences. Consequently, this method presents a robust solution to the challenges of frequency stability in standalone microgrid systems, ensuring consistent and reliable power delivery across a spectrum of operational scenarios. This advancement marks a significant stride in microgrid technology, offering a more dynamic and responsive control mechanism that caters to the evolving demands of modern electrical systems. However, this method only adjusts the two parameter values from the perspective of the source side response. If the variable inertia requirements of the system can be combined, the VSG performance can be further developed and the reliability can be improved.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The participants of this study did not give written consent for their data to be shared publicly, so due to the sensitive nature of the research supporting data is not available.

References

All Tables

Table 1

Parameter setting for simulating the system subjected to electric motor loads.

Table 2

Experimental conclusions with motor load for two control methods.

Table 3

Parameter setting for simulations of a system subjected to a pulse load.

All Figures

thumbnail Figure 1

Comparative power fluctuation graphs with 50 kW load variation under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 2

Comparative frequency fluctuation graphs with 50 kW load variation under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 3

Fluctuation graphs of virtual inertia and damping coefficient during 50 kW power variation. (a) Virtual inertia (J) fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient (D) fluctuation.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 4

Comparative power waveform graphs with motor load under different VSG controls. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 5

Frequency waveform graphs of inverter with motor load under different VSG control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 6

Fluctuation graphs of virtual inertia and damping coefficient during inverter operation with motor load. (a) Virtual inertia fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient fluctuation.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 7

Power waveform graphs of inverter with pulsating load under different control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 8

Frequency waveform graphs of inverter with pulsating load under different control methods. (a) Constant-parameter VSG control. (b) Adaptive VSG control.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 9

Fluctuation graphs during inverter operation with the pulsating load. (a) Virtual inertia fluctuation. (b) Damping coefficient fluctuation.

In the text

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