An Adaptive Control Strategy for Low Voltage Ride Through Capability Enhancement of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Power Plants

This paper presents a novel application of continuous mixed p-norm (CMPN) algorithm-based adaptive control strategy with the purpose of enhancing the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power plants. The PV arrays are connected to the point of common coupling (PCC) through a DC-DC boost converter, a DC-link capacitor, a grid-side inverter, and a three-phase step up transformer. The DC-DC converter is used for a maximum power point tracking operation based on the fractional open circuit voltage method. The grid-side inverter is utilized to control the DC-link voltage and terminal voltage at the PCC through a vector control scheme. The CMPN algorithm-based adaptive proportional-integral (PI) controller is used to control the power electronic circuits due to its very fast convergence. The proposed algorithm updates the PI controller gains online without the need to fine tune or optimize. For realistic responses, the PV power plant is connected to the IEEE 39-bus New England test system. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is compared with that obtained using Taguchi approach-based an optimal PI controller taking into account subjecting the system to symmetrical, unsymmetrical faults, and unsuccessful reclosing of circuit breakers due to the existence of permanent fault. The validity of adaptive control strategy is extensively verified by the simulation results, which are carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC software. With the proposed adaptive-controlled PV power plants, the LVRT capability of such system can be improved.