Sub-Synchronous Oscillation Constrained Communication-Free Grid Frequency Control of Offshore Wind Farm Linked HVDC System

This article proposes a frequency control method of a voltage source converter (VSC) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system for large-scale offshore wind farms (OWFs) integration into an AC grid. Without frequency control, power output of OWFs varies with the wind velocity and it causes a grid frequency fluctuation. This fluctuation on the AC grid is becoming more severe as the level of wind power penetration increases. The previously suggested communication-free controls are vulnerable to continuously changing frequency fluctuations owing to concerns about its excessive energy releases. Therefore, our proposed control enables OWFs with HVDC to participate in grid frequency regulation continuously by considering its energy state when AC grid frequency fluctuates. In addition, there is a concern about sub-synchronous oscillation (SSO) instability owing to its cascading frequency control structure. A simplified small-signal model is developed to reveal out the existence of these SSO problems and its main factors in the frequency control scheme. Using developed model, overall system stability is comprehensively investigated. Also, a damping controller to mitigate SSO instability is also suggested and validated through simulation. To demonstrate the effectiveness of overall proposed frequency control, time-domain simulations were also carried out utilizing PSCAD/EMTDC under varying wind velocity condition.