Operation of synthetic inertia units in electric power systems of various densities

This study is aimed at improving the efficiency of photovoltaic plants operated in the electric networks of various densities by adjusting the synthetic inertia algorithm and automatic frequency control circuits. To this end, the automatic control system of a photovoltaic plant was investigated using hybrid modelling methods in an all-mode online simulation complex of electric power systems. It was shown that the stability of photovoltaic power plants could be improved through the use of synthetic inertia. According to the conducted research, effective operation of this algorithm can be ensured by a correct determination of the bandwidth of automatic frequency control. Operation of this automatic frequency control circuit can lead to the oscillations of various frequencies during the installation of photovoltaic power plants in low-current electrical networks (electrical networks with the short circuit coefficient of less than 10 a.u.) and, subsequently, negatively affect the operability of the synthetic inertia algorithm. In addition, in high-current networks with an increased bandwidth of the automatic frequency control unit, the value of the network frequency reduction decreases (optimal bandwidth of 50 Hz). Conversely, in low-current networks, the automatic frequency control unit, under an increase in the bandwidth, decreases the response rate of the synthetic inertia algorithm, which leads to an increase in the frequency reduction value (optimal bandwidth of 0.3 Hz). Thus, the conducted investigations showed that the automatic frequency control circuit in the control system of a photovoltaic power plant can be used to alter the operation of the synthetic inertia algorithm. However, the nature of this effect depends on the electrical network density and can be both positive and negative. The effect observed in the tested power system was confirmed for a real-dimension power system.

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