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This paper analytically examines how the condition of weak grid connection affects the torsional sub-synchronous oscillations (SSOs) induced by a grid-connected DFIG in a power system. The examination focuses on the SSO mode of grid-connected DFIG, which is dominated by the phase locked loop (PLL) or DC voltage control. Theoretical analysis is carried out to prove that the condition of weak grid connection amplifies the impact of modal resonance between the DFIG and torsional dynamics of synchronous generators. The amplifying effect of weak grid connection exhibits as the decrease of damping of SSO mode of DFIG and increase of the associated residue when the grid connection weakens. Consequently, the DFIG is more likely to induce torsional SSOs under the condition of weak grid connection, leading to system instability in the worst case. Analytical examination presented in the paper reveals the mechanism about how the condition of weak grid connection plays a key role for the DFIG to induce the torsional SSOs. An example multi-machine power system with the grid-connected DFIG is presented. Results of modal analysis and non-linear simulation using detailed model of DFIG validate the analysis and conclusions made in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the frequency oscillation problem in a parallel-inverter-based grid-connected system. Angular frequency interactions between inverters and the grid exhibit various numbers of complicated characteristics that seriously threaten the connected power system's stable operation. This paper proposes a unified frequency oscillation method analysis to investigate the oscillation problem in a multi-VSG grid-connected system. In this method, the power control model of each grid-connected inverter is equivalent to a two-terminal network by analogy method, which can be described as a “current source” connected in parallel with a reciprocal of “admittance” and then joined in series with a joint of “admittance.” Next, considering the influence of grid impedance, the model of the whole grid-connected system is established to reveal the mechanism of multi-VSG angular frequency oscillation. Subsequently, the influence factors of frequency oscillation and its variation law are analyzed through transfer functions, which provide an essential theoretical method for solving the frequency oscillation problem in the current multi-inverter grid-connected engineering application. Finally, we validate the effectiveness and correctness of the small-signal model and the frequency oscillation characteristics by building the MATLAB/Simulink simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-circuit response of inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) is not adequately represented in many conventional protection studies. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of IIDG behavior during grid faults and proposes a more accurate reduced-order parameterized short-circuit current (RPSC) model of inverters. Typical inverter components are thoroughly investigated to identify those that play dominant roles during faults. The paper shows that the current limiter is the dominant factor for the steady-state fault-current of inverter; while the inverter filter along with the severity of the voltage disturbance largely determine the initial transient spike of inverter fault current. The proposed model is low-order and can be used in large scale simulations. The parameters of the proposed RPSC model can be extracted from laboratory experiments without requiring proprietary manufacturer information. The proposed fault-current model is analogous to the well-known synchronous machine model that segregates the inverter fault current into subtransient, transient, and steady-state fault currents. Experimental and simulation tests are presented to validate the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the back-flashover (BFO) phenomena in a high-voltage (HV) vertical double-circuit transmission line by means of numerical simulations. The single- and multiphase BFOs are analyzed considering 24 cases of AC-voltage angles and nonlinear characteristic of flashovers, taking advantage of the circuit analysis method in time domain. The models used in circuit analysis are the TEM-delay model, which can take into account the non-TEM characteristics of tower and line, and the conventional models. Prior to the BFO analysis, the characteristics of circuit models are compared and discussed with the numerical electromagnetic analysis results. In BFO analysis, it is clarified that the occurrence probability of the multiphase BFO is heavily depending on the bias AC-voltages. The relation of measured BFO phases and AC-voltages are well explained by the TEM-delay model with the valid lightning current magnitude. The conventional circuit models could have underestimated the occurrence of BFOs in HV transmission lines. The analysis and discussions shown in this paper can be utilized for advanced evaluation of lightning performance of transmission lines that considers the seriousness of lightning accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of distributed renewable energy sources drastically alters the dynamic characteristics of distribution networks (DNs). Therefore, several equivalent models have been recently proposed, to analyze more accurately the complex behavior of modern DNs. However, relatively simple models are still commonly used in practice for dynamic power system studies. In addition, dynamic equivalent models for DNs are sensitive to different operating conditions and there is lack of systematic understanding of their performance. Scope of this paper is to propose a methodology for identifying the applicability range in terms of accuracy and generalization capability of several conventional and newly developed equivalent models for the dynamic analysis of modern DNs. A set of metrics is used for the modelling accuracy assessment and a sensitivity analysis framework is introduced to fully quantify the generalization capabilities of DN equivalent models. Based on the above, guidelines and recommendations for the development of robust equivalent models for DN analysis are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although much work has been done and significant progress has been made on partial discharges (PD) measurement and detection techniques, this is not the case for PD modeling. Four types of internal PD modeling, in sequential order from first to last developed, are three-capacitance (abc), induced charge concept (ICC), finite element analysis (FEA), and Multiphysics models. The abc model is too simple to provide an understanding of the physical phenomena affecting PD. In contrast, Multiphysics models are immature. Multiphysics models require a high number of physical parameters that need to be experimentally determined, which is not a trivial task. Moreover, adjusting the physical parameters to achieve a good agreement between simulation results and measurement results for a specific geometry and dimension may not work for other geometries and dimensions. The FEA model, a relatively recent model, and the ICC model, which fall between the abc and Multiphysics models in terms of modeling complexity, can partly explain mechanisms and physical phenomena associated with internal PD. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is only one paper comparing ICC and FEA models for a case study; thus, further research is needed to elucidate various aspects of these two models. In this paper, 1) an improved ICC and a FEA capable of describing phenomena occurring during PD are developed, 2) both developed models are coded and implemented either in MATLAB or in COMSOL Multiphysics linked with MATLAB, and their simulation results are compared and analyzed, and 3) the influence of different parameters including void shape, void size, and void air pressure on PD parameters are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid modular multilevel converter (HMMC), consisting of half-bridge and full-bridge submodules (SMs), has become a competitive topology due to the DC fault ride-through capability (FRTC). Redundancy schemes need to be employed to improve the reliability, including fixed-level and voltage-sharing active schemes, as well as passive scheme. However, different schemes affect reliability differently, which entails specific models. The contributions of this paper involve that analytical reliability models of HMMCs are proposed with considerations of voltage stress in active scheme, as well as imperfect bypass switch in passive scheme, and the comparison of different schemes is conducted to help the redundancy design. The reliability of HMMCs is divided into basic and extra components by the requirement of FRTC, which are modeled through the Markov chain and iteration method. A case study is conducted to validate the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed models, and the reliability analysis is presented, together with comparisons of different redundancy schemes. The results illustrate that reliability improvements of both fixed-level mode and passive scheme are prone to suffer saturation effect with the increase of redundant half-bridge SMs, which may even cause reliability decline in voltage-sharing mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a small-signal dynamic model for a modular multilevel converter (MMC) based HVDC grid, and then systematically i) identifies the system dominant oscillatory modes, ii) quantifies their propensity to instability phenomena, and iii) devises appropriate countermeasures. Based on the developed model, the eigen structure of an HVDC grid is characterized and the impact of the system parameters, configuration, AC system strength and operating point on the damping ratios of the oscillatory modes, and consequently the HVDC grid stability, are investigated. The model is also applied to systematically determine the sensitive parameters and optimize them to mitigate oscillatory modes and prevent instability. The eigen analysis results are verified based on time-domain simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a reconstruction algorithm for the geometric shapes of static overhead transmission lines that is based on the spatial coordinate data (obtained by field mapping) and the corresponding inclination data (obtained by attitude sensors). The algorithm takes the piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation function as the basic framework and corrects the aforementioned two types of data based on the “minimum energy principle” of the transmission line system. The introduction of a new energy function in modified energy method (MEM) overcame the shortcomings of conventional energy method (CEM) in fairing strategy, and the new Fairing Criterion made result curves more consistent with the mechanical properties of transmission lines. In the numerical simulation tests, the two energy methods were compared in terms of load type, horizontal span, elevation difference, and anti-disturbance ability, which showed that MEM has a higher reconstruction accuracy (average Euclidean distance is less than 1 cm) and better robustness than CEM. Meanwhile, the key parameters involved in the algorithm were discussed to guide the application in practical engineering. In addition, measurement tests under non-uniform icing were carried out in the field test station, and the results showed that the maximum relative error is less than 0.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periodic characteristic of modular multilevel converter (MMC), which originates from the multi-harmonic couplings among internal dynamics, results in challenges to develop the linear time-invariant (LTI) model of MMC. The linearization of MMC is inherently around time-periodic equilibrium trajectory. In this paper, two different methods to assess small-signal stability of MMC are compared. Both are based on the linear time-periodic (LTP) systems theory, but one is in the time domain (TD) and the other is in the frequency domain (FD). The LTP model of MMC is derived from the linearized arm averaged model. Then, an LTI model for the LTP system is constructed in the FD through the harmonic state-space method. Small-signal stability analysis based on Floquet theory and generalized Nyquist criterion, that accompany TD and FD, are introduced and compared. It is demonstrated that models developed in both domains can effectively capture the small-signal behavior of MMC. Third and higher-order harmonic components of the states have significant effect on the impedance-based stability analysis of MMC around mid-frequency range. Analytical results are validated by electromagnetic transient simulations based on the MMC aggregated model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of VSC-HVDC grids for offshore wind farm integration will require the use of dc breaker systems and presently they require dc reactors to limit the rate of rise of fault current. The introduction of large dc reactors throughout a VSC-HVDC system can have a significant impact on its stable operation and will require additional control. This paper analyzes this problem and proposes a PSS-like control (DCPSS) to aid dc grid stability and cope with this effect. A generalized analytical model for studies on dc voltage control is presented. Key stability and transient performance issues caused by the use of the dc reactors in a multiterminal system are investigated by analyzing poles, zeros, and frequency responses of open-loop and closed-loop models. Design and location identification methods for the DCPSS are provided. An excellent damping enhancement is achieved by this controller. The analytical studies and time-domain simulations in this paper are performed based on two VSC-HVDC models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In power systems, dense frequency signals (DFSs) comprise several adjacent harmonics or inter-harmonics derived from power electronic devices. Signals that contain two or more significant frequency components within any 15 Hz frequency band are considered DFSs. Existing frequency detection methods cannot detect DFSs with precision in a 10-cycle-period. To solve this issue, an improved dense frequency signal detection (DFSD) method is proposed. Firstly, this paper presents a dense frequency model by which a signal can be decomposed into a series of intrinsic mode functions via complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD). Then, singular value decomposition (SVD) is performed to reduce the dimensions and eliminate noise. Finally, the intensive frequency model is solved via an independent component analysis (ICA), and the parameters of each frequency component are calculated. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately calculate dense frequency parameters. Considering asynchronous sampling, the proposed method has higher accuracy for harmonic and inter-harmonic detection under the IEC framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage source converters (VSCs) have been extensively used in power systems for interfacing renewable energies and other modern loads. Because of their nonlinear nature, a proper harmonic model of VSC devices must be established when conducting harmonic analyses in power systems. This is especially true for low-order harmonics, which are routinely encountered in present power systems. To this end, an analytical harmonic model that represents the low-order harmonic characteristics of VSCs is developed in this paper. The new model takes both the control loop and power loop (i.e., DC-link capacitor) of the VSC into account through rigorous mathematical derivations. The final result has shown that the VSC can be represented by a harmonically coupled impedance matrix at harmonic frequencies, which can be easily used for harmonic analyses of large-scale power systems. It also shows that the DC-link capacitor has a more noticeable impact on the harmonic impedance of VSCs with a smaller DC-link capacitance and low-order harmonics. The appropriateness of the new model was verified using EMT simulations and lab experiments. A complete procedure to construct the proposed VSC model is also established based on the research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free metallic particles are the main factor inducing flashover incidents and threatening the safety of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas-insulated transmission line (GIL) devices. Acoustic diagnosis is widely used to detect free metal particles due to its high sensitivity, but it generally fails under multiple particle conditions because of the overlap of acoustic signals. This paper proposes a new method of acoustically recognizing multiple free metallic particles. The pattern of Δt-Normalized N that can be used to distinguish single/multi-particles is determined first. Second, each particle's neighboring collision signals are extracted from raw data by the established physical relation between adjacent collision signals. Wire, lamellar, and spherical free metal double-particles’ mass values are calculated as per the numerical connection between adjacent collision signals. The geometry of the particles is assumed to be known, so the density of the spherical particles can be effectively estimated. The proposed method is validated in a scale concentric hemisphere platform. The results of this work may provide a workable reference for GIS free metal multi-particle monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-terminal modular multilevel converter (MMC) power transmission is the current development trend in DC transmission. However, owing to its fast control and dynamic characteristics, it may interact with the other inductive devices or the grid and cause stability issues. This paper describes the use of the impedance analysis method in the frequency domain to analyze system stability. First, the multi-harmonic linearization method is used to model the impedance of a three-terminal MMC system. To make the model more accurate, the modeling considers the effect of frequency coupling caused by an asymmetric controller and the AC sampling site position. This paper then proposes an equivalent method of the grid impedance for the three-terminal system that can accurately judge the stability of the grid-connected system when the AC side is coupled. This work provides a theoretical basis for the prediction and suppression of the oscillation of MMC grid-connected system with coupling on the AC side. Finally, a three-terminal MMC model is built in Matlab/Simulink and the Nyquist stability criterion is used to verify the correctness of the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new pilot protection scheme for AC line connected to LCC-HVDC inverter based on composite-mode model is proposed. First, taking commutation failure into consideration, 1-mode and 2-mode equivalent instantaneous models of inverter in different operating conditions are built. Second, according to the equivalent instantaneous inductances of inverter in different combinations of operating conditions, the equivalent models of inverter are summarized into 4 operation states. Then, the 1-mode and 2-mode equivalent models are combined to establish the composite-mode model of AC/DC hybrid system. And then, using multi-time section information, the instantaneous inductances of backside composite-mode model are calculated. Thus, protection criterion is constructed on the difference between composite-mode models of in-zone faults and that of out-of-zone faults for fault locating. Finally, RT-LAB simulation tests show that, the proposed method offers high sensitivity and reliability, unaffected by commutation failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the companion paper (Part I), a new tool for lightning-induced voltage calculations, called CiLIV, has been presented. In this paper (Part II), predictions made with the new tool are compared to experimental data and to outputs of analytical procedures/numerical codes found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inrush currents in transformers can have very disruptive effects, such as voltage sags, false tripping of the protective devices, and mechanical stresses in the transformer windings. This paper shows that there are operating situations that may cause a transformer to draw abnormally high inrush currents. Examples include the normal operation of offline uninterruptible power-supply (UPS) systems, interruptions, voltage sags, and notching. These conditions may produce inrush-like currents of more than twice the value of the “normal” maximum inrush caused by energizing at voltage zero-crossing. For this condition, the term “phase-hop” is used in this paper. Laboratory experiments were performed on four different transformers (1 kVA) with varied characteristics and show the impact of phase-hop in the magnitude of inrush currents. The experiments are also used to validate the Electromagnetic Transients Program model used for the analysis of multiple cases. In addition, the behavior of the magnetic flux in a transformer under phase-hop is investigated and compared with different operating conditions using finite elements. The results of this paper have implications in transformer design and in the operation and design of UPS systems to prevent the damaging effects of phase-hop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the stability of diode rectifier based HVDC (DR-HVDC) connected offshore wind farms. The impedance model of the DR-HVDC connected offshore wind farms in dq frame is analytically developed and is validated by comparing its impedances to those obtained from frequency scanning of time domain EMT model in PSCAD/EMTDC. Based on the impedance model, the impacts of the sizes of DR-HVDC DC smoothing reactors and AC filters on offshore system stability are analyzed. It shows reduced DC smoothing reactance degrades the d-axis stability margin and can potentially lead to system instability. Higher bandwidth of offshore AC voltage control of wind turbine line side converter is proposed to minimize such instability potential. The analysis also shows that reduced AC filters size helps to increase q-axis stability margin and leads to a more stable system. Moreover, stability analysis considering the interaction between WTs is conducted and it reveals that the WT P-V control has a significant impact on the stability of the DR-HVDC connected WTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the limitations and the key dynamics of closed-loop active power control systems for voltage-source converter (VSC) HVDC, regarding stability, performance, and robustness. Detailed dynamic models are derived and the controllability and robustness issues for VSC active power control are identified. Limitations imposed by ac system strength, converter operating point, and current control design on the stability and performance of the two leading active power control principles are addressed, using frequency-response analysis and time-domain simulations. The dynamic interactions between the active power control design and the dc voltage droop control are examined. The simulations are performed using average-value VSC models and a high-fidelity modular multilevel converter model. Impacts of the active power control design on dynamic behaviors of multiterminal dc (MTDC) systems are investigated using a four-terminal model. This paper provides a systematic study on the key stability and performance issues associated with the active power control. Furthermore, the methodology offers a framework for the analysis of more complex active power and dc voltage droop controllers for future MTDC systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying substation communication network (SCN) is of paramount importance in facilitating the advanced functionalities of substation automation. To design and maintain an efficient SCN to guarantee high transmission availability and information integrity, an accurate traffic model is required and the traffic characteristics need to be understood. This paper exploits the challenge of modeling and analyzing SCN data traffic from the data generating mechanism to the transmission and retransmission mechanisms, and reveals the symbiosis of short-range dependence and self-similarity. Recognizing that there is little research effort available, this paper proposes a viable approach in modeling the SCN traffic and mathematically analyzes the associated parameters aiming to accurately model the self-similarity behavior of SCN traffic, describes the symbiotic characteristics, and effectively predicts the traffic pattern. Further, the proposed modeling approach is validated and assessed through a case study by using a realistic 24-h dataset collected from a 110 kV substation's supervisory-control-and-data-acquisition system. The result clearly demonstrates that the model can accurately describe and forecast the SCN traffic with the autocorrelation function mean square error as small as \mathrmMSE\left(\mathrmm\right)=2.077\times 10^-3. The insights obtained from this work can significantly promote the design and operation of SCNs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper addresses an optimization-based reference calculation method for Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) operating in normal and constrained situations (when the converter needs to prioritize its quantities as it has reached voltage or current limitations, e.g. during system faults). The optimization problem prioritizes to satisfy the external AC active and reactive current set-points demanded by the grid operator through the corresponding grid code. If the operator demands are fulfilled, it uses the available MMC degrees of freedom to minimize the arm inductance losses. Otherwise, if the operator demanded AC set-points cannot be accomplished, the optimization attempts to minimize the error prioritizing between either AC active or reactive currents. The optimization problem constraints are imposed through a steady-state model considering simultaneously the external and internal AC and DC magnitudes of the converter. The steady-state model also includes the voltage variation in the equivalent arm capacitors (considering the ripple). Then, the imposed limitations are the maximum allowed grid and arm currents, the maximum allowed arm voltages and the sub-module capacitor maximum voltages. The paper presents a detailed formulation of the optimization problem and applies it to several case studies where it is shown that the presented approach can be potentially used to obtain the MMC references both in normal and fault conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 and 2018, bulk power system (BPS) connected solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters tripped after grid disturbances in South California, causing large-scale power loss. One cause of PV tripping is subcycle overvoltage experienced by PV inverters when the grid suffers voltage dip and PVs enter into momentary cessation. This paper examines the underlying mechanism of the subcycle overvoltage dynamics. A dq-frame analytical model is built for a PV grid-integration system with a focus on the grid side converter (GSC) and grid interaction. PV's dc circuit dynamics and controls are ignored. Eigenvalue analysis indicates that two modes cause the subcycle overvoltage. The modes are associated with shunt compensation, grid electromagnetic dynamics, and PV inverter controls. Furthermore, a more insightful explanation of subcycle overvoltage is offered relying on s-domain admittance models. The dq-frame admittance is derived for the PV viewed from the point of common coupling (PCC). A circuit model relying on the derived admittance can demonstrate subcycle overvoltage due to momentary cessation. Impacts of grid strength, phase-locked-loop (PLL) parameters and converter current control parameters are all examined. It is found that the inherent LC dynamics due to shunt compensation and grid inductance are the main dynamics that can cause overvoltage, and momentary cessation excites overvoltage dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

modular multilevel matrix converter (M3C) has considerable application potential in motor driving and power systems, but its phasor model is rarely studied. This paper proposes a novel method for modelling and analysis of the M3C in the phasor domain. Firstly, an improved phasor method in matrix form is proposed for direct AC/AC MMC family. By including the frequency information into the phasor expression, it is capable of analysis towards interaction between AC variable groups with different frequencies. Secondly, based on the proposed phasor matrix method, the concept of two-dimensional phase-sequence is proposed to facilitate description and calculation of the AC variables in the 3-by-3 matrix-resembled circuit structure of M3C. Network of each phase-sequence is also derived. With the proposed methods, calculation burden for modelling and analysis of the M3C is significantly reduced. Then, the phasor model of M3C considering the DC, fundamental frequency and 2nd-order harmonic components is established. Finally, validation results with time-domain simulation is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, large offshore wind power plants have been installed far from the shore, using long HVAC three-core armored cables to export power. Its high capacitance may contribute to the appearance of unwanted phenomena, such as overvoltages or resonances at low frequencies. To adequately assess these problems, detailed and reliable cable models are required to develop time-domain/frequency-domain analyses on this type of cables. This paper presents, for the first time in the literature, an assessment on the performance of 3D finite element method-based (3D-FEM) models for developing frequency-domain analyses on three-core armored cables, confronting simulation results with experimental measurements found in the literature for three real cables. To this aim, a simplified ultra-shortened 3D-FEM model is proposed to reduce the simulation time during frequency sweeps, through which relevant aspects never analyzed before with frequency-domain 3D-FEM simulations are addressed, such as total losses, induced sheath current, magnetic field around the power cable, positive and zero sequence harmonic impedances, as well as resonant frequencies. Also, a time-domain example derived from the frequency-domain analysis is provided. Remarkable results are obtained when comparing computed values and measurements, presenting the simplified ultra-shortened 3D-FEM model as a valuable tool for the frequency-domain analysis of these cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a dynamic phasor model of a half-bridge modular multilevel converter based on variables in the stationary ABC frame. The application of the dynamic phasor theory makes it possible to use converter eigenvalues to study the effect of steady-state harmonics present in the modular multilevel converter (MMC) on its small-signal stability, since the model is inherently time invariant. Relying on a linear transformation, this paper uses a new set of variables with a modified frequency content, which results in lower order dynamic phasor models. A nonlinear dynamic phasor model is developed and linearized. The linear model is compared with a nonlinear averaged MMC model in time domain. Stability analysis by means of eigenvalues and participation factors is carried out for dynamic phasor models that include different frequency content, and the effect of the circulating current suppression controller is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of voltage-source converters (VSCs) in modern power systems has led to extensive studies on their frequency response and stability, which are characterized by power-frequency oscillations and overshoots following a disturbance. However, the existing small-signal analysis models do not adequately describe the impact of the types of disturbance on the torque-frequency dynamics of the multi-VSC parallel system. In this paper, based on the principle of electromechanical analogy, a unified equivalent admittance modeling method is proposed by analogizing the rotor dynamic model of a synchronous generator (SG) to the circuit network, which has the advantages of simple modeling, clear physical meaning and easy expansion. Firstly, the equivalent admittance model of a single SG/VSC is established, and then easily extended to the multi-VSC system. The proposed modelling method not only applicable to a variety of VSCs, but also can handle different types of disturbance. More importantly, the circuit theory can be applied to analyze the torque-frequency dynamic characteristics. Subsequently, the equivalence between the proposed model and the state-space model under different damping terms is compared. In addition, the response characteristics of two different damping terms are compared. Next, the dynamic response characteristics of single VSC and multi-VSC parallel systems under different disturbances are analyzed. Finally, related simulations and experiments are executed to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a modular multilevel converter (MMC) based wind farm integration system, the wind farm may influence the harmonic resonance characteristics of DC system through the connected MMC. An effective way to assess the harmonic resonances in DC system is the impedance analysis method, in which the key is to develop the DC side impedance model. This paper develops the dc impedance of the wind farm connected MMC by harmonic transfer function (HTF) method that considers both the dynamics of the MMC and wind farm. As a result, the proposed DC impedance model can effectively reveal the impact of the wind farm on the small-signal characteristics of the DC system. Compared to the existing model, the proposed model can improve the accuracy of DC system resonance analysis with consideration of connected wind farm. Therefore, the proposed model can be further used to assist the stability design of wind farm connected MMC-HVDC systems. The time-domain simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC validate the proposed impedance models and stability analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in grid-tied Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC), the steady-state operation under asymmetric grid conditions is rather general, especially for the overhead line of the AC network. Therefore, the small-signal dynamics of MMC under unbalanced grid conditions have become a great important research topic. In this paper, the inherent periodic time-varying characteristic of MMC's original relationships is given priority consideration. Based on the linear time-periodic (LTP) method, a general small-signal LTP model under unbalanced grid conditions is built considering the internal dynamic of submodules (SMs). Then based on the eigenvalue locus analysis method from Floquet- Lyapunov theory, the effects of controller parameters and interactions between different controllers on small-signal dynamics are studied, respectively. Finally, the results from the detailed nonlinear MMC model are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probabilistic analyses of a wide-area measurement system (WAMS) would require equivalent reliability models for its components which include phasor measurement units (PMUs). In this paper, the reliability modeling of PMU is proposed and the proposed model is extended to consider options for the PMU hardware. The Markov process is employed to analyze the proposed model and to present an equivalent two-state model of PMUs. Reliability parameters of PMU are estimated with major difficulties associated with limited and uncertain data. In this paper, uncertainties are taken into account to achieve more realistic estimates of PMU characteristics. Fuzzy sets along with reliability analyses and fuzzy importance measures (FIMs) are utilized as a means of measuring the significance of PMU components on its availability. Numerical analyses are conducted and results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the presence of multiple power converters in a power system the total current may exhibit zero-crossing distortion in the form of recurrent damped oscillations with high magnitude. These oscillations are synchronized with the power system frequency. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the input current of single-phase ac-dc converters fitted with power factor correction (PFC) controllers. Emphasis is given on the impacts of the source impedance, and on how the number of converters connected to a common coupling point (PCC) impacts the PFC controller’s performance. A system model is developed followed by simulation and measurements in a real installation with electronic ballasts used to drive fluorescent lighting tubes. Results show that the recurrent damped oscillations originating from PFC controllers are close to the harmonic range and with a very low level of cancellation between devices. The magnitude therefore increases proportionally with the number of devices. As the source impedance increases, instability may occur. Possible explanations for these observations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differing from a two-level voltage source converter (TL-VSC), the internal dynamics of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) are much more complicated. Since the fluctuation of submodule capacitor voltage is unavoidable when transmitting power, the MMCs output voltages cannot track the references perfectly. The interaction between the time-varying capacitor dynamics and controllers may lead to self-instability of the MMCs. In order to address this self-instability issue, this paper first establishes the small-signal closed loop transfer function matrices (TFMs) of the external and internal control loop by the harmonic linearization method. Further, a novel design principle of MMC controllers is proposed. Then, the critical impact factors on the stability of circulating current controller and AC voltage controller are investigated based on the generalized Nyquist criterion(GNC). The proposed models and analysis methods are validated by time-domain simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonances can have a negative impact on a voltage-source converter–high voltage dc (VSC–HVDC) system. This paper develops dc impedance models for the rectifier and inverter stations for a VSC-HVDC system when they are viewed from a dc terminal. The impedance models take converter controllers into account. The derived impedance models are validated by comparing frequency responses of the analytical model and the impedance measured at the dc terminal from a detailed VSC–HVDC model simulated in a real-time digital simulator. Resonances are examined in the frequency domain (e.g., Bode plots and Nyquist plots) using the derived analytical impedance models. The analysis is verified by time-domain simulations. Real-time digital simulation in RT-Lab demonstrates that the dc capacitor has a significant impact on resonances while the power transfer level has an insignificant impact on resonances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the channel gain characteristics of a two-conductor power-line communication system under a given transient analytical model. The channel frequency responses are derived with different transmission-line lengths and terminal loads. Compared with previous works on power-line communication, the transient model can more accurately describe the variation of the channel frequency responses, especially when transients occur on the transmission line. Simulation results show higher accuracy is achieved compared with the results under the traditional lumped-circuit \pi model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offshore ac side impedance model of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) based high voltage direct current (HVdc) system is essential for analyzing the interaction stability between MMC-HVdc and the offshore wind power plants. This paper develops the offshore ac side impedance model of an MMC-HVdc system for wind power integration taking the effects of offshore station, dc cable and onshore station into consideration. The dc impedance model of the onshore station is first derived which includes the effects of dual closed loop dc bus voltage control and circulating current control. Then, the dc impedance of the onshore station and dc cable impedance are used to derive the ac side impedance of the offshore station under open loop control. In addition, the influence of the dual closed loop based ac bus voltage and frequency (VF) control on the offshore ac impedance is analytically derived. As a result, the proposed model can be used to reveal the coupling between offshore offshore ac system and dc system as well as to investigate the influence of the dc system and VF controller in the offshore ac impedance of the MMC-HVdc system. Furthermore, the proposed model overcomes the deficiencies in harmonic resonance analysis of MMC-HVdc based offshore wind power integration system. The results of the simulation in PSCAD/EMTDC validate the proposed models and analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the in-depth mechanism of commutation failure for a line-commuted converter-based high-voltage direct current (LCC-HVDC) system. The commutation failure prevention control (CFPREV) and the initial fault voltage angle (IFVA) are considered from the view of the voltage-time area (VTA) in the analysis. It is revealed that the IFVA is among the dominant factors for commutation failures when the voltage drop of the inverter bus is relatively small, and CFPREV further intensifies the impact of the IFVA on commutation failures, while the fluctuation of the direct current plays a dominant role in commutation failures under a greater voltage reduction at the inverter bus. A quantitative division of the severity of AC faults is proposed to determine dominant factors for commutation failures. The relationship between the chance of commutation failures to occur and the IFVA is built, and the method used for computing probability of commutation failures is proposed. The influence of the dynamic of CFPREV output on our research is studied. Simulations based on a typical monopole LCC-HVDC system using PSCAD/EMTDC software are conducted to verify the correctness of the theoretic analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed computing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMD) pose a threat to the reliability of the United States bulk electrical power system. The NERC reliability standard TPL-007 requires transmission planners to assess potential problems in their service territories due to Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) including transformer thermal assessment. If the assessment indicates a vulnerability, the standard requires the development of a corrective action plan to resolve potential issues. GIC calculation accuracy is critical to the assessment. In this paper, the impact of various geoelectric field calculation methods on the accuracy of calculated GIC is evaluated by comparing with observations for a geomagnetic storm that occurred on 07–08 September, 2017. The GIC calculation is carried out for a fairly large-scale power system model and the comparison with observation indicates that better results are achieved using magnetotelluric transfer functions that incorporate the effects of 3-D earth conductivity. The results also indicate an improvement in the comparisons when the transfer-function derived E-fields are interpolated between the original survey site locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling capacitor voltage transformers (CCVTs) are the predominant devices used in high voltage systems to provide scaled-down voltage signals for metering, protection, and control devices. The performances of these devices are subject to errors due to the transient behavior of CCVTs, so that the use of CCVT digital models is essential for studying power systems in order to predict how the equipment dynamics affect protective relaying performances. In this review paper, the authors put together complete information regarding five realistic CCVT digital models available in the literature and perform a detailed sensitivity analysis of their magnitude and angle frequency responses, as well as their influence on phasor estimation, distance protection, and fault location techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major issue in the modeling of harmonics dynamics via extended harmonic domain (EHD) has been detected and thoroughly analyzed in a recently published paper. It consists on incurred error of individual harmonic response when a step change in either source or parameter variable is applied to a system modeled in the EHD. This paper demonstrates that the error is due to incorrect initial conditions of the EHD state-space model at the time of step change and proposes an effective solution to achieve zero error. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Electric arc flashes are power system hazards that can compromise the safety of human operators—by inducing thermal burns—and the system's performance or functionality. This paper uses circuit theory and device modeling to demonstrate how existing calculation models can be repurposed to analyze electric arc flashes in the dc network of photovoltaic systems. A hazard-risk category evaluation method is introduced based on these adjusted models for typical system architectures. The proposed method can be used to identify at-risk components and estimate the thermal energy that could be released if arc hazards were to occur during system operation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Resonance and harmonic phenomena can occur when HVDC and Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System devices are inserted into ac grids. Frequency response analysis and electromagnetic transient (EMT) type simulations of converter stations are essential for analyzing and preventing negative effects. This paper presents two approaches for deriving the high frequency response of a converter station: using simplified analytical representation and accurate EMT-type model. Validations with control parameter impacts are presented. This paper also presents a test case, based on a recent HVdc project, where potential resonances can occur between the converter station and its ac network. It is demonstrated analytically that these resonances are mainly due to control system parameters and ac network configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A saturated core fault current limiter (SCFCL) is a promising device for limiting the fault currents effectively, and improving the safety and reliability of power systems. Due to the core structure and the coupling effect between the ac and dc windings, traditional SCFCLs suffer the drawbacks of insufficient clipping performance and large size. Moreover, theoretical analysis of fault clipping performance has received little attention. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel bridge-type SCFCL (BSFCL). Compared with the traditional type, the BSFCL effectively reduces size and cost by using a bridge-type structure. In addition, the proposed additional limiting inductor improves the fault clipping performance of SCFCL. This paper first presents the principle and characteristics of BSFCL. Then, a theoretical analysis of clipping performance and parameter design method of BSFCL are presented in detail. Finally, the principle and performance of BSFCL are validated through electromagnetic simulation and experiments. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis and the structure. The influence of different BSFCL parameters on fault clipping performance is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new class of modular multilevel dc/dc converters has recently emerged that eliminates the traditional full-rated intermediate ac stage inherent to two-stage dc/dc converter structures, that is, two cascaded dc/ac modular multilevel converters (MMCs). This paper introduces the first averaged dynamic state-space model for this new class of single-stage dc/dc converter, called the DC-MMC, which captures all input and output terminal dynamics as well as internal capacitor dynamics. Based on the developed analytical model, a dynamic phasor model is derived to accommodate the multifrequency components that exist at steady state. The phasor model enables: 1) solving for the full steady-state solution of the DC-MMC under arbitrary loading and 2) evaluation of DC-MMC open-loop stability via eigenvalue analysis. These analyses are not possible with existing DC-MMC models. Simulations of a comprehensive switched model verify the accuracy of the presented analytical models, which represent valuable study tools for the analysis of emerging modular multilevel dc/dc converters containing multiple frequency components. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A saturated core fault current limiter (FCL) essentially utilizes the dynamic and nonlinear magnetic behavior of steel cores to operate as a variable reactor. However, the nonlinear characteristic of magnetic materials has made modeling this unique device a difficult task. Hence, experimental measurements and finite-element method (FEM) analysis are the most common techniques used to characterize the transient behavior of the device. Both of these techniques, while accurate, cannot be used to analyze the transient electrical behaviour of FCLs in complex power systems, particularly when investigating power system switchgear behavior during fault events. FEM-based FCL modelling, despite its usefulness as a design verification tool, cannot be easily coupled to all electromagnetic transient programs that are in use today. This paper presents two modeling approaches to represent the saturated core FCL in transient network simulators: 1) the nonlinear reluctance model and 2) the nonlinear inductance model. Both models are implemented in pscad/emtdc and are validated by experimental results of a single-phase prototype saturated core FCL, where excellent agreement between the experimental and the modelling approaches is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In offshore wind farms, reignition overvoltages are usually caused by switching-off operations of vacuum circuit breakers, which degrade the insulation of power equipment, especially transformers. This paper proposes a new quantitative evaluation method of overvoltage suppression measures comprehensively considering three main indicators, which include the amplitude, steepness and reignition number. Based on the quantitative evaluation results, an improved suppression measure against high-steepness reignition overvoltages is developed. Firstly, high-frequency transient models of main components of a typical wind farm are developed in PSCAD/EMTDC. Then the stochasticity of opening instants is considered, and three main indicators are extracted for comprehensively analyzing the transient characteristics of reignition overvoltages. Subsequently, a quantitative evaluation is performed to analyze the effectiveness of different suppression measures, which involves surge arresters, RC snubbers and smart chokes with different properties and installation positions. Results show that a new combination of a surge arrester and a smart choke is capable of providing sufficient protection against a high-amplitude, high-steepness and severe-reignitions overvoltage. This research can provide a new overvoltage suppression solution for the insulation coordination of medium-voltage systems in offshore wind farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise modeling in power line communications has recently drawn the attention of researchers. However, when characterizing the noise process in narrowband communications, previous works have only focused on small-scale phenomena involving fine-grained details. Nevertheless, the communication link's reliability is also affected by long-term noise phenomena that might affect transfer rates at higher layers as well. This paper addresses the problem of long-term noise characterization for narrowband power line communications and provides a statistical analysis of the long-term trends affecting the noise levels. We present a statistical description of the noise process in the time and frequency domains based on real field measurements in the FCC band (10 kHz–490 kHz). The collected data comprises more than 1.8 billion samples taken from three different locations over a time period of approximately ten days. The noise samples have been statistically analyzed by considering stationarity, autocorrelation, and independence. Although our results—being unprecedented—are interesting per se, they improve the noise pattern knowledge, thus paving the way for the design and implementation of more robust PLC protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of active power flowing through one or multiple DC lines plays an important role to guarantee secure and economic operations of high voltage direct current (HVDC) grids. This paper proposes a new method to regulate DC line power flow based on the adaptive DC voltage droop control strategy in which the voltage references of the voltage droop controllers vary autonomously at post-contingencies. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it can avoid installation of extra equipment and thus the associated losses and costs in the power-converter-based power flow control methods. The proposed control approach does not require to solve online global AC-DC power flow equations, leading to autonomous control. Furthermore, the adaptive droop control does not influence the stability of the HVDC grid since only the droop voltage references vary, but not the droop coefficients. Static analysis and dynamic simulations of a five-terminal HVDC grid are implemented using MATLAB/Simulink Simscape Blockset and OPAL-RT RT-LAB libraries to validate the effectiveness of the proposed autonomous control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a computationally efficient surrogate model-based approach for tolerance analysis of power systems. Surrogate models are heuristic, simple representations of complex systems that are obtained through an automated sensitivity analysis of electromagnetic transient simulations results. These simpler models are shown in this paper to be significantly faster than full-detail simulation models to obtain accurate statistical tolerance information about complex power networks. Usefulness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by two application examples. In the first example, surrogate models are used for determining the statistical distribution of undesired remnant harmonics produced by a voltage-source converter, given the uncertainty in the firing angles. In the second example, the impact of variations in the system parameters around the nominal values on the transient behavior of a static compensator is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Circuit models of horizontal and vertical grounding electrodes are traditionally used in high-frequency (HF) analysis, although underlying approximations limit their accuracy in some low-frequency ranges. Recently, a number of new circuit models have been introduced, but the improvement of the accuracy at HF has not been systematically evaluated. In this paper, we show that new circuit models can be directly derived from method of moments solutions of the integral forms of Maxwell equations by introducing different assumptions. This approach helps to categorize different models into only a few categories based on underlying approximations. To determine the applicable range, we analyze the error for impedance to ground computed by different circuit models in comparison to that calculated by a rigorous full-wave model over wide ranges of parameters, such as electrode length, soil resistivity, and frequency. This paper: 1) provides a parametric analysis that enables the estimation of the applicability of the particular circuit model for application to a practical case based on its accuracy; 2) presents a unified systematic approach to derive circuit models with different capabilities; and 3) reveals that the modeling of the mutual coupling between different parts of the grounding electrode is the key factor for radically improving the accuracy of circuit models at HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable models to predict the fast transient response of transformer windings are categorized into three groups: 1) white box; 2) black box; and 3) gray box models. Each group is applicable to solve a certain problem and includes its own advantages, hardly replacable by another group. The gray box methodology is a compromise between black and white box approaches which is investigated profoundly in this paper. A new method based on design geometry estimation is applied to accomplish transient simulation. The introduced procedure is probed on a noninterleaved double disk winding. Simulation and experimental results confirm that the gray box approach is applicable to both terminal and internal response estimation of a transformer when there is no knowledge of the transformer's internal specifications. The parameter identification of the model is performed by the particle swarm optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]