Grid-Forming Inverter Overload Ride-Through via System-Level Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grid-forming inverter-based resources face challenges in transient power-limiting during disturbances, leading to potential cascading instability and loss of synchronism due to unclear activation of virtual impedance and insufficient power reserve, with existing control systems being locally focused and not accounting for additional grid-forming resources.

Innovation Solution

A system-level overload ride-through control strategy employing online system-level analysis and control actions, including preemptive transmission of modified parameter sets to inverter-based resources for rapid re-parameterization during disturbances, ensuring stability and optimality through self-protection, stability, and optimality objectives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional local control strategies are used during disturbances, then device complexity is reduced, but system stability deteriorates due to cascading instability and loss of synchronism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidgrid stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into two levels: local control (at each inverter-based resource) and system-level control (centralized coordination). Local controllers execute simple reactive power adjustments based on frequency deviations, while the system-level controller coordinates these actions across multiple resources to maintain overall stability, preventing cascading failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A system-level controller acts as an intermediary between individual inverter-based resources and the grid. This intermediary coordinates the collective behavior of multiple resources, enabling them to work together as a unified system that maintains stability during disturbances, while each individual resource maintains relatively simple local control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If virtual impedance is activated during disturbances, then power reserve is increased, but device complexity increases due to unclear activation timing and parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower reserveVSAvoidcontrol parameter complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores optimal virtual impedance parameters for various disturbance scenarios before disturbances occur. When a disturbance is detected, the system-level controller quickly retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-determined parameters, avoiding the complexity of real-time parameter optimization while ensuring adequate power reserve is available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts virtual impedance parameters based on the severity and type of disturbance detected. The system-level controller modifies reactive power setpoints and virtual impedance values in response to frequency deviations, enabling the inverter-based resources to provide appropriate power reserve without requiring complex real-time parameter synthesis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4293857B1System-level overload ride-through control strategy for grid-forming inverter-based resources
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 GENERAL ELECTRIC RENOVABLES ESPANA SL
  • EP4293857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293857B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4293857B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for controlling a network of inverter-based resources (IBRs) during a disturbance includes, in response to a start of the disturbance, employing a system-level overload ride-through (SLORT) algorithm among the network of IBRs. The SLORT algorithm includes determining, via a SLORT control module, a modified parameter set for one or more of the IBRs using regularly-updated system-level analyses, transmitting, via the SLORT control module, the modified parameter set to the IBRs, and automatically activating, via one or more local controllers of the IBRs, the modified parameter set, wherein automatically activating the modified parameter set comprises rapidly re-parameterizing one or more parameters of the one or more of the IBRs for a duration of and for a time period after the disturbance so as to transition the network of IBRs from a pre-disturbance stable state to a post-disturbance stable state.