Small-signal rotor angle stability of multi-virtual synchronous machine (n-VISMA) microgrid

Autonomous microgrid is known to lack appropriate inertia and damping for grid stabilization. Due to this, virtual synchronous machine (VISMA) has been introduced to provide necessary ancillary services through control of power converters. In a multi-VISMA (n-VISMA) microgrid, relative rotor angle stability of the power system is dependent on the active power balance after small perturbation. Thus, the use of relevant analytical models are essential issues for microgrid stability analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive small-signal stability analysis to study inherent electromechanical oscillations in the virtual rotors. The subsystems of the microgrid consisting of VISMA, network, load and the outer power control were all modelled in Synchronous Reference Frame. The small-signal model (SSM) was tested on IEEE-9 bus system with VISMA replacing electromechanical synchronous machines on the network. To validate the developed numerical analytics, dynamic responses of the SSM are compared with those of the non-linear (NL) system dynamics and the results reveal that the developed linearized SSM is sufficient to accurately characterize behaviour of the VISMA microgrid when operated in autonomous mode. Eigenvalues analysis and parameter sensitivities of the critical modes were investigated. Oscillatory participations of the VISMAs and steady state stability limit of the microgrid have also been investigated.