Study of Virtual Inertia and its impacts on Power Oscillations

Abstract

This study explores the changing dynamics of power systems in the context of the global shift to renewable energy, focusing on inertia and its influence on frequency stability. Traditional stability mechanisms, centered around rotating masses like synchronous generators, face challenges due to the integration of renewables and frequency converters, resulting in a reduction in overall system inertia. The report includes a detailed literature review, specifically the understanding of the role of inertia in traditional power systems and its connection to frequency response. Focusing on the methods and research work mentioned in the paper “Adaptive Virtual Inertia Control Strategy of VSG for Micro-Grid Based on Improved Bang-Bang Control Strategy.” The research methodology involves simulation studies demonstrating methods to estimate inertia and evaluating the potential of synthetic inertia from Virtual synchronous generator to enhance frequency stability, particularly in systems with reduced inertia. The work done in this thesis is divided into two phases. In the initial phase the focus was to do a literature review, selection of a relevant published article for the implementation of Virtual Inertia. After the selection of the research article “Adaptive Virtual Inertia Control Strategy of VSG for Micro-Grid Based on Improved Bang-Bang Control Strategy,” the proposed model in the paper, small signal model was implemented which was only possible by comprehensively understanding the working of Virtual Synchronous Generators. In the later phase, after implementation of the small signal model, a micro grid model is implemented that too from the base research article to get as close to the real-world scenario as possible. These implementations done using MATLAB helped in understanding the issue that can be faced in the absence of virtual inertia and what method can be used to mitigate these issues. The results for both the implementations are discussed in detail emphasizing the importance of virtual inertia and how Bang-Bang control strategy can be used to minimize the frequency deviation.