Control Strategies for Multi-Terminal HVDC Grids
Summary
Multi-terminal high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) grids are emerging as a cornerstone in the transition to renewable energy and the decarbonisation of power systems. By interlinking multiple converters and alternating-current (AC) systems across vast distances, they enable efficient bulk transfer, enhanced stability and flexible integration of offshore wind and other dispersed resources. Control strategies for these meshed DC networks range from decentralised droop methods, which mimic AC frequency controls by adjusting power flow in response to voltage variations, to centralised optimisation schemes that solve power-flow equations under security constraints. Hierarchical frameworks combine local fast-acting loops with slower supervisory layers to manage voltage and power oscillations, ensure fault‐ride‐through capability and coordinate primary frequency support. Advanced methodologies employ metaheuristic algorithms for controller tuning, adaptive nonlinear schemes for improved transient performance and dedicated power-flow devices to regulate currents in heavily loaded corridors. These approaches address resilience against disturbances, minimise transmission losses and maintain system stability without excessive communications. Collectively, they underpin the global rollout of interconnected HVDC corridors and the realisation of transnational energy markets.
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Control Strategies for Multi-Terminal HVDC Grids publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in control strategies for multi-terminal hvdc grids across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Voltage-source converter (VSC): A power electronics device that converts AC to DC (or vice versa) using semiconductor switches and controls voltage and current via pulse-width modulation.
Droop control: A decentralised method that adjusts converter power injection in response to deviations in DC voltage or AC frequency, emulating the natural droop behaviour of synchronous machines.
Primary frequency control: The immediate response mechanism in AC systems whereby power injections are modulated based on local frequency measurements to arrest frequency deviations.
DC power-flow controller (DCPFC): A series-connected device in a DC line that regulates current by injecting an adjustable voltage, facilitating power sharing among parallel paths.
Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO): A bio-inspired algorithm that simulates the pheromone-based foraging behaviour of ants to solve complex optimisation problems, such as controller parameter tuning.
References
- Controller Parameters Optimization for Multi-Terminal DC Power System Using Ant Colony Optimization. IEEE Access (2021).
- Dual Adaptive Nonlinear Droop Control of VSC-MTDC System for Improved Transient Stability and Provision of Primary Frequency Support. IEEE Access (2021).
- An Improved Multiport DC Power Flow Controller for VSC-MTDC Grids. IEEE Access (2020).
- Multiterminal Medium Voltage DC Distribution Network Hierarchical Control. Electronics (2020).
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