Comparison of inverter controllers with synthetic inertia and harmonic compensation features

Abstract

This paper proposes a comparison of three strategies that combine the features of a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) and an active filter on a three-phase three-leg inverter. The VSG controller determines the current reference at the fundamental component, which provides synthetic inertia to the inverter that contributes to the system stability, and the active filter controller calculates the reference harmonic currents to mitigate the harmonic currents in a power system. The three control strategies are simulated using a real-time test-bench in two scenarios where the power system voltage has different harmonic voltage content and the simulation results were presented to compare the three inverter controllers’ performance in the two proposed scenarios. The VSG control is compared to a constant active and reactive power control and the VSG contribution to the system stability is discussed.