Analysis and Simulation of Small Signal Model of Virtual Synchronous Generator in Microgrid System

Ghazanfar Shahgholian ¹ ( Department of Electrical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran )
Mohamadreza Moradian ² ( Department of Electrical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran )
Mohamad Ali Zanjani ³ ( Department of Electrical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran )

Submited date : 2024-12-27 Accepted date : 2025-01-06

Keywords: Inverter, oscillation equation, small signal, synchronous generator, virtual inertia,

Abstract :

Microgrids based on distributed generation sources are connected to the main power grid through power electronic converters that have low mechanical inertia and damping, so the dynamic characteristics of the power system must be improved simultaneously with the integration of renewable energy sources for stability. Virtual synchronous generators are one of the effective methods for integrating renewable energy systems into the power grid. In order to have a behavior similar to that of a real synchronous generator when changed or disturbed by a virtual synchronous generator, the control operation is performed in the power electronic converter of the distributed generation unit. In this paper, the characteristics of two droop methods and a virtual synchronous generator for controlling active and reactive powers are compared using the small signal model and the state space model. The evaluation between these two different control strategies is performed using simulation results in the MATLAB environment. Also, the characteristics of the synchronous generator due to changes in the moment of inertia and damping coefficient are shown. Integrating the virtual synchronous generator in the microgrid, in addition to reducing frequency and voltage deviations, also improves stability.

highlight:

Study of attenuation reduction of power electronic converters in the network

Comparison of droop control method with virtual synchronous generator technique

Determination of small signal model of virtual synchronous generator connected to infinite bus

Comparison of response speed for load changes of two control methods

References:

[1] J. Song, X. Zhou, Z. Zhou, Y. Wang, Y. Wang, X. Wang, "Review of low inertia in power systems caused by high proportion of renewable energy grid integration", Energies, vol. 16, no. 16, Article Number: 6042, Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166042.
[2] F. Mesrinejad, S. Yaghoubi, B. Fani, "Secondary frequency control for improved dynamic performance in interconnected power system", Journal of Simulation and Analysis of Novel Technologies in Mechanical Engineering, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 47-54, Sept. 2022, https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.27834¬441.2022.14.3.5.9.
[3] Y. Du, J. M. Guerrero, L. Chang, J. Su, M. Mao, "Modeling, analysis, and design of a frequency-droop-based virtual synchronous generator for microgrid applications", Proceeding of the IEEE/ECCE, pp. 643-649, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, June 2013, doi: 10.1109/ECCE-Asia.2013.6579167.
[4] M. Mahdavian, G. Shahgholian, M. Janghorbani, B. Soltani, N. Wattanapongsakorn, "Load frequency control in power system with hydro turbine under various conditions", Proceeding of the IEEE/ECTICON, pp. 1-5, Hua Hin, Thailand, June 2015, https://doi.org/ 10.1109/ECTICon.2015.7206938.
[5] G. Magdy, E. A. Mohamed, G. Shabib, A. A. Elbaset, Y. Mitani, "Microgrid dynamic security considering high penetration of renewable energy", Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems, vol. 3, Article Number: 23, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s41601-018-0093-1.
[6] A. Karimi, Y. Khayat, M. Naderi, T. Dragičević, R. Mirzaei, F. Blaabjerg, H. Bevrani, "Inertia response improvement in ac microgrids: A fuzzy-based virtual synchronous generator control", IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 4321-4331, April 2020, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2019.2937397.
[7] H.R. Chamorro, F.R.S. Sevilla, F. Gonzalez-Longatt, K. Rouzbehi, H. Chavez, V.K. Sood, "Innovative primary frequency control in low-inertia power systems based on wide-area RoCoF sharing", IET Energy Systems Integration, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 151-160, June 2020, https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-esi.2020.0001.
[8] G. Shahgholian, M. Ebrahimi-Salary, "Effect of load shedding strategy on interconnected power systems stability when a blackout occurs", International Journal of Computer and Electrical Engineering, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 212-216, April 2012, https://doi.org/10.7763/IJCEE.2012.V4.481.
[9] P. Fan, S. Ke, J. Yang, R. Li, Y. Li, S. Yang, J. Liang, H. Fan, T. Li, "A load frequency coordinated control strategy for multimicrogrids with V2G based on improved MA-DDPG", International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 146, Article Number: 108765, March 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ije-pes.2022.108765.
[10] M. Bonyani, M. Ghanbarian, M. Simab, "Demand side management based on model predictive control in microgrid in grid connected mode , Journal of Southern Communication Engineering, vol. 13, no. 52, Sept. 2024, https://doi.org/10.30495/jce.2023.1996352.1280.
[11] M. Cheng, W. Yan, D. Zhang, X. Liu, L. He, M. Xu, Q. Yao, "Frequency stability of new energy power systems based on VSG adaptive energy storage coordinated control strategy", Energy Informatics, vol. 7, Article Number: 54, July 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s42162-024-00359-7.
[12] C. Citro, M. Al-Numay, P. Siano, "Extensive assessment of virtual synchronous generators in intentional island mode", International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 157, Article Number: 109853, June 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2024.109853.
[13] H.U. Rehman, X. Yan, M.A. Abdelbaky, M.U. Jan, S. Iqbal, "An advanced virtual synchronous generator control technique for frequency regulation of grid-connected PV system", International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 125, Article Number: 106440, Feb. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106440.
[14] G. Shahgholian, B. Fani, B. Keyvani, H. Karimi, M. Moazzami, "An improve in the rea-ctive power sharing by uses to modify dro¬op characteristics in autonomous micr¬og¬rids", Energy Engineering and Manage¬ment, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 64-71, Oct. 2019, https://doi.org/10.22052/9.3.64.
[15] J. Alipoor, Y. Miura, T. Ise, "Power system stabilization using virtual synchronous generator with alternating moment of inertia", IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 451-458, June 2015, doi: 10.1109/JESTPE.2014.2362530.
[16] Z. Wang, F. Meng, Y. Zhang, W. Wang, G. Li, J. Ge, "Cooperative adaptive control of multi-parameter based on dual-parallel virtual synchronous generators system", IEEE Trans. on Energy Conversion, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 2396-2408, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TEC.2023.3283048.
[17] M. Chen, D. Zhou, F. Blaabjerg, "Modelling, implementation, and assessment of virtual synchronous generator in power systems", Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 399-411, May 2020, doi: 10.35833/MPCE.2019.000592.
[18] K.M. Cheema, "A comprehensive review of virtual synchronous generator", International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 120, Article Number: 106006, Sept. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106006.
[19] X. Liang, C. Andalib-Bin-Karim, W. Li, M. Mitolo, M.N.S.K. Shabbir, "Adaptive virtual impedance-based reactive power sharing in virtual synchronous generator controlled microgrids", IEEE Trans. on Industry Applications, vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 46-60, Jan./Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TIA.2020.3039223.
[20] C. Sun, S. Q. Ali, G. Joos, F. Bouffard, "Design of hybrid-storage-based virtual synchronous machine with energy recovery control considering energy consumed in inertial and damping support", IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 2648-2666, March 2022, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2021.3111482.
[21] T. Shi, J. Sun, X. Han, C. Tang, "Research on adaptive optimal control strategy of virtual synchronous generator inertia and damping parameters", IET Power Electronics, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 121-133, Jan. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1049/pel2.12620.
[22] J. Liu, Y. Miura, T. Ise, "Comparison of dynamic characteristics between virtual synchronous generator and droop control in inverter-based distributed generators", IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 3600-3611, May 2016, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2015.2465852.
[23] J. Xiao, Y. Jia, B. Jia, Z. Li, Y. Pan, Y. Wang, "An inertial droop control based on comparisons between virtual synchronous generator and droop control in inverter-based distributed generators", Energy Reports, vol. 6, pp. 104-112, Dec. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2020.12.003.
[24] K. Shi, H. Ye, W. Song, G. Zhou, "Virtual inertia control strategy in microgrid based on virtual synchronous generator technology", IEEE Access, vol. 6, pp. 27949-27957, May 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2839737.
[25] M.M. Elwakil, H.M.E. Zoghaby, S.M. Sharaf, M.A. Mosa, "Adaptive virtual synchronous generator control using optimized bang-bang for islanded microgrid stability improvement", Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems, vol. 8, Article Number: 57, Nov. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s41601-023-00333-7.
[26] M. Shadoul, R. Ahshan, R.S. AlAbri, A. Al-Badi, M. Albadi, M. Jamil, "A comprehensive review on a virtual-synchronous generator: topologies, control orders and techniques, energy storages, and applications", Energies, vol. 15, no. 22, Article Number: 8406, Nov. 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228406.
[27] J. Liang, H. Fan, L. Cheng, S. Rong, T. Li, T. Yu, L. Wang, “Control strategy for improving the frequency response characteristics of photovoltaic and energy storage systems based on VSG control", Energy Reports, vol. 11, pp. 2295-2305, June 2024, https://doi.org/10.10¬16/j.eg¬yr.20¬24.¬01.036.
[28] D.Q. Yang, M.J. Li, T. Ma, J.W. Ni, Z.Y. Han, "Study on adaptive VSG parameters and SOC control strategy for PV-HESS primary frequency regulation", Energy, vol. 314, Article Number: 133909, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133909.
[29] A. Suvorov, A. Askarov, N. Ruban, V. Rudnik, P. Radko, A. Achitaev, K. Suslov, "An adaptive inertia and damping control strategy based on enhanced virtual synchronous generator model", Mathematics, vol. 11, no. 18, Article Number: 3938, Sept. 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/math11183938.
[30] S. D'Arco, J.A. Suul, "Virtual synchronous machines- Classification of implementations and analysis of equivalence to droop controllers for microgrids", Proceeding of the IEEE/PTC, pp. 1-7, Grenoble, France, June 2013, doi: 10.1109/PTC.2013.6652456.
[31] V. Thomas, S. Kumaravel, S. Ashok, "Virtual synchronous generator and its comparison to droop control in microgrids", Proceeding of the IEEE/PICC, pp. 1-4, Thrissur, India, Jan. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/PICC.2018.8384798.
[32] A. Villa, F. Belloni, R. Chiumeo, C. Gandolfi, "Conventional and reverse droop control in islanded microgrid: Simulation and experimental test", Proceeding of the IEEE/SPEEDAM, pp. 288-294, Capri, Italy, June 2016, https://doi.org/10.1109/SPEEDAM.2016.7526020.
[33] B. Fani, H., A. Karami-Horestani, "An offline penetration-free protection scheme for PV-dominated distribution systems", Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 157, pp. 1-9, April 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2017.11.020.
[34] G. Shahgholian, M. Moazzami, M. Dehghani, "A brief review of the application and control strategies of alternating current microgrids in the power system", Technovations of Electrical Engineering in Green Energy System, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 17-34, Sept. 2025, https://doi.org/10.30486/TEEGES.2025.1121457.
[35] X. Wang, H. Wang, "Improved droop control strategy of multiple energy storage applications in an ac microgrid based on the state of charge", Electronics, vol. 10, no. 14, Article Number: 1726, July 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10141726.
[36] R. Ayop, C.W. Tan, "Design of boost converter based on maximum power point resistance for photovoltaic applications", Solar Energy, vol. 160, pp. 322-335, Jan. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.12.016.
[37] F. Lu, H. Liu, "An accurate power flow method for microgrids with conventional droop control", Energies , vol. 15, no. 16, Article Number: 5841, Aug. 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/en15165841.
[38] H. Wang, C. Yang, X. Liao, J. Wang, W. Zhou, X. Ji, "Artificial neural network-based virtual synchronous generator dual droop control for microgrid systems", Computers and Electrical Engineering, vol. 111, Article Number: 108930, Oct. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2023.108930.
[39] X. Gao, D. Zhou, A. Anvari-Moghaddam, F. Blaabjerg, "An adaptive control strategy with a mutual damping term for paralleled virtual synchronous generators system", Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks, vol. 38, Article Number: 101308, June 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.segan.2024.101308.
[40] B. Ren, Q. Li, Z. Fan, Y. Sun, "Adaptive control of a virtual synchronous generator with multiparameter coordination", Energies, vol. 16m no. 12, Article Number: 4789, June 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124789.
[41] K.M. Cheema, K. Mehmood, "Improved virtual synchronous generator control to analyse and enhance the transient stability of microgrid", IET Renewable Power Generation, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 495-505, March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-rpg.2019.0855.
[42] J. Chen, T. O'Donnell, "Analysis of virtual synchronous generator control and its response based on transfer functions", IET Power Electronics, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 2965-2977, Sept. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2018.5711.
[43] H.S. Salama, A. Bakeer, G. Magdy, I. Vokony, "Virtual inertia emulation through virtual synchronous generator based superconducting magnetic energy storage in modern power system", Journal of Energy Storage, vol. 44, Article Number: 103466, Dec. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2021.103466.
[44] G. Wang, C. Wang, Q. Hao, M. Shahidehpour, "Load frequency control method for cyber-physical power systems with 100% renewable energy", IEEE Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 4684-4698, March 2024, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPWRS.2023.3301303.