Simulation framework for automatic load frequency control studies of VSC-based AC/DC power grids

This paper introduces an efficient simulation framework for automatic load frequency control (ALFC) studies of VSC-based AC/DC power grids. It is aimed at slow transients caused by large megawatt imbalances occurring either in the AC systems or DC grid. These studies involve the coordinated action of the primary and secondary control loops of power plants, ones requiring long simulation times ranging from various tens of seconds to minutes. To address these overly challenging AC/DC power system simulations, the developed modelling framework resorts to suitable linear models, i.e., VSC dynamic controls are devised to conform to the slow dynamics featuring the ALFC. The most fundamental dynamics of AC systems, DC grid and VSC stations are compiled with reasonable precision. This is demonstrated using a three-terminal, multilevel VSC-based HVDC system implemented in the PSCAD simulation package for comparative purposes; both solutions are shown to concur very well because root mean squared errors inferior to 3% are obtained. The practicality of this effective simulation framework is also demonstrated by studying a five-terminal VSC-based transmission grid facing large power imbalances imposed by load disconnections and VSC outages.