Wide-area nonlinear robust voltage control strategy for multi-machine power systems

Abstract

This paper presented a novel wide-area nonlinear excitation control strategy for multi-machine power systems. A simple and effective model transformation method was proposed for the system’s mathematical model in the COI (center of inertia) coordinate system. The system was transformed to an uncertain linear one where deviation of generator terminal voltage became one of the new state variables. Then a wide-area nonlinear robust voltage controller was designed utilizing a LMI (linear matrix inequality) based robust control theory. The proposed controller does not rely on any preselected system operating point, adapts to variations of network parameters and system operation conditions, and assures regulation accuracy of generator terminal voltages. Neither rotor angle nor any variable’s differentiation needs to be measured for the proposed controller, and only terminal voltages, rotor speeds, active and reactive power outputs of generators are required. In addition, the proposed controller not only takes into account time delays of remote signals, but also eliminates the effect of wide-area information’s incompleteness when not all generators are equipped with PMU (phase measurement unit). Detailed tests were conducted by PSCAD/EMTDC for a three-machine and four-machine power systems respectively, and simulation results illustrate high performance of the proposed controller.