Active Disturbance Rejection Control of LCL-Filtered Grid-Connected Inverter Using Pade Approximation

In this paper, a simplified robust control is proposed to improve the performance of a three-phase current controlled voltage source inverter connected to the grid through an inductive-capacitive-inductive ( LCL) filter. The presence of the LCL-filter resonance complicates the dynamics of the control system and limits its overall performance, particularly when disturbances and parametric uncertainty are considered. To solve this problem, a robust active damping method based on the linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) is proposed. The simplification is made possible by order reduction in the plant transfer function using Padé approximation. Simulation results show that the proposed LADRC-based current controller achieves high power quality and good dynamic performance, in the presence of parameters uncertainties as well as external disturbances. An experimental prototype is built to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed control strategy

Physics-based discrete modelling and digital control design for grid-side inverters for renewable energy

This work lays out the methodology of the analysis and consequent control design for the LC filter application on the example of a 5 MW wind turbine. The chapters progress sequentially through the different complexity steps from the continuous analysis to the discrete-space modeling to control algorithm design, integrated into a microcontroller-based hardware setup. The methods in each complexity step illustrate the process, starting with the identification of the control issue, through the control solutions, and ending with the evaluation using dynamic analysis.Diese Arbeit legt die Methodik der Analyse und des anschließenden Regelungsentwurfs für die LC-Filteranwendung am Beispiel einer 5-MW-Windturbine dar. Die Kapitel führen durch die verschiedenen Komplexitätsstufen von der kontinuierlichen Analyse über die Modellierung im diskreten Raum bis hin zum Entwurf des Regelalgorithmus, der in eine mikrocontrollerbasierte Hardware integriert ist. Die Methoden jedes Komplexitätsschritts veranschaulichen den Prozess, beginnend mit der Identifizierung des Regelungsproblems, über die Regelungslösungen und endend mit der Bewertung mittels dynamischer Analyse

Control of power converter in modern power systems

A la portada consta el nom del programa interuniversitari: Joint Doctoral Programme in Electric Energy Systems [by the] Universidad de Málaga, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Erriko Unibertsitatea i Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaPower system is undergoing an unpreceded paradigm shift: from centralized to distributed generation. As the renewable-based generations and battery storage systems are increasingly displacing conventional generations, it becomes more and. more difficult to maintain the stability and reliability of the grid by using only conventional generations. The main reason for the degradation of grid stability is the rapid penetration of nonconventional sources. These new generations interface with the grids through power electronics converters which are conventionally designed to maximize conversion efficiency and resource utilization. Indeed, these power converters only focus on their internal operation despite the grid conditions, which often worsens the grid operation. To overcome such a drawback, the grid-forming concept has been proposed for power converters, aiming to redesign the control of the power converters to enforce more grid-friendly behaviours such as inertia response and power oscillation damping to name a few. Despite the rich literature, actual adaptation of grid-forming controller in real-world applications is still rare because incentives for renewable power plants to provide services based on such advanced grid-forming functions were at best scarce. In the last years, however, several system operators have imposed new requirements and markets for grid-supporting services. In addition, the existing grid-forming controllers require modification to low-level control firmware of a power converter, which is often unrealistic due to the control hardware limitations as well as necessary testing and certifications. To ensure a stable operation of a grid-forming converter under adverse operating conditions, a robust voltage sensorless current controller is developed in this PhD thesis. The proposed controller is able to handle most of the possible abnormal conditions of the grid such as impedance variations, unbalanced voltage; harmonics distortion. These abnormalities of the grid are mathematically represented using equivalent linear models such that they can be used for calculating the controller gains. Linear matrix inequality techniques are also used to facilitate parameter tuning. In fact, the performance and stability of the current control loop can be determined through only two tuning parameters instead of eight parameters for a controller of a similar structure. The existing grid-forming implementations are designed considering that the control firmware of the power converter can be upgraded at will. However, modifications of the control firmware are not straightforward and cost-effective at mass scale. To overcome such a limitation, an external synchronous controller is presented in this PhD thesis. The external synchronous controller uses measurements, which are either provided by the power converter or a dedicated measurement unit, to calculate the actual active and reactive power that should be injected by the power converters in a way that the power plant acts as an aggregated grid­forming converter. As a result, any conventional power converters can be utilized for providing grid-supporting services with minimal modification to the existing infrastructure. Power converters can provide even better performance than a synchronous generator if a proper control scheme is used. In this regard, the final chapter of this PhD thesis presents the multi-rotor virtual machine implementation for grid-forming converter to boost their damping performance to power oscillations. The multi-rotor virtual machine-controller implements several virtual rotors instead of only one rotor as in typical grid-forming strategies. Since each of the virtual rotors is tuned to target a specific critical mode, the damping participation to such a mode can be increased and adjusted individually. The controllers presented in this PhD thesis are validated through simulators and experiments in the framework of the H2020 FlexiTranstore project. The results are throughout analysed to assess the control performance as well as to highlight possible implications.A medida que las generaciones basadas en energías renovables y los sistemas de almacenamiento de baterías desplazan la generación convencional, se vuelve cada vez más difícil mantener la estabilidad y confiabilidad de la red. Estas nuevas generaciones interactúan con las redes a través de convertidores de electrónica de potencia que están diseñados tradicionalmente para maximizar la eficiencia de conversión y la utilización de recursos. Estos convertidores centran su funcionamiento interno independientemente de las condiciones de la red, lo que a menudo empeora el funcionamiento de la red. Para esto, se ha propuesto el concepto de convertidores de potencia formadores de red (grid-forming), con el objetivo de rediseñar el control de los convertidores de potencia para imponer comportamientos más favorables a la red, por ejemplo, la respuesta inercial y la amortiguación de oscilaciones de potencia. No en tanto, la adaptación real del controlador grid-forming en aplicaciones del mundo real todavía es escasa debido a los pocos incentivos para que las plantas de energía renovable proporcionen servicios basados en funciones de formación de red tan avanzadas. Aunque en los últimos años, operadores de sistemas han impuesto nuevos requisitos y mercados para servicios auxiliares, los controladores grid-forming existentes requieren cambios en el firmware de control de bajo nivel de un convertidor de potencia, algo poco realista debido a las limitaciones del hardware de control, así como a las pruebas y certificaciones necesarias. En esta tesis se desarrolla un controlador de corriente robusto, sin sensor de tensión, para garantizar el funcionamiento estable de un convertidor grid-forming en condiciones de operación adversas. Este controlador es capaz de manejar la mayoría de las condiciones anormales de red, como variaciones de impedancia, tensión desequilibrada y distorsión de armónicos. Estas anomalías de la red se representan matemáticamente mediante modelos lineales equivalentes, utilizados para calcular las ganancias del controlador. También, usando técnicas de desigualdad matricial lineal para facilitar el ajuste de parámetros. De hecho, el rendimiento y la estabilidad del bucle de control de la corriente pueden determinarse mediante sólo dos parámetros de sintonización. Las implementaciones de formación de red existentes están diseñadas considerando que el firmware de control del convertidor de potencia puede actualizarse a voluntad. Sin embargo, las modificaciones del firmware de control no son sencillas ni rentables a gran escala. Por tanto, esta tesis presenta un controlador síncrono externo que utiliza las mediciones proporcionadas por el convertidor de potencia o por una unidad de medición dedicada para calcular la potencia activa y reactiva real que deben inyectar los convertidores de potencia, de forma que la central eléctrica actúe como un convertidor grid-forming agregado. Como resultado, cualquier convertidor de potencia convencional puede utilizarse para proporcionar servicios de apoyo a la red con una modificación mínima de la infraestructura existente. Los convertidores de potencia pueden ofrecer mejor rendimiento que un generador síncrono utilizando un esquema de control adecuado. El último capítulo de esta tesis presenta la implementación de una máquina virtual multirrotor para que los convertidores de red aumenten su rendimiento de amortiguación de las oscilaciones de potencia. El controlador de la máquina virtual multirrotor implementa varios rotores virtuales en lugar de un solo rotor como en las estrategias típicas de grid-forming. Dado que cada uno de los rotores virtuales está sintonizado para dirigirse a un modo crítico específico, la participación de la amortiguación a dicho modo puede aumentarse y ajustarse individualmente. Los controladores presentados en esta tesis doctoral han sido validados mediante simulaciones y experimentos en el marco del proyecto H2020 FlexiTranstore.Postprint (published version

STEROWANIE ORAZ SYNCHRONIZACJA DWUPOZIOMOWEGO FALOWNIKA NAPIĘCIA W WARUNKACH PRZEJŚCIOWEJ ASYMETRII NAPIĘĆ SIECI

This paper presents the operation of grid tied, two level voltage source inverter (VSI) during network voltage unbalance. The control system was implemented in synchronous rotating reference frame dq0 (SRF). Two types of control structures were investigated herein. First utilizes the Double Decoupled SRF Phase-locked loop (DDSRF-PLL) synchronisation with positive and negative sequence currents control. Second one is simplified system that does not provide symmetrical components decomposition and decoupling for synchronisation. Simulation results exhibited a superior performance of the DDSRF-PLL control system under grid voltage unbalance.Niniejszy artykuł przedstawia pracę dwupoziomowego falownika napięcia współpracującego z siecią, podczas przejściowej asymetrii napięć. System sterowania został zaimplementowany w wirującym układzie synchronicznym dq0. Przeanalizowano dwa typy sterowania. W pierwszym zastosowano metodę synchronizacji z odprzęganiem DDSRF-PLL wraz z możliwością kontroli prądów składowej zgodnej i przeciwnej. Drugi natomiast w swoje uproszczeni formie nie pozwalała na sterowanie obu składowych symetrycznych, zabrakło również odprzęgania podczas synchronizacji z siecią. Wyniki symulacji pokazały o wiele lepsze działanie pierwszej metody sterowania

Design and Advanced Model Predictive Control of Wide Bandgap Based Power Converters

The field of power electronics (PE) is experiencing a revolution by harnessing the superior technical characteristics of wide-band gap (WBG) materials, namely Silicone Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN). Semiconductor devices devised using WBG materials enable high temperature operation at reduced footprint, offer higher blocking voltages, and operate at much higher switching frequencies compared to conventional Silicon (Si) based counterpart. These characteristics are highly desirable as they allow converter designs for challenging applications such as more-electric-aircraft (MEA), electric vehicle (EV) power train, and the like. This dissertation presents designs of a WBG based power converters for a 1 MW, 1 MHz ultra-fast offboard EV charger, and 250 kW integrated modular motor drive (IMMD) for a MEA application. The goal of these designs is to demonstrate the superior power density and efficiency that are achievable by leveraging the power of SiC and GaN semiconductors. Ultra-fast EV charging is expected to alleviate the challenge of range anxiety , which is currently hindering the mass adoption of EVs in automotive market. The power converter design presented in the dissertation utilizes SiC MOSFETs embedded in a topology that is a modification of the conventional three-level (3L) active neutral-point clamped (ANPC) converter. A novel phase-shifted modulation scheme presented alongside the design allows converter operation at switching frequency of 1 MHz, thereby miniaturizing the grid-side filter to enhance the power density. IMMDs combine the power electronic drive and the electric machine into a single unit, and thus is an efficient solution to realize the electrification of aircraft. The IMMD design presented in the dissertation uses GaN devices embedded in a stacked modular full-bridge converter topology to individually drive each of the motor coils. Various issues and solutions, pertaining to paralleling of GaN devices to meet the high current requirements are also addressed in the thesis. Experimental prototypes of the SiC ultra-fast EV charger and GaN IMMD were built, and the results confirm the efficacy of the proposed designs. Model predictive control (MPC) is a nonlinear control technique that has been widely investigated for various power electronic applications in the past decade. MPC exploits the discrete nature of power converters to make control decisions using a cost function. The controller offers various advantages over, e.g., linear PI controllers in terms of fast dynamic response, identical performance at a reduced switching frequency, and ease of applicability to MIMO applications. This dissertation also investigates MPC for key power electronic applications, such as, grid-tied VSC with an LCL filter and multilevel VSI with an LC filter. By implementing high performance MPC controllers on WBG based power converters, it is possible to formulate designs capable of fast dynamic tracking, high power operation at reduced THD, and increased power density

Variable structure control in natural frame for three-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filter

This paper presents a variable structure control in natural frame for a three-phase voltage source inverter. The proposed control method is based on modifying the converter model in natural reference frame, preserving the low frequency state space variables dynamics. Using this model in a Kalman filter, the system state-space variables are estimated allowing to design three robust current sliding-mode controllers in natural frame. The main closed-loop features of the proposed method are: 1) robustness against grid inductance variations because the proposed model is independent of the grid inductance, 2) the power losses are reduced since physical damping resistors are avoided, and 3) the control bandwidth can be increased due to the combination of a variable hysteresis controller with a Kalman filter. To complete the control scheme, a theoretical stability analysis is developed. Finally, selected experimental results validate the proposed control strategy and permit illustrating all its appealing features.Postprint (author's final draft

Active disturbance rejection control of three-phase LCL power conversion system under non-ideal grid conditions

Under non-ideal grid operating conditions such as unbalanced grid voltage and harmonic grid that are commonly found in microgrid conditions, the negative sequence components of the microgrid voltage interfere with the active and reactive current controls in the power conversion system, leading to an increase in the harmonic content of the grid-side current and affecting the power quality of the microgrid system. To solve these problems, firstly, the mathematical model of the LCL-type power conversion system is analyzed, and a linear active disturbance rejection control based on model compensation is designed. Secondly, the influence of non-ideal power grid conditions on the control of the LCL-type power conversion system is analyzed, and the active disturbance rejection control strategy of the LCL-type power conversion system based on frequency-locked loops with harmonic cancellation modules (HCM-FLL) is proposed, which speeds up the system, improves the system’s robustness, and reduces the harmonic content of the network measurement current under the condition of power grid voltage unbalance and harmonic power grid. Finally, by using the verification of MATLAB/Simulink simulation, the current power quality obviously under the condition of voltage unbalance and harmonic power grid is evidently improved by the proposed control strategy. When compared to the traditional control methods, the control strategy proposed in this study features a simple control structure, making it easy to implement in engineering without requiring high controller performance or additional circuits. This reduces design costs and provides a wide range of controller parameters, ensuring strong anti-interference performance without the need for frequent controller parameter adjustments