Output impedance modeling and grid-connected stability study of virtual synchronous control-based doubly-fed induction generator wind turbines in weak grids

Abstract Virtual synchronous control (VSynC) technology that mimics the behavior of a conventional synchronous generator can be applied in wind turbines (WTs), where it can effectively improve equivalent inertia, damping coefficient, and wind power permeability. Given the unique partial-scale converter structure of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) and its complicated DFIG-grid coupling effect, the grid-connected VSynC-based DFIG WTs have gained little attention. Moreover, under a weak grid condition, some unstable modes of VSynC can interact with the wind power system, which impacts the DFIG’s dynamic characteristics and system stability. To bridge the gap, this study proposes an output impedance model for a VSynC-based DFIG to analyze the grid-connected stability in weak grids. First, the output impedance mathematical model for a VSynC-based DFIG is derived and explained. On the basis of this novel model, the low-frequency characteristics and vital unstable factors of a VSynC-based DFIG are comprehensively investigated. The impact of different VSynC parameters and grid strengths are extensively studied. Finally, the proposed output impedance model is validated by direct current disturbing theory, frequency scanning method, generalized Nyquist criterion, and time-domain simulation (MATLAB/Simulink). All the obtained results are consistent with each other and prove the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed impedance model.