Operation Zone Analysis of the Voltage Source Converter Based on the Influence of Different Grid Strengths

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy into the power system, the voltage source converter (VSC) for integrating renewable energy has become the most common device in the electric network. However, the operating stability of the VSC is strongly dependent on its operating control strategy, which is also highly related to the strength of the AC system. Choosing the control strategy of VSC for different strengths of AC systems becomes an essential issue for maintaining the symmetry between high proportion of renewable energy integration and stable operation of AC system. In order to obtain the operation zones of the control strategies of the VSC under different strengths of AC system, in this paper, the two common VSC control strategies, vector current control (VCC) and power synchronization control (PSC), are compared. Firstly, the principle of VCC and PSC are introduced. Then, based on the short circuit ratio (SCR) and the power limit calculation under steady-state conditions of the VSC, the operation zones of the vector current control and power synchronization control are proposed. Finally, a medium voltage modular multilevel converter (MMC) system was built in PSCAD/EMTDC and the proposed operation zones of the VCC and PSC were tested by changing the SCR of the modified IEEE 33 bus system and analyzed via the critical short circuit ratio (CSCR) analysis, the small-signal stability analysis, and transient stability analysis. The results indicate that, as the SCR decreases, the VSC based on VCC is gradually worked into unstable conditions, while the stability of VSC based on PSC gradually increases. The analysis results provide a criterion for the converter operation strategy change that could significantly improve the operating stability of the VSC in the power system and realize the symmetry of the stability of the converter and the change of the strength of the AC system.

Automated summary

The choice of VSC control strategy for different strengths of AC systems is crucial for maintaining the balance between a high proportion of renewable energy integration and stable operation of the AC system. This study compares two common VSC control strategies, VCC and PSC, and proposes their operation zones based on SCR and power limit calculations. The results show that the VSC based on VCC gradually becomes unstable as the SCR decreases, while the stability of the VSC based on PSC increases. The analysis provides a criterion for improving the operating stability of the VSC in the power system.