A Dual VSG-Based M3C Control Scheme for Frequency Regulation Support of a Remote AC Grid Via Low-Frequency AC Transmission System

This paper proposes a low-frequency ac (LFAC) transmission system capable of providing frequency regulation support for a remote ac grid aiming at enhancing its frequency stability. The LFAC transmission system using modular multilevel matrix converters (M3Cs) for a direct ac-ac conversion is receiving noticeable attention as an alternative solution for a long-distance transmission system. One of its potential applications is the system connection between a large ac grid and a remote ac grid, whereas the latter usually suffers from a fluctuant frequency due to lack of inertia. The core of this work is addressing a novel control scheme of the remote ac grid-side M3C, which makes both interactions with the LFAC system and the remote ac grid behave like a synchronous generator using a dual virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control scheme. This control scheme can enhance the frequency regulation in the remote ac grid, which the existing control schemes cannot provide. Average dc capacitor voltage versus active power ($V_{ave}$-P) droop control is proposed to coordinate the power flow between the VSG controls applied in both sides of the M3C. To demonstrate the problem of the existing control scheme, as well as the benefits offered by the proposed control scheme, transient performance including load variation and fault events in the remote ac grid is studied and examined in the EMTDC/PSCAD software environment.