The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) was proposed to emulate a synchronous machine's dynamics when integrating power electronic converter-based distributed energy resources to the power grid. However, the VSG's synchronization stability during grid faults is not fully explored. The underlying mechanism of loss of synchronization (LOS) still needs to be further revealed due to VSG's nonlinear characteristics. In this paper, a step-by-step analytical method based on combining the linear and nonlinear models is proposed to analyze VSG's dynamic behaviors during a large disturbance. The relationship between the linear and nonlinear models is first brought to light, showing that the linear model is suitable for qualitative analysis to give an intuitive physical insight. Simultaneously, the latter is adopted for quantitative analysis to assess stability after a grid fault. Moreover, to avoid the conflict of the synchronization stability and the inertia response, a transient damping method is added in the active power control loop, which can simultaneously improve the synchronization stability and frequency stability. Design guidelines are also proposed to identify the parameter of the transient damping with different inertia requirements. Finally, the experimental results verify the analytical method and the theoretical analysis.

The synchronization stability of the virtual synchronous generator (VSG) under grid fault is an important issue for maintaining stable operation in the power system. Existing work has pointed out a low-pass filter (LPF) with a sufficiently low cutoff frequency in the reactive power control loop (RPCL) can improve the transient stability. Yet, the underlying mechanism was unknown. Moreover, as a key index of VSG and precondition of synchronization stability, the frequency response is rarely studied. In this article, based on the linearized model for qualitative analysis, combined with the nonlinear model for quantitative analysis, the underlying mechanism of improving synchronization stability using an LPF in the RPCL is revealed. Furthermore, to avoid increasing the system order and solve the conflict between transient stability and frequency response, an improved synchronization stability method is proposed by feedforwarding the frequency difference between the VSG and grid to the RPCL. The frequency response is also acquired based on the combined linearized and nonlinear model, which shows that the frequency feedforward method can further enhance the frequency stability. How to design the coefficient of the frequency feedforward path with different inertia requirements is also presented. Finally, this method is verified by experimental results.

T he virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control of a grid-connected converter is an attractive interfacing solution for high-penetration renewable generation systems. Unfortunately, the synchronous resonance can appear due to the power control loops, which are usually damped by adopting a virtual resistance (VR). However, the effects of VR on the transient stability of the VSG are rarely studied. In this article, a virtual point of common coupling and a virtual power angle concept are proposed to represent the mathematical model of the VSG with VR damping. Based on the model, the transient stability is further analyzed using the phase portrait and the attraction regions of the nonlinear system. It reveals that the VR has negative and different impacts on the transient stability compared with the real grid resistor. In order to keep the VSG with VR to work normally during the grid voltage sag, an enhanced transient stability method, by reducing the active power commands when the grid fault is detected, is introduced. A design-oriented analysis and the parameter design with different VRs are also presented. Finally, the theoretical analysis is verified by the experimental results.

Conventional vector current control scheme has been widely used in grid-connected inverter systems. However, it suffers from severe power limitation issues under weak grids. This article reveals that the coupling effect between the power delivery and the voltage at the point of common coupling causes the static power limit, which only depends on physical parameters of the system. When the stability of the control scheme is considered, negative resistance characteristics of the phase-locked loop (PLL) mainly result in the small-signal stability limit, which is called the dynamic power limit in this article. Because the small-signal stability limit can be improved by using different control methods, it attracts lots of research attention. In this article, a simplified d – q small-signal impedance model is introduced to show the destabilizing factors. Then, an initial small-signal impedance reshaping method is proposed to counteract the major destabilizing factor caused by the PLL. Based on the initial impedance reshaping method, an improved control scheme is proposed. Through exhaustive mathematical analysis, it is proved that the dynamic power limit can be extended almost to the static power limit by using this proposed method. Finally, simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

As the capacity of renewable energy generation increases, grid-forming (GFM) inverters are deemed as promising solutions for low inertia power grids. However, power-electronic-based inverters have limited overcurrent capability, so additional overcurrent protection schemes are necessary. More importantly, the stability should not be jeopardized by using additional overcurrent protection schemes. However, GFM inverters with the conventional current reference limiting method tend to be unstable under large grid disturbances such as grid frequency drop. To address this problem, this article proposes a virtual power angle limiting method. The main idea of this method is to limit the output power by limiting the power angle instead of directly limiting the current reference. Thus, the power synchronization control law is still satisfied when the overcurrent protection is triggered, so that the stability can be maintained. Besides, after redesigning the power angle limiting value, the proposed method is also suitable for grid voltage sag cases. A significant advantage of the proposed method is that the output current can be limited automatically during grid voltage sag or frequency drop events without the need of fault detection or tuning control structures and parameters. Simulation and experimental results have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.

A transient damping method (TDM), introducing the frequency of a virtual synchronous generator through a high-pass filter (HPF) to the power reference, is usually adopted to stabilize the system against disturbances. However, different from a small-signal stability perspective, this letter reveals that the gain of HPF should not be too large due to the transient stability issues. Thus, an optimal parameter design method of the TDM is proposed for the improvement of transient stability. The experimental results validate the theoretical findings.