Small-Signal Stability of an AC/MTDC Power System as Affected by Open-Loop Modal Coupling Between the VSCs

This paper examines the impact of dynamic interactions between the voltage source converters (VSCs) on the small-signal stability of an AC/MTDC (multiterminal dc) power system. The examination is carried out based on a closed-loop interconnected model consisted of an open-loop VSC subsystem and an open-loop subsystem of the rest of MTDC network (RDCN). Open-loop modal coupling is the modal condition that an oscillation mode of open-loop VSC subsystem is close to an oscillation mode of open-loop subsystem of the RDCN on the complex plane. Analysis indicates that the open-loop modal coupling may very likely degrade the small-signal stability of the AC/MTDC power system. If a VSC uses the active power control, the open-loop VSC subsystem is of no oscillation mode. Hence, open-loop modal coupling between the VSCs cannot occur in the MTDC network implementing the master-slave control. Whilst the open-loop modal coupling may introduce instability risk to the MTDC network using the dc voltage droop control. Therefore, the paper reveals the mechanism about how and why the dynamic interactions between the VSCs may degrade the small-signal stability of the AC/MTDC power system from the perspective of the system modal condition-the open-loop modal coupling.