Open Access
Selective harmonic mitigation: limitations of classical control strategies and benefits of model predictive control
(IEEE, 2023) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Selective harmonic mitigation pulsewidth modulation (SHMPWM) combined with model predictive control (MPC) is a promising approach for grid-connected power converters. SHMPWM can guarantee grid code compliance in steady state, e.g. grid harmonic injection, with a reduced output converter filter, while MPC improves dynamic response and allows grid code compliance in the event of grid transients. This paper presents a survey of the MPC strategies already published in the literature developed for their use with SHMPWM. The existing strategies fall into two categories: direct model predictive control with an implicit selective harmonic mitigation modulator, and direct model predictive control based on finite control set (FCS-MPC). One representative control strategy of each group is compared to each other and to the performance of classical proportional- integral (PI) controllers combined with SHMPWM. The goal is to identify the potential benefits of MPC for grid-connected power converters, and determine the main advantages and limitations of the two selected state-of-the-art control strategies. Their performance is assessed through Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) experimental results in terms of real-time implementation, harmonic content grid code compliance, dynamic response and performance under grid transients.
Open Access
Modeling a grid-forming DFIG wind turbine
(IEEE, 2023-08-31) Oraa Iribarren, Iker; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This paper presents a small-signal state-space model that allows analyzing the dynamics of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines in which grid-forming control strategies are implemented. Specifically, in this paper, a droop-controlled DFIG wind turbine is modeled. The system is modeled in the dq-axis, synchronized with the grid voltage, which simplifies the modeling by not having to linearize the terms dependent on the rotational speed of the dq-axis. Independent models for each element of the system are obtained, which are then combined to model the complete system under study. This modeling methodology provides great flexibility, allowing for easy inclusion of the LC harmonic filter, and enabling future incorporation of the grid-side converter to analyze its interaction with the rotor-side converter. The developed model is validated through simulation, demonstrating that it accurately reproduces the dynamic response of the system under study.
Open Access
Control strategy for a droop-controlled grid-connected DFIG wind turbine
(IEEE, 2022) Oraa Iribarren, Iker; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
The application of droop control techniques without inner current control loops to doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines does not allow to provide a stable response at all operating points in terms of rotational speed and active and reactive power. After modeling the system dynamics and analyzing the causes of instability, this paper proposes a control strategy that allows to stabilize the system response at all possible operating points. Simulation results performed in MATLAB/Simulink validate the proposed control strategy proving its effectiveness.
Open Access
Dual-stage control strategy for a three-level neutral point clamped converter with selective harmonic mitigation PWM
(IEEE, 2023-11-01) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Norambuena, Margarita; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Lezana, Pablo; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Grid-connected converters must meet the requirements imposed by grid codes, such as harmonic emission limits and grid voltage support during voltage dips. Selective harmonic mitigation pulsewidth modulation (SHMPWM) is a very interesting technique for high power converters to meet the maximum harmonic emission levels, while keeping a low switching frequency. However, the combination of this modulation with a proportional integral (PI) controller requires slow dynamics, which makes it difficult to comply with the dynamic response requirements of grid codes. As an alternative, model predictive control (MPC) offers a very fast dynamic response, but a wide spread harmonic spectrum in steady state. Thus, the combination of MPC with a PI controller with SHMPWM is advantageous. In this work, a dual-stage control strategy is implemented. During transients, finite control set MPC (FCS-MPC) is activated to rapidly drive the current to the desired reference, while in steady state, the PI controller with SHMPWM is used. Therefore, the dual-stage control strategy allows to comply with the two requirements of grid codes, becoming a suitable strategy for grid-connected converters.
Open Access
Deadbeat voltage control for a grid-forming power converter with LCL filter
(IEEE, 2023) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Pérez, Marcelo A.; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Grid-forming power converters are controlled as voltage sources to regulate the grid voltage and frequency. These converters can increase power system strength if they impose a voltage waveform resilient to grid transients. For this reason, in this paper, we propose a deadbeat control strategy of the capacitor voltage for high power converters with LCL filter. To damp the LCL resonant poles, an active damping strategy is developed, based on a modification of the deadbeat control law. With this purpose, a notch filter is applied to the electrical variables allowing to emulate different damping resistances for the fundamental component and the harmonics. As a result, the active damping does not introduce tracking errors of the fundamental frequency component, while it provides damping to the filter resonance. The proposed strategy does not require knowledge of the grid impedance, an interesting feature in grid-connected power converters because the grid impedance is generally unknown. Experimental results validate the proposed strategy.
Open Access
Robust active damping strategy for DFIG wind turbines
(IEEE, 2021) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) with an LCL filter are widely used for wind power generation. In these energy conversion systems, there is an interaction between the grid-side converter (GSC) and the rotor-side converter (RSC) control loops, the generator and the LCL filter that must be properly modeled. Such interaction between the GSC and the RSC proves to have a significant influence on the stability. Several active damping (AD) methods for grid-connected converters with an LCL filter have been proposed, nevertheless, the application of these techniques to a DFIG wind turbine is not straightforward, as revealed in this article. To achieve a robust damping irrespective of the grid inductance, this article proposes an AD strategy based on the capacitor current feedback and the adjustment of the control delays to emulate a virtual impedance, in parallel with the filter capacitor, with a dominant resistive component in the range of possible resonance frequencies. This work also proves that, by applying the AD strategy in both converters simultaneously, the damping of the system resonant poles is maximized when a specific value of the grid inductance is considered. Experimental results show the interaction between the GSC and the RSC and validate the proposed AD strategy. © 1986-2012 IEEE.
Open Access
MIMO based decoupling strategy for grid connected power converters controlled in the synchronous reference frame
(IEEE, 2018) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Power converters are frequently connected to the grid through a LCL filter, controlling its power transfer through a current control loop in the synchronous reference frame. In this reference frame, cross coupling terms appear between the current and voltages of the passive components, which, without a proper decoupling strategy, penalize the converter transient response and the current control adjustment. In this work, an intuitive decoupling strategy is presented to improve the dynamic behavior, based on Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output systems theory. The approach developed is particularly interesting in extremely weak grids, allowing an easier adjustment of the main controller.
Open Access
Small-signal stability analysis of power converters with optimal pulsewidth modulation strategies
(IEEE, 2023-08-31) Rosado Galparsoro, Leyre; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Optimal pulsewidth modulation strategies are commonly used in power electronics applications with closed-loop controllers. However, there is a lack of specific studies in the literature that analyze and study the dynamics of these modulators, which makes it difficult to derive small-signal models for stability analysis and controller design. Moreover, in many studies, the influence of optimal pulsewidth modulation on the small-signal stability analysis is disregarded. This article addresses these issues by proposing a modeling methodology for optimal pulsewidth modulators, applied to a selective harmonic elimination modulator. The proposed methodology is based on the frequency response analysis, which is particularly convenient for controller design. The study shows that the classical zero-order hold model employed for carrier-based pulsewidth modulators is valid for characterizing the dynamics of optimal pulse-width modulation strategies. Simulation results validate this conclusion.
Open Access
Modeling of a droop-controlled grid-connected DFIG wind turbine
(IEEE, 2022) Oraa Iribarren, Iker; Samanes Pascual, Javier; López Taberna, Jesús; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Traditionally, to characterize the response of droop-controlled systems RMS models have been used. However, as it is demonstrated in this work, when droop control is applied to doubly-fed induction generators, RMS models do not allow to predict the system stability and dynamic response. Thus, in this article, a linearized small-signal model that overcomes the limitations of RMS models is presented. The proposed model is validated by simulation in MATLAB/Simulink demonstrating that it allows to accurately analyze the stability and dynamic response of the system under study. This model is an interesting tool that can be used in future works to design and adjust grid-forming controllers for doubly-fed induction generators.
Open Access
Sub-synchronous resonance damping control strategy for DFIG wind turbines
(IEEE, 2020) Samanes Pascual, Javier; Gubía Villabona, Eugenio; López Taberna, Jesús; Burgos, Rolando; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines connected to capacitive series-compensated transmission lines are prone to exhibit oscillatory behavior. The phenomena is called sub-synchronous resonances (SSRs), as these oscillations occur at frequencies below the fundamental component. This paper first develops a modeling methodology for DFIG wind turbines, based on impedance matrices, that is applied to model a real wind farm where SSRs were reported. The stability analysis performed shows how the interaction between the grid-side converter and the rotor-side converter contribute to the instability of DFIG wind energy conversion systems connected to series compensated grids. With this model, we propose a simple sub-synchronous resonance control strategy based on an orthogonal proportional action applied to the rotor currents, and a variable gain in the PI controller adjusted as a function of the DFIG rotational speed. This control strategy depends only on the rotor currents, which are local and already measured variables in any DFIG wind turbine, and is implemented in the rotor side converter, so it does not imply an additional cost at wind farm or wind turbine level and can be applied to any DFIG wind energy conversion system (WECS). Additionally, it proves to be robust for any line impedance series compensation level, and it does not need real-time information concerning the grid at which the wind turbine is connected, or its parameters. A real case study is considered, where the sub-synchronous resonance damping strategy presented in this work is able to stabilize the system for every possible line impedance compensation level.