Fault-Ride-Through Coordination Strategy for Offshore AC Islands with Multi-Infeed HVDC Interconnections

Abstract

Large-scale offshore Wind Farms (WFs) are considered key assets towards realizing a sustainable power system. These systems are often configured as offshore AC islands and their integration largely depends on the High-Voltage-Direct-Current (HVDC) technology. This topology, while it enables cost-effective transmission over large offshore distances, may lead to operational challenges. Specifically, the operation of offshore AC islands during faults and the grid code requirement fulfillment are identified as a major challenges for their large-scale deployment. To address this pressing issue, a comprehensive coordination control strategy for the different participating converters in multi-infeed AC offshore islands during Fault Ride Through (FRT) operation is presented in this work. The proposed strategy introduces advanced control functions in the FRT schemes of both the HVDC and WF converters, such as zero active and reactive power injection during faults, as well as post-fault active power droop control coordination to tackle power imbalances. The proposed FRT coordination strategy is validated through both extensive simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC, as well as with Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) experimental results, considering both AC and DC faults.