Ideally-Smooth Transition between Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Inverters based on State Mapping Method

TL;DR

This paper introduces a state mapping method enabling smooth transitions between grid-forming and grid-following inverter modes, addressing stability issues during switching in renewable energy systems.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel state mapping approach for seamless GFM-GFL inverter switching, validated through theoretical analysis and experimental tests.

Findings

Achieved ideally-smooth GFM-GFL transition using the proposed method.

Validated the effectiveness through theoretical and experimental verification.

Addressed stability issues during inverter mode switching.

Abstract

There has been widespread global increasing use of renewable energy sources, which are usually connected to the electricity grids via power electronic inverters. Traditionally, these inverter-based resources operate in either grid-forming (GFM) or grid-following (GFL) mode. But more recently, the need of switching between these two modes are glowingly required because of the complex operation scenarios of systems such as source-side limitations, grid-side services, fault disturbances, etc. However, due to the differences between GFM and GFL modes, a direct switching between them would lead to large oscillations or even instability of inverters. Therefore, in this paper, a method called state mapping method for analyzing the switching transient and designing the switching control is proposed. Based on this method, an ideally-smooth transition between GFM and GFL can be achieved. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by both the theoretical analysis and experiment tests.