Synchronous Condenser Control for Renewable Plant Frequency Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Renewable power plants face challenges in delivering or absorbing sufficient reactive and active power to stabilize the electric grid, particularly during frequency events, which can lead to grid instability and slow frequency recovery.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a power plant connected to the electrical grid, which includes determining the active power output of generators and a synchronous condenser, using the difference between total active power output and the condenser's output to set an internal reference for generators, allowing them to adjust their output accordingly to stabilize the grid and support frequency recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a synchronous condenser is added to the power plant to provide reactive power and frequency support, then grid stability and frequency support are improved, but the complexity of controlling the power plant during frequency events increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control method segments the total active power output into two distinct components: the synchronous condenser's active power output and the generators' active power output. By calculating the generators' output as the difference between total output and condenser output, the system separately manages each component's contribution, simplifying the control strategy despite the added complexity of including a synchronous condenser.
2Power
If the synchronous condenser provides active power during frequency events, then frequency support is improved, but the control of generator output becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The control method implements a feedback mechanism where the synchronous condenser's active power output is continuously measured and used to calculate the generators' active power output. The power plant controller adjusts the generators' active power reference based on this feedback, ensuring that generator control remains straightforward even while the condenser provides frequency support.
3Device complexity
If the power plant controller uses total active power output to control generators, then control is simplified, but the synchronous condenser's contribution adversely affects generator output
Solution Approach 1:
The control method extracts the synchronous condenser's active power contribution from the total active power output. By measuring the condenser's output separately and subtracting it from the total, the system obtains the generators' pure active power output, eliminating the adverse effect of the condenser's contribution on generator control while maintaining a relatively simple control structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables faster and more stable frequency recovery during grid events by isolating the synchronous condenser's active power contribution, ensuring that generator output is not adversely affected, thereby improving grid stability and frequency support.
Implementation Method 1
the kinetic energy stored in the rotor of the synchronous condenser can help stabilize the electric grid by continuously deliver and absorb reactive power to support the voltage of the grid, a synchronous condenser also provides frequency support by delivering and absorbing active power in the form of an inertia response
Implementation Method 2
a synchronous condenser is not a power source... whose shaft is not connected to anything, but spins freely... to adjust conditions on the electric grid in case of a grid instability
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a power plant connected to an electrical grid and a method for controlling the power plant. The power plant comprises one or more power generators and at least one synchronous condenser. The power generators may be wind turbine generators, solar photovoltaic elements or other kinds of renewable power generators. During a deviation in frequency on the electrical grid, the synchronous condenser counteracts the frequency deviation, but it may also unintentional supply active power during the frequency event. The control method is controlling the active power supply from the power generators during the frequency events based only on the active power output from the power generators.