Abstract
This paper deals with the design of controllers for variable speed hydropower (VSHP) plants with the objective of optimize the plants performance. The control objectives imply enabling fast responses to frequency deviations while keeping the electric and hydraulic variables within their constraints. A model predictive controller (MPC) was developed to coordinate the turbine controller with the virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control of the power electronics converter. The simulation results show that the VSG is able to deliver fast power responses by utilizing the rotational energy of the turbine and the generator. The MPC controls the guide vane opening of the turbine to regain the nominal turbine rotational speed. If this is not possible due to the constraints of the hydraulic system, the MPC adjusts the power output of the VSHP by changing the VSG power reference. The proposed control system allows the VSHP to provide fast frequency reserves (FFR).
Highlights
Variable speed operation of hydropower plants is currently being investigated, and is motivated by several factors
This can be achieved by combining virtual inertia (VI) control for improving the power response to frequency deviations with model predictive control (MPC) for handling the internal control of the Variable speed hydropower (VSHP)
The active power is controlled by a virtual synchronous generator (VSG), which is found to be more suitable for the purpose than the virtual synchronous machine (VSM) [13]
Summary
Variable speed operation of hydropower plants is currently being investigated, and is motivated by several factors. The hypothesis is that the VSHP can offer additional ancillary services, contributing to improving frequency control and maintaining grid stability, allowing for higher penetration of variable renewables in the grid Complete utilization of this potential comprises the development of an advanced control system optimizing the operation of the power plant while considering the constraints in the electric and the hydraulic systems. This can be achieved by combining VI control for improving the power response to frequency deviations with model predictive control (MPC) for handling the internal control of the VSHP. The optimization problem is solved by the quadprog function in MATLAB
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