Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

1 Electrical Engineering,

2 University of Kerbala Electrical and Electronic Engineering Dept

3 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology- Baghdad, Iraq,

Abstract

Renewable energy sources (RESs), such as solar and wind power, offer new technologies for meeting the world's energy requirements. The distributed generator (DG) based on RESs has no rotational mass and damping effects compared to the traditional power system with synchronous generators (SG). However, the increasing penetration level of DG based on RESs causes low inertia, a dampening effect on the dynamic performance of the grid, and stability. A solution to improve the frequency stability of such a system is to provide virtual inertia by using virtual synchronous generators (VSG), which can be created by using short-term energy storage and a power inverter, and a suitable control mechanism. The VSG control mimics the dynamics of the rotation SG and enhances the power system's stability. This paper presents an overview of various topologies on virtual inertia, VSG concepts, control techniques, and VSG applications. Finally, the VSG challenges and future research will be discussed.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • RESs connected with the inverter have no physical inertia compared with the synchronous generator.
  • VSG provides the required inertia under sudden disturbances in a microgrid.
  • VSG controller emulates droop controller to decrease the frequency deviation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

[1] A. F. Hussein, H. A. R. Akkar, Intelligent controller Design based on wind-solar system, Engineering and Technology Journal, 39 (2021) 326-337. doi. 10.30684/etj.v39i2A.1761
[2] F. F. Salih and O. A. Ahmed ,Improved Y-Source Single-Stage Transformer less Micro-Inverter for PV Residential Applications, Engineering and Technology Journal, 38 (2020) 1327-1341. doi. 10.30684/etj.v38i9A.1143.
[3] A. Llaria, O. Curea, J. Jiménez, and H. Camblong, Survey on microgrids: unplanned islanding and related inverter control techniques, Renewable energy, 36 (2011) 2052-2061, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.01.010
[4]  B. Pournazarian, R. Sangrody, M. Saeedian, M. Lehtonen, and E. Pouresmaeil, Simultaneous Optimization of Virtual Synchronous Generators (VSG) Parameters in Islanded Microgrids Supplying Induction Motors, IEEE Access, 9 (2021) 124972-124985. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3111015
[5] A. J. Mahdi, S. Fahad, and W. Tang, An Adaptive Current Limiting Controller for a Wireless Power Transmission System Energized by a PV Generator, Electronics, 9 (2020) 1648. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9101648
[6] M. Chen, D. Zhou, and F. Blaabjer, Modelling, Implementation, and Assessment of Virtual Synchronous Generator in Power Systems, Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 8 (2020) 399-411. doi: 10.35833/MPCE.2019.000592
[7] Q. Zhong, Power-Electronics-Enabled Autonomous Power Systems: Architecture and Technical Routes,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 64 (2017) 5907–5918. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2017.2677339.
[8] H. A. ALSIRAJI and R. E. SHATSHAT, Comprehensive assessment of virtual synchronous machine-based voltage source converter controllers, IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution, 11 (2017) 1762-1769.doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2016.1423
[9] J. Fang, Y. Tang and H. Li, A Battery/Ultracapacitor Hybrid Energy Storage System for Implementing the Power Management of Virtual Synchronous Generators, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 33 (2018) 2820-2824. doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2017.2759256
[10] T. Zheng, L. Chen and Y. Guo, Comprehensive control strategy of virtual synchronous generator under unbalanced voltage conditions, IET Generation, Transmission Distribution, 12 (2018) 1621–1630. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2017.0523
[11]  K. Shi, H. Ye and P. Xu, Low-voltage ride through control strategy of virtual synchronous generator based on the analysis of excitation state, IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, 12 (2018) 2165-2172. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2017.1988
[12]  J. Li, J. Zhao and K. Qu, Boundary Analysis of Operation Parameters of Microgrid VSG Considering SOC Characteristics, Power System Technology, 42 (2018) 1451-1457. http://dx.doi.org/10.13335/j.1000-3673.pst.2017.2442
[13]  H. U. Rehman, X. Yan, M. A. Abdelbaky, M. U. Jan, and S. Iqbal, An advanced virtual synchronous generator control technique for frequency regulation of grid-connected PV system, Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 125 (2021) 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106440
[14]  M. A. El - Hameed, M. M. Elkholy, and A. A. El-Fergany, Efficient frequency regulation in highly penetrated power systems by renewable energy sources using stochastic fractal optimizer, IET Renewable Power Generator; 13 (2019) 2174-2183. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-rpg.2019.0186
[15] T. Shuai, W. Weijun, L. Shu, M. Longbo, and W. Wenqiang, Research on Control Technology of Distributed Power Generation Virtual Synchronous Generator, IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci., 657, 2021, 012083. doi 10.1088/1755-1315/657/1/012083
[16] U. Bose, S. K. Chattopadhyay, C. Chakraborty, and B. Pal ,A Novel Method of Frequency Regulation in Microgrid,  IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 55 (2019) 111-121. doi: 10.1109/TIA.2018.2866047.
[17]  L. Xiong, F. Zhuo, and F. Wang, Static synchronous generator model: a new perspective to investigate dynamic characteristics and stability issues of grid-tied PWM inverter, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 31 (2016) 6264- 6280. doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2015.2498933.
[18]  P. Makolo, R. Zamora, and T. Lie. The role of inertia for grid flexibility under high penetration of variable renewables-A review of challenges and solutions, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 147 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111223
[19]  T. T. M. H. Thondilege, Comparison of Dynamic Characteristics of Virtual Synchronous Machine Control Algorithms, M.Sc. Thesis, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/35297
[20]  Z. Lv, W. Sheng, and H. Liu, Application and challenge of virtual synchronous machine technology in power system, Proceedings of the CSEE, 37 (2017) 349-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.13334/j.0258-8013.pcsee.161604
[21] H. Zhao, Q. Yang, and H. Zeng, Multi-loop virtual synchronous generator control of inverter-based DGs under microgrid dynamics, IET Gener. Transm. Distrib., 11 (2017) 795–803. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2016.0645
[22] K. Shi, H. Ye, W. Song, and G. Zhou, Virtual Inertia Control Strategy in Microgrid Based on Virtual Synchronous Generator Technology, IEEE Access, 6 (2018) 27949–27957.  doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2839737
[23] S. Fahad, A. Goudarzi and J. Xiang, Demand Management of Active Distribution Network Using Coordination of Virtual Synchronous Generators, in IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, 12 (2021) 250-261.doi: 10.1109/TSTE.2020.2990917
[24]  H. Wu, X. Ruan, D. Yang, X. Chen, W. Zhao, Z. Lv, et al.  Small-signal modeling and parameters design for virtual synchronous generators, IEEE Transaction Industrial Electronics, 63 (2016) 4292-303. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2016.2543181.
[25]  T. Shintai, Y. Miura, and T. Ise, Oscillation damping of a distributed generator using a virtual synchronous generator” IEEE Transaction on Power Delivery, 29 (2014) 668-676. doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2013.2281359
[26] S. M. Ashabani, and Y. A-R. I. Mohamed, A flexible control strategy for grid-connected and islanded microgrids with enhanced stability using nonlinear microgrid stabilizer, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 3 (2012) 1291-301. doi: 10.1109/TSG.2012.2202131
[27] W. Li, H. Wang, Y. Jia, S. Yang, and H. Liu, Frequency control strategy of grid-connected PV system using virtual synchronous generator, IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies - Asia (ISGT Asia), Chengdu, China, 21-24 May (2019) 1618-1622.  doi: 10.1109/ISGT-Asia.2019.8881276
[28] A. K. Alaboudy, H. H. Zeineldin, and J. Kirtley, Microgrid stability characterization subsequence to fault-triggered islanding incidents, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 27 (2012) 658-669. doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2012.2183150
[29] X. Wang, et al. A modified self-synchronized synchronverter in unbalanced power grids with balanced currents and restrained power ripples. Energies, 12 (2019) 923. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12050923
[30] U. Tamrakar, D. Galipeau, R. Tonkoski, and I. Tamrakar, Improving transient stability of photovoltaic - hydro microgrids using virtual synchronous machines, 2015 IEEE Eindhoven Power Tech., Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2015, pp.  1-6. doi: 10.1109/PTC.2015.7232663.
[31] Y. Chen, R. Hesse, D. Turschner, and H. P. Beck, Dynamic properties of the virtual synchronous machine (VISMA), Int. Conf. on Renewable Energies and Power Quality (ICREPQ´11), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spanien, 1, 2011, 755-759. https://doi.org/10.24084/repqj09.444
[32] U. TAMRAKAR, Optimization-based fast-frequency support in low inertia power systems, South Dakota State University, PhD Thesis, 2020
[33] B. Li, L. Zhou, X. Yu, C. Zheng, and J. Liu, Improved power decoupling control strategy based on virtual synchronous generator, IET Power Electron; 10 (2017) 462-470. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2016.0608
[34] U. Tamrakar, D. Galipeau, R. Tonkoski, and I. Tamrakar, Improving transient stability of photovoltaic-hydro microgrids using virtual synchronous machines,  IEEE Eindhoven PowerTech, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2016.0608
[35] Z. Chai, et al. Output impedance modeling and grid-connected stability study of virtual synchronous control-based doubly-fed induction generator wind turbines in weak grids. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 126 (2021) 106601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106601
[36] G. P. S. Júnior, Penha, T.  F. Nascimento, and L. S. Barros. Comparison of Virtual Synchronous Generator Strategies for Control of Distributed Energy Sources and Power System Stability Improvement. Simpósio Brasileiro de Sistemas Elétricos-SBSE, 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.48011/sbse.v1i1.2482
[37]  V. Natarajan, G. Weiss, Synchronverters with better stability due to virtual inductors, virtual capacitors, and anti-windup, IEEE Trans Ind Electron, 64 (2017) 5994–6004. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2017.2674611
[38] R. Shi, et al. Self-tuning virtual synchronous generator control for improving frequency stability in autonomous photovoltaic-diesel microgrids. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 6 (2018) 482-494. doi: 10.1007/s40565-017-0347-3.
[39]   M. Oñate, et al. Control of a back-to-back converter as a power transfer system using synchronverter approach. IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, 12 (2018) 1998-2005. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2017.0093
[40]  W. Zhang, D. Remon, and P. Rodriguez, Frequency support characteristics of grid-interactive power converters based on the synchronous power controller. IET Renewable Power Generation, 11 (2017) 470-479. doi.org/10.1049/iet-rpg.2016.0557
[41]  W. Zhang, et al. Frequency support properties of the synchronous power control for grid-connected converters. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 55 (2019) 5178-5189. doi: 10.1109/TIA.2019.2928517.
[42]  C. Verdugo, J. I. Candela, and P. Rodriguez. Re-synchronization strategy for the synchronous power controller in hvdc systems. IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE). IEEE, 2017.‏ doi: 10.1109/ECCE.2017.8096872.
[43] C. Verdugo, J. I. Candela, and P. Rodriguez. Grid support functionalities based on modular multi-level converters with synchronous power control. IEEE International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA), IEEE, 2016.‏ doi: 10.1109/ICRERA.2016.7884399.
[44] Y. Hirase, K. Uezaki, D. Orihara, H. Kikusato, and J. Hashimoto, Characteristic Analysis and Indexing of Multimachine Transient Stabilization Using Virtual Synchronous Generator Control, Energies, 14 (2021). doi.org/10.3390/en14020366
[45] Y. Hirase, K. Abe, K. Sugimoto, and Y. Shindo, A grid-connected inverter with virtual synchronous generator model of algebraic type, Electrical Engineering in Japan, 184 (2013) 10-21. doi.org/10.1002/eej.22428.
[46]  O. Mo, S. D'Arco, and J. A. Suul, Evaluation of virtual synchronous machines with dynamic or quasi-stationary machine models, IEEE Transactions on industrial Electronics, 64 (2016). doi: 10.1109/TIE.2016.2638810.
[47] Y. Chen, R. Hesse, D. Turschner, and H. P. Beck, Dynamic properties of the virtual synchronous machine (VISMA), Int. Conf. on Renewable Energies and Power Quality (ICREPQ´11), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spanien, 1,2011, 755-759 doi.org/10.24084/repqj09.444
[48] J. A. Suul, S. D'Arco, and G. Guidi, Virtual synchronous machine-based control of a single-phase bi-directional battery charger for providing vehicle-to-grid services. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 52 (2016) 3234-3244. doi: 10.1109/TIA.2016.2550588
[49]  R. Hesse, D. Turschner, and H. P. Beck, Microgrid stabilization using the virtual synchronous machine, in Proc. International Conf. on Renewable Energies and Power Quality (ICREPQ’09), Valencia, Spain,1,2009, 676- 681. https://doi.org/10.24084/repqj07.472
[50] V. Thomas, S. Kumaravel, and S. Ashok, Reduction of frequency oscillations in solar PV microgrid using virtual synchronous machine, 1st Int. Conf. Power Electron. Appl. Technol. Present Energy Scenar. PETPES 2019 - Proc., 2019, 1–5. doi: 10.1109/PETPES47060.2019.9003783
[51]  H. Bevrani, T. Ise, and Y. Miura, Virtual synchronous generators: A survey and new perspectives, International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 54 (2014) 244-254. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2013.07.009
[52] J. Jiang, et al, Analysis of Harmonic Resonance Characteristics in Grid-Connected LCL Virtual Synchronous Generator, Sustainability, 13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084261
[53] V. Karapanos, P. Kotsampopoulos, and N. Hatziargyriou, Performance of the linear and binary algorithm of virtual synchronous generators for the emulation of rotational inertia, Electric Power Systems Research, 123 (2015) 119-127. doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2015.02.004
[54]  H. A. Alsiraji, and R. El-Shatshat, Comprehensive assessment of virtual synchronous I machine based voltage source converter controllers, IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution, 11 (2017) 1762-9. doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2016.1423.
[55]  H. Wu, X. Ruan, and D. Yang, Small-Signal Modeling and Parameters Design for Virtual Synchronous Generators, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 63 (2016) 4292-4303. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2016.2543181.
[56]  O. MO, S. D'ARCO, and J. SUUL, Evaluation of Virtual Synchronous Machines with Dynamic or Quasi-Stationary Machine Models, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 64 (2017) 5952-5962. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2016.2638810
[57] K. Shi, et al. Rotor inertia adaptive control and inertia matching strategy based on parallel virtual synchronous generators system. IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution,  14 (2020). doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2019.1394
[58] P. F. Frack, P. E. Mercado, and M. G. Molina, Extending the VISMA concept to improve the frequency stability in Microgrids, 2015 18th International Conference on Intelligent System Application to Power Systems, Porto, Portuga1, 2015, 1-6. doi: 10.1109/ISAP.2015.7325530.
[59] R. Wang, L. Chen, T. Zheng, and S. Mei, VSG-based adaptive droop control for frequency and active power regulation in the MTDC system, CSEE Journal of Power Energy System, 3 (2017) 260–268. doi: 10.17775/CSEEJPES.2017.00040
[60] J. M. Guerrero, M. Chandorkar, T-L. Lee, and P. C. Loh, Advanced control architectures for intelligent microgrids—Part I: Decentralized and hierarchical control, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60 (2013) 1254–1262. doi: 10.1109/TIE.2012.2194969
[61] X. Zhang, et al. Coordinated control strategy for a PV-storage grid-connected system based on a virtual synchronous generator. Global Energy Interconnection,  3 (2020). doi.org/10.1016/j.gloei.2020.03.003
[62] A. Belila, Y. Amirat, M. Benbouzid, EM.  Berkouk, G., and Yao, Virtual synchronous generators for voltage synchronization of a hybrid PV - diesel power system, Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 117 (2020) 1-14. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2019.105677
[63] S. Wang, J. Hu and X. Yuan,Virtual synchronous control for grid-connected DFIG - based wind turbines, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 3 (2015) 932–944. doi: 10.1109/JESTPE.2015.2418200.
[64] H. S. Hlaing, J. Liu, H. Bevrani, and T. Ise, PMSG Control for a Stand-Alone Gas Engine Generator Using Active Rectifier and VSG-Controlled Inverter, Energies, 13 (2020). doi.org/10.3390/en13010233
[65] A. Parwal, et. al, Virtual Synchronous Generator Based on Current Synchronous Detection Scheme for a Virtual Inertia Emulation in SmartGrids, Energy and Power Engineering, 11 (2019) 99-131. doi: 10.4236/epe.2019.113007
[66] D. Zhang, J. Jiang, L. Zhang, and Z. Zhou, Grid-connected control strategy of modular multi-level converter - battery energy storage system based on VSG, The Journal of Engineering, 16 (2019) 1502-1505. doi.org/10.1049/joe.2018.8515
[67] P. Li, H. Weihao. X.  Xu, Q. Huang, Z. Liu, and Z. Chen, A frequency control strategy of electric vehicles in microgrid using virtual synchronous generator control, Energy, 189 (2019) 116389.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116389
[68] K. Dhingra, and M. Singh, Frequency support in a micro-grid using virtual synchronous generator-based charging station, ET Renewable Power Generation, 12 (2018) 1034–1044. doi.org/10.1049/iet-rpg.2017.0713
[69] H. Y. Mahmoud, A. H. Besheer, H. M. Hasanien, and A. Y Abdelaziz, Different Control Strategies for Converter-Based DC Energy Transmission in Offshore Wind Power, A Literature Survey, 018 Twentieth International Middle East Power Systems Conference (MEPCON), Cairo, Egypt, 2018, 190-197. doi: 10.1109/MEPCON.2018.8635204
[70] H. Wang, Y. Wang, G. Duan, W. Hu, W. Wang, and Z. Chen, An improved droop control method for multi-terminal VSC - HVDC converter stations, Energies, 10 (2017) 843.  doi.org/10.3390/en10070843
[71] M. Al – Tameemi, Y. Miura, J. Liu, H. Bevrani, and T. Ise ,A Novel Control Scheme for Multi-Terminal Low-Frequency AC Electrical Energy Transmission Systems Using Modular Multilevel Matrix Converters and Virtual Synchronous Generator Concept,” Energies, 13 (2020) 747. doi.org/10.3390/en13030747
[72] M. R. B Khan, R. Jidin, and J. Pasupuleti, Multi-agent based distributed control archive for microgrid energy management and optimization,” Energy Conversion Management, 112 (2016) 288-307. doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.01.011Get
[73] C. X. Dou, and B. Liu, Multi-Agent-Based Hierarchical Hybrid Control for Smart Microgrid, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 4 (2013) 771-778. doi: 10.1109/TSG.2012.2230197