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Grid Code Requirements For WTG Interconnection

Grid codes specify requirements for generators connecting to the power grid to ensure stable grid operation. They are published by various authorities and address issues like fault ride-through, voltage and frequency variations, harmonic emissions, and flicker. Wind turbines must coordinate their response during disturbances according to these codes. Grid code requirements apply at the point of interconnection to the grid, while wind turbine capabilities are specified individually, requiring power system studies to evaluate plant performance. Compliance can require active and passive filtering as well as controls coordinating voltage, reactive power, and frequency response.

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Santosh Vardhan
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63 views

Grid Code Requirements For WTG Interconnection

Grid codes specify requirements for generators connecting to the power grid to ensure stable grid operation. They are published by various authorities and address issues like fault ride-through, voltage and frequency variations, harmonic emissions, and flicker. Wind turbines must coordinate their response during disturbances according to these codes. Grid code requirements apply at the point of interconnection to the grid, while wind turbine capabilities are specified individually, requiring power system studies to evaluate plant performance. Compliance can require active and passive filtering as well as controls coordinating voltage, reactive power, and frequency response.

Uploaded by

Santosh Vardhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grid codes and wind farm

interconnections
CNY Engineering Expo

Syracuse, NY
November 13, 2017
Purposes of grid codes

Grid codes are designed to ensure stable operating


conditions and to coordinate the response of generating
units during disturbances.
Grid codes will provide for the protection of people and
equipment.
Grid codes will provide for high power quality
These requirements will vary for grid authorities in different
regions.
Publishers of grid codes

Grid codes are published by:


Utility Companies.
State Public Service Commission (PSC).
Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs).
Independent System Operators (ISOs).
Regional Coordinating Councils.
Regional Interconnections.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
Publishers of standards

Industry Standards also affect interconnections:


IEEE Std 1159, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Monitoring Electric Power Quality
IEEE Std 1547, IEEE Standard for Interconnecting
Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems.
– IEEE Std 1547a, Amendment 1

IEC Std 61400-21 Measurement and assessment of


power quality characteristics of grid connected wind
turbines
Grid code requirements and wind
turbine responses
Undervoltage conditions
Overvoltage conditions
Frequency variations
Voltage regulation and power factor
Frequency control
Active power control
Power quality: harmonics and flicker.
System analysis of wind farms

Basic analysis can be done with standard tools:


– Short circuit
– Load flow
– Harmonics

Dynamic analysis with transient stability programs (PSLF,


PSSE)
Transient analysis (EMTP, PSCAD)
Modeling is specific to turbine manufacturer and type.
Both require proprietary “black box” models of wind
turbines and wind farms, if models are available at all.
Types of undervoltage events

Typical causes are faults, load energization, and faulty


wiring.
Fundamental frequency phenomena
– Short duration rms variations
– Interruptions: <0.1 pu voltage
– Sags: 0.1 to 0.9 pu voltage
– Instantaneous: 8.3ms-0.5s
– Momentary: 0.5-3.0s
– Temporary: 3-60s

Long duration rms variations


– Sustained interruptions: 0.0pu
– Undervoltages: 0.8-0.9pu.
Fault Ride-Through

When wind farms were a relatively small proportion of


generation, they were required to disconnect from the
transmission system when a fault occurred.
With increasing proportions of wind generation in the
overall generation mix, it has become necessary to retain
wind turbines during faults.
Wind farms must have protective systems to take them
offline in extreme situations where they may be subject to
damage.
Capability of the wind-turbine generator to withstand the
fault for its duration and then to recover to normal
operation.
Fault Ride-Through: LVRT and ZVRT

Two types of ride-through characteristics exist:


Low-voltage ride-through (LVRT), where the turbine must stay
connected for a terminal voltage no lower than a certain limit, such as
15% of nominal voltage, for a given time, such as 0.625 s
Zero-voltage ride-through (ZVRT), which is similar to LVRT, but the
turbine must remain connected during a zero-voltage fault of a given
duration.
ZVRT and LVRT capabilities of wind turbines are dependent upon grid
strength.
Rate of recovery to normal voltage is important.
Wind turbines generally have a published fault ride-through
characteristic.
Fault Ride-Through at Transmission
Interconnections
The grid code requirements for transmission interconnection are at the
high side of the wind-farm step-up transformer. This is the Point of
Interconnection (POI).
Different voltage levels for the same event at the POI and the wind
turbines.
A zero-voltage fault at the transmission level may be a low-voltage
fault at the wind turbine.
A power system study would be required to determine the exact
relationships.
Some grid codes specify additional requirements for remote faults in
the transmission system.
Types of overvoltage events

Impulsive transients lightning protection.


Oscillatory transients: 5μs-50 ms, 0-8pu
– Switching surges
– <5 kHz to >500 kHz

Short duration rms variations, 8.3ms-60s, 1.1-1.8pu


– Fundamental frequency
– single line to ground faults (SLGF), load switching, load shedding,
capacitor switching
– Instantaneous: 8.3ms-0.5s, 1.1-1.8pu
– Momentary: 0.5-3.0s, 1.1-1.4pu
– Temporary: 3-60s, 1.1-1.2pu

Long duration rms variations, >60s, 1.1-1.2pu


Impulsive (lightning) transients: <50ns to >1ms
Oscillatory transients: <33ms, <1.4pu
– Open ended upper limits are difficult
– Control systems and relay protection

Voltage swells
– Tripping not allowed when the disturbance will subside normally
– Tripping permitted when expected limits are exceeded
– Typically within the range of the various types of swells

Long duration overvoltages: >3 s, >1.1pu


– Tripping required in all of the codes evaluated
Over- and Under-Voltage requirements
of selected standards.
Frequency variations.

Not generally an issue with stiff systems unless large scale changes
occur in the grid.
With increased penetration of renewable energy, reduced inertia of
synchronous generators in system may lead to frequency instability.
Islanding: Frequency depends on ratio of load to generation.
– Frequency droop is used to control frequency versus power.

Typical variations: ±0.1 Hz, <10s


Grid codes may specify minimum inertia, H (s), in system
– Wind turbines may have “synthetic inertia” from rotor blades and capacitors.
Examples of Frequency variation
requirements.
Frequency response during disturbances
– Maintain connection with grid
– Inertia constant, minimum H
– Islanding
– Load sharing between generators

Frequency droop, ΔP/Δf %


– ΔP/Δf %
– deadband ±0.06% ↔ ±0.036 Hz
Frequency droop – over and
underfrequency.

ERCOT Droop control, %Power/Frequency (Hz)

Frequency droop of 5% and deadband of ±0.017 Hz.


NERC BAL-001-TRE-1
Voltage regulation (VR) and power
factor (pf).
Regulate the terminal voltage at the point of
interconnection (POI)
Acceptable voltage range typically 90-110%
– Setpoint adjustment
– Accuracy, e.g. ±0.5%
– Voltage droop, typical range 0-10%

Voltage control by power converter


Reactive power control:
– Power converter
– Capacitor and reactor banks
– STATCOM
– Synchronous condensers
pf requirements of selected grid codes.

“Each Transmission Operator shall specify a voltage or Reactive Power schedule (which is
either a range or a target value with an associated tolerance band)…”
NERC VAR-001-4.2 — Voltage and Reactive Control
However, in some cases (in Canada and Europe) both voltage and reactive
power must be met at once, while maintaining acceptable frequency. This can
be difficult.
Reduced power output may be required due to
contingencies
Curtailment commands sent to wind farm control system
Minimum up/down ramp rates may be required (MW/min)
Power quality - harmonics.

Most distributed generation interface with the grid using power


electronic converters.
– Typically VSI with a high switching frequency.

By their nature these devices switch the current, resulting in distorted


non-sinusoidal waveforms.
– These are resolved by Fourier Series into currents at multiples of the fundamental
frequency.

Wind turbine harmonics may be exacerbated by system resonances.


– Large cable systems have significant capacitances. There may be shunt capacitors
on the power system.

Harmonic remediation combines:


– Active control schemes in the inverter.
– Passive filters.
Power quality - harmonics.

In this example, the wind turbine harmonics peak at the 27th harmonic = 1620Hz

Frequency range depends on switching frequency and power electronic controls.

S. A. Papathanassiou and M. P. Papadopoulos, “Harmonic Analysis in a Power System with


Wind Generation” IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 21, NO. 4,
OCTOBER 2006
Power quality – harmonics
IEEE 519 Standard.

Wind turbine harmonics can be at the range


where the requirements are lowest.
Power quality – harmonics
LCL Lowpass Filter

Line Load

Filter connected at AC output of inverter.


Small capacitor bank good for high power factor operation.
Significantly reduces THD. Typically in 0.5-2% range.
More effective than DC Link Choke or AC Line Reactor.
Power quality - flicker.

Flicker is the variation in voltage such that a perceptible variation in


the intensity of lighting is observed.
Most used references are: IEC Standards 61000-2-2, 61000-3-3,
61000-3-7, 61000-4-15.
Pst (short term variation) is defined as variations over a 10-minute
period.
Plt (long term variation) is defined as variation measured for 12
consecutive Pst measurements.
Compatibility is complex among the different standards. A general
guideline is:
– Short term Pst = 1.0
– Long term Plt=0.8
Power quality - flicker.

Various flicker curves have been used over the years.


The flicker curve most generally used is from IEC Standard 61000-3-7,
2008.
Conclusions

Grid codes are designed to ensure stable operating conditions and to


coordinate the response of generating units during disturbances.
These requirements will vary for grid authorities in different regions.
The capabilities of wind generators are specified at the individual
turbine, while grid requirements are specified at the point of
interconnection.
Power system studies for wind plants generally require models
specific to the wind turbines being studied.
Grid code specification of combined ranges, such as the required
power factor range being applicable across the voltage range requires
careful evaluation.
Discussion

What is the purpose of grid codes?


At what point in the system does the grid code apply?
What constraints can affect reactive power control?
What ranges of wind farm harmonics are most likely to cause trouble
with IEEE 519?
(a) h<11
(b) 11≤h<17
(c) 17≤h<23
(d) 23≤h<35
(e) 35≤h
Any questions?

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