The fundamental operating principle of electrical power systems is inherently determined by the electromechanical behavior of synchronous generators. Grid frequency serves as the central control variable and reflects the balance between active power generation and consumption. With the phase-out of nuclear and coal-fired power plants and the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, the number of synchronous generators in the power system is steadily declining. This development creates the necessity to adapt and further evolve the operation of interconnected power systems in response to the changing boundary conditions.
Synchronous generators inherently provide grid-forming behavior by imposing a voltage. However, in the future, power electronic converters will be increasingly integrated into the power system, for example through DC systems for the connection of offshore wind farms or via HVDC links. Due to the absence of mechanical inertia, converters exhibit significantly faster dynamic behavior and offer more diverse control capabilities than synchronous generators and therefore differ fundamentally in their electrical characteristics. These advanced control capabilities can be used to achieve grid-forming behaviour, i.e. voltage source behaviour, of converters from the perspective of interconnected system operation. This requires converters to establish a voltage with defined magnitude and phase (angle) at the point of common coupling using appropriate control algorithms.
One approach to assigning operating points to voltage source converters based on the system state in a communication-based manner is angle-based operation of the interconnected power system, referred to as angle control. Against this background, the DisrupSys project aims to research and develop angle-based operation of converter-dominated energy systems while maintaining active and reactive power balance. The focus lies on the transformation of the interconnected power system towards a new operating regime that meets the requirements of a predominantly renewable-based energy system.
Project Objectives:
Conceptualization of an angle-control-based operating regime for an interconnected power system with grid-forming converters and predominantly renewable generation under a 2040 scenario
Development of energy management system (EMS) modules for the optimal allocation of energy reserves for balancing services, generation of setpoint trajectories for converters, mitigation of generation-load imbalances, and determination and triggering of measures to handle (n–1) contingencies
Development of EMS-based assistance systems for the full or partial integration of the new operating regime into existing control center systems
Development of converter-side components for the implementation of angle-based operation in interaction with the EMS
Methods for optimal sizing of converter-integrated energy storage systems to fulfill operational tasks within the interconnected grid, as well as methods for operating the interface to parallel energy carrier infrastructures, exemplified by hydrogen
Design and implementation of a demonstrator for the demonstration and validation of the angle-based operating regime, including the consideration of control center communication latencies
Description of the transformation pathway from the current system towards an angle-based operating regime and representation of suitable intermediate steps as scenarios within the demonstrator
Analysis of the interaction between the load frequency control and angle-based control with respect to system behavior under different penetration scenarios, and derivation of appropriate spatial and temporal allocation strategies
Assessment of different concepts for grid-forming control of converters regarding their implementation within an angle-based control framework.
