Loop-at-a-Time Stability Analysis for Grid-Connected Voltage-Source Converters

Abstract

The instability phenomena caused by converter–grid interactions can be prevented by designing controllers with adequate stability margins. Yet, the multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) dynamics of grid-connected voltage-source converters (VSCs) complicate the stability analysis for the controller design. To tackle this challenge, this article presents a loop-at-a-time stability analysis for grid-connected VSCs, which not only shows close correlations with the generalized Nyquist criterion for MIMO systems but also enables to quantify the stability margins of individual closed loops. Moreover, the interactions between the closed loops can be analyzed. Test cases with numerical sensitivity analysis, simulations, and field measurements of a converter validate the theory.