Plausibility and Implications of Converter-Driven Oscillations Induced by Unstable Long-Term Dynamics

Abstract

For decades, synchronous generators have dominated power system dynamics and have been the foundation for the comprehension of the physical phenomena involved in power system stability. This paradigm is rapidly changing; large synchronous generators that contribute to system strength are being replaced by inverter-based generators. Consequently, new kinds of instabilities are emerging. Slow-interaction converter-driven instability is one example in which undamped oscillations occur when inverter-based generators operate in weak areas. Transmission system operators have observed the phenomenon under the scope of short-term dynamics following a disturbance during a weak operating condition. This paper suggests that converter-driven oscillations can occur even in the case when the system's initial operating condition is strong. It concludes that the phenomenon can be triggered by long-term dynamics that slowly weaken the system in which small-signal and short-term simulations show an ample stability margin. The outcome is a combination of unstable long-term dynamics and undamped oscillations. Furthermore, this work suggests that classical emergency controllers that are effective against long-term instability may not be successful if undamped oscillations are also present. A method for instability detection and counteraction is proposed based on Prony analysis and time-domain simulations on the IEEE test system for voltage stability assessment.