Impact of Grid Voltage Feed-Forward Filters on Coupling Between DC-Link Voltage and AC Voltage Controllers in Smart PV Solar Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a novel study of impact of filters of grid voltage feed-forward signals on the coupling between dc-link voltage and ac voltage controllers in smart photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which are used for voltage control in distribution systems. A comprehensive linearized state space model of a PV system including the dynamics of grid voltage feed-forward filters, dc-link voltage and ac voltage controllers is developed for the first time. This model is validated by electromagnetic transients software PSCAD/EMTDC. This model is used to identify the coupling between dc-link voltage and ac voltage controllers by eigenvalue and participation factor analyses. The impact of time constant of feed-forward filters on this coupling is studied by eigenvalue sensitivity analysis for PV systems with proportional and proportional integral type ac voltage controllers. The range of time constants over which the filters interact with controllers and create instability for systems with different strengths and X/R ratios is identified. Insights are provided on the choice of time constants of grid voltage feed-forward filters for the stable system design. The developed state-space model can also be used for impact studies of various other parameters, e.g., system strength, X/R ratios, types and gains of controllers, on system stability.