5. Grid-Forming Converters Topologies
Various topologies and configurations of grid-forming converters can be found in the literature. In
[12], GFM converters are classified based on the controller structure. GFM converters have some distinct properties that make them the best for inverter-based grids, apart from providing inertia and strengthening the grid. This includes the independent voltage and frequency control, being able to function as an infinite bus, black start capability, suitability for weak AC grids due to low output impedance, etc.
[13]. In this section, GFM converters capable of inertia emulation are discussed.
5.1. Synchronverter
The synchronverter, also known as a virtual synchronous machine (VSM), operates on the principle of the synchronous machine virtually following the famous swing equation shown in Equation (1).
The synchronverter can be classified into two major blocks, i.e., control and power block. Power block consists on the converter and its interconnection with the grid, while the control block is responsible for the calculation, regulation, and generation of PWM pulses for the gate driver of the converter, as depicted in
Figure 6.
Figure 6. Synchronverter.
Here, mechanical inertia is replaced by the power of a DC bus. It also models the other attributes of SG, such as disturbance response and inertia emulation. The unique feature of the synchronverter is that all the parameters of SG are modeled in a synchronverter; thus, all the matured and existing control strategies designed for SG can be applied to a synchronverter
[14]. Moreover, it depicts the same dynamics as the SG and can be operated as a synchronous motor, which sets it apart from other machine-emulating methods. A synchronverter can be operated in GFM and GFL mode, as it does not follow a voltage or current reference. In
[15], an improved self-synchronized version of synchronverter was proposed. The control architecture of the synchronverter is presented in
Figure 7.
Figure 7. Synchronverter control architecture.
5.2. Matching Control
The structural similarities between the SG and inverter model realize the matching control topology. It controls the DC link, similar to how a mechanical rotor is controlled. The difference between synchronverter and matching control is that, in the latter, to drive the harmonic frequency oscillator, instead of using an SG model, a DC link is utilized. A controller drives the inverter modulation based on the embedded internal oscillator model. To monitor the power balance, the DC link voltage is used. By controlling the DC current, active power tracking can be achieved, which results in the oscillator frequency and voltage control. Matching control only utilizes DC-side measurements which results in no processing delays
[16]. In simple words, the duality of the DC voltage of the converter and the machine’s angular velocity can be referred as matching control. It considers the DC-link capacitor as a storage device, similar to the concept of inertia. So, the capacitor voltage is used to regulate the frequency of the converter bridge
[17]. The control is depicted in Equation (5):
where
ω is the output frequency,
ωg is the grid frequency, and
UDC is the voltage of the DC-link capacitor. The control architecture is shown in
Figure 8.
Figure 8. Control architecture of matching control GFM converter.
5.3. Virtual Oscillator Control (VOC)
VOC is based on the emulation of the non-linear oscillators’ dynamics in the inverter control. It is much similar to matching control in terms of the emulation of non-linear oscillations’ dynamics. The difference is that, instead of using phasors, the VOC uses time-domain signals for voltage regulation. Understanding the oscillator model is a prerequisite to understanding the VOC approach. The non-linear dead zone oscillator on which the VOC method is based is shown in
Figure 9 [18]. The oscillator consists of a resonant LC tank through which the frequency can be set. The non-linear current source helps to sustain the oscillations, and the resistor R acts as a damping element. Most oscillators can be modeled by connecting a passive impedance parallel to a non-linear current source.
Figure 9 represents the topological approach for the VOC.
Figure 9. Dead zone oscillator.
The PWM signals for the converter are generated using the oscillator’s terminal voltage. It is to be noted that the oscillator must operate in the quasi-harmonic region by following Equation (6):
The unique characteristics of VOC include possessing all the features of droop control, while providing superior voltage regulation and load-sharing capabilities. The only point that needs attention and further research is the trade-off between frequency deviation and response time for a VOC.
5.4. Dispatchable Virtual Oscillator (dVOC)
Virtual oscillator control provides enhanced performance in dynamic voltage regulation and maintains the droop control law
[19], but it is still a mystery how to configure the inverter’s power injections when they lack programmable power setpoints. A good candidate for such a scenario is dVOC.
Dispatchable VOC allows the user to set power setpoints for the inverter. In the case of absent set points, dVOC operates in the VOC mode and provides all the needed functions.
vdq is the reference voltage generated, following the control law from Equation (7):
where
R(k) is the rotation matrix:
where
K is the inductance-to-resistance ratio.
η and α are virtual oscillator design parameters;
ωref and vref are frequency and voltage references, respectively;
idq is the measured current; and
||vdq|| is the measured voltage magnitude. The control architecture of dVOC is shown in
Figure 10.
P∗, q∗, v∗ represents the reference values.
Figure 10. Control architecture of dVOC.
5.5. Direct Voltage (V-f) Control
V-f control is most suitable for passive grid applications, such as uninterruptible power supply and islanded grids because the output voltage and frequency remain under closed-loop control. This GFM technique lacks power-sharing ability. Therefore, it has limitations when applied to active grids. As depicted in Figure 11, V-f control can be presented as a controlled voltage source, having an output impedance in series. W∗, V∗ represents the reference values.
Figure 11. V-f control architecture.
V-f control have two modes, i.e., a single or dual-loop control. In the case of single-loop control, the reference value of the frequency and voltage generates the voltage output (Vout) of the converter. For a dual-loop control, the output voltage (Vout) comes through cascaded loops of current and voltage, which give current-limiting ability to dual-loop control. The single loop mode is applied for DC-link voltage control in GFL applications, and it can be used for AC voltage regulation in GFM applications. This control strategy is beneficial when implemented in a master–slave topology. Where multiple GFL converters follow a master or a leader, the leader is a GFM converter. In the case of more than one GFM converter in a network, the phase synchronization angle should be shared amongst all of them via communication channels, which disables this control scheme’s decentralized operation ability. Figure 12 and Figure 13 show both the single and dual-loop control modes.
Figure 12. Single-mode V-f control.
Figure 13. Dual-mode V-f control.
The unique aspect of the grid forming converters lies in their ability to emulate inertia. Multiple topologies are reported in the literature to date;
Figure 14 presents an overview of all the existing and proven virtual inertia emulation topologies. The synchronverter is explained in detail in
[14][15]. Refs.
[12][13][16][17] presents the matching control and the VOC is presented in
[18][19]. The droop control is explained in
[20][21]. The VISMA topology can be understood through
[22][23]. The IEPE’s topology is presented in
[24][25] is focused on KHI’s Topology The Ise topology is presented in
[26][27]. The inducverter can be understood through
[28] and the VSYNC is explained in
[29][30]. GFM techniques can be divided into two categories, i.e., based on the SG model or on frequency power response. Both approaches have pros and cons, so the selection is dependent purely on the application and conditions. For large-signal stability, SG-based models are more promising due to accurate modeling and the mimicking of SG characteristics. The SG-based model enables the accurate emulation of the dynamics; there is no need for PLL (except for synchronization), and it is not dependent on the frequency derivative. The challenges include numerical instability issues, voltage source implementation, and over-current protection.
Figure 14. Classification overview of inertia-emulating topologies.
Frequency power response has a much simpler and straightforward implementation. It has an inherent over current protection and has current source implementation. The drawbacks include instability issues due to the presence of PLL (especially in weak grids). Moreover, it also needs a frequency derivative and is more susceptible to noise.